Blue Mountain's Makayla Keck

Schuylkill League Girls’ Basketball Preview Capsules

DIVISION I

Blue Mountain

Head coach: Rose Carper (3^rd season)

Last season: 22-6, 13-1 Division I. Schuylkill League Division I co-champion, Schuylkill League overall champion, District 11 Class 4A runner-up, PIAA qualifier

Key losses: Kylie Conway, Emily Heydt, Kiersten Faust, Lindsay Gibson, McKenna Hall

Key returners: McKayla Keck (sr., G/SF), Hailey Place (jr., G)

Key newcomers: Kelly Canfield (jr., G/SF), Cameryn Campbell (sr., PG), Kendall Koch (jr., SF), Ruby Henninger (sr., G), Keira Nunemacher (jr., SF), Addyson Fishburn (soph., G), Callie Peel (soph., PG), Mila Fleagle (soph., G/F)

Outlook: Eagles lost a chunk of last year’s league championship team to graduation, but a strong group remains. Carper stresses defense and the Eagles will need to play solid team defense and create offensive opportunities off that. Eagles lack height but have a bevy of shooting guards. Should contend for Division I honors and a league playoff berth.

Minersville

Head coach: Emily Mealey (1^st season)

Last season: 25-5, 12-1 Division II. Schuylkill League Division II champion, District 11 Class AA champion, PIAA Class AA state semifinalist

Key losses: Julia Burgess, Keera Brennan, Brooke Kopinetz, Taylor Conti, Kaycee Raczka

Key returners: Ayla Castle (sr., SG)

Key newcomers: Jenna Cullen (soph., SG/SF), Emma Troutman (fr., G), Isabella Rizzardi (soph., G/F), Alayna Boom (soph., G), Bella Cruz (jr., SF), Catherine Ilsley (soph., F), Kloee Horoschak (soph., SG/SF), Shayla Miklesavage (soph., F), Sara McGrath (fr., F), Rilynn Brennan (fr., G)

Outlook: Miners lost a group of five seniors that won division and district championships and came within one win of the state finals. New coach Mealey, a member of Minersville’s 2017 Schuylkill League and PIAA Class AA state championship team that finished 31-0, will have a young roster that features only one senior, Castle. Cullen is very athletic and provides scoring threat. There will be growing pains but should improve as the season progresses.

North Schuylkill

Head coach:  Rich Wetzel (9^th season)

Last season: 21-6, 13-1 Division I. Schuylkill League Division I champion, Schuylkill League runner-up, District 11 Class 4A third-place, PIAA qualifier

Key losses: Olivia Burke, Haley Koutch, Eve Shovlin

Key returners: Mya Conti (jr., G)

Key newcomers: Hannah Kane (sr., F), Maria Monohan (sr., G), Gianna Capone (soph., G/F), Jadelin Stitzer (jr., F), Monica Selgrade (fr., G), Addy Balicki (fr., G), Ella Digris (fr., G), Kate Urbanavage (jr., G), Allison Baez-Peregrina (soph.), Chrislie Leonardo (soph.), Abbrielle Klingerman (soph.), Jolin Stitzer (soph.), Lasante Vazquez (fr.), Kirsten Conapinski (jr.), Sadie Halko (sr.), Claire Kowalonek (sr.).

Outlook: Spartans will field an athletic squad that has a solid work ethic but lacks game experience. Key to success will be newcomers finding and filling roles. In balanced Division I, should contend for league playoff berth and return to the district playoffs.

Panther Valley

Head coach: Rob Kovac (5^th season)

Last season: 14-8, District 11 qualifier

Key losses: Maddison Maynard, Mikayla Yuricheck, Kaidence Krapf

Key returners: Natalie Vermillion (sr.), Morgan Orsulak (jr.), Caroline Breslin (jr.)

Key newcomers: Lucy Kocha (soph.), Brenna McAndrew (sr.), Callie Kosciolek (soph.), Danika Blazosky (fr.), Morgan O’Brien (sr.), Ajete Gjoca (soph.), Cienna Padora (fr.), Megan O’Brien (soph.), Janessa Prudente (soph.), Paige Goida (fr.), Nicole Carrasquilo (fr.)

Outlook: Panthers lost scoring machine Maynard but return four players who saw significant playing time a year ago. Orsulak and Vermillion will be counted on to be scorers, while Kocha will take over the role as playmaker. Breslin and McAndrew round out the starting five. Another young team with just three seniors on roster. Have enough talent and depth to be competitive on a nightly basis. Returning to the District 11 playoffs is an attainable goal.

Pine Grove

Head coach: Allison Rizzo (1^st season)

Last season: 9-13

Key returners: Ayla Schneck-Haines (sr., G/F), Addison Zimmerman (sr., G), Hannah Leininger (sr., G), Callee Leffler (jr., G)

Key newcomers: Meadow Umbenhauer (soph., G/F), Lainey Fidler (fr., G), Kam Heming (fr., G/F), Hollyn Sampson (fr., F), Kaylee Seltzer (fr., G), Kendra Umbenhauer (fr., G/F), Grayce Devine (soph., G), Addy Reichert (soph., G), Lilly Fisher (fr., G), Violet Verdensky (soph., F), Hana Grimes (soph., F)

Outlook: A new era begins at Pine Grove as Rizzo takes over as the Cardinals’ head coach. She inherits a squad with four returning veterans and a wealth of athletic underclassmen, some of whom have already excelled in other sports. Zimmerman, Schneck-Haines and Leffler will be expected to lead the offense with Leininger, Meadow Umbenhauer and Sampson adding scoring threats. Qualifying for the district playoffs is a reachable goal. Could surprise.

Pottsville

Head coach: Steve Ennis (4^th season)

Last season: 4-18, 2-12 Division I

Key losses: Liv Peleschak, Kali Hinkle

Key returners: Jes Siminitus (jr., G), Keirra Jones (sr., F), Jo Barnhart (soph., G), Megan Yost (soph., G), Myla Fegley (soph., G)

Key newcomers: Jaelyn Carter (jr., G), Tia Neufville (jr., F), Lauren Brennan (soph., G), Riley Davis (fr., G), Megan Goodman (fr., G), Ella Huda (fr., G), Kaydence Hettler (soph.), Ava Ciavarella (fr.), Ava Duffy (fr.), Jannessa Herrera (fr.), Keyley Lubinsky (fr.), Jordan Szeliga (fr.)

Outlook: Another young team with just one senior on the roster, Crimson Tide look to improve on last year’s record. Goal is to “take one step forward every day that we are together,” Ennis said. As team’s only senior, Jones must be the leader. Siminitus and Barnhart are expected to provide scoring punch. Could improve.

Schuylkill Haven

Head coach: Tony Sanders (6^th season)

Last season: 20-6, 11-2 Division II. Schuylkill League wild card, District 11 Class AA qualifier

Key losses: Olivia Dress

Key returners: Alea Porter (sr., G/F), Anna Schaeffer (sr., G/F), Audrey Hutchinson (jr., G), McKenna Runkle (soph., C), Abree Brown (sr., G), Faith Goehring (sr., F), Kelly Ulsh (soph., F), Kylie Siket (soph., G), Taylor Haag (soph., G), Ava Terefencko (soph., G/F), Lilly McDonald (soph., G)

Key newcomers: Octavia Houvig (fr., F), Tessa Benedict (fr., F), Braelynn Strencoski (fr., C)

Outlook: Hurricanes return 11 players who saw significant action from last year’s team that qualified for the Schuylkill League playoffs for the first time in program history. Have a good group of experienced upperclassmen that blends well with a talented group of sophomores. Runkle is the team’s best player, while Porter and Schaeffer provide a scoring punch. While making the jump to Division I will be an adjustment, Haven should be in the mix for the Division I title and a berth in the league playoffs. Division I title contender.

Tamaqua

Head coach: Erika Davis (10^th season)

Last season: 17-9, 8-6 Division I. Division I wild card, Schuylkill League semifinalist, District 11 qualifier

Key losses: Sarah Hope, Lorelei Plasha, Makayla Bartenope

Key returners: Lauren Ligenza (soph., F), Kolbe Robb (sr., PG), Kendle Miller (jr., G), Leah Black (jr., F), Samantha Plasha (sr., G), Veronica Scott (sr., G)

Key newcomers: Millie Black (fr., G/F), Jordan Rehrig (sr., G/F), Cadi Fannock (sr., F), Ceanna Coleman (jr., F), Makenna Ellington (jr., G), Mia Bamford (soph., G), Hailey York (soph., G), Julie Oakes (soph., G), Joelle Zelonis (fr., G), Naomi Knitter (fr., G), Elaina Coleman (fr., G/F), Nico Conahan (fr., G).

Outlook: Blue Raiders will look to build off their late-season push that saw them win a tiebreaker playoff game to get into the Schuylkill League playoffs, stun Minersville in the league quarterfinals and take North Schuylkill to the limit in the semifinals. Ligenza and Robb provide an inside-outside scoring threat, while Leah Black can dominate inside. Have the overall talent and experience to have a big season. Division I favorite.

DIVISION II

Lourdes

Head coach: Mike Klembara Sr. (41st season)

Last season: 17-10, District 4 Class A third-place, PIAA Class A second round

Key losses: Masie Reed, Leah Kosmer, Paityn Moyer, Cassity Grimes

Key returners: Anna Keer (sr., F), Hannah Lokitis (soph., C), Vivian Reiprish (soph., G)

Key newcomers: Luci Shingara (jr., G), Syndey Gonzalez (jr., F), Payton Egleston (jr., F), Alexia Fariello (soph., F), Alyania Marcheski (soph., G), Onaleigh Barnes (soph., G), Kaitlyn Macaluso (soph., F), Kylla Sandri (fr., G), Adlynn Schu (fr., F), Sophia Karlovich (fr., C).

Outlook: Red Raiders must replace four starters, all of which had key roles in Lourdes’ trip to the 2023 state finals and helped the Raiders reach the second round of states a year ago. Keer supplies experience and solid leadership while Lokitis gives Lourdes an inside threat. Finding scorers from a strong group of underclassmen is key to Raiders’ success. Junior high teams were unbeaten a year ago. Keep an eye on sophomore Barnes and freshmen Sandri and Karlovich. Should be in the mix for a Schuylkill League playoff berth and make another run in the District 4 playoffs.

Mahanoy Area

Head coach: Thomas Scheeler

Key returners: Felicia Bro (jr., G), Ella Connolly (soph., F), Naomi Kowalick (soph., F), Olivia Kennedy (sr., C)

Key newcomers: Kayci McGowan (jr., F), Lilly Carl (fr., G), Brooke Hornung (fr., G), Kieran Haughney (fr., F), Yeseilin Gonzalez (sr., G), Lavaeh Gattis (soph.), Cameron Zubris (soph.)

Outlook: Scheeler returns to the bench as the Bears’ head coach, replacing Mickey Holland. He inherits a young squad with just two seniors but some talented underclassmen, led by Bro. To be Division II contenders, Mahanoy must build some depth and get good leadership from its returning players. Could surprise.

Marian

Head coach: Damian Fritz (4^th season)

Last season: 22-6, 12-1 Division III. Schuylkill League Division III champion, District 11 Class AA third-place, PIAA Class AA quarterfinalist

Key losses: Frankie Martinelli, Carly Minchhoff, Aliya Tikhtova, Gianna Corrado

Key returners: Deanna Pugh (soph., G), Addy Fritz (jr., G), Carly Hasara (sr., G), Olivia Thomas (sr., F), Emily Carone (soph., G), Brooke Miskar-Hannis (soph., G)

Key newcomers: Olivia Serfass (jr., G), Addy Marek (fr., G), Sophia Serfass (fr., F), Stella Kunkel (fr., G), Lexi Gelatko (fr., G), Anna Stoutelakis (fr. G), Gabby Osenbach (soph., G)

Outlook: Fillies must replace two of their top scorers from a year ago in Minchhoff and Martinelli, but return a solid nucleus infused with young talent. Fritz and Pugh are team leaders. Olivia Serfass, who had to sit out last season after transferring from Lehighton, provides solid inside play while freshman Marek has been a star so far. Have all the pieces to have a big season. Division II favorite, league title contender.

Nativity

Head coach: Scott Forney (9^th season)

Last season: 7-18, District 11 Class A champion, District 2/11 Class A subregional third-place, PIAA Class A qualifier

Key losses: Lost entire starting five from last season

Key returners: None

Key newcomers: Finley McNamara (soph.), EmmaJoan Fox (soph.), Kylah Stewart (fr.), Peyton Evans (fr.), Erin Talmadge (soph.), Sara Hummel (fr.), Maria Del Rosal Sites (sr.), Mia Haas (sr.)

Outlook: Numbers are a big problem at Nativity, which nearly didn’t have enough girls to field a team this season. Forney’s club lost its entire starting unit from a year ago and several of this year’s girls are playing basketball for the first time. Season will be a struggle, as getting better each game will be a goal.

Shenandoah Valley

Head coach: Laura Bisco (5^th season)

Last season: 10-12

Key losses: Ava Menjivar, Hannah DeAngelo, Maddie Wasser

Key returners: Morgan Labosky (sr., C), Aubrie Monaghan (soph., PG)

Key newcomers: Gianna Donovan (fr., G/SF), Brittany Tufts (fr., SG/PG), Brianna Tufts (jr., G), Jazlyn Argueta (fr., F), Danna Chagolla (jr., C)

Outlook: Like the rest of the division, Blue Devils will be young. Labosky provides a solid inside presence and Devils have some promising freshmen that will have a vital role in the team’s success. If play solid defense, could generate enough wins to qualify for District 11 playoffs.

Tri-Valley

Head coach: John Mika (2^nd season)

Last season: 3-19, 3-10 Division II

Key losses: Graduated four letterwinners, with two other players deciding not to play this season

Key returners: Avery Miller (jr., G)

Key newcomers: Ava Snyder (jr., F), Faith Artz (soph., F), Julia Blackwell (sr., F), Izabella Dietrich (soph., G), Savanah Stiely (soph., G), Autumn Brown (soph., F), Paige Sitlinger (fr., G).

Outlook: The Dawgs also have a numbers problem with just eight girls on the roster. Only one, Avery Miller, is back from last year, so it will definitely be a rebuilding year in Hegins. Goal is to get better each day and gaining experience will be key. Could improve upon last year’s record.

Weatherly

Head coach: Jason Kane (3^rd season)

Last season: 4-18, 0-13 Division III

Key returners: Kelly Reiner (jr., G), Abby Weston

Key newcomers: MacKenzie Rhodes (sr., G), Olivia Marasco (jr., F), Mya Bindie (fr., C)

Outlook: Wreckers will also field a thin, young roster with Reiner and Weston the only players returning with extensive experience. Reiner will be the team’s go-to scorer and leader with Weston being the defensive leader. Should be competitive with the other schools in this division with small rosters.

Williams Valley

Head coach: Shane Zellers (5^th season)

Last season: 15-8, 9-4 Division II, District 11 Class AA qualifier

Key losses: None

Key returners: Sage Smeltz (sr., C), Jasmine Hechler (sr., G), Mallory Miller (jr., G), Quin Smeltz (jr., F), Ella Kobularik (jr., G), Ireland Kasper (jr., G)

Key newcomers: Olivia Hand (soph., F), Isabella Ziegler (fr., G), Kaylee Heisey (soph., G), Cierra Brill (fr., G), Delaney Bixler (jr.), Victoria Starnowsky (jr.), Azaylee Adams (fr.), Emma Estes (fr.)

Outlook: Vikings return their entire roster from a year ago and are poised to make a big jump this season. Sage Smeltz and Mallory Miller are a strong 1-2 scoring punch, with Zellers expecting Kobularik, Kasper, Quin Smeltz and Hechler to make the next step in their development. Williams Valley has the talent to compete with Marian atop Division II and challenge for a Schuylkill League playoff berth.