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Prepping for Preps '22-23: Philadelphia Catholic League (Girls)

12/06/2022, 1:45pm EST
By Josh Verlin

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)

(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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Four different teams have won the Philadelphia Catholic League girls’ championship over the last four years, with Archbishop Carroll, West Catholic, Archbishop Wood and then Cardinal O’Hara taking turns. This year could make it five-for-five, with Lansdale Catholic seeking its first-ever title; the Crusaders haven’t even played in a championship game since at least 1967, according to Philly hoops historian Ted Silary.

But that’s far from a foregone conclusion. All of those recent winners have their eyes on a title, and there are some dangerous teams in the middle of the league, as well. Here’s how we see the girls’ side of the PCL shaking out this winter:


St. Joe's commit Gabby Casey hopes to lead Lansdale Catholic to the top of the PCL. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Predicted Top 4

1. Lansdale Catholic
2. Archbishop Carroll
3. Archbishop Wood
4. Cardinal O’Hara

Favorites

Though the four teams listed above are the odds-on contenders to make it to the semifinals, there seems to be a little bit of separation between the top two and those behind them.

Last season, Lansdale Catholic finished 7-3 in the Catholic League, good for fourth place, losing to the three teams in front of them, then to Neumann-Goretti in the league playoffs before making it all the way to the PIAA Class 4A championship game — where the Crusaders ran right back into Archbishop Wood, losing 57-45 in Hershey. With lots back in the fold and a big-time addition, the Crusaders certainly have the roster to be the favorites in the PCL this winter.

The Crusaders return a terrific senior-led core, Gabby Casey at the forefront. The 5-10 lead guard and St. Joe’s commit is a tremendous all-around scorer from all three levels, and is one of the preseason favorites for PCL MVP. Her classmate Ali Johns, who missed all of her junior year with a knee injury, is back. So is sharpshooting junior guard Olivia Boccella and sophomore Saniyah Littlejohn, two more key pieces from a year ago; a couple more freshmen could be in the mix this year. What really helps is the addition of 5-11 Jaida Helm, formerly at Abington, having moved districts and electing to go to Lansdale for her final year of high school; the versatile wing/guard gives them a plus rebounder and another scorer to complement Casey and Boccella. 

Archbishop Carroll is without standout point guard Grace O’Neill, now starting at Drexel, plus Maggie Grant, who’s at Villanova, but the Patriots do have a good bit back in the tank. It starts with the sister act of Taylor Wilson and Brooke Wilson; Taylor, a 6-0 senior forward and Army commit, is a versatile inside-out presence who doesn’t need plays run for her to be effective; Brooke is an athletic 5-9 guard with mid-to-high-major Division I offers, a terrific scorer who can really get to the hoop. Two more returning seniors, Courtland Schumacher and Meg Sheridan, ensure that Carroll has plenty of experience in the rotation, while a deep sophomore class will be stepping up for seventh-year head coach Renie Shields.


Archbishop Wood sophomore Emily Knouse is part of a deep Vikings group. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Dark Horses

There’s no doubt that Wood took a hit with the graduation of two Division I players in Ryanne Allen (Vanderbilt) and Bri Bowen (Delaware), a year after graduating Kaitlyn Orihel (Villanova). This year’s Vikings squad might not have that same star power, but what it does have is some real depth of talent with a senior class that includes forward Deja Evans (Albany), wings Kara Meredith (Holy Family) and Delaney Finnegan and guard Allie Fleming, plus junior guard Ava Renninger and sophomore Emily Knouse. Don’t be surprised to see Mike McDonald go 10+ deep with his rotation, especially early in the season.

Speaking of losses due to graduation, O’Hara’s 2022 class was one to remember. Maggie Doogan (Richmond), Sydni Scott (Marshall) and Annie Welde (Villanova) led the Lions to a Catholic League title, making up for their only regular-season PCL loss by beating Carroll in the championship, then rolling to the PIAA Class 5A title. Those three are gone, taking a ton of production with them; the new-look Lions will be centered around 5-11 sophomore Molly Rullo, who picked up her first Division I offer this summer, but senior point guard Bridget Dawson and junior guard Joanie Quinn are back, too. And look out for 5-8 freshman Megan Rullo. You can connect the dots on that one.

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Other Names to Know

West Catholic has a talented group of freshmen who should make noise in the PCL in the coming years, led by 5-8 Ciana Blake. The senior class is four deep, including 5-5 point guard Amina Reid, a team captain, and 6-2 Khadijah Thomas

Neumann-Goretti returns sophomore guard Carryn Easley, a second-team all-PCL selection a year ago, plus 5-10 senior Amirah Hackney and 5-9 junior Brooke Barnes from their starting lineup of the PIAA 3A state champs. Easley’s classmate, Amaya Scott, is a stat-sheet stuffer as well.

Conwell-Egan junior Mya Aizen, who missed her freshman year with an ACL injury, was the Eagles’ only all-PCL selection as a sophomore, even though junior guard Brooke McFadden was the team’s leading scorer. This year, 6-0 sophomore Lily Milewski is also expected to take a big step forward.

Archbishop Ryan, under new leadership in Jullian Rattliff, will feature senior Maria Tierney and juniors Delaney Finn and Haley Davis, a 5-11 forward; Rattliff’s daughter, sophomore Reynah Rattliff, is a 5-8 transfer from Archbishop Wood.

St. Hubert’s returns three starters in senior guard MacKenzie McLaughlin, senior guard Mia Tobin and junior forward Lexi Price; the Bambies do have to replace the all-around production of Gianna Grassifulli, now playing soccer at Saint Peter’s.


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Tag(s): Home  Contributors  Josh Verlin  2023-24 Preview  High School  Girls HS  Catholic League (G)  Archbishop Carroll  Cardinal O'Hara  Archbishop Wood  Lansdale Catholic  Neumann-Goretti  Conwell-Egan  St. Hubert's  West Catholic  Bonner-Prendergast  Archbishop Ryan  Little Flower