The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Girls Basketball All-Area Team

Across the board, it was another banner year for girls’ basketball in The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media area.

Plymouth Whitemarsh had the perfect season, going 34-0 and capturing SOL Liberty, SOL Tournament, District 1 6A and PIAA 6A titles. Archbishop Wood went back-to-back as PIAA Class 4A champions, beating Lansdale Catholic in Hershey to mark the first-ever state title game between two girls’ programs out of the Philadelphia Catholic League.

All over, seniors made the most of their last go-round while plenty of players put together break-out seasons and a new crop of names came through to put themselves on the map.

Archbishop Carroll went 10-0 in the PCL regular season and played for its second Catholic League title in the last four years. Abington and Upper Dublin both qualified for states out of the SOL Liberty, Upper Moreland won its second straight SOL Freedom title and Souderton returned to the top of an SOL Colonial division that’s always fiercely competitive.

Germantown Academy battled in a loaded Inter-Ac and the young Patriots found their way to the PAISAA semifinals, Methacton was the top team in the PAC’s regular season, Faith Christian Academy finally got one over on their longtime rival Jenkintown in the District 1 A title game. After three years of heartbreak, Gwynedd Mercy Academy’s seniors finally captured an elusive AACA tournament title, adding on later with another District 1 4A title and a run to the state quarterfinals.

It was a great year for the local junior class, with plenty of area third-year players having breakout seasons. Add them to a host of sophomores and freshmen coming back with the benefit of another summer of work and the intrigue of next year’s class of freshmen and the local talent pool seems as deep as ever.

Until then, here’s a look at the 2021-22 all-area squads.

FIRST TEAM

Kaitlyn Flanagan, Sr, Plymouth Whitemarsh >> The all-area Player of the Year, Flanagan was the conductor of the undefeated Colonials. Her 7.7 points per game and 5.5 assist per game averages aren’t overwhelming, but nobody ever seemed to have a good way to slow the Holy Cross recruit down when it mattered. The 5-foot-8 guard, who repeated as a First Team All-SOL Liberty selection, will graduate as PW’s all-time assists leader.

Ryanne Allen, Sr, Archbishop Wood >> Allen went into her final season as a Viking with high expectations and delivered. The Vanderbilt recruit, who played in Friday’s Jordan Brand Classic All-American game, was spectacular from the start and was named the Philadelphia Catholic League’s MVP, Wood’s first since 2004. Showing off a fully well-rounded offensive game, the 6-foot-1 Allen averaged 17 ppg, 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals for Wood, scoring her 1,000th point early in the campaign and finishing No. 2 all-time with 1,418 career points. Aside from the statistics, which included 17 in her second state title game, Allen made a huge impact as a captain who reveled in her teammates’ successes.

Abby Sharpe, Jr, Plymouth Whitemarsh >> Sharpe’s ascendant junior season fell right in line with all the Colonials’ success. The 5-foot-11 guard, who committed to Penn last weekend, led the state champions in scoring at 14.3 ppg and capped her season with a gem, scoring 26 in the state final on 10-of-13 shooting. Sharpe, a First Team All-SOL Liberty selection, evolved from a shooting specialist to a three-level scorer and brought out some of her best efforts in PW’s most important games.

Lainey Allen, Sr, Plymouth Whitemarsh >> After two trying years dealing with injury and Covid, Allen enjoyed a healthy and effective senior season. The University of Maryland – Eastern Shore recruit used every bit of her 6-foot-2 build and athleticism to wear down the Colonials’ opposition. A rebounding force – including a 20-rebound postseason effort – Allen was just as good running the floor, often out-pacing guards, and finishing on her way to season averages of 12.5 ppg, 10 rebounds, two steals and 1.5 blocks and First Team All-SOL Liberty honors.

Gabby Casey, Jr, Lansdale Catholic >> Casey elevated her game once again as a junior and this time, brought the Crusaders along with her. The 5-foot-9 wing, an acrobat on offense and a wrecking ball on defense, loaded up the book with averages of 22 ppg, nine rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.5 steals and 1.2 blocks. A recent St. Joe’s commit and First Team All-PCL pick, Casey had a career-high 40 point game – also a program record – in the PCL regular season, scored her 1,000th point in the state tournament and helped LC reach its first PIAA title game.

Cire Worley, Jr, Abington >> Worley started her season with a record performance and pretty much didn’t slow down in an explosive junior campaign. The 6-foot-1 wing wanted to be more than a shooter and she did just that with an aggressive game that saw plenty of strong takes to the rim to set up her long-range proficiency. A First Team All-SOL Liberty pick, Worley posted a 20.3 ppg average on top of 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and two steals per contest and surpassed 1,000 points early in January.

Nicole Timko, Sr, Methacton >> The Warriors’ record books look much different than they did four years ago thanks to Timko. An elite scorer from Day One, the 5-foot-9 guard was as prolific as ever in her final campaign posting 18.8 ppg while breaking Methacton’s scoring record with 1748 career points and 268 career 3-pointers, more than anyone else in school history. The Christopher Newport recruit also tallied 5.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game for the Warriors.

Second Team

Grace O’Neill, Sr, G, Archbishop Carroll

Erin Daley, Jr, F, Plymouth Whitemarsh

Jordyn Thomas, Sr, F, Plymouth Whitemarsh

Hannah Griffin, Jr, G Gwynedd Mercy Academy

Casey Harter, Jr, G, Souderton

Bri Bowen, Sr, F, Archbishop Wood

Third Team

Deja Evans, Jr, F Archbishop Wood

Emily Spratt, Sr, G, CB West

Jaida Helm, Jr, F Abington

Sofia Coleman, Sr, G, Gwynedd Mercy Academy

Bianca Coleman, Sr, G, Gwynedd Mercy Academy

Honorable Mention

Archbishop Wood: Delaney Finnegan (Jr, F)

Archbishop Carroll: Taylor Wilson (Jr, F), Brooke Wilson (So, G)

Faith Christian: Bella Forker (Sr, G)

Gwynedd Mercy Academy: Maddie Newell (Sr, G)

Germantown Academy: Isabella Casey (So, G), Kendall Bennett (Jr, F), Jess Aponik (So, G)

Hatboro-Horsham: Alice Hall (Sr, F)

Jenkintown: Katie McGrath (Sr, G)

Lansdale Catholic: Olivia Boccella (So, G)

Lower Moreland: Jess Dugo (Sr, G)

Methacton: Mairi Smith (Jr, F)

Mount Saint Joseph Academy: Lauren Hoffman (Jr, G), Georgia Pickett (Jr, F)

North Penn: Caleigh Sperling (So, G)

Pennridge: Katie Yoder (Jr, G)

Souderton: Teya McConnaha (Jr, F)

Upper Dublin: Amy Ngo (So, G)

Upper Moreland: EmmyFaith Wood (Jr, G), Holly Gohl (So, F)

Wissahickon: Kaitlyn McGreary (Jr, F)