City of Basketball Love

Sean McBryan (@SeanMcBryan)
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The PIAA state playoffs begin this weekend, with more than 70 teams from the Philadelphia area still in the hunt for state trophies. All week long, CoBL’s staff will be taking a look at the teams to watch — local and not — who can compete for titles in all six boys and all six girls’ brackets. 

Here’s a look at some of the top girls players from outside the area in the PIAA postseason:
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Class 6A

Jasmine Timmerson, Sr., North Allegheny (7-1)
The 5-7 senior guard and Pitt commit had 30 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Tigers (20-5) in their 71-45 WPIAL title victory over Upper St. Clair. It was the Tigers’ fifth title in seven seasons. Timmerson was a Pa. Sports Writers’ first-team All-State selection last season when North Allegheny lost to Cumberland Valley 63-60 in double OT in the first round of states. They host 3-7 Manheim Township Friday.

Olivia Jones, So., Cedar Cliff (3-1)
The 5-10 sophomore combo guard scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in leading the undefeated Colts (26-0) to their first District 3 Class 6A title 47-37 over Central York. Cedar Cliff made it to the PIAA semifinals last season before losing to eventual champion Plymouth-Whitemarsh. Jones scored 20 points in that loss to the Colonials and made All-State second team last year. The Colts host District 1 12th-place Garnet Valley Friday.

Kailah Correa, So., Lebanon (3-5)
Correa made all-state second team last season after averaging 20.8 points as a freshman, but the Cedars (26-2) missed out on PIAA play. Now the 5-5 sophomore guard is averaging 18.3 points — and passed the 1,000 point threshold Feb. 27 — and led Lebanon to a fifth-place finish in District 3 to set up a tilt with District 1 second-place Haverford Friday. The Cedars jumped out to a 24-0 start to the season.

Anye’ Staton, Sr., Easton (11-1)
Senior 6-1 center and Embry-Riddle commit Anye’ Staton scores 11.5 points per game and is a presence in the paint for a balanced Red Rovers (27-1) team that went to the 6A quarterfinals last season. Staton was selected to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference first team. Junior 6-1 forward and second-team EPC selection Evalyse Cole is averaging a team-high 13.6 points. The District 11 champs host District 1 10th-place Unionville Friday.

Rylee Kalocay, So., Upper St. Clair (7-2)
The 5-9 sophomore guard averaged 19.6 points per game for the Panthers (21-3) during the regular season and picked up an offer from LaSalle in late February. Kalocay dropped 24 in the WPIAL championship loss to North Allegheny. Kalocay teams with senior 6-0 forward Kate Robbins (Marist) as Upper St. Clair will attempt to overcome the loss of senior guard Sam Prunzik as it hosts District 10 champion McDowell Friday.

Others to watch: Caylen Spano, McDowell (10-1); Bella Chimienti, Central York (3-2); Alexis Ferguson, Central Dauphin (3-3); Mackenzie Perluke, Wyoming Valley West (2-1);  Payton Collins, Mt. Lebanon (7-4); Lauren Palangio, Norwin (7-3)

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Class 5A

Alison Hatajik, Sr., Hollidaysburg (6-1)
Hatajik, a 6-0 senior forward headed to Bloomsburg next season, averages a double-double and reached the 1,000-point threshold at the end of February. The Lady Tigers (23-0) haven’t lost all season and are 43-1 the past two years. Hatajik, along with 5-7 senior guard Sydney Lear (Lock Haven), have won three straight District 6 titles. Hollidaysburg lost to eventual PIAA 5A runner-up Chartiers Valley in the second round last season. The Lady Tigers will host 3-6 Lower Dauphin in the first round Saturday.

Maddie Webber, Sr., South Fayette (7-1)
Villanova commit and 5-11 guard Maddie Webber averages around 19 points per game for the Lions, who won back-to-back WPIAL 5A titles with a 64-49 win over Oakland Catholic. Webber was an All-State second-team selection last year. She teams with 6-4 center and Elon commit Ava Leroux, who had 17 points and 13 rebounds in the WPIAL championship, to create a formidable duo. The Lions (24-2) open at home against 3-8 West York Saturday; they lost to Moon Area by one in the second round last season.

Mia Libby, Sr., Greencastle-Antrim (3-1)
Libby, a senior 5-1 guard and 1,000-point scorer, is one of many athletic contributors for the Blue Devils (23-1) that came just short in leading their soccer team to a District 3 championship last season. They made up for it on the hardwood. Libby, 5-1 junior guard Haley Noblit, and 5-7 senior guard Rylee Henson led Greencastle-Antrim to its second girls basketball district title in program history. The top-seeded Blue Devils weren’t challenged in districts, defeating opponents by an average of 16 before beating York Suburban 44-30 for the title. The Blue Devils fell to Cardinal O’Hara in the second round of the PIAA Tournament last season. They’ll host 7-7 Penn Trafford Saturday.

Jayden McBride, Jr., Cathedral Prep (10-1)
McBride now suits up for Cathedral Prep (21-1) after the all-girls Villa Maria academy merged with the all-boys prep school. The 5-11 junior wing made All-State second team with Villa Maria in Class 4A last season after leading the Victors to the PIAA semifinals, where they lost 56-50 to Lansdale Catholic. The do-it-all McBride has offers from West Virginia, Marquette, Akron, George Washington, Southern Indiana, USC Upstate, Richmond, Saint Louis, and VCU. The Ramblers host 7-5 Trinity Saturday.

Alexa Washington, Sr., Oakland Catholic (7-2)
The 5-7 senior combo guard is committed to North Florida and led Oakland Catholic (22-4) to its first WPIAL Class 5A championship appearance since 2017. Washington had 26 points in the district semifinal and 16 in the championship loss to South Fayette. The Eagles lost to McKeesport in the second round of states last season; they’ll play 3-5 Manheim Central at Gateway High School Saturday.

Others to watch: Maddie Knier, Manheim Central (3-5); Faith Walker, West York (3-8); Gracen Nutt, Mechanicsburg (3-3); Rachael Manfredo, McKeesport (7-3); Kallie Booth, Pittston Area (2-1); Hannah Freese, Northern (3-4) 

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Class 4A

Chloe Presloid, Sr., Punxsutawney (9-1)
The senior guard led the Chucks (22-1) to their eighth District 9 title in nine seasons, won District 9 Player of the Year, and District 9 Defensive Player of the Year. That was all after overcoming a back injury in December showing degenerated and bulged discs in her back after the fourth game of the season. She’s averaged 16 points per game for the Chucks and hit a school-record nine 3s in a game this season. Presloid is 28 points away from 1,000. It’s the first state appearance for the Chucks since 2019; they’ll host 7-5 Knoch Saturday.

Amaya Stewart, So., Wyomissing (3-1)
The 6-1 sophomore center led the Spartans (26-2) to their first county and district titles in program history this season. Stewart, who has an offer from Temple, is averaging 15.2 points per game. She averaged 16.2 points and 11.8 rebounds in the Spartans’ three county and three district playoff games. She’s also a key cog blocking shots in the back of Wyomissing’s stingy 3-2 defense, which has allowed only 28.3 points per game this season. The Spartans are back in the PIAA playoffs for the first time since 2018 and last won a state game in 2004. They’ll host 12-5 Parkway Center City Saturday.

Dacia Lewandowski, Sr., North Catholic (7-1)
The 5-11 senior made first-team All-State as a junior in Class 3A last season and hasn’t missed a beat this year in 4A. The Akron commit and the Trojanettes (22-3) defeated top-seeded Blackhawk in the WPIAL 4A championship game after winning the 3A title last year. The guard is lethal from 3 and her size and ball handling allow her to play the game with poise.

Alayna Rocco, Jr., North Catholic (7-1)
The 5-10 junior guard made second-team all-state as a sophomore and — like Lewandowski — hasn’t missed a bit this year. The Harvard commit scored a game-high 16 points in the district championship game and forms one of the best backcourts in the state with her fellow Division 1 commit. Rocco reached 1,000 points Jan. 16. North Catholic (22-3) went to the 3A state semifinals last season before falling to Freedom 46-39; the Trojanettes host 10-4 Conneaut Saturday.

Molly Driscoll, Jr., Allentown Central Catholic (11-1)
The junior point guard led Allentown Central Catholic (24-3) to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference title over Easton on Feb. 16 and the District 11 Class 4A title over North Schuylkill on March 4. Driscoll hit six 3s in the EPC title game to hand top-seeded Easton its first and only loss so far this season; the Vikettes trailed by 10 at halftime before coming back and defeating Easton 52-49 in overtime. The district title victory over North Schuylkill was the second in three years for the Vikettes, who return to the state playoffs after missing out last season. The Vikettes host 3-4 Eastern York Saturday.

Others to watch: Alena Fusetti, Blackhawk (7-2); Caraline Herb, Berks Catholic (3-3); Megan Jacoby, Delone Catholic (3-2); Hope Garrity, Fairview (10-1); Maddy Wetzel, North Schuylkill (11-2); Emmie Rowe, Central Columbia (4-1); Claire McGrath, Scranton Prep (2-1).
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Class 3A

Ciera Toomey, Sr., Dunmore (2-1) 
The 6-3 North Carolina commit has the Bucks back atop District 2. Dunmore (22-3) won the D2 Class 4A title last season against Scranton Prep, but Toomey injured her knee that kept her out of the state tournament. Now in Class 3A, Toomey and the Bucks have won a district title again and hope to avenge the 40-39 loss to Jim Thorpe in last season’s PIAA quarterfinals. Toomey was an all-state first-team selection last season. The Bucks host 4-3 Bloomsburg Friday.

Mary Bolesky, Jr., Lancaster Catholic (3-1)
Bolesky, a junior point guard, leads the Crusaders (23-2) with a 15.4 scoring average and 54 3s on the season. She’s also the primary ball handler and backcourt defender. Bolesky led Lancaster Catholic to its 20th district title this season tying Lebanon Catholic — which is now closed — for the most District 3 titles ever. Lancaster Catholic fell to eventual runner-up Lansdale Catholic 66-57 in last season’s PIAA Class 4A first round; the Crusaders host 12-4 Pickett Mastery Charter Friday.

Belle Bosch, Sr., Chestnut Ridge (5-1)
Bosch is committed to University of Pitt-Johnstown and reached the 1,000-point threshold in December. The 5-11 forward was a third-team all-state selection last season as the Lady Lions (22-3) fell to River Valley in the second round of states. Bosch averages 20.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.6 steals, and a block per game for Chestnut Ridge, which will host 7-6 Keystone Oaks at Bosch’s soon-to-be school Friday.

Ava Persichetti, So., River Valley (6-1)
The 5-9 sophomore guard is averaging 20.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 3.9 steals for the Panthers (25-2). Persichetti scored a game-high 22 points as River Valley defeated Westmont-Hilltop 50-43 in the District 6 Class 3A title game. The loss snapped Westmont- Hilltop’s 20-game winning streak. Persichetti already reached the 1,000-point mark in February.  The Panthers advanced to the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals last season before losing 56-50 to eventual runner-up Freedom. River Valley hosts 3-4 York Catholic Friday.

Olivia Kulyk, Jr., Mercyhurst Prep (10-1)
Kulyk, a 6-0 junior wing, reached the 1,000-point mark for the Lakers (19-5) in February. Kulyk scored 20 points in leading Mercyhurst to a 48-33 victory over Wilmington in the District 10 Class 3A championship. The Lakers finished third in District 10 last season and lost in the first round of states to Forest Hills. Mercyhurst Prep hosts 7-7 Waynesburg Central Friday. 

Others to watch: Greta O’Brien, Avonworth (7-1); Maddie Evans, Bloomsburg (4-3); Mairan Haggerty, Neshannock 7-4: Brie Droege, Columbia (3-2); Arissa Britt, Forest Hills (6-3); Christiana Gordon, Westmont-Hilltop (6-2); Johnna Hill, Laurel 7-2; Janae Patterson, Pequea Valley (3-3); Jill Morro, Pen Argyl (11-1); Alyssa Reisinger, Mt. Carmel Area (4-1); Bethie Morgan, Palmerton (11-2); Maggie Spell, Shady Side Academy (7-3); Lia Krarup, Wilmington (10-2).

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Class 2A

Jules Mohrbacher, Sr., Freedom Area (7-2) 
Mohrbacher (17 points per game) has boosted her scoring average to 28.3 points as Freedom’s leading scorer Shaye Bailey has been out with a collarbone injury since late in the regular season. Mohrbacher had 15 points, seven steals, five assists, and eight rebounds in the WPIAL 2A loss to Shenango. The 5-10 senior forward had a triple-double with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in the same game Bailey had one of the greatest performances in WPIAL history earlier this season. Bailey needed 45 points to reach the 1,000-point mark heading into an early February game against Aliquippa; she scored 51 and broke a 37-year-old single-game program scoring record in the process. It’s unknown whether Bailey — who was a first-team all-state selection in Class 3A last year— will return. If not, Mohrbacher will need to continue to boost her play if the Bulldogs (20-5) hope to advance to the PIAA final for the second year in a row. They lost to Neumann-Goretti 55-49 last season. Freedom hosts 6-3 Bishop McCort in the 2A bracket to open states Friday.

Layke Fields, So., Kennedy Catholic (10-1) 
Kennedy Catholic (21-4) moved up from Class 1A to 2A this season; it didn’t matter. The Golden Eagles won their 13th consecutive District 10 championship and 29th overall with a 73-33 victory over Maplewood. Fields, a 6-0 sophomore, had 21 points and 20 rebounds in the victory. She’s averaging 19.2 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game on the season. Fields was selected second-team all-state in 1A last year as the Golden Eagles went to the state final before losing 66-54 to Northumberland Christian. They will host 7-7 Brentwood in the first round Friday.

Mylee Harmon, So., Redbank Valley (9-1) 
The sophomore guard has led the Bulldogs (25-1) to Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference (KSAC) and District 9 championship while averaging 21 points, 4.4 assists, and 5.8 steals per game. Sidekick senior forward Alivia Huffman has averaged 16 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.8 steals per game giving Redbank Valley a lethal inside-out duo. The Bulldogs host 7-6 Serra Catholic Friday. The Bulldogs lost to Laurel in the first round of the 3A tournament last season.

Carly Minchhoff, Jr., Marian Catholic (11-1)
Minchhoff, a junior, is the top scorer for the balanced Fillies at 12.6 points per game. The Fillies (24-2) won their 11th District 11 championship this season after bumping up to 2A.  Five other Marian Catholic players average 6.7 points or more. The Fillies won the District 11 title in Class 1A last season and advanced to the second round of states before losing to Christian School of York. Marian Catholic hosts 12-2 MaST II Friday.

Emilee Fedrizzi, Shenango (7-1) 
The 5-8 guard is part of a senior-laden Shenango (22-4) squad with classmates 5-11 wing Janie Natale, 5-10 forward Kylee Rubin, and 5-3 guard Ashley DeCarbo. Fedrizzi scored 13 points and passed 1,000 for her career in Shenango’s 44-34 victory over Freedom in the WPIAL Class 2A championship, the first in program history. Rubin scored a game-high 17 and Natale had 13 for the Wildcats, who went to the state quarterfinals last season before losing to Neshannock. Shenango hosts 6-4 Marion Center Friday.

Others to watch:  Cate Clark, Serra Catholic (7-6); Jana Strait, Millersburg (3-1);, Alexis James. Windber (5-1); Aleigha Rieppel, South Williamsport (4-1), Hayley Pompey, Montrose (2-1); Molly Kosmack, Homer Center (6-1); Charleigh Miner, Northwest Area (4-3); Kaitlyn Nease, Burgettstown (7-3).

Class A

Ayla Hileman, Jr., Williamsburg (6-1) 
Hileman was a second-team all-state selection last year as the Blue Pirates (26-1) went to the PIAA 1A semifinals before falling to eventual champion Northumberland Christian. The 5-8 junior guard averaged 19.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists this season. Williamsburg will play 7-4 St. Joseph Saturday at Claysburg High School.

Jayla Woodruff, Sr., Williamsburg (6-1) 
The 6-0 senior forward made the all-state third-team last season in leading the Blue Devils (26-1) with Hileman. Woodruff averaged 12.7 points and 9.3 rebounds this season. She became the 13th player in school history to score 1,000 points earlier this season.

Katie Sheeler, Sr., Otto-Eldred (9-1) 
The 5-5 senior guard was a second team all-state pick last year as the Terrors (23-2) went to the PIAA 1A quarterfinals before losing to Kennedy Catholic. Sheeler became the school’s all-time leading scorer and is averaging 22 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 5.2 steals per game this season. Otto-Eldred hosts 7-6 Monessen Saturday.

Kailey Devlin, Jr., Meadowbrook Christian (4-1)
Devlin scored 34 points as Meadowbrook Christian (19-2) overcame a 13-point deficit in the second half to defeat St. John Neumann in the District 4 Class A championship. The Lions were also playing without their second-leading scorer. Devlin is averaging 20.8 points this season. Meadowbrook plays 3-6 Harrisburg Academy at St. John Neumann High School Saturday.

Alivia Rutt, Jr., Mount Calvary Christian (3-1) 
The junior defensive menace averages 5.5 steals to go along with 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. The Chargers (23-5) defeated top-seeded Linville Hill Christian to win back-to-back District 3 1A championships. Mount Calvary Christian never won a district title until last season, when it lost to Williamsburg in the second round of states. The Chargers will host 5-3 Shade Saturday.

Others to watch: Emily Mourer, Elk County Catholic (9-2); Jenna Muha, Shade (5-3); Desiree Smucker, Linville Hill Christian (3-2); Linda Brown, Christian School of York (3-3); Kylie Fruehstorfer, Union (7-1); , Grace Sechler, Berlin Brothersvalley (5-1).