Popovec continues winning tradition

By Joe Scalzo

Her Pittsburgh Panthers are playing in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

Last March, Kate Popovec was a senior in high school watching the NCAA women’s tournament on TV.

She has a better view this year.

The Canfield High graduate has emerged as a key reserve in her first season for the fourth-seeded Pitt women’s basketball team, which is in Oklahoma City, Okla., today for a game against top-seeded Oklahoma at 9:30 p.m.

“You always hope you’ll be lucky enough to get there,” Popovec said of the Sweet Sixteen. “When it happens, you’re kind of in awe about it.

“You’re sitting and watching and playing in the tournament knowing you’re one of the best 64 teams in the NCAA. And right now we’re one of the best 16 teams. It’s been crazy and so much fun.”

The 6-foot-3 Popovec, a four-year standout for the Cardinals, is averaging 4.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. She has appeared in 26 of the Panthers’ 32 games — she missed a handful of games in the middle of the season with a severe ankle sprain — and has one start.

“I had to come in and relearn how to accept a lesser role as a young player after coming off my senior year when I played a big leadership role,” she said. “They embrace that here and it’s been a very good experience.

“I have great people surrounding me, helping me adjust the best I can. The transition has been a lot smoother than I thought it was going to be.”

Popovec said her biggest adjustment has been the time commitment required to play Division I basketball, where practices are often three hours or more (high school practices are rarely more than two hours), followed by lifting and, of course, her college workload.

“I’m learning how to balance my schedule,” she said. “You have to make sure you’re progressing.”

One thing she hasn’t had to adjust to is winning. Popovec won four league titles at Canfield and has always been on successful basketball teams.

“I like it that way,” she said, laughing. “In college, to be on a winning team is such an amazing feeling. We have so much talent and I’m so blessed to have so much support around me.”

That support extends back to the Mahoning Valley, where her parents attend all home games (and some away games), often bringing along someone from Canfield. She still talks to former teachers and often gets e-mails and phone calls from people back home.

“My teammates joke about me having groupies,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons I chose to come here.”

Popovec also keeps tabs with Boardman High graduate and Michigan State freshman Courtney Schiffauer — the two played together in middle school and were on the same AAU team — since both had teams in the Sweet Sixteen.

Schiffauer was not available to interview for this story. SAturday, her ninth-seeded Spartans lost to fourth-seeded Iowa State, 69-68. Schiffauer had four points, one rebound and two assists.

“We’re actually really close friends,” said Popovec of Schiffauer. “I was talking to her [on Tuesday] and we were talking about how crazy it is to be in the Sweet Sixteen.”

Popovec also keeps up with former Canfield teammates such as Bryanne Halfhill (who was named second team all-conference for the University of Chicago’s basketball team) and Melissa West (who plays softball for Bowling Green).

“I feel so blessed to be from such a great place,” Popovec said. “I’m thankful for the support and could not be happier with how things have turned out.”

scalzo@vindy.com