2021-22 Mercury Girls Basketball Team-by-Team Preview

Pioneer Athletic Conference

(In order of projected division finish)

Liberty Division

Methacton

Head coach: Craig Kaminski, 20th season

Last year’s record: 6-2 PAC Liberty, 12-2 PAC, 14-6 overall, District 1-6A qualifier

Players to watch: Nicole Timko, Sr., G; Tori Bockrath, Sr., F; Kayla Kaufman, Sr., F; Mairi Smith, Jr., F; Cassidy Kropp, Jr., G; Reana Torres, Jr., G; Abby Arnold, Fr., G.

Outlook: In the past three seasons Methacton has been a top-level District 1 team, a state playoff contender, and yet it has been relegated to silver status behind Spring-Ford in the PAC in each. No longer. With three-time All-Area first team guard Nicole Timko leading a squad with four returning starters, the Warriors have all the pieces with a talented backcourt featuring Timko, who averaged 16.9 points per game last year and entered the season on 1,202 career points, and junior point guard Cassidy Kropp (All-Area second team). There’s quality in the frontcourt led by junior Mairi Smith (All-Area second team) and fellow returning starter Tori Bockrath. Between the star power, returning depth and experience and desire to rebound from last year’s first round exit from the District 1 playoffs, there are a lot of reasons why Methacton is the team to beat in the PAC. “The players returning are hungry to erase the bitter taste of the first round District playoff loss last season and three straight losses to end the season,” said coach Craig Kaminski. “We return four starters from a season ago, but we will be looking for some of the younger players to step up and develop some depth for us as the season goes. The team will need to be able to adjust on the fly, stay positive and most importantly enjoy and have fun for every second we get to step on the court for practices and games.”

Spring-Ford

Head coach: Mickey McDaniel, 9th season

Last year’s record: 8-0 PAC Liberty, 14-0 PAC, 24-1 overall, PAC champion, District 1-6A champion, PIAA 6A runner-up

Players to watch: Kam Pufko, Sr., F; Anna Azzara, Soph., G; Mac Pettinelli, Soph., G; Katie Tiffan, Soph., G.

Outlook: The Rams’ 2020-21 season ended in Hershey with a PIAA runner-up trophy to conclude a special season that included a fourth straight PAC title, a District 1 championship and 24-1 record. It’s the start of a new era in Royersford this winter, though, after last year’s squad featured four senior starters, including three-time Mercury All-Area Player of the Year Lucy Olsen, the school’s all-time leading scorer and current starting point guard at Villanova. ‘Life after Lucy’ would be tough enough, but classmates Emily Tiffan (All-Area first team), Abbey Boyer (Immaculata) and Hailey Hudak (Bloomsburg) have also graduated. Now for the good news: no other local team can say it features two crunch time players from a PIAA finalist, which is exactly what sophomore guard Anna Azzara (All-Area second team) and forward Mac Pettinelli are. They are the foundational pieces of a terribly young roster that features a single upperclassman in senior Kam Pufko, who did well in limited minutes during last year’s run. Spring-Ford is the gold standard program in the PAC, which will be put to the test in a year that will require new players to make a quick mark. “We must continue to develop the underclassmen who do not have any varsity game experience, the character of how we play and the mental toughness it takes to play a high school basketball season,” said coach Mickey McDaniel. “They have been displaying an excellent work ethic and attitude which will go a long way as we build each day.” McDaniel’s mantra of getting better every day will be as important as it’s been with such an unestablished team. Still, Spring-Ford should be a factor in the PAC and District 1 playoffs.

Owen J. Roberts

Head coach: Jeremy Mellon, 14th season

Last year’s record: 2-6 PAC Liberty, 7-7 PAC, 7-10 overall

Players to watch: Avery White, Sr., G; Gabbi Koury, Jr., G; Alexa Vogelman, Jr., G; Ava Clemson, Jr., G; Asya Price, So., G; Sam Martins, So., G; Abby Smith, So., C; Carson Gallagher, So., F; Korrigan Sweeney, So., C; Ashly White, Fr., G; Marlaina Grimm, Fr., G.

Outlook: The Wildcats boast the highest-returning scorer in the PAC in two-time All-Area first team guard Avery White, who averaged 19 points per game in 2020-21. White opens the year fewer than 100 points from 1,000 for her career and is primed for another great year. OJR’s second-leading scorer from 20-21 also returns in junior Gabbi Koury (8.6 ppg). OJR will again lack front-court size and instead bank on athleticism from its many multi-sport athletes. “We have multi-sport athletes and have to cram months of offseason team play and chemistry-building into a few weeks,” said coach Jeremy Mellon. “Once we are able to get everyone on the court at the same time, we should be able to build on our chemistry quickly.” OJR should be expected to rebound from its sub-.500 year in 2020-21. How big of a bounce? “We expect to have a team that is athletic, tough, aggressive, and can defend. Our first few weeks of practice have shown great progression so our expectations are very high. Last year was a down year for us and we expect to get back to league, district and state playoffs.”

Perkiomen Valley

Head coach: John Russo, 2nd season

Last year’s record: 3-5 PAC Liberty, 8-6 PAC, 8-7 overall; District 1-6A qualifier.

Players to watch: Jen Beattie, Sr., G; Emma Miley, Sr.; F; Ella Stein, Jr., F; Bella Bacani, Fr., G; Quinn Boettinger, Fr., C; Grace Miley, Fr., F; Julia Smith, Fr., G; Lena Stein, Fr., F.

Outlook: The great news for the Vikings is that they are the only PAC team to return a pair of double-digit scorers in seniors Jen Beattie (13.9 ppg in 20-21, All-Area second team) and Emma Miley (10.6 ppg, All-Area HM). The rest of the news is less rosy. Beyond junior forward Ella Stein (5.1 ppg), head coach John Russo will be looking to a group of freshmen to round out the rotation. Beattie and Miley have both shown to be capable of big numbers on their night and have solid handles, but neither are a point guard, a key position PV must sort out quickly after the graduation of multi-year starter Naiya Daisey. The Vikings held their own in a top-heavy Liberty Division in 2020 and made districts, which was a pleasant surprise to then-rookie head coach John Russo. How quickly their freshmen can come along to provide depth and balance likely determines the Vikings’ ceiling, but a return to the District 1 playoffs is very realistic. “The goal is to improve upon our surprising season last year. We started to compete with almost everyone halfway through last season,” Russo said. “Can we continue that trend and start to compete with Methacton, Spring-Ford, OJR and Boyertown on a consistent basis?”

Boyertown

Head coach: Jason Bieber, 13th season

Last year’s record: 1-7 PAC Liberty, 5-9 PAC, 7-12 overall

Players to watch: Madison Konnick, Sr.; F; Carlie Schweizer, Jr., G; Emma Smith, Sr., G; Chloe Wolfe, Jr., C; Harper Glennon, Fr., G; Cori Bieber, Jr., G; Hannah Adamski, Fr., G; Madelyn Weaver, Fr., G.

Outlook: Boyertown ended up on the wrong end of the PAC Liberty Division last season and while it will intent on climbing the ladder, it must do it without Ashley Kapp, its leading scorer of last year (14.4 ppg) and an All-Area first team choice. The Bears top returning scorers are Carlie Schweizer (4.8 ppg) and Madison Konnick (4.5) so developing consistent scoring options will be crucial. “We will be very a guard-oriented team, with good shooters and great athleticism,” said coach Jason Bieber. He expects a number of freshmen to figure into the rotation. With the inexperience and uncertain scoring, the Bears will likely need to be a great defensive team, which Bieber’s teams typically are. “We expect our team to be in a battle for the PAC playoffs,” Bieber said. “Our division will be very competitive from top to bottom. We also will be looking to qualify for district and state playoffs as we do every year.”

Norristown

Head coach: Jennie Hall, 1st season

Last year’s record: Did not compete in 2020-21

Players to watch: Ryan Morse, Jr., F; Azjiona Golston, Soph., G.

Outlook: A major challenge awaits Norristown this winter. The Eagles did not compete in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are effectively having to restart the program under new coach Jennie Hall and assistant Steve Fisher. “We are recovering from a lost season and starting from the ground up. We are building a new foundation to work from,” said Fisher. “Our goal is to be a competitive team that works hard.” In a PAC Liberty division with so many high-level programs, the wins will be hard to come by for the Eagles. But it sure beats the alternative of not having the opportunity to play at all.

Frontier Division

Pope John Paul II

Head coach: Jack Flanagan, 1st season

Last year’s record: 8-2 PAC Frontier, 10-5 PAC, 10-7 overall, District 1-4A qualifier

Players to watch: Tess Crossan, Sr., G; Sarah Dougherty, Sr., F; Angelina Forte, Sr., C; Amelia Kennedy, Sr., G.

Outlook: Jack Flanagan is back at the helm of a PJP basketball program, this time as the girls’ head coach after the departure of TJ Lonergan. Flanagan served as PJP boys’ coach for six seasons before spending the last five as Pottsgrove boys’ coach. He inherits a team well positioned in the PAC Frontier with a pair of returning multi-year starters in guard Amelia Kennedy (11.4 ppg, All-Area second team) and point guard Tess Crossan (8.7). Their leadership, along with fellow seniors Sarah Dougherty and Angelina Forte, will be important in PJP’s transitional phase. “At this critical juncture in the program’s development, senior leadership is extremely critical to the short-term and long-term success of this year’s team and the program as a whole,” said Flanagan. The Golden Panthers need some new faces to step up to maintain their status as a PAC Frontier favorite though. PJP should be positioned to vie for the PAC Frontier title and qualify for the District 1-4A playoffs, where only four teams gain entry.

Upper Perkiomen

Head coach: Matt Bowe, 3rd season

Last year’s record/accomplishments: 2-8 PAC Frontier, 2-13 PAC and overall

Players to watch: Hannah Keeney, Sr., F; Abby Pfander, Jr., G; Erin States, Soph., C; Grace Galbavy, Fr., G/F.

Outlook: They say good things come to those who wait. Supporters of the Upper Perkiomen girls basketball program may have wavered on that belief during a 60-game PAC losing streak that spanned from 2015 to last season. But Upper Perk snapped that league losing streak a year ago and are looking up in a big way this winter. Sophomore center Erin States impressed as a rookie and now another rookie, 6-1 guard/forward Grace Galbavy, may take the Tribe up another level. With a pair of talented 6-footers and three-year starter Hannah Keeney also in the frontcourt, Upper Perk may be in for a rapid rise. “The key point this year is teamwork,” said coach Matt Bowe. “There is no one on this team more important than another. We work as a single unit that will dominate the game like a well-oiled machine.” The team is not shying away from goals that would have seemed misguided when Bowe first took over. “Our goal is to win the division. Over the last three years we have turned the program around. We achieved two wins last year and coming into this season I wanted to hopefully double the win column. The girls have big dreams this year of winning the Frontier division which is driven by them. It has been a while since I have seen a team with the determination they have had on and off the court to prepare themselves for this season.”

Pottstown

Head coach: Madison Morton, 4th season

Last year’s record: 4-6 PAC Frontier, 4-11 PAC and overall

Players to watch: Trinell Watson, Sr., G; Calista Daye, Sr., G; Tamya Jarrett, Jr., G; Mikayla Brandon, Soph., F.

Outlook: It’s been more than a decade since the Pottstown girls managed a winning record, but there’s reason to believe this is the year. An experienced, athletic backcourt is led by seniors Trinell Watson (14.1 ppg) and Calista Daye and junior Tamya Jarrett. “Our ability to match up and play defense especially at the guard position will be a strength,” said coach Madison Morton. After having success during summer play, the Trojans are ready to take on the high school season and do more of the same. “We will continue to build off our Summer League championship. The players have had some success and understand what it takes to achieve it,” Morton said. “Now we have to learn how to maintain that level of success each day. Eliminate the me’s and get a little better each day.” With much of the PAC Frontier in transition, the Trojans may be able to take advantage and qualify for postseason play for the first time since 2012.

Phoenixville

Head coach: Tracey Sterling, 1st season

Last year’s record: 9-1 PAC Frontier, 10-5 PAC, 10-6 overall, District 1-5A playoff qualifier

Players to watch: Jaime Michaud, Jr., G; Emine Ulcay, Fr., F; Ava Gnias, Fr., G; Neveah Latimore-Beasley, Fr., G.

Outlook: The Phantoms broke through a year ago by winning the PAC Frontier title and qualifying for the district playoffs. Aside from head coach Brian Grashof departing, making way for new coach Tracey Sterling, Phoenixville’s top 3 players have departed in Aubrie Breisblatt (All-Area first team, 16.5 ppg), Nailah Green (second team, 10.1 ppg) and Dylan McAleer (transfer to Renaissance Academy). With just one returning starter in Jamie Michaud and the potential for three freshman starters, the Phantoms are a team in transition. “The team needs to gel and learn how to play together,” Sterling said. “We have a number of solid guards who will be able to run the offense. Our guards are athletic and will put pressure on opposing teams.”

Pottsgrove

Head coach: Mike Brendlinger, 20th season

Last year’s record: 7-3 PAC Frontier, 8-7 PAC, 10-8 overall, District 1-5A qualifier

Players to watch: Mylihng Ortiz, Sr., C; Aaliyah Freeman, Jr., G; Jessica Carroll, Soph., G; Mikayla Eckman, Soph., C; Ella Smith, Soph., G; Guyana Harrell, Soph., F; Ava Leaman, Fr., G; Aleah Rockemore, Fr., G.

Outlook: This will be Mike Brendlinger’s 20th season in charge at Pottsgrove, but it might seem like the first. Practically everything and everyone else is new after the Falcons graduated 10 seniors, including all five starters and top subs from a squad that consistently performed atop the PAC Frontier. With very few upperclassmen on the roster, it’s time to set a new foundation for the Falcons. “We have a good core of girls that are working hard and are learning quickly. We hope that our non-league schedule will provide us a chance to learn to play together and compete with the teams in our division,” Brendlinger said. “The lack of varsity experience will be our greatest obstacle to overcome. The girls have shown progress in our practices but it is not the same as when you get into the games.” With so much unproven, meeting their goals of qualifying for the PAC and District 1-5A playoffs would be the mark of a season that broke the right way.

Upper Merion

Head coach: Jen McCarthy, first year

Last year’s record: 0-10 PAC Frontier, 0-15 PAC and overall.

Players to watch: Riley Anderson, Jr.; Olivia Smith, Soph.; Devon Maiden, Fr.

Outlook: The Upper Merion program has been unsettled in recent years, but it feels like that may have changed with the introduction of new head coach Jen McCarthy. McCarthy spent the past 11 seasons as an assistant for the Jefferson women’s team, but will now coach where she teaches as an Upper Merion business education teacher. After last year’s winless campaign that McCarthy witnessed from afar, turning the page is essential. “I think anything will be an improvement from last year. They have seen the worst of the worst, so it can only go up from here,” McCarthy said. The Vikings aren’t suddenly a PAC Frontier contender with a roster still in transition but there’s opportunity for McCarthy to get the program trending upward.

Others

Daniel Boone

Head coach: Kyle Tranovich, 3rd season

Last year’s record: 0-11 Berks, 0-19 overall

Player to watch: Alex Grooms, Sr., G/F.

Outlook: It was a difficult campaign for winless Daniel Boone in 2020-21. Early returns this season – a pair of single-digit outputs in lopsided losses – don’t indicate things getting easier for the Blazers. Boone will have its hands full in Berks II against division favorite Twin Valley, plus Muhlenberg and Conrad Weiser.

The Hill School

Head coach: Deanna Mayza, 1st season

Last year’s record: 0-1 overall

Players to watch: Avery Reigner, 2022, G/F; Aine Farrell, 2022, PG; Courtney Bodolus, 2023, G; Annabella Schafer, 2023, F.

Outlook: Former Hill great Deanna Mayza (Class of 2013) takes over as head coach after returning to the school in 2019 and serving as associate head coach. The Pennsburg native and former University of Hartford standout who played professionally in Europe for one season knows all about guard play and she’s pleased to have quality in that department. Aine Farrell is a four-year starter and junior Courtney Bodolus has gotten off to a great start in the early going. Mayza is also looking forward to the progress of sophomores Chloe Moser and Vicky Xiao and freshmen Kayleigh Ludwig and Lauren Kuppinen. Having had no season last year, Hill has the challenge of simply getting back to competitive speed. “This year, our focus is on our young team having the opportunity to develop in games, since our season was cancelled last year,” Mayza said. “We have added a lot of new faces to our program over the last two years so we’re looking forward to seeing how the team continues to develop both on and off the court.”

Perkiomen School

Head coach: Kerrie Kosakowski, 1st season

Last year’s record: No season

Players to watch: Christina Sanchez, Sr., G; Brigid Scanlon, Jr.; Lauren Patnode, Soph.

Outlook: Despite having no season last year, the Panthers are off and running this winter and out to a 6-1 start. Christina Sanchez, Brigid Scanlon and Lauren Patnode have each recorded 20-point games thus far and Perk looks primed for a strong season. Coach Kerrie Kosakowski, who teaches history at Perkiomen, previously coached at the college level as an assist with Widener (2016-19) and Williams College (2019-21). Perkiomen School will compete in the Penn-Jersey Athletic League in the Blue Division with Barrack, Community Academy, Cristo Rey, Mastery Camden and New Foundations and should be a contender if early results are any indication.