JOHNSTOWN —
Becky Siembak scored more points than any other basketball player – girls or boys – at Greater Johnstown High School.
She went on to be named NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Player of the Year as a junior at California and was part of the Vulcans’ national championship team as a senior.
Siembak has been inducted into both the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame and California University Athletics Hall of Fame.
The latest honor for the
Johnstown native will occur on her “home court.” The Lady Trojans will retire Siembak’s No. 42 jersey during Johns-town’s game against United on Friday at Doc Stofko Gymnasium.
“I have really good memories about playing at Johns-
town. That’s where my career began,” said Siembak, who scored 1,733 points and had 1,325 rebounds for the Lady Trojans before graduating in 2000.
“It’s a celebration of girls basketball at Johnstown High School,” she added. “There were many good players that came before me that were my role models – Carrie Thomas, Kelly Martin, Ann Smith. There were many good players after me – Crystal Andrews, Jill Maurer. They might be recognizing me individually, but it also says the district takes girls basketball seriously.”
Siembak was a four-time
all-Mid-Alleghenies Conference selection while playing her first three seasons under former Johnstown coach John Skunta and her senior year for former coach Steve Warner.
“The biggest memories are of the conference we played in,” said Siembak, a learning support teacher at Trinity Middle School in Washington County. “We played Altoona, Bishop Guilfoyle, Hollidaysburg and State College. Everybody had a good work ethic. We may not have always won the games but it wasn’t for lack of trying. I have positive memories of my teammates and just playing against tough competition which ultimately prepared me for the college level. Most nights we were playing against some of the best competition in the state.”
Siembak began her college career at Slippery Rock but transferred to California when coach Darcie Vincent moved from the Rock to Cal. Siembak netted 2,019 points and grabbed 1,203 rebounds during her college career and was one of only 15 players in Division II history to surpass 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
A forward, Siembak was the 2003 women’s player of the year in Division II and was on the Vulcans’ 2004 national championship squad.
“Sometimes when I really sit down and think about it I can’t believe how fortunate I’ve been and how through hard work and setting goals I was able to accomplish everything I set out to accomplish,” said Siembak, who helped Johnstown coach Chuck DiFalco hold a camp last year and intends to do so again this summer.
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Greater Johnstown’s Becky Siembak scored 1,733 career points. File Photo/The Tribune-Democrat
Discussion
Trojans retiring No. 42
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