North Catholic freshman Wehner settling into supporting role
CRANBERRY TWP — Months before the girls hoops season even got underway, North Catholic newcomer Brady Wehner was intent on using the team’s open gyms to make her case to be a regular.
“I’ve just been wanting this for a really long time,” she said a day after putting up a career-high 21 points and five three-pointers in a 59-35 win over Knoch. “Over the summer, I tried to do my best just to show them that I should be starting and ... that I (thought) I would help the team.”
She’s since begun to authenticate her worth for a program so accustomed to success — one that has won consecutive WPIAL crowns and appeared in the state semifinals two years in row.
“It’s a lot to come in as a freshman and start right off the get-go,” Trojanettes coach Molly Rottmann said. “But, she has earned that and deserves it. I think it takes a little bit of time to get your feet wet and figure out, ‘Where exactly do I fit into here? What’s my role?’”
Wehner, a Cranberry Township native, morphed into an integral piece of the puzzle. With an 8-4 overall record and a 6-0 mark in conference play, North currently sits atop WPIAL Section 1-4A. The Trojanettes’ offense is averaging 55.0 points per game, which is tied for the second-highest output in the classification.
“She just has really come alive,” Rottmann said of Wehner. “I think she kind of has really settled in. We don’t consider her a freshman anymore. She’s been playing well since after Christmas break. ... She kind of really settled into her role and found herself.”
That comfort was on display as Wehner paced her team in scoring in the home section victory over the Knights Monday night. It was the first time that she’d done such.
“I figured out that I have to be more aggressive and that I can’t take anyone lightly, because even though I am a freshman, I have to not think that I’m a freshman and I have to play like I’m older,” Wehner said.
The only other instance in which senior standout guard Alayna Rocco didn’t lead North in points was in a 75-35 win over Freeport on Dec. 18. Ava Walker had 17 points in that commanding victory and Wehner put up double-digits for the first time in that same contest.
Wehner has scored at least 10 points in five outings this year, at least 20 twice. Rottmann lauded her outside shooting ability, which helped put away the Knights the team’s last time out.
“She’s just starting to do that more often and having success at it — which is important,” Rottmann said. “We need someone else to pick up the slack on the scoring and the defensive end.”
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North Catholic’s Sarah Loughry gets off a lay-up in traffic on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic head coach Molly Rottman talks with her team during a timeout on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s Anna Lazzara comes up with a steal on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s Brady Wehner shoots a lay-up on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s Sarah Loughry drives into the paint on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s Lauren Mihm takes a three-pointer on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s Brady Wehner dribbles by Knoch’s Naturelle Ewing on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s Brady Wehner dribbles on the tight defense of Knoch’s Serenity Kosecki on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s Anna Lazara goes up strong against Knoch’s Karlee Buterbaugh on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s Alayna Rocco dribbles through the defense of Knoch’s Karlee Buterbaugh on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Adah Fuller dribbles against tight defense from North Catholic’s Anna Lazarra on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s Lauren Mihm plays tight defense on Knoch’s Serenity Kosecki on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s Anna Lazzara goes up for a lay-up against Knoch’s Adah Fuller on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Neah Ewing comes up with a steal against North Catholic’s Anna Lazzara on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Adah Fuller protects the ball from North Catholic’s Sarah Loughry on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Karlee Buterbaugh gets a high-five from Naturelle Ewing to start the second half on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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Knoch head coach Shane McGraw talks with his team during a timout on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Adah Fuller dribbles by North Catholic’s Lauren Reitz on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s Alayna Rocco dribbles by Knoch’s Serenity Kosecki on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Karlee Buterbaugh backs down North Catholic’s Emma Shoemaker on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Naturelle Ewing gets off a lay-up on Monday, Jan. 15 at North Catholic High School. Kyle Prudhomme/Butler Eagle
For Wehner, it’s a matter of acting on instinct rather than complicating things with what-ifs.
“I try not to get too much in my head and just play my game and not think about it too much, so that helps me,” she said.
Wehner’s responsibilities in the offense have grown, too. It’s not just putting up shots and stifling opponents where she can help her squad out.
“She sees the floor really well, and we can run some things for her and she’ll find the open person off of that,” Rottmann said. “She just has continued to develop her game. She’s always been able to shoot, but she’s getting herself good looks, feet set — and I think taking it with some confidence now.”
That certitude comes from the work put in when nobody else is around.
“She’s taken it on her own, too, to find out when the gym’s open before or after practice,” Rottmann said. “On days off, I’ll see her on her Twitter feed or her mom’s that she’s in another gym shooting. I think she just kind of realized Alayna’s going to draw a lot of attention.
“They (Knoch) were going between a diamond-and-one and then they were face-guarding her tonight. So, we need other people to be able to knock down some shots so they can’t do that or give Alayna a little breathing room.”
Wehner’s zeal is inspired by her older siblings, Peyton and Jayla. Peyton, a senior at Central Catholic, plays basketball for the Vikings and is heading to St. Francis (Pa.) to play football. Jayla is a senior guard for Marian University’s women’s basketball squad.
“I try to stick to what my brother and my sister always did,” Wehner said. “They found a gym. Wherever I can get in the gym — whether it’s in the summer outside or just whatever gym I can get to — I just try to be more consistent in that.”
That sort of dependability will figure to help the young guard as the Trojanettes strive for another deep playoff march in the coming months.
“She’s had enough time in and she’s settled in,” Rottmann said. “She’s playing more like a veteran now.”
