Sikora has the ‘inside’ stuff for Lady Hounds
By Corey J. Corbin
New Castle News
Tessa Sikora doesn’t call attention to herself.
The Wilmington High girls basketball standout quietly goes about her business on the court and, before you know it, she’s reached double figures.
“It’s nothing flashy or magnificent. She just goes to work,” Wilmington coach Brandy Sanford said. “She’ll make an errant pass off a rebound or something like that. You’re like ‘Oh man ...’ Then after the game, you look at the stats and you’re like ‘Holy cow, here I was focusing on the little things she wasn’t doing and missing all the good things.’ She’s one of those fly under the radar kind of players.”
Sikora’s numbers against District 10, Region 2-AA rivals West Middlesex and Greenville were extremely noticeable.
The 6-foot senior forward posted 11 points, 20 rebounds and five blocks in a 58-46 victory over the Ms. Reds, while tossing in 15 points in a 55-25 win over the Lady Trojans.
The performances earned her Lawrence County Athlete of the Week honors, an award sponsored by Washington Centre Physical Therapy and selected by the New Castle News sports staff.
“I hope for those to be my norm,” Sikora said. “I go out there and I want the ball. I try to get it done and try to get better each game. I use that as incentive.
“I prefer playing inside. When you’re down there, you have to use your body. You have to find your person, bump them and get big. Being tall is definitely an advantage.”
She may not have improved her scoring outputs on a nightly basis, but Sikora has reached double figures in all 22 games for the Lady Greyhounds and is Lawrence County’s third-leading scorer at 16.1 markers a game.
“She’s been very, very consistent throughout the season,” Sanford said. “She’s had her up and down games. An up game for her is 20 points and 20 rebounds. A down game for her is 12 points and 12 rebounds — still double digits. She has specific things that she does. She rebounds, gets the outlet pass out and puts shots back.”
Sikora’s rebounding skills are her most important contribution to the team, Sanford said.
“I’d like to say it’s the points, but it’s the rebounds,” the Wilmington coach admitted. “We’re all about defense and getting the rebound. Whether it’s the offensive board or the defensive board, that gets us the ball. I’ll stick by the rebounds every single time. We’ve got to have ’em.”
The Lady ’Hounds standout echoed her coach’s sentiments.
“Every rebound matters,” she said. “I’ve always been a big rebounder. Without rebounds, you might not get a second shot.”
Sikora, who starred this fall for coach Amber Marett, has been able to carry over her volleyball skills over to the hardwood.
“I’ve always liked getting blocks,” she said. “It reminds me of volleyball season. My volleyball skills translate very well, because you’re always moving and jumping.”
The Lady ’Hounds (15-7) return to the District 10, Class AA playoffs when they travel to Fairview High School for a 4 p.m. tipoff with Girard on Saturday.
“We made the playoffs my freshman and sophomore years,” said Sikora, whose father Bruce starred in football and basketball at Wilmington. “We went in knowing we were going to play a team that was bigger than us. This year, we know we have a lot better chance. It’s getting us excited. We have to play together, work the ball inside and out. If we keep doing what we’ve been doing the past couple of weeks, we’ll be fine.”
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THE TESSA SIKORA FILE
POSITION: Forward
TEAM: Wilmington
GRADE: Senior
PARENTS: Marleen and Bruce Sikora.
KNOWN FOR: Posting 11 points, 20 rebounds and five blocks in a 58-46 District 10, Region 2-AA win over West Middlesex, while tossing in 15 points in a 55-25 win over Greenville.
FAVORITE PLAYER AND WHY: Mike Wallace. “He goes out on the field, works hard and gets it done.”
FAVORITE PRO TEAM AND WHY: Pittsburgh Steelers. “They’re the hometown team.”
FUTURE PLANS: “I want to attend Edinboro University and major in criminal justice. I haven’t decided on a sport yet.”