Oakland Catholic’s London Creach said she received the first standing ovation of her career on Monday. It had nothing to do with an amazing performance or a big shot that she made, but rather the fact that Creach was entering a game to play for the first time in nearly a year.

Creach, a standout senior and Robert Morris recruit, made her season debut in Monday’s 68-37 win at Highlands. Creach had not played in a game since tearing the ACL in her left knee in her team’s win against North Hills in the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinals last Feb. 23.

“It was low-key crazy,” Creach said of her return Monday, which saw her enter the game as a substitute midway through the opening quarter. “I hadn’t played in almost a year, so I felt like I was getting used to being on the bench for how long it was.”

Creach said she played about six minutes in the game and finished with 6 points. Her minutes are being managed as she works her way back to full strength, Creach said, but the hope is she will be starting and playing her normal minutes come playoff time.

Oakland Catholic, under the direction of first-year coach Henry Schechter, has done an excellent job tackling the competition in Creach’s absence. The Eagles are 11-2 overall and 7-1 in Class 4A Section 1. They will get a huge test next Wednesday when they host three-time defending WPIAL champion and section leader North Catholic (13-2, 7-0). The Trojanettes defeated Oakland Catholic, 42-34, on Dec. 11.

“I’m really excited [about playing the rest of the season], especially the North Catholic game,” Creach said. “We were supposed to play that game last week, but it was thankfully postponed.”

Wade shoots for record

Clairton senior Iyanna Wade already ranks among the top scorers in WPIAL history. She will shoot to become the all-time leading scorer in school history on Thursday when Clairton hosts West Greene.

Wade has scored 2,677 career points, which puts her 26 away from the Clairton record held by 2003 graduate Kamela Gissendanner, who poured in 2,703. There’s a good chance Wade will do it Thursday, as she is averaging 44.5 points per game and pumped in 56 in an 83-72 overtime win at West Greene last month.

Surpassing Gissendanner would move Wade to No. 5 on the WPIAL’s all-time scoring list. The only players to score more are Monessen’s Gina Naccarato (3,364), Monessen’s Charel Allen (3,110), East Allegheny’s Brooke Stewart (3,055) and Steel Valley’s Jess Strom (2,840). Wade is currently seventh on the list. She’s one point away from McKeesport’s Swin Cash (2,678), regarded by many as the greatest player in WPIAL history.

Iyanna Wade will try to become Clairton’s all-time leading scorer when the Bears host West Greene on Thursday. (Emily Matthews/Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Wade and Gissendanner are close — Wade even worked for Gissendanner the past two summers at Clairton Pool — and Gissendanner said she plans on attending the game to support Wade. Gissendanner is head coach of the La Roche women’s basketball team. The team practices until 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, which Gissendanner said should give her enough time to make it to Clairton in time for the 6:30 tip.

“I just want none of the attention on myself and all of it on her,” Gissendanner said. “This night is all about her. I helped pave the way, but she’s done the rest.”

Gissendanner remembers chasing Kameico Robison’s school record (2,031 points) more than two decades ago. While Gissendanner said she is thrilled that Wade is about to surpass her mark, she admits that she did think her record would hold up for longer than it did.

“I didn’t think it would go this soon,” Gissendanner said, “but Yaya is a generational talent, so I’m not surprised.”

1K for Mimi

Standing 6 feet 4, Quaker Valley’s Mimi Thiero stands out every time she steps on a basketball court. Thiero scored her 1,000th career point on Monday, and the way in which she did it showcased why the highly recruited junior center has close to 50 Division I offers.

The versatile Thiero reached the milestone not on a post move, fastbreak layup or even a free throw, but rather a 3-pointer. Her three-ball from the left side came midway through the third quarter of Quaker Valley’s 68-19 home win against Sto-Rox. It was the final basket of the game for Thiero, who finished with 29 points to push her career total to 1,002. It led to a loud applause from the Quaker Valley cheering section, which included her mom, dad and two sisters.

Thiero has been dominant this season, as she is averaging 22.1 points, 15.4 rebounds, 3.7 steals, 3.3 blocks and 3.1 assists per game. Her strong play has helped Quaker Valley (8-7, 6-3) win five of its past six games to move into a tie for second place in Class 3A Section 1.

Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.

Brad Everett

Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.