City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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ATLANTIC CITY — The 2023 grassroots season is almost at an end, but not before the girls’ edition of the Hoop Group Showcase League closes out its action with this weekend’s championships at the AC Convention Center. The four-day event got underway Friday with afternoon and evening rounds of pool play for teams who aren’t playing for HGSL titles, as well as showcase games for those who are (along with a few shoe company programs who are in town for the weekend).

Here’s the first part of who stood out to the CoBL staff during Saturday and Sunday’s games; CLICK HERE for those with last names M-Z:

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Abby Arnold (2025 | Comets Select 16U)
For offense, just add a ball. That was the extent of the recipe when Arnold subbed in for her first stint in Saturday’s 53-41 win against the SJ Titans 16U side, with the guard instantly igniting for nine quick points on 3-of-3 shooting from deep. The Methacton guard worked to hone her catch-and-shoot prowess this summer and she’s certainly got the mechanics down. When the opposition adjusted, Arnold was able to counter by going to the rim and hitting for two layups and drawing a foul to wrap up a 14-point effort.

Leah Ault (2026 | Penn Fever HGSL 15U)
Good cutters get easy looks and Ault was all about that in Saturday’s 48-38 win over NE Storm 15U. The 5-foot-4 Ault, who plays at Bethlehem Catholic, sliced her way to 10 points and eight of them were a direct result of a well-timed slash to the hoop when a teammate had the ball. Ault also showed a solid handle, putting a defender in a waltz before going by for a layup in the second half.

Ella Brown (2025 | Penn Fever HGSL 16U)
Brown was a stat-stuffer in the Fever’s tough 55-54 loss to DMV Lady Tigers 16U on Saturday afternoon. The 5-foot-8 guard from Pennridge broke out as a full-time varsity player this last season and with the Rams needing some punch after graduating Katie Yoder, Brown looks ready to step in. Her outside shot wasn’t falling early, but Brown kept with it and hit three from long range in the second half, part of a 15-point effort including a late triple that cut the Lady Tigers’ lead to one. She also chipped in three assists, poked away two steals and looked pretty comfortable working in any space within the offensive half of the court.

Riley Davis (2027 | Comets 14U)
Davis looks like she’ll be an impact player right away in the Inter-Ac — not much of a surprise, considering her older brother Tague Davis (Malvern Prep) will play baseball at Louisville; their dad is former Phillies catcher Ben Davis. Riley Davis is a 5-8 combo guard with a smooth, high-arcing 3-point shot, which she knocked down four of in an 18-point outing in a win over NEPA Elite’s 14s, a rematch of the Nike 14U championship two weeks ago, which NEPA took by two points. Davis showed her athleticism by blocking three shots, while also pulling in eight rebounds, dishing out two assists and grabbing a steal. We’re told she’s also a lacrosse standout. 

Molly Driscoll (2024 | Penn Fever HGSL 17U)
Driscoll recently announced her commitment to American. The 5-foot-7 guard from Allentown Central Catholic has really good floor awareness on both sides of the court, putting herself in great help position defensively and getting herself and teammates in the right spots on offense. Driscoll scored 12 points in a quarterfinal loss to the Rebels, including a pair of threes. She’s got good, smooth form and is ready to fire when she catches the ball. 

Marisa Francione (2024 | Lady Runnin’ Rebels HGSL 17U)
Francione tallied nine points, two assists and seven steals in a quarterfinal win over the Fever. The Conestoga star is a true point guard, always in control of the game and looking to fire a bullet pass in the half court or transition. The 5-foot-7 lefty also knocked down a three in drove to the hoop a handful of times. Defensively, she plays incredibly hard and is always around the ball. Pair that competitiveness with her instincts and you’re going to get two, three … seven steals from Francione every time out.

Holly Gohl (2024 | Mid-Atlantic Magic HGSL 17U)
Gohl, a 5-foot-10 forward from Upper Moreland, showcased her offensive versatility in a 17U quarterfinal win over the Goats, stepping out for a three while also doing damage inside. She finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal. She let the game come to her, taking open shots and cleaning up the class for easy points, including a putback and-one. Her ability to step outside certainly opened things up for the rest of her teammates. Picking up a couple of blocks without fouling also showed off her skillset on the defensive end.

Alivia Landy (2025 | Albany Capitals HGSL 17U)
The 5-foot-11 wing/forward stuffed the statsheet with seven points, three assists, 11 rebounds, two blocks and two steals in a quarterfinal win. She constantly earned her team extra possessions with hustle plays and seemed to be in the middle of every held ball, not afraid to dive on the floor. She played really good defense as an undersized forward against an Elevate team with size, but she’s athletic enough to guard on the perimeter where her size is an advantage. Her offensive game still looked a little raw but she was able to rip and attack and made some great finds to her teammates.

Aidan Langley (2025 | BBA Elite 17U)
Langley had a helluva task ahead of her on Sunday morning, going up against a deep, tall and talented Fairfax Stars frontcourt. And the 6-1 rising junior at Westtown held her own against Syracuse commit Keira Scott and company, coming up with a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double, though the Stars ran away for a big win. Langley never stopped putting in a good effort on the block, muscling her way to grab four offensive boards, and got a few of them back up and in; she also grabbed a couple steals and blocked a shot as part of a strong defensive effort and performance for the recent Temple offeree.

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Honorable Mention
River Adams (2024 | Fairfax Stars EYBL 17U), Meg Allbee (2027 | Lone Wolf HGSL 15U), Julianna Almeida (2024 | NJ ShoreShots HGSL 17U), Amanda Baylock (2024 | Jersey Gemz HGSL 17U), Aliyah Brame (2026 | Penn Fever HGSL 15U), Kourin Carew (2025 | Penn Fever HGSL 16U), Ava Carpenter (2026 | Syracuse Nets HGSL 15U), Isabella Casey (2024 | Lady Runnin’ Rebels HGSL 17U), Holly DuFoe (2027 | NE Storm HGSL 15U), Kayla Dunn (2025 | SJ Titans 16U) Allie Esposito (2027 | Penn Fever HGSL 15U), Whitney Evans (2024 | Lady Runnin’ Rebels HGSL 17U), Iriona Gravley (2024 | Jersey Gemz EYBL 17U), Camryn Gardner (2024 | Lady Runnin’ Rebels HGSL 17U), Abby Grillo (2025 | Comets Select 16U) Stella Higgins (2025 | Penn Fever HGSL 16U), Maya Jenkins (2025 | NEPA Elite HGSL 16U), Brooklyn Kavanaugh (2025 | Elevate Elite-Richmond HGSL 16U), Molly Keane (2025 | NJ Demons HGSL 17U), Taylor Koenig (2024 | Lady Runnin’ Rebels HGSL 17U), Sabrina Kraker (2024 | SI Bulldogs HGSL 17U)