Female Athlete of the Week: Riley Hatzfeld (Week Ending February 11, 2024)

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Riley Hatzfeld

In a schedule that was heavy with late-season games, Our Lady of the Cross played three games during the Week of February 5th, going 2-1 and improving their position in the District 3 rankings. Riley Hatzfeld was dynamic in each of the games. On February 5th, the junior scored an astounding 49 points to lead the Lions to victory over Lititz Christian. She then scored 31 in a win over Alliance Christian and 36 points in a close loss to Harrisburg Academy. Her efforts continued to catch the attention of the LebCoSports.com voters, and they selected her as the LebCo Female Athlete of the Week.

If you thought that last week’s performance would be Hatzfeld’s high-water mark, you’d be wrong. On Monday, February 12th, Hatzfeld scored 40 points against Alliance Christian and then scorched Lehigh Valley Charter with a mind-blowing 50-point performance just two days later. The strong finish helped to solidify Our Lady of the Cross as the #10 seed for the 1A District 3 Playoffs.

While Hatzfeld’s recent offensive numbers are impressive, it’s worth taking a look at her total body of work this season over the course of 17 games. She has totaled 596 points, averaging 35.1 points per game. She has accomplished those numbers by shooting 52% from the field and also hitting 59 three-pointers. Hatzfeld has also knocked down 100 free throws on 124 attempts (81%). Beyond her scoring, she is also averaging 6.7 rebounds per game.

Our Lady of the Cross is currently 11-6 in their inaugural season as a PIAA-sanctioned school. For those who aren’t aware of the history, the school opened in the Fall of 2022 as a replacement for Lebanon Catholic following its closure in 2020. Hatzfeld was a Lebanon Catholic student at the time of the closure, which left her with uncertainty about her future. After attending Cedar Crest for a year, she enrolled at Our Lady when it opened its doors on Grace Avenue.

With her decision to go back to the Catholic school, she was able to rejoin the Lebanon Catholic coaching legend Patti Hower as she started a new program. Hatzfeld is currently the cornerstone of the program that is now set to play its first-ever District 3 game on Tuesday night against #7 Greenwood.
When asked about her team’s leader, Hower said, “Riley works extremely hard at her game. She has made herself into an excellent basketball player. She has a high basketball IQ and helps her teammates on and off the court to make us a better team. She loves basketball, and it shows in how she plays the game and how she practices.”

Beyond basketball, Hatzfeld has also translated her athleticism and dedication to finding success on the soccer field. During the Fall, she was the leading scorer for the Lions. Hatzfeld is always working on her skills in both sports, playing club soccer for the Lancaster Inferno and AAU basketball for Team Pennsylvania.
Being a multi-sport athlete is something that Hatzfeld was accustomed to while watching her older sister and brother play for Lebanon Catholic. Her older brother, Nathan, ended up playing goalie for DeSales University.

Playing college basketball is something that Hatzfeld would like to do. She is unsure of her career path at this point but sees herself eventually entering into a coaching role. By all accounts, the leadership skills she has shown to this point are an indication that the teenager may know her own strengths. She definitely has the beneift of learning from one of the best, attending Coach Hower’s practices daily.

For now, Hatzfeld will lead her team into Districts for the first time. While the goal will be to make it as far as possible in the postseason, they are bound to enjoy the experience as they finish up their first season together. We wish Riley and her teammates the best of luck in Districts and beyond.

Photo provided by Our Lady of the Cross

Stay tuned for articles on this week’s LebCo Male Athletes: Will Parker & Jonathon Shay

For a full list of this week’s nominees, check out: Athlete of the Week Voting:  February 5 – February 11

Previous Winners

Kenzie Eckhart (Week of 12/4) 

Laci Lesher (Week of 12/4) 

Morgan Kline (Week of 12/11) – Won the Lancaster Lebanon League Bowling Championship for the 2nd straight year

Mya Doster (Week of 12/11) 

Kailah Correa (Holiday Weeks) – Led Lebanon to the Lancaster Lebanon League Championship Game

Kylee Trostle (Holiday Weeks) – Won silver at the District 3 Sectionals & qualified for Regionals

Olive Brandt (Week of 1/8) – Led Lebanon to the Lancaster Lebanon League Championship Game

Kasey Weimer (Week of 1/8) 

Qynne Demler (Week of 1/15) – Won the MaxPreps Pennsylvania Player of the Week

Morgan Lantz (Week of 1/22)

Maddie Stout (Week of 1/22)

Kendall Cooper (Week of 1/29)

Miracle Hershey (Week of 1/29)