Hill takes over for Lady Mustangs
Submitted photo
Stewart Davis put Laurel Highlands girls basketball back on the map in the WPIAL, but when he had to make a decision that would affect his working career, Davis had to step aside.
Stepping in for Davis is Rick Hill, a 1988 graduate from Morgantown, W.Va., who played three sports for what is now known as PennWest California, before participating in athletics overseas.
Hill transitioned into coaching roughly 25 years ago, and he has guided an AAU team, the West Virginia Explosion, for over 20 years.
Hill has held plenty of high school coaching jobs, with his last being the girls basketball coach at Beth-Center.
“I know Stew, as he is a former Vulcan, and one day at practice for my AAU team, I was asked if I heard that Stew had to take another job and wouldn’t be able to coach at Laurel Highlands,” Hill said. “I thought about it a little and talked to Stew, who said I should apply, and I decided to put my name in the hat.”
Hill had guided the Lady Bulldogs to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, but he didn’t feel he and the job were a good fit.
Hill takes over a program that was hit hard by graduation and the loss of multiple key players, but he still has high expectations.
The Lady Mustangs will need to replace 1,000-point scorers Miya Harris and Ayrianna Sumpter, who graduated, and senior Aierra Jenkins, who is now playing at Uniontown. Righteous Richardson also graduated and Taylor Irwin tore her ACL in October.
“I said the same thing when I started at Beth-Center, and I think people thought I was crazy because they had many new faces when I came on board, but we have a goal of making the playoffs,” Hill said. “Stew had a good group of girls, but we have 19 on the team, and will probably dress 11 on varsity. We worked out some over the summer and had 12-15 girls coming in, so they are ready to go. It will be a challenge, but I like challenges.”
Laurel Highlands welcomes back one returning starter in junior Taylor Schwertfeger, who Hill described as “a very relentless player who will be counted on to score, but also play great defense and rebound.”
Hill said Schwertfeger has an advantage of knowing the program, and her endurance as a cross country runner is key.
“She (Schwertfeger) really doesn’t get tired,” Hill said. “She is willing to do everything and help everybody. We have freshmen that are going to play right away. They are going to be put into the fire early.”
Maddie Brooks is the Lady Mustangs’ lone senior who will play power forward or center. Sophomore Chloe Price is a top rebounder who Hill said will go for the ball, be aggressive and get to the basket.
Hill will stress a defensive-first approach.
“Defense is first in everything, and we talk to our girls about that,” Hill said. “We are not as big as other teams, so we are going to pressure a lot of the time and win the majority of the defensive battles.”
Hill expects a tough section, as Laurel Highlands plays in Section 3-4A with Belle Vernon, Elizabeth Forward, Mount Pleasant, Ringgold, South Park, Southmoreland and Yough.
“We know teams are going to be looking to beat us after last year because Stew’s teams beat up on a lot of teams,” Hill said. “We know it is going to be a tough section, regardless, but the other teams will also be motivated.”
Hill is assisted by Mike Irwin and Ryan Schwertfeger.