All-Delco Girls Basketball: Sheehan, Gardler helped power O’Hara to state final

In addition to Daily Times Player of the Year Hannah Nihill of Cardinal O’Hara, the rest of the All-Delco girls basketball team includes:

Mary Sheehan, Cardinal O’Hara: The junior forward was a major factor in helping the Lions qualify for the PIAA Class AAAA championship game. One of the top all-around players in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Sheehan can play any position on the floor and handles every responsibility thrown her way. She led the Lions in scoring with a 12.4 average and was the team’s top rebounder and low-post threat. Sheehan, a two-time All-Delco and All-Catholic League honoree, scored 17 points and made four 3-point field goals in O’Hara’s thrilling last-second victory over Garnet Valley in the PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinal round. Sheehan committed to Saint Joseph’s prior to her junior season.

Kenzie Gardler, Cardinal O’Hara: Gardler blossomed into a feared long-distance shooter in her sophomore season. She made a team-leading 50 3-point field goals and was arguably the Lions’ best player during their run to PIAA Class AAAA final. Gardler scored 18 points to help lift the Lions past North Penn in the state semifinals, and finished her second season under coach Linus McGinity averaging 10.5 points per game.  Gardler’s last name is synonymous with Delco basketball. Her mother, Katie, and father, Chris, were standouts at Saint Joseph’s along with her grandfather, Bud, who is the former longtime boys basketball coach at O’Hara. Her aunt Meghan played at O’Hara and UConn. Kenzie opted for a different route when she gave her verbal commitment to Villanova last December.

Maddie Ireland, Garnet Valley: The senior guard was the engine that drove the Jaguars to their greatest season in program history. While Ireland led the team in scoring average (13.6) and 3-point field goals (42), she benefitted from having a strong supporting cast. This resulted in Ireland becoming a better all-around player as the season progressed. She was a playmaker while maintaining her ability to shoot efficiently and drive to the basket. The two-time All-Central League selection and Markward Award honoree led the Jags to their most wins in school history and a pair of victories in the PIAA Class AAAA tournament, where they almost overcame a 20-point deficit to upset Cardinal O’Hara in the quarterfinals. Ireland will continue her career and major in nursing at Widener.

Dahnye Redd, Penn Wood: The senior forward was arguably the most explosive player in Delaware County. A two-time All-Delco, Redd guided the Patriots to their third consecutive Del Val League title, their first District One Class AAAA tournament wins and their first state playoff appearance, which ended in the first round to eventual champion Cumberland Valley. Still, Redd’s season was incredible. She was the top scorer in Delco by a wide margin, averaging 21.5 points per game, and eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau. Redd nearly became the first girls basketball player at Penn Wood to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds. She was the only Delco player to notch three 30-point games. She poured in a career-high 34 points and was named MVP of the She Got Game Classic in Washington, D.C.

Siani McNeil, Delco Christian: The senior guard made big strides in improving her all-around game in 2015-16. A two-time Bicentennial League player of the year, McNeil was a terror to cover, as the majority of DC’s opponents discovered. As a member of one of the county’s three PIAA Class A programs, McNeil played incredibly well against some of the top programs in the Bicentennial, including Phil-Mont Christian and Jenkintown, whom the Knights fell to in the district final. A 5-11 guard with tremendous lateral range, McNeil impacted games in the front court and back court, on offense and defense. She averaged 17.0 points, five rebounds, 3.8 steals and 3.6 points per game. A 1,000-point scorer, McNeil will play college basketball at West Chester University.