Girls Basketball Preview: Numerous area teams will count on underclassmen this season
It is without much irony or sarcasm to say that the 2021-22 girls basketball season in Chester County will be a breath of fresh air.
While Covid-19 restrictions will still see fans, coaches and players on the bench wearing masks, the players on the floor can go sans face coverings. All those connected to the sport are excited to have a full, and hopefully, uninterrupted season back.
Programs will be a needed accessory for patrons across the county as graduations have taken a toll on a number of teams that should create wide-open, exciting league races. With a bunch of squads expecting to be on the young, inexperienced side, the canvas is free for players to make their marks and get noticed by a wider audience. A couple of programs will have new coaches ready to stamp their influence on a new group of talent.
Here is a look at the area teams for the 2021-22 season starting with the National Division of the Ches-Mont League.
Avon Grove looks to improve on its record from last season and be able to thrust themselves into Ches-Mont National contention.
Two seniors will carry the torch for them, gurad Bria Nartey and Alex Miller. Junior guard Sydney Traa and sophomore Brooke Huver will also be key cogs that coach Bart O’Connor will count on.
Freshmen Leila Rubin and Gabrielle Beltran are expected to see playing time and make measurable contributions.
“This season, we are looking to step up our expectations and compete with the perennial leaders of the Ches-Mont National Division,” said O’Connor. “The excitement and the comradery within the team this year is really a great thing to watch evolve so early in the season. The leadership that the experienced players have brought to practice this year will really help this team reach levels that the AG program has not reached in recent years. The young talent is really helping push the overall talent level of this team and we are excited to get the season started.”
Bishop Shanahan will be restocking the cupboard after losing all five starters from last year’s team. The bulk of the team’s construction for veteran coach Jim Powers will be sophomores and juniors. Forward Sammi Blumenthal and guards Alyssa Brown and Cadence Oswald bring the most experience back. Blumentahl will be the main presence on the inside. The Eagles will be more guard oriented than last season, which should translate into a squad that will look to get out and move the ball quickly in transition.
“We should be in the mix,” said coach Jim Powers. “We’ll be more guard-oriented than in year’s past. We’ll be more up-and-down, quick paced and up tempo.”
The Eagles’ nonleague schedule includes games with Cardinal O’Hara, Unionville in the Ches-Mont Challenge, Episcopal Academy, a crossover game with Kennett and a trip to Philly for a late January tournament.
Coatesville looks to reach the District 1 playoffs this year, and possibly be a player in the division race, according to coach Scott Barker. They will be led by senior combo guard Denae Ellzy, who has started every game in a Red Raiders uniform. She averaged 12.5 points last year and 6.3 rebounds as shed will named second team All-Ches-Mont. Ellzy, who has committed to Mansfield, is closing in on the 1,000-point mark.
Another returning starter is Paityn Forrest, who grabbed over eight rebounds a game last season. Other names to get to know are sophomore guard Alexis Fields, three-point specialist Kaitlyn Ward and Libby Taggart.
Downingtown East comes off a 12-2 season, but will be missing regining player of the year Caroline Brennan. They do return three starters, senior guards Lauren Kent and Cassidy Denning and junior guard Eileen Hewitt. Returning letter winners who hope to have a bigger role includes 6-foot-2 junior forward Ari Smuda, junior forward Lacy Ford and sophomore guard Lauren Bell.
“Downingtown East hopes to be competitive in the Ches-Mont National,” said first-year coach Darren Domsohn. “The team would like to build on last year’s efforts and intensity by competing on the defensive end of the floor.
Downingtown West will be one the most experienced teams in the division. Senior Aly Stauffer leads the way. Juniors Lizzie Grant, Kaitlin Meenan, Kiersten Arrowsmith and Payton Forsyth will be key contributors. The x-factor for third-year coach Mike Young may be a gaggle of talented freshmen who will push for playing time.
“West lost four starters from last season, and with only one senior, will be very young and inexperienced,” said Young. “There are a bunch of freshman who may challenge for varsity minutes. We hope to learn from our scrimmages and come together as a team as quickly as possible to be able to compete in a very competitive Ches-Mont League National Division.”
The Whippets will start out of the games with nonleague tilts with Chester, Daniel Boone and Pottsgrove before into Ches-Mont with a home game with Coatesville on Dec. 16.
West Chester East will have a practically new cast this year for coach Erin Listrani. Captains Annie Kearns, Mikayla Kushner, Kayla Legenstein and Kayla Miller are expected to provide leadership to the young cast.
“We thrilled to have a full season and a pre-season to develop,” said Listrani. “We’ll have new names, but we’ll have a competitive season.”
Another team heavily by departures was West Chester Henderson.
“With the departure of eight players, we will look to rebuild from the ground up,” said coach Greta Neff. “We will focus on defense and fundamentals, as always. Looking forward to the athleticism and energy that our young players bring. We also have two seniors returning from two seasons ago, so we are excited to add their experience. The goal will be to be competitive in both our league and nonleague schedule, while gaining lots of game experience to build on throughout the season and years to come.”
Senior Grace DePrisco is expected to lead the way with major contributions from sophomore Jackie Shea.
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Great Valley’s hallmark under coach Alex Venarchik has been defense, and they will have to count on that this season. The Patriots return two starters, senior Gracen Curley and junior point guard Laura Lum.
Juniors Gia Sioutis and Taia DiPrincio will also be counted on.
“We stress defense and rebounding,” Venarchik said. “It’s something our girls strive for and take pride in.”
One quirk of the Great Valley schedule is they will will play their next six games — and three in the American Division — on the road. Their next home contest won’t be until Jan. 11 against Academy Park.
Kennett will be a very young squad with three sophomores expected to see major time. Mary Carroll, Greta Burns and Mia Matthews will have to grow up quickly to assert themselves for the Blue Demons in the Ches-Mont wars.
Junior Makayla Kelly provides some experience for veteran coach Vince Cattano.
“We will focus on playing hard and being good teammates,” said Cattano. “If things go our way, finishing above .500 will be an accomplishment.”
Oxford returns three seniors — Julianne Guerin, Skylar Eshleman and Taylor Alleman — for new coach Paul Day.
“We have some strong athletes in our supporting cast, and we are looking forward to playing hard for Oxford this coming season,” he said.
One of the expected major players for the division and league title is West Chester Rustin. The Golden Knights have one of the top returning players in the area in juior Lanie McGurk. She led the team in scoring (15 points PPG) and rebounding last season.
“She is a player to watch the next two seasons with an exceptional all-around game,” said coach Lauren Stackhouse. “She is currently committing to play basketball at the D1 level and is a lot of fun to watch.”
Senior Laney Costin can be a force at both ends of the court with her defense and rebounding and is able to take some of the pressure off of McGurk on the offensive end. Junior Lola Flynn is expected to step in and provide strong a defense and be a factor in transition.
The other main protaganist in the American story is Unionville. Coach Fred Ellzy returns a second team all-Ches-Mont performer in Riley Angstatdt and Milana Amoss.
“We are a defensive oriented team that focuses on putting pressure on the opponent and taking them out of their comfort zone,” said Ellzy. “Our goal is to just be competitive and be in a position to be successful in every game we play. We have a young talented group and look forward to the challenges ahead.”
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Conestoga looks to improve on last year’s 5-7 record bootsted by the return of junior guard Kate Galica, who was an All-Central League second team selection and sophomore guard Marisa Francione. Coach AJ Thompson also may get a sizeable contribution from freshman forward Janie Preston.
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Perennial power Villa Maria and heralded coach Kathy McCartney gear up for another run with league, district and state title hopes. They will have a tough nonleague schedule to steel themselves in that pursuit. Among the Hurricanes’ non-ACCA opponents are Scranton Prep, Germantown Academy and Archbishop Carroll.
Leading the charge will be senior guard Mary Grace Murphy, junior forward Clare Cronly, junior guard Ella Iacone and sophomore guard Carly Catania.
Other players to watch include junior guard Elaina Guerzon, junior guard Ava Irvine, senior forward Natalie Bacallao, senior guard Julianna Bailer and junior guard Marah McHugh.
“We will be long and get up and down the floor,” said McCartney
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Speaking of tough schedules, Westtown has national powers on its slate, including a matchup with longtime power Christ The King of New York.
Venerable coach Fran Burbage is in his first year with the Quakers, and will have them looking to repeat as FSL champions and he will two returning members of the All-Area team to guide them. Junior Grace Sundback is an accomplished scorer, averaging over 16 points a game last year as she was a first-team selection. Zahara King is a 5-9 guard who is athletic, shoot the three and a slasher who can get to the rim.
He also has two Canadian imports, 5-9 Kian Foz-Levy and 6-1 forward Michelle Olak.
“The biggest thing is to develop them and get the chemistry going,” said Burbidge.
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Collegium Charter returns just one senior, but that hasn’t stopped them from thinking they can be a force in the Bicentennial League this year. They will be led by junior guards Dejah Morris and Sydney Butcher. Serenity Burgess is a speedy sophomore who will contribute. Returing captain Emma Blackburn is also a player to watch according to coach Abdre Ravnell.
