Lannon, fellow vets hoping for happy days at Sun Valley
Sun Valley endured plenty of growing pains last winter en route to an 8-15 record.
With All-Ches-Mont League star and 1,000-point scorer Kate Lannon returning for her senior season, the Vanguards hope that 2016-17 will bring happier moments. Lannon, a 5-9 forward, Allie Giannakarios (senior forward), Claire Howley (senior guard) and Maya Jacyzyn (junior guard) configure four-fifths of the starting lineup from last season.
The Vanguards hope to compete in an always strong Ches-Mont League American Division.
Frank Ridpath is four wins from No. 250 at Sun Valley.
Del Val League
Is the Del Val League up for grabs?
That could be the case after Penn Wood graduated two-time All-Delco Dahnye Redd and others from the program’s reign of three consecutive titles. Redd scored 1,414 points and grabbed 991 rebounds during her amazing career in Lansdowne.
The architect of Penn Wood’s championship dynasty, coach Monique Boykins, left in the offseason to take the vacant position at Lower Merion. Former assistant Kareem Wright takes over.
Academy Park, Chester, Chichester and Interboro are all vying to unseat the three-time champs.
Ron Bright, previously an assistant for the boys team, takes over as head coach at Academy Park. The Knights feature notable returners including senior guards Elisha Hernandez and Terae Mason, and junior guards Mahya Woodton, Riley Street and Shantalay Hightower.
“Adjusting to a new style of play will be key, but we should be able to use our athleticism and surprise some teams by getting up and down the floor,” said Bright, who inherits a team that posted a 13-9 record and narrowly missed the district playoffs last winter. “There is a nice mix of young talent and senior leaders, so we are not considering the coaching change a rebuilding year.”
Chichester senior guard Lauren Carrafa, an Immaculata commit, was one of the top scorers in the county last winter. Carrafa and Erica Brandt (senior forward) are the lone returning starters under coach Mike Carrafa, who begins his 23rd season.
At Interboro, coach Jody Boon will rely on his top scorer from a year ago, senior guard Gina McNamee, and fellow classmate Amber Seamen, an All-Delco softball player. Marta Walewski, a junior forward/center, has potential to be difference maker in the low post.
Bicentennial League
After an injury plagued campaign, The Christian Academy returns its entire lineup and more from a 15-7 team. The Crusaders will make their debut in the Bicentennial.
Seniors Madison Dutton (guard) and Danay Cooks-Green (forward), along with junior guard Lindsay Haseltine, the team’s top scorer from last season, provide coach Jason Wilt with plenty of experience.
Delco Christian ushers in a new era after coach Mark Weaver, who guided the Knights to three district championships, stepped down after last season.
Catholic Academies
Junior guard Eileen Piombino is the only returning starter at Sacred Heart, which is the smallest school in one of the toughest conferences in the area.
Lions coach Zach Shuler is optimistic that last year’s struggles — 5-17 record — will lead to marked improvement.
“The Catholic Academies will be tough as usual, but I am hopeful it will help us prepare for a run in the district playoffs,” Shuler said. “We are going to be young and inexperienced but I like the energy I’ve seen so far in practice.”
