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Prepping for Preps '22-23: Bensalem (Girls)

10/14/2022, 10:45am EDT
By Ryan Coyle

Ryan Coyle (@ryancoyle35)

(Ed. Note: This story is part of CoBL’s “Prepping for Preps” series, which will take a look at many of the top high school programs in the region as part of our 2022-23 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed thus far can be found here.)

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Unselfish. Teamwork. Making the extra pass. Caring for your teammates.

Bensalem girls basketball coach Steve Johnson and junior Amber Howard, have those phrases queued up heading into this season. To get to the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season, the leaders of the program know it’s all going to come down to working as one collective unit.

“Our big thing is we, not me,” Johnson said. “The more we play together as one, the more we look to make the unselfish play, the better off we will be. It’s our mantra, it’s on our gear, it’s the message we want to get across.”


Bensalem junior Division I prospect Amber Howard will shoulder the load for her team this season. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Johnson and his staff have been trying to steer that message into the heads of their players, as he enters his fourth year in the program, as well as his third year as head coach.

Last season, the Owls finished 12-10 overall, finishing 26th in the PIAA District 1 6A power rankings, failing to make the playoffs as only 24 teams get invited to the dance. 

This year, the main goal amongst those within the program is to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2019-20 when they lost to Souderton in the first round.

“We have not made the playoffs since I took over,” Johnson said. “None of our girls have gotten the chance to play playoff basketball. The goal this year is to compete for the SOL and make a strong push for the playoffs.”

During Johnson’s first year the Owls went 7-12, before last year's 12-10 season, showing considerable improvement and making the goal of making that playoff run this year one that seems well within reach.

Delaney Bell, a freshman on the women’s basketball team at Arcadia, Maddie MacDougall and Erin Devlin graduated from last year’s team.

Bell, the leading scorer, will be missed for more than her on-court production. Johnson is waiting to see who will step up and take over her leadership role this season.

“Delaney was awesome for us on and off the court,” Johnson said. “She was our leading scorer and our main leader on and off the court. When we were facing adversity she was there for us. She brought people together during tough times.”

“I want to see who steps up and tries to take that role. I have a few girls in the back of my mind, but I’m curious to see if they step up and take that role and run with it.” 

The go-to scoring option for this year’s squad who is expected to fill most of Bell’s production last year is Howard. The 6-1 junior guard is one of the most coveted Division I prospects in the area with a bevy of college offers. Howard has taken visits to Villanova, La Salle, Seton Hall, and St. Joe’s amongst others.


Bensalem junior Mackenzie Kramer is one of the returners for the Owls this season. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Howard brings a unique skillset to the table that is going to make her a mismatch for a lot of opposing teams this season.

“She will bring the ball up at times and then other times she will be in the post,” Johnson said. “She can do damage from a lot of different spots on the floor and that’s what makes her special. I would define her as a physical player. When she’s in her zone, I don’t know many players out there that can match her physicality.”

Howard received a lot of attention during this grassroots season, which led to the blow up in her recruitment. She is ready to take her game and her team to the next level this season.

“I think I can do a bit of everything,” Howard said “I think I shoot it well, I can handle the ball, I can attack the rim, and I can post up too. I have been working real hard throughout this summer with hopes to have a lot of success for my team. Being able to do as many things on the court as possible helps me and my team out.”

Joining Howard in the rotation is a group of players who all saw time last year and have been improving throughout a strong offseason program designed by Johnson and his staff, summer leagues, and AAU ball.

Averi McCoy returns as the point guard for the Owls and her quickness in the open floor and ability to push the ball is one of the driving forces behind the Bensalem uptempo offense. Senior guard Kylie Smith returns as well, coming off an injury that cost her most of last season. She brings a ‘spark and energy that is hard to come by,’ according Johnson. 

Mackenzie Kramer is a key interior piece and will be relied on as a rebounder and screen setter. Rounding out the rotation will be Peyton Miller, Mikayla Donahue, and Talia DiMichele who all play their own role on the team whether it is rebounding, defending, shooting or providing energy to the team. They all know how to play the unselfish brand of ball the Owls’ staff is preaching. 

Last season’s narrow miss of the playoffs was what motivated this year's bunch to really get after it this offseason in order to place themselves in the field of 24 come February. 

“I felt really bad for the seniors and you saw in the locker room that everyone wanted to make it to the playoffs for them,” Howard said. “We have kind of used that feeling to motivate us throughout the summer. This year is going to be different, our main goal is to get to the playoffs.”

The ‘we not me’ mantra has resonated with Howard and her teammates and she believes that is going to be the driving force behind the team's success this winter. 

“I think the strength of this team is our connection on and off the court and our chemistry,” Howard said. “We play really well together, work well together, and communicate effectively. All of those things make us a really good team and why I think we are going to have a successful season.”

While that feeling of disappointment has stuck with the Owls since last February, December is almost here and they are as motivated as ever to avenge last season's disappointment. Make no mistake, the group is ready to go.

“We are coming different from last year,” Howard said. “We are confident, experienced, and are ready to go. This is a new time for Bensalem girls basketball.” 


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