Aaliyah Dabney of Berks Catholic is UECU Player of the Week
Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week
Everyone noticed the career-high 19 points Aailyah Dabney scored in Berks Catholic’s 48-30 win over Big Spring in a District 3 Class 4A quarterfinal last week, but many missed her biggest impact.
That came on the defensive end where the 5-7 senior guard helped keep the Bulldogs’ top scorer, Laney Noreika, in check.
Stopping opponents from scoring has always been Dabney’s No. 1 priority.
“I love defense,” said Dabney, who has been named the Utilities Employees Credit Union girls basketball Player of the Week. “I always go 100%. If I don’t have offense, I always make sure I have defense. I just put it in my mind that defense is first. Always.”
The second-seeded Saints have plenty of other scoring options and numerous 3-point threats. Dabney’s contribution on the defensive end is just as vital, if not more.
“She does the dirty work,” said Berks Catholic coach Bob Birmingham. “She just goes after it. She plays hard, she’s strong, she’s athletic.
“She’s a great role model for all the kids. She plays hard all the time and she has a great personality.”
She can score points, too. Dabney is third on the team in scoring at 8.4 points per game. Before Friday her season high came in the season-opener when she scored 15 points against West York in a 52-44 victory.
“If I see the opening and it’s clear, I take it,” Dabney said. “But I also want my team to have the points. That’s just how I play. I want everyone to get their job done. If someone else is open and I have a tricky lane, I’ll pass it.”
Dabney is a four-year varsity player and county champion. The win over Big Spring was arguably her greatest game. She also had nine rebounds to go with the points and defensive work.
Dabney is a multi-sport athlete. She was an all-division soccer pick in soccer and plans to play lacrosse for the first time this spring.
Dabney is the third Berks Catholic player this season to earn Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of Week awards. She joins Caroline Reedy and Caraline Herb.
Berks League coaches nominate their top players each week. At the end of the season a Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of Year will be selected.
Previously selected for the Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of Week:
- Dec. 20: Kya Washington, Reading High
- Dec. 27: Caraline Herb, Berks Catholic
- Jan. 3: Shakyla Mayo, Gov. Mifflin
- Jan. 10: Alexis Hess, Fleetwood
- Jan. 17: Addison Benner, Brandywine Heights
- Jan. 24: Lekaiah Solomon, Schuylkill Valley
- Jan. 31: Caroline Reedy, Berks Catholic
- Feb. 7: Addison Benner, Brandywine Heights
- Feb. 14: Caroline Reedy, Berks Catholic
- Feb. 21: Shakyla Mayo, Gov. Mifflin
