Harriton senior duo helped Rams scale heights

Rosemont >> Three years ago, following a heartbreaking loss to visiting Pope John Paul II in a game that would have sent the Harriton girls basketball team to the PIAA state tournament for the first time in school history, Ram freshmen Annie Aspesi and Maretta Smith – the only players left in the locker room – looked at each other and said, “This is our team now.”

Ram head coach Chris Wielgus said, “Harriton girls’ basketball changed the day Annie and Maretta arrived on campus.  Their love of the game, work ethic and magnetic personalities transformed this program into league and district contenders.  They are remarkably effective leaders and very kind people.” 

One year ago, thanks in part to the play and leadership of Aspesi and Smith, the Rams advanced to the PIAA District 1 5A championship game for the first time in program history. This past winter, with a starting lineup composed of Aspesi, Smith, two freshmen and one sophomore, the Rams posted a 16-11 record and finished sixth in the District 1 5A tournament, barely missing the state tournament.

“This team is a special group, led by Annie and Maretta,” said Wielgus. “We were not a very good team when they arrived [as freshmen], but they’ve taken us to the district tournament, and they have competed [to the maximum] in every single game that they’ve played. They never give up, and they can be down by 10, and they’ll come roaring back sooner or later, and they’ve brought along a bunch of young kids that are going to fill our future.”

Aspesi, a three-time All-Central League first team selection, scored more than 1,000 points in her Harriton career and averaged more than 18 ppg during the Rams’ 8-game win streak late in the season. Smith was a second team All-Central League pick and was considered the Rams’ top defender.

Another senior on the Rams’ team, Kira McDonnell, said, “I tried to include everyone during practice. We only have 14 players so it’s important to have a sense of community.”

Aspesi said, “It was super important to us to make our program better. We have worked hard to help get the program to this point and we want the younger kids to keep going what we helped start. We expect big things from this program.”

“Seeing this program grow means so much to me,” said Smith. “Annie and I have worked hard and have done some special things during our time.”

Harriton sophomore Felicity McFillin said, “I do not know where we would be without the seniors on our team this winter. They have meant so much to the program. They hyped us up and have us focus on one game at a time.

“During the [COVID] pandemic, their leadership was really important. They helped us stay positive during a really difficult time.

“I learned leadership from them. They push us harder each day to get better and I hope to be able to do that after they leave.”

• Eddie Levin contributed to this article.