BY's CoverThreeAthletics Athletes of the Week: Joe Pipilo and Reilly Sunday
Source: Pittsburgh-Post Gazette
Description
Name: Joe Pipilo
School: Chartiers Valley
Sport: Basketball
Position: Shooting Guard
Class: Senior
Claim To Fame: In the week of 12/16/18 - 12/22/18, Pipilo scored 29 points against South Fayette, and scored 24 points against Thomas Jefferson.
Questions And Answers
What has your team done right so far to have an overall record of 4-1 and a section record of 3-0?
JP: "Our team chemistry is great. We all want to see ourselves succeed and get better."
Talk to me about your relationship with your head coach, Brandon Sensor.
JP: " I love him, we talk and text daily about game plans and about the team in general."
After you had the magnificent dunk against Thomas Jefferson, did you think it helped your team gain momentum to win the game?
JP: "We had lots of plays in the third quarter that shifted the momentum for us."
Tell me the difference between this year's Colts team and last year's Colts team.
JP: "Everyone’s got a year of experience under their belt."
Which WPIAL basketball team do your wish that you could play this season that is not on your schedule?
JP: "Mars because they beat us last year."
Have any colleges sent you offers to play basketball at the collegiate level?
JP: "Yes"
What was the best Christmas present that you got?
JP: "A new phone"
If you had to choose, who would you pick MVP for the 2018 NFL season?
JP: "Number 7 for the Steelers"
If you had 1 million dollars, what would be the very first thing you would spend with that money?
JP: "I would get Pirates season tickets."
Is there a chance that we see you put on a Colts baseball jersey in the Spring?
JP: "I love baseball; but, I think those days are over."
What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?
JP: "I have over 2,000 baseball cards."
Source: The Times
Description
Name: Reilly Sunday
School: Moon Area
Sport: Basketball
Position: Point Guard
Class: Freshman
Claim To Fame: In the week of 12/16/18 - 12/22/18, Sunday scored 24 points against Lincoln Park, and scored 22 points against West Allegheny.
Questions And Answers
So, tell me how long have you been playing basketball for?
RS: "10 years"
What has your team done right so far to have an overall record of 4-2 and a section record of 2-1?
RS: "So far, we have been playing for each other and not being selfish. We try to set the pace of the game and not play to how the other team wants us to play. We work hard at practice and work on the little things, like our fundamentals. Our coaches have us prepared well for each game and we watch film and adjust our game plan depending on who we play. We focus on one game at a time and we do the best we can as a team. We are having fun and our energy is good!"
What is your team's goal for this season?
RS: "We want to have a winning season and make it to playoffs."
How does it feel being a freshman on the Moon Area Girls Varsity basketball team and lead the team in points per game?
RS: "I just focus on doing everything I can to help my team win. It feels great to start the season at 4-2, and we are getting more confident as a team with each win."
Tell me how well you have transitioned from attending middle school to now attending high school.
RS: "It’s a big transition year. I work very hard in school to balance my school work and sports. My Moon and AAU offseason prepared me well for a smooth transition to high school basketball. My AAU coach, and tough summer schedule, helped prepare me to compete against the tough competition in this section. Coach Powell prepared us well over the summer and Moon played in a tough fall league and this helped us gel as a team and prepared us for the competition, this season. I felt very prepared as a freshman entering high school basketball."
Describe to me the basketball culture at Moon High School.
RS: "Our culture is very positive, team oriented, and fun. We work hard and look forward to getting better. We see we can play with anyone and we go out and do our best each game."
Let's just say a kid wants to play basketball; but, has never played the game before. The kid then goes up to you and ask, "What are the benefits of playing basketball?" How would you answer the kid?
RS: "Basketball teaches you many life skills. It teaches you teamwork and you can meet new friends. Basketball is also a very fun game; so, kids benefit from it to just have a good time. Also, to play basketball you have to work hard; so, basketball can teach you to have a strong work ethic and will show you what kind of person you are. You will see how hard you will work for things."
With the calendar year of 2018 almost over, could you tell us what your favorite moment of 2018 was?
RS: "Attending the Women’s Basketball NCAA Final Four in Columbus"
If you could meet celebrity in the world, who would you want to meet?
RS: "James Conner"
What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?
RS: "I love to bake and I make the best chocolate chip cookies ever!"