Daily Local News Girls Basketball Preview: After historic season, Henderson won’t be sneaking up on anyone this time

WEST CHESTER >> When you do all that the West Chester Henderson girls did last basketball season, the prospect of an encore can be a bit overwhelming.
Thirty wins in a row? A Ches-Mont championship followed by a District 1 crown? Advancing to the state quarterfinals?
Those are heady accomplishments for any program. At Henderson – who not long ago was racking up losing seasons – it represents seemingly unattainable milestones. Enter head coach Greta Neff, who in five seasons has transformed the Warriors from also-ran to the team to beat in the Ches-Mont league.
“We can certainly learn a lot from it, but last season is in the past,” Neff said. “It was a great group of kids and a great team, and it will forever be remembered, but we have our eyes on making 2018-19 a successful season.
“I think we have the pieces to, hopefully, get it done.”
There are some significant graduation losses to fill, of course, and the Warriors certainly won’t be sneaking up on anybody this winter. But Henderson has two stars to lean on in center Grace Ferguson and guard Erin Thompson, and a bunch of returnees who will now get their chance to take on more substantial roles.
“I know we won’t sneak up on anybody, and I do think we’ll have a lot of people saying last season was a fluke,” Neff said. “It’s really important to us to continue building the name of the program.
“Our girls take a lot of pride in being Henderson Warriors. For us to follow it up with something comparable is something we are working hard to get done.”
It certainly helps to have the reigning All-Area Co-Player of the Year (Ferguson) and the reigning team MVP (Thompson) as the foundation. The 6-foot-2 Ferguson averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game as a junior, and is poised for a lot more.
“Grace wasn’t necessarily our go-to all the time last season because we had so many scoring options,” Neff explained. “So for her to get some easy buckets close to the basket is going to be big for us. Defensively, she is a huge voice at the back of our press, our zone and our man-to-man.”
A first team All-League and All-Area pick a year ago, Thompson led the Warriors in scoring (13 per game) and free throw percentage (80) and chipped in three assists and three steals per outing.
“Erin is the Energizer Bunny,” Neff said. “The girl finishes first in every single sprint. She works harder than any person I’ve been around. I put in the hours coaching, scouting, prepping, and it’s really just to keep up with Erin.
“She is a special kid like that. She has a lot of willpower that we will be leaning on this year.”
Finding the complimentary three-through-six players is going to be the biggest challenge for Neff, but the 2017-18 Daily Local News Coach of the Year is confident that ability isn’t going to be an issue. Replacing the intangibles of versatile forward Abby Shea and fiery point guard Maddie DePrisco, however, is a taller order.
“I don’t think we replace and Abby or a Maddie, but we have some kids who are seniors who have some really unique leadership qualities in Cam Trotter and Michaella Meredith,” Neff said. “I’m excited to see what they can do.”
Neff is also intrigued by the potential of sophomore guard Molly Manion, who played varsity as a freshman.
“Once (Manion) puts all of the pieces together, she can be a really impactful player on this league,” Neff said.
According to Neff, the Ches-Mont National race is wide open. She mentioned Downingtown East, Coatesville and Bishop Shanahan as prime contenders.
“Downingtown East has (6-5 junior center) Bella Smuda and she is huge, both figuratively and literally,” Neff said. “Coatesville and Shanahan both have some pieces to the puzzle, and you can’t sleep on West Chester East or Downingtown West either.
“On the American side, (West Chester) Rustin is always a threat, Unionville has some size and Kennett has a nice player in (Andrea) Prestianne.”
Some of the personnel have changed, but don’t look for any big philosophical changes at Henderson. The Warriors will play hard, rely on a culture that stresses teamwork, and will be solid defensively.
“They are high school girls. When they are friends, they click,” Neff said. “The team last season really showed our underclassmen the way. They couldn’t have a better group of role models to follow.”
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Elsewhere around Chester County girls basketball:
BISHOP SHANAHAN >> Under new head coach Zachary Ray, who replaced Fran Burbridge, the Eagles went 12-12 last season and exited in the first round of the districts. It was quite a drop off from three straight Ches-Mont championships (2015-17), but with a solid backcourt, Shanahan should be much improved. Returning starters include guards Sammie McCarter and Gianna Dimarco, and guard-forward Kathryn Greenhut.
WEST CHESTER RUSTIN >> The Golden Knights are coming off a 22-7 campaign that included the Ches-Mont American championship, and a run to the District 1 5A semifinals. But stars Maggie O’Hara (19 points per game) and Erin Gallagher (12 ppg) have graduated. Forwards Grace Palona and Dikaya Daniels, and point guard Bec Magrone, are all returning starters, and will have to improve on their combined scoring average of 19 points per game. “The concern is replacing Maggie and Erin’s scoring,” head coach Jim Powers confirmed.
KENNETT >> Having to replace three lost starters from a team that went 9-11 a year ago, the Blue Demons have some work to do to move up the Ches-Mont pecking order. Senior Andrea Prestianne and junior Gina Lusvardi return as starters, and although both will have to make strides, they will need some help. “I want this team to play hard and be good teammates,” said Kennett head coach Vince Cattano.
UNIONVILLE >> Head coach Fred Ellzy is looking to bounce back from a 9-13 record a year ago. And with returning senior starters Sam Ciccarelli and Olivia Cresta in the backcourt – along with forward Erin Towler – Unionville could be better. Juniors Anna Iacocca and Lyndsey Barrett will fill out the top rotation.
“We are a defensive-oriented team with a talented young group of players which will add to our depth,” Ellzy said.
WEST CHESTER EAST >> The Vikings boast one of the area’s top backcourts, but may be a year or two away in the frontcourt. Marissa McDonald was a second team All-Ches-Mont pick as a junior and has committed to Division I New Jersey Tech. Mackenzie Richardson is headed to Immaculata and forward Lauren Klieber also returns. “I’m looking forward to the experience of McDonald and Richardson leading a young group of talented sophomores to an improved season,” head coach Erin Listrani said. East was 8-14 in 2017-18.
AVON GROVE >> First-year head coach Bart O’Connor acknowledges that 2018-19 is going to be a building season for the Red Devils, coming off a 5-17 campaign. But he does have an athletic bunch, led by senior guard Amanda Smida, who has already signed to play at Penn State-Harrisburg. Juniors Rachel Donten, Caroline Malone and Jamie Perkins are all in the mix. “My concern is how quickly can we become a team and play to our strengths,” O’Connor said.
OXFORD >> The Hornets have a new head coach and longtime standout Miranda Porretta has graduated. But rookie coach Jason Wisneski has returnees in Anna Hampshire and Jaime Herrin from a team that went 7-3 in the Ches-Mont American. Add in sophomores Cristina Fernandez and Julia Alesi, and senior Gianna Coyle, and Oxford has a nice core to work with. “I’m confident with what I’ve seen so far that we’ll put a competitive group on the floor each night,” Wisneski said. “We don’t have a lot of size, but our guards are quick.”
DOWNINGTOWN WEST >> The Whippets bottomed out a season ago, going 3-18. But veteran head coach Dave Johnson will have more to work with this winter with two returning starting guards Grace Wenner and Julia Marrone, who combined to average over 11 points per game. Add in guard-forward Jess Wills and her 7.3 scoring average, and West should be much improved. “We continue to work hard and grow as a team,” Johnson said.
COATESVILLE >> New head coach Scott Barker inherits a squad that could challenge for the Ches-Mont National title. It all starts with senior point guard Sarah Huston (14 ppg) and 6-foot sophomore forward Neveyah Chester (16 ppg, team-high 27 3-pointers). Guard Shyne Boggs is also a returning starter. The Raiders are young, however, with three freshmen and three sophomores in the playing rotation.
DOWNINGTOWN EAST >> The Cougars return starting center Bella Smuda and starting guard Caroline Brennan, and four other letterwinners from a team that went 18-10. A junior, the 6-foot-5 Smuda averaged 14.8 ppg, 11.8 rpg and over seven blocks as a sophomore. East was 9-3 in the Ches-Mont National and is a sure-fire contender this winter. “We would like to build on last season’s record and work to make the 6A district playoffs again,” said head coach Tom Schurtz.
GREAT VALLEY >> Alex Venarchik has some concerns, but the Patriots’ head coach believes his team can complete in the Ches-Mont American race and return to the District 1 and PIAA playoffs. Great Valley was 15-10 a year ago, and boasts an array of returning letterwinners including senior guards Annalise Porreca, Katie Peduto and Amanda Heins, and forwards Mia DeRobertis and Tessa Liberatoscioli. “Lack of size could be an issue if we do not box out and rebound every game, but this team plays unselfishly and competes on both ends of the floor,” Venarchik said.
CONESTOGA >> A.J. Thompson takes over for Chris Jefferies as head coach, and the Pioneers are a bit inexperienced. Three starters have moved on, including Central League Player of the Year Katie Mayock, but guards Emily Lortz and Hailey Klinger return. So does 6-foot-1 forward Katharine Gay. “Our biggest challenge is our lack of varsity experience,” Thompson said. “We have a lot of girls that are new to the varsity level and it’s going to take some time for them to adjust to the level of play in the Central League and get comfortable out on the floor.”
VILLA MARIA >> The Hurricanes won’t have starter Morgan Warley, who suffered a season-ending injury, but still should be in the mix for the AACA and District 1 races just as they were last season. Junior forward Paige Lauder (14.9 ppg; 8.5 rpg) is a genuine star, and fellow 6-footer Abby Walheim (11.2 ppg; 5.2 rpg) is another quality post player. Point guard Julia Samar anchors the backcourt. “Our overall strength will be our experience with four out of five starters returning. We are also an athletic, long team who should be difficult to guard,” said longtime Villa head coach Kathy McCartney.
WESTTOWN >> Head coach Carrie Timmons has the deepest team in her 11-year reign. Coming off a 14-9 record a year ago, Westtown returns all five starters, including first-team All-Friends School League point guard Halle Brown. The 2017-18 squad won a PAISSA Tournament game for the first time in a decade and are looking for more milestones this winter.