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

12/01/2022, 10:45am EST
By Ty Daubert

Ty Daubert (@TyDaubert)

(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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Pennsbury girls’ basketball coach Frank Sciolla has seen a number of high-impact players graduate from his team in his career. 

During his stretch as the boys’ coach at the school, standouts like Torrian Jones (Notre Dame), Jason Vegotsky (Bucknell) and Levoy Allen (Temple) went through the program and moved on to have Division I careers. Losing a player of that caliber takes an adjustment, but Sciolla’s Falcons teams were able to keep finding success.

So, with Ava Sciolla — Frank’s daughter and the 2022 Pennsylvania Class 6A Player of the Year at Pennsbury — now playing at Maryland in her freshman year, the coach believes his team is still in a good position.

“Over the course of the years, I’ve been very lucky to coach some really good players,” the elder Sciolla said. “Because of that, we’ve had so many instances where we have lost really, really good players. And so many times, I’ve seen our epitaph written over the summer because of the people that we’ve lost. … I understand it — I totally get it. But at the same time, we’ll be OK.”


Pennsbury junior guard Sofia Vitucci, above, is a two-time All-SOL selection. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

A team can’t just replace a 1,000-point scorer and an all-around forward like the Falcons had in Ava Sciolla, but Pennsbury does have a solid returning core — one that’s gained valuable on-court experience as the team won back-to-back Suburban One League championships in 2020 and 2021 while winning the SOL Patriot and advancing to the PIAA 6A state quarterfinals last year — in junior Sofia Vitucci, seniors Neveah Dash and Neve Davis and fellow junior Layla Matthias.

“They know how to win,” Frank Sciolla said of the group. “They have winning experience, and they know how to play together. They’ve played in many of the biggest games in school history. They have an understanding of the culture and what you need to do to win.”

Vitucci, a two-time All-SOL selection, will take on the biggest offensive role of the returners as the lead ball-handler, possessing the skill to get to the basket in creative ways and knock down mid-range jumpers at a high clip. She impressed this summer as a dynamic offensive player and has the tools to take a big step forward with more responsibility on that end.

Dash will fill the other guard spot as a versatile two-way player. Matthias, a forward known for her defense and rebounding, should show some improvement offensively this season, and Davis will be another important guard after serving in the sixth-man role last year.

Pennsbury will look to a few players with less experience to round out the rotation. Junior Danielle Sherman only saw limited playing time in her first two seasons due to injury, but provides additional shot-making ability. Junior guard Daniella MacDonald and senior center Izzy Ruta will also have chances to contribute.

Led by the key returners, Pennsbury believes it has the makings to compete once again in a deep SOL.

“We’re all going to step up and try to prove people wrong,” Vitucci said. “Just play our game and not really worry what people think.”

In order to do that, the Falcons will put the emphasis on their defense. Pennsbury has played a full-court, pressure system for years, and putting that effort on display will be crucial. The team will attempt to force opponents into mistakes and give itself quality looks in return.

“I know everyone preaches this MO of defense,” Sciolla said. “‘We’re gonna be good on defense.’ But ultimately, we are. And if we can be successful defensively, we’ll have a chance in every game.”

Of course, Pennsbury will face tough competition in the SOL. Defending champion Plymouth Whitemarsh has a great deal of roster turnover this season, and the league will have a number of teams vying for the title.

“The Suburban One is really good,” Sciolla said. “The competition is always serious.”

The Falcons have certainly lost some talent, but still have the makings of a solid team. Leaning on its most experienced players, Pennsbury should be able to compete throughout the season, starting with its first matchup against Archbishop Ryan next Tuesday, Dec. 6.

“We’ve always been a team that’s been successful based on playing really good defense, making good decisions offensively and playing together,” Sciolla said. “If we’re able to do that, then we’ll be in the mix.”


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