Full Speed Ahead: Moreland’s uptempo style leads to 1,000-point milestone at Fayette
No matter the score, Haley Moreland plays at one speed: fast.
Moreland is completing her senior basketball season as starting point guard at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, and has already taken one goal off her bucket list.
She joined five other Fayette women players in the 1,000-point scoring club with 21 points in a recent 66-62 win at Butler County Community College.
Moreland joins Jill Guthrie, Kasey Ruble, Caitlin Wontroba, Taylor Smith, and Courtney Haines in the exclusive club.
A teammate with 2017 graduates Smith and Haines, Moreland said she was glad to reach a level she missed in high school at Laurel Highlands.
“I don’t often realize that I play so fast,” Moreland said. “It’s my normal level. I used to be out of control (on the court), but through coaching and hard work I worked on my own speed.”
She credits several Fayette coaches for helping her polish her game, including Kurt Mattern, Vince Capozzi, Dr. Jo Jankowski, Jujuan Davis, and present coach Scott Hillen.
Moreland said her parents, Phillip and Jessica, and older brother, Matt, “helped me get to where I am today.”
That would be on track to graduate in the spring before entering graduate school at California University, with an eye on a career in social work and mental health.
She has been completing an internship at Uniontown Hospital to gain additional experience.
Moreland credits Smith and Haines with teaching her a lot about court leadership.
“Taylor was a silent leader by example,” Moreland said. “She would definitely speak up when necessary.
“Courtney is a more outgoing leader and was very inspirational.”
She describes the impact both graduates had on her career as “a good balance.”
Moreland still has goals she hopes to complete before graduation.
“I’d like to make the (PSUAC) playoffs and get a (PSUAC or USCAA) championship,” she said. “I also want to have overall success academically and hopefully be a (USCAA) Academic All American.”
In having numerous coaches, Moreland sees the many benefits from different philosophies.
“I had to try to adjust to the styles everyone brought to the table,” she said. “But it was beneficial more than anything. I may want to coach some day. I don’t know how I would be, but I would hope to have a positive impact and apply some of what I know from my experiences.”
Moreland said basketball on the Division III level at Fayette is often misunderstood by those who haven’t watched the games.
“We can be equally competitive (to higher collegiate divisions),” she said. “We host the (USCAA) National Championships, and we love being at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort” for the pre-tournament banquet and lodging. “It’s a nice facility, and (Fayette) has the nicest court of those in the (PSUAC) conference, in my opinion.”