Longtime teammates,
BUTLER TWP — For 13 seasons, Butler seniors Makenna Maier and Aubree Tack have been girls basketball teammates.
“They’ve been teammates in Butler since fifth grade,” Golden Tornado girls basketball coach Mark Maier said. “They’ve also been teammates for five years in AAU ball with Slaam.”
That’s a team Maier coaches himself.
After this season, he won’t be coaching his daughter or Aubree anymore, nor will the two girls be teammates. Makenna is continuing her academic and basketball career at Saint Vincent College while Aubree will be doing the same at Chatham College. Both Division III schools are members of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.
Right now, Chatham (14-6, 8-5) is having the best season in the program’s history. Saint Vincent (6-11, 5-8) is struggling, but the Bearcats have reached the PAC title game five times and won the league three times under 12th-year coach Jimmy Petruska, son of Mars girls basketball coach Dana Petruska.
“That’s a very competitive women’s basketball league and both of those programs are successful in that regard,” Coach Maier said. “You never know ... Makenna and Aubree could be guarding each other at some point.”
Both are guards, though Makenna is 5-foot-9 while Aubree stands 5-foot-1.
“It would be a challenge, trying to get past Aubree,” Makenna said, smiling at the thought. “She has the ability to steal the ball. I’d have to be very conscious of that.”
“Makenna would probably foul me because she knows I can’t make free throws,” Aubree said, laughing.
Both players have proven vital to Butler’s bid to reach the WPIAL playoffs this season. Makenna is averaging approximately 13 points and five rebounds per game. She is shooting 85 percent at the free throw line. Aubree has connected for 17 treys and is averaging five steals and four assists per contest.
Makenna also considered Washington & Jefferson, Jiohn Carroll, West Virginia Wesleyan and Allegheny before deciding on Saint Vincent. She plans to major in data science.
“I went with her on all of those visits. You make relationships at all of those schools,” Coach Maier said. “Saint Vincent is just a good fit for her all the way around. It’s perfect for her major, it’s a stable coaching situation and the school is close by. All of the schools in that league are.”
Petruska is 208-89 at Saint Vincent. He’s coached 34 All-PAC players and three conference players of the year. The Bearcats only have two seniors on their roster. They have six freshmen and three sophomores, including freshman Slippery Rock graduate Kelly Benson.
“I’m hoping to work my way into the lineup right away, even if it’s just a few minutes per game starting out,” Makenna said. “I know it’s going to be a challenge. I have to prove myself.”
Aubree figures to find herself in a similar situation at Chatham.
David Saur is in his fourth year as coach of the Cougars. He was PAC Coach of the Year in 2019, leading the team to a program-record 15 wins.
Aubree considered Allegheny, Mount Aloysius and Penn State-Shenango before deciding on Chatham. She plans to major in education.
“I love the coach there, how the team is defensive-oriented,” Aubree said. “I love the atmosphere surrounding the program and the school.”
Coach Maier said Aubree has been described as “an ankle biter type of player, a defender who is always nipping at you.
“She is everybody’s favorite player because she’s all over the court all the time,” Maier continued. “She’s 5-1 and has led us in rebounds at times.”
“Disrupting the flow of the other team has always been my favorite part of basketball,” Aubree said.
Makenna and Aubree will be playing another four years — just not together.
“That’s going to be strange,” Makenna admitted. “I guess it will be time to go our separate ways. We’ve played together fior a long time.”
“It will be super exciting, going on to college ball,” Aubree said. “But it will be super sad at the same time.”
