Tough first round assignments for local teams in PIAA Playoffs
EAST WHITELAND – Four Chester County basketball squads have earned berths into the upcoming PIAA Girls Playoffs. That’s the good news.
The prospects for advancement are dicey, however, when you consider that only one, Great Valley, is favored to move on to the state’s Sweet 16. That’s because the other three – Downingtown East, Villa Maria and West Chester East – are all facing recently crowned district champions in round one.
“Playing in front of big crowds in big gyms in districts will definitely help everyone,” said Great Valley senior standout Tessa Liberatoscioli. “I think (all the local teams) will be ready for whatever comes next.”
Villa Maria head coach Kathy McCartney added: “We are thrilled to be in the state tournament. There aren’t a lot of teams left and we are still playing basketball, which always makes me think the season was successful.”
On paper, the Patriots (22-4 overall) look to have the credentials, and a manageable path, to make some noise in the Class 5A bracket. Coming off a two-point loss in the district final, Great Valley opens on Saturday against West York at 2:30 p.m. at Methacton High School.
“We were upset about (a 29-27) loss to Springfield (Delco) for a day and then we started thinking about states,” Liberatoscioli said.
“Not many teams can hold Springfield to 29 points. Defense is what we work the most on in practice.”
As a result, the Patriots are a dogged defensive squad that rebounds exceedingly well.
“This group always leaves it out on the court. I love the way they play,” said head coach Alex Venarchik.
“The mantra all season has been that there will be nights where we only score 30-40 points, but defense and rebounding are the things that don’t necessarily take talent. It takes will and consistency. These kids do it. They’ve bought into it.”
At the helm for 10 years, this is Venarchik’s first squad to make it to states. West York placed fourth in District 3 and sports a 21-6 record. The winner will draw the Trinity (17-5)-Penn Hills (12-12) winner on Wednesday.
Of the remaining three local teams still alive, battle-hardened Villa Maria (18-7) may be best positioned to stage a first round upset. The Hurricanes lost star forward Paige Lauder (a Columbia recruit) to a season-ending injury early in the season, but head coach Kathy McCartney still got here team into states for the 14th time in the last 15 years.
“A lot of people counted us out after that injury, but I felt like we had the people in place to pick up where she left off,” McCartney said.
“We didn’t have a choice. (Lauder) was out and the other kids just had to pick up the pace. And they’ve done a really nice job. As the season’s gone on, we’ve gotten better and better, which is always the goal.”
Villa Maria will place District 11 champion Blue Mountain at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Martz Hall in Pottsville. The Eagles (15-9 overall) have a legitimate three-point threat in senior guard Emily Fasnacht.
“They are similar to us, but we might play at a higher pace than they do,” McCartney explained.
“A couple people from my staff were up there to watch the District (11) Championship Game on Saturday. We’ll be ready … I hope. We are the five seed, so I feel a little like we are playing with house money now.”
Even without Lauder, the ’Canes are a senior-laden squad, with tested contributors like forward Maddie Ryan and guards Morgan and Myla Warley.
“And another senior, Jackie Ford, is a quiet leader in that group,” McCartney pointed out. “She fills the stat sheet, but not always with the things that get recognized in the newspaper.
“We are an older team. I think that’s the reason why we could rebound from losing Paige. The kids are experienced and know what it takes.”
The county’s lone Class 6A entry, Downingtown East, has a star in 6-foot-5 center Bella Smuda. But the Cougars (19-8) may face the most daunting first-round challenge in District 11 champion Nazareth (24-4).
The clash will take place Friday at 6 p.m. at Freedom High School in Bethlehem. The Eagles are a traditional power, and the 2019-20 version is a defense-first outfit. And Nazareth will get some help in the post as 5-foot-11 Courtney Paulson is back from a knee injury that forced her to sit out the regular season.
Whether it will be enough to deal with Smuda (a Liberty University recruit) is another story. But Downingtown East barely squeaked into the field as the 11th seed from District 1, and will need a total team effort to get past Nazareth.
The bracket also didn’t do West Chester East any favors. The 18-8 Vikings drew District 3 champion Gettysburg in round one Saturday, 4:30 p.m., at Cumberland Valley.
The Warriors are 26-3 overall and have an early-season win over Downingtown East on its resume. Gettysburg has a balanced attack, with four players averaging at least nine points per game: Anne Bair, Taylor Richardson, Cheyenne Proctor and Camryn Felix.
For East to have a legitimate chance, it needs to be more balanced. That means that standout junior forward Lauren Klieber needs more help from her teammates.
