Main Line girls’ basketball squads tip off 2018-19 campaign

The 2018-19 Main Line high school girls’ basketball season features many teams coming off memorable 2017-18 campaigns, as Shipley captured the PAISAA state title; Academy of Notre Dame was runnerup in both the PAISAA and Inter-Ac; Archbishop Carroll advanced to the PIAA 5A state semifinals; Villa Maria Academy was District 1 5A runnerup; and Sacred Heart won the District 1 2A title.
Four Main Line girls basketball squads feature first-year coaches this winter – at Academy of Notre Dame, Baldwin School, Conestoga and Harriton.
Here’s a beginning-of-the-season look at the Main Line high school girls’ basketball teams:
Academy of Notre Dame
Head coach: Lauren Thomer, first year.
Last year’s record: 15-11 overall, 8-4 Inter-Ac.
Key returnees: 5-7 senior point guard Mandy McGurk, 5-8 senior guard Maggie Pina, 5-9 senior guard/forward Caitlyn Mullen.
Others to watch: 5-8 freshman guard Maeve McErlane, 5-11 senior forward Emma Kichula, 5-6 junior guard Allie Lynch.
Outlook: The Irish are deep and strong at the guard position, favoring an up-tempo transition game. Notre Dame does not have a lot of size so facing strong post play will be the team’s biggest challenge.
Archbishop Carroll
Head coach: Renie Shields, third year.
Last year’s record: 19-8.
Key returnees: senior guard Harlem Jennings, junior guard Erin Sweeney.
Lost to graduation: Kate Masciantonio, Kate Roccio, Ali Dreger, Wynter Bess, guard Molly Masciantonio (Holy Family).
Outlook: Shields said, “Our biggest strength is the ability to work together on offense and defense. The key to our success will be team chemistry; our biggest challenge will be rebounding.”
Baldwin School
Head coach: John Bernhardt, first year.
Last year’s record: 7-10.
Key returnees: 5-6 senior guard Lauren Bracken, 5-4 senior guard and co-captain Olivia Tornetta, 5-8 senior forward and co-captain Simi Bleznak, 6-1 sophomore forward Anajah Brown, 5-11 sophomore forward/guard Rani Bleznak, 5-11 sophomore forward Taylor Levinson, 5-4 junior guard Alex Loomis, 5-4 freshman guard Kaya Weiser, 5-8 freshman guard/forward Gabi Pritzker.
Outlook: According to Bernhardt, the Polar Bears’ biggest strengths are their length and height, shooting ability, and full court pressure defense. “The biggest key to our success will be defending well consistently and limiting other teams possessions,” said Bernhardt. “If we are able to slow games down and dictate the pace of games we will be very successful. We also need to minimize mistakes, make the easy pass, and learn to take the best shot – not just a good shot. Our biggest challenge will be our youth. We are extremely young and will feature two freshmen and three sophomores in our top eight or nine. It is going to be a process, but we are getting better and better every time out.”
Barrack Hebrew Academy
Head coach: Chris Corcoran, second year.
Last year’s record: 8-11 overall, 1-5 Tri-County Independent School Conference.
Key returnees: 5-5 senior guard Yasi Stein, 5-5 junior guard Sophia Shapiro, 5-8 sophomore forward Lexi Schacter, 5-2 freshman point guard Dayna Felger, 5-1 freshman guard Jessie Singer.
Others to watch: 5-9 sophomore forward Sarah Miller, 5-7 freshman guard/forward Arielle Zabusky, 5-0 eighth grader point guard Eden Singer.
Lost to graduation: guard Talia Koltun-Fromm, center Julia Opher.
Outlook: Corcoran said, “We are small but quick, and we will use the entire bench. Our success this season depends on how fast we grow up. We will start a senior, two sophomores and two freshmen. Many of the players took part in the off-season open gyms and have improved greatly from last year. We don’t have a dominant player but if we play as a team, we believe we can compete for the league championship.”
Conestoga
Head coach: AJ Thompson, first year.
Last year’s record: 17-7.
Key returnees: 5-6 junior guard Emily Lortz, 6-1 junior forward Katharine Gay, 5-6 senior guard Hailey Klinger.
Others to watch: 5-6 freshman guard Katie Faith, 5-7 sophomore guard/forward Julia Morgan, 5-9 senior forward Tea Nordvold.
Lost to graduation: Central League MVP Katie Mayock (St. Joseph’s University), Julia Weiss, Cat Esbenshade.
Outlook: “Quickness and intelligence are our team’s strengths this year,” said Thompson. “We have to play smart, limit turnovers and use our quickness on defense to generate some scoring opportunities. We hope to use our intelligence to move the ball around well on offense and take great shots. Our goal is to make the defense work on every possession.
“The biggest key to our success is how quickly we can come together as a new group. It’s going to take the early part of the season for us to gel. With a new coaching staff, new system, and a lot of new players at the varsity level our success depends on how fast we all get on the same page.
“We have a lot of girls that are new to the varsity level and it’s going to take some time for them to adjust to the level of play in the Central League and get comfortable out on the floor. We believe in their ability and we know they will get their eventually but the question is just how quickly it will happen.”
Episcopal Academy
Head coach: Chuck Simmonds, 15th year.
Last year’s record: 12-12 overall, 7-5 Inter-Ac.
Key returnees: 5-7 senior guard Olivia Dirks, 5-10 junior forward Raeleen Keffer-Scharpf, 5-7 junior guard Cara Harty.
Lost to graduation: forward Luca Mamula (Catholic University), guard Seanna McNamara (Gettysburg), guard Katie Weaver (Dickinson).
Outlook: Simmonds said, “Our biggest strengths are defensive athleticism and a willingness to grow offensively. We graduated three regulars and will be working to find consistency from a group that will be emerging into larger roles, and newcomers that will be given an opportunity to contribute.”
Friends’ Central
Head coach: Phil Annas, 20th year.
Last year’s record: 10-13 overall, 4–4 Friends’ Schools League (fifth place).
Key returnees: 5-4 senior guard Zoe Shoemaker, 6-2 senior forward Raanee Smith, 5-7 junior forward Emma Malone.
Others to watch: 5-7 freshman forward Jai Smith, 5-6 freshman guard/forward Madison Smith.
Lost to graduation: Aja Adson, Briana Cypress.
Outlook: The Phoenix will be looking for offense from any and all players this winter after the departures of Briana Cypress and Aja Adson to graduation and sisters Nia and Omoiye Jordan via transfer. The Phoenix do return three starters from last season’s FSL play-off team, Zoe Shoemaker, Raanee Smith and Emma Malone.
Annas said, “We hope to make a run at the FSL play-offs. We will need to take care of the ball and maximize opportunities on every possession. I’m excited to have youth and enthusiasm in the line-up and am looking forward to coaching this group and watching their development as the season unfolds.”
Harriton
Head coach: Chris Wielgus, first year.
Last year’s record: 6-14 overall, 5-11 Central League.
Key returnees: 5-9 senior guard Christina Brown, 5-10 senior forward Reilly Short, 5-10 junior forward Ava Paternoster, 5-8 sophomore forward Alexia Loucas, 5-8 sophomore guard Lexy Calhoun.
Other to watch: 5-7 freshman guard Maretta Smith, 5-7 freshman guard Annie Aspesi, 5-10 freshman forward Mady Calhoun.
Lost to graduation: guard Meg Wilcox.
Outlook: According to Wielgus, the Rams’ biggest strengths are speed and a balanced attack; the biggest challenges the team faces are learning a new system, lack of size, and inexperienced young players.
Haverford High
Head coach: Lauren Pellicane, second year.
Last year’s record: 16-10 overall, 12-4 Central League.
Key returnees: 5-11 senior forward Lindsey Lane, 5-6 senior guard Annalena O’Reilly, 5-8 senior guard Erin Doherty, 6-1 senior forward Sara Walsh.
Others to watch: 5-7 senior guard Arden Guilfoil, 5-6 senior guard Erin Kelly, 5-8 senior guard/forward Christina O’Halloran.
Lost to graduation: Hope Coacher (Penn State Brandywine), Elli Keown.
Outlook: Pellicane said, “We have a senior-laden team that will bring experience and quality depth to both ends of the floor. The core of this team gained invaluable experience one year ago and we’re hoping to build upon that. The emphasis has been about becoming a more disciplined defensive team that will help us compete every night. Our goal is to return to the Central League playoffs and advance in postseason play.”

Lower Merion
Head coach: Monique Boykins, third year.
Last year’s record: 8-13.
Key returnees: 5-6 junior guard Zoe Schub.
Others to watch: 5-8 sophomore guard Bridget McCann, 5-8 sophomore guard Sophia Dowdall, 5-6 sophomore guard Ellie O’Keefe, 5-7 sophomore forward Lindsay Rivkind.
Lost to graduation: Sarah Fitzpatrick (Harcum College), Bethany Eldridge, Ashley Roberts, Emma Riverso, Izzy Meline, MaryPat Quinn.
Outlook: Boykins said, “We have a very young, athletic team, with a good work ethic. Our starting point guard transferred to Upper Darby, and our team is mostly freshmen and sophomores. We would like to have a .500 season.”

Merion Mercy Academy
Head coach: Scott Piffath, second year.
Last year’s record: 4-18 overall, 1-12 AACA.
Key returnees: 5-10 senior forward Anne Butler, 5-5 senior guard Amy Ratigan, 5-10 senior center Ava Rosini.
Others to watch: 5-5 senior forward Jenna Hamilton, 5-10 junior forward Julia Kawczynski, 5-4 freshman guard Maura Dougherty, 5-3 freshman guard Francesca Scarpone, 5-6 freshman forward Cate Voegele.
Lost to graduation: guard Nora Pergolini, guard Lauren Andruszko, forward Brooke Loonstyn, guard Annie Dombrowski, center Megan Talke.
Outlook: Piffath said, “Our strengths this year will be our athleticism, and our ability to push the pace. Our biggest key to our success is our veteran leadership. Although we are replacing five seniors, Amy Ratigan, Anne Butler and Ava Rosini all contributed major minutes last year. Our biggest challenge will be how quickly the other veterans and our freshmen can get up to speed.”
Radnor
Head coach: Mark Jordan, 13th year (also was head coach for 11 years at Sacred Heart Academy).
Last year’s record: 15-10 overall, 9-7 Central League, won District 1 playoff opener.
Key returnees: 5-8 junior forward Ellie Mueller (15.6 ppg last season), 5-4 sophomore guard Brienne Williams (7.4 ppg last season, converted 28 treys), 5-5 junior guard Julia Rigolizzo, 5-10 senior forward Holly Holtsberg, 5-3 senior guard Audrey Rosenblum, 5-4 junior guard Missy Massimino.
Others to watch: 5-2 senior guard Cara Camposano, 5-6 junior guard Kathryn Tague, 5-4 junior guard Jax Slinkard, 5-6 junior guard Caitlin Higgins, 5-8 sophomore forward Cierra Hopson, 5-8 sophomore forward Ellie Rinehart, 5-11 freshman forward Ellie Davis.
Outlook: Mueller (Princeton lacrosse commit) and Williams will lead the team at both ends of the floor again. Holtsberg will provide a lane presence and will increase her scoring around the basket. Rosenblum has started since freshman year, and the athletic Rigolizzo and Massimino have varsity experience. Hopson will be counted on to provide rebounding relief. The experienced Raiders will look to play fast and use their team speed.
Sacred Heart
Head coach: Zach Shuler, 13th year.
Last year’s record: 15-11 overall, District 1 AA champions, 2-5 AACA.
Key returnees: 6-0 senior forward Kyra Quigley, 5-6 junior guard Kayleigh Doyle, 5-9 senior forward Sami Smith, 5-5 senior guard Caitlin Hughes, 5-8 senior guard Liz Franz, 5-8 senior guard Jaycee Webster.
Others to watch: 5-5 senior guard Dani Santora, 5-11 junior forward Carina Fichera, 5-8 freshman guard/forward Ainsley Davis.
Lost to graduation: guard Eileen Piombino (WPI College in Massachusetts).
Outlook: Shuler said, “Our biggest strengths this year are experience, team chemistry and depth. Six of our players have played significant varsity minutes the last two years. We are hoping that our tough league will help prepare us for a deep run in the post season again.
Shipley
Head coach: Sean Costello, ninth year.
Last year’s record: 20-7 overall, 7-3 Friends’ Schools League, PAISAA champions.
Key returnees: 6-2 senior forward Anna Camden. 5-7 senior guard Lauren Ross, 5-5 sophomore guard Na Redmond, 6-0 sophomore forward Breionna Dodson.
Others to watch: 6-0 sophomore forward Olivia Joseph.
Lost to graduation: None.
Outlook: Costello said, “We return our whole team from last year, we have strong leadership and are looking to compete for a league title and another PAISAA state championship. We want to play a fun style of basketball, where we play up-tempo and score a lot of points. We want to get out in transition and make the game a track meet!”
Villa Maria Academy
Head coach: Kathy McCartney, 31st year.
Last year’s record: 20-9.
Key returnees: 6-1 junior forward Paige Lauder (14.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg, MVP of AACA as a sophomore), 6-0 senior Abby Walheim (11.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg), senior point guard Julia Samar.
Outlook: “Our overall strength will be our experience with four out of five starters returning,” said McCartney. “We are also an athletic, long team who should be difficult to guard.”