City of Basketball Love

By Andrew Robinson (@ADRobinson3)
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(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 2023-24 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed thus far can be found here.)

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Holly Gohl and Upper Moreland saw the view beyond the horizon last year.

The Golden Bears finally got through the barrier that had been qualifying for the state tournament last winter, securing a spot in the PIAA Class 5A bracket. While their stay was limited to one game, it was an accomplishment that meant a lot to the program and its players.

Entering her senior year, Gohl wants another chance to take in that view.

“We have a goal to get back there,” Gohl said. “We’ve been pretty good in our league, we won it three times consecutively, so that’s another goal then we want to get into the playoffs and back to states because now we all know how it feels”.

The Upper Moreland girls basketball team poses together last season after clinching the Suburban One League Freedom Division championship. (Photo: Courtesy Upper Moreland Girls Basketball)

Gohl is back, the senior entering the season just 28 points away from becoming only the seventh UM player to reach 1,000 career points. There are some substantial changes around her however, starting with the head of the bench.

After seven seasons leading the Bears, Matt Carroll stepped down as he and his wife welcomed their first child in early November. Carroll, who went 0-22 in his first season, put in countless hours rebuilding the program and the turnaround is evident in the three consecutive SOL Freedom titles the Bears have won and of course, last year’s state playoff appearance.

Taking over is Josh Adelman, returning to the coaching scene after a long run coaching the Upper Dublin boys’ program ended following the 2016-17 season.

“Matt told me ‘you’re going to love this group,’ and he was right. The work ethic is there and it shows,” Adelman said. “They’re so coachable, they learn, they’re doing everything we ask of them and it’s fun to have this type of talent where it allows us to do different things.

“He did just a super job and he’s become a good friend real quickly. It’s a testament to the success they’ve had and we just want to continue it.”

UM will also have to replace point guard EmmyFaith Wood, the program’s sixth-ever 1,000-point scorer now at Messiah. Allie LaRocco and Alyssa Wiley also graduated, leaving UM a couple of important roles to fill.

While the Bears will look to Gohl often, the versatile 5-foot-11 senior able to play in the post or on the perimeter, she’s just as excited about the roster around her. Junior Mikel Lancit is a third-year starter while Lianna Adames has put together a nice preseason and looks to slot into the other spot.

Lancit figures to play more on the ball with Adames as the off-guard, but both are versatile to switch roles as needed.

Adelman also lauded the group of players who will likely form the bench unit including senior twins Olivia and Molly Meakim

“Lianna has played really well between shooting guard and that backup 1,’” Adelman said. “The Meakims, they come in, they will play any role asked of them and do it well. I told them, I feel I could start any one of them and they would come in and execute what’s asked of them.”

The Bears also have some quality size this year. Junior Marie Myers is 5-foot-11 on the wing while junior Lilly Hansen and senior Makaila Allen are both listed at 6-foot, not only giving UM a presence inside but some options with lineups and looks.

Hansen has opened some eyes with her shot-blocking prowess too, and Adelman added that Allen has really tried to establish herself as a rebounding presence.

“With the posts, we’re looking to have some more inside plays,” Gohl said. “It helps, I like playing out more, and I know I can trust the bigs inside. Seeing Lilly or Makaila posting up, it lets me be stretched out and can make it easier for us to score.”

After sharing the SOL Freedom title with New Hope-Solebury in 2020-21, the Golden Bears have taken the division outright the last two years. Gohl isn’t expecting it to be easy to go four-for-four this winter, highlighting matchups with New Hope-Solebury and a William Tennent team that’s got some young talent as key games on the schedule outside the crossover games.

Adelman figures it might take a few games for the Bears to get everything down but he sees a team that will be anything but one-dimensional. The team’s senior leader agreed that there’s a lot of potential but also still plenty of room to grow early on.

“I think we can be a really good shooting team and a good scoring team because of how well we work together,” Gohl said. “We’re still not the best at communicating, but it all works, so we can get better at that.”

Gohl got a look beyond the horizon last year by making the state playoffs. She wants Upper Moreland to see it again and it’s a view the team’s new coaches are eager to see for themselves.

“They’re really challenging us as a coaching staff, with the high standard that’s been set here, to hold them to it,” Adelman said. “I dreamed about getting back, this has been great and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls. I’m really appreciative of Upper Moreland, it’s a great place to be.”