Freshman Allen Lives Up To Billing At Monessen
By Marissa N. Scarvel

Charel Allen found the transition to varsity basketball difficult.

Most of the players who have faced her likely will find that hard to believe.

Monessen High School's 5-foot, 10-inch freshman point guard averaged 22 points, six steals, 12 rebounds and 4.7 assists a game through the regular season while leading her freshman-dominated team to a top ranking heading into the WPIAL Class A playoffs that began a couple of weeks ago.

Allen's reputation preceded her to high school. Everything said about her skills and ability appears to be true.

"She's as good as everyone says she is," said Greyhounds Coach Major Corley.

"She's leading the team in all areas. She's a complete player and is definitely our go-to person."

Joining Allen in the starting lineup are two other freshmen, a junior and the team's lone senior. Monessen's success surprised many this season, including its star.

"I didn't think we'd do this well, but so far we are proving everyone wrong," Allen said.

Allen is a key reason Monessen was able to silence the skeptics. She and the team's two other guards account for 80 percent of the Greyhounds points.

"With her height and speed, she can go underneath or we can play her out front," Corley said. "She's hard to defend because she can shoot over you. It's impressive for a player to come out of middle school and lead in all categories."

Although just a freshman, Allen has caught the attention of some big-time college programs. She's already heard many comparisons to former Monessen standout Gina Naccarato, the WPIAL scoring leader who started at Duquesne University and is now a Monessen assistant.

Geibel coach George Bortz said the comparisons are justified.

"She's one of the five best freshmen I've seen," said Bortz, who has been coaching 13 years. "She's so difficult to defend because she can do so many things well. It's hard for other guards to match up against her because of her height and quickness. And she's aware of the defenses trying to stop her. She does a good job of getting the ball to her teammates and making them better."

Allen's coaches are as impressed with her work ethic as they are with her athletic ability. She regularly stays after practice to work on her shooting and some other drills.

"She is a hard worker and that's one reason she's able to make such good decisions as a freshman," Naccarato said. "She is already a leader. She'll always be in the spotlight and she's aware of it and knows how to handle it."

Allen doesn't mind the attention but admits she's a little overwhelmed by it.

"I just take one day at a time," she said. "I don't care how many points I score as long as I have fun. I thought the transition to varsity play would be easier. At first, I wasn't ready for the competition that we have."

Still, Allen gained ground quickly. She was shooting 68 percent from the foul line and 35 percent from three-point range late in the regular season.

Allen plays year-round with an AAU team and Corley said the competition against better ballplayers helps enhance her skills.

"She's very good and getting better," he said. "She's really reading defenses better. Down the stretch we want the ball in her hands and she wants the ball in her hands.

"Most of all she has the right attitude. She loves to play basketball and when you love the game and spend as much time at it as she does, you can only get better. She gives 100 percent all of the time."