City of Basketball Love

By Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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The Ches-Mont girls side was pretty easy to preview last season with West Chester Rustin and Bishop Shanahan both looking like the clearcut favorites and never leaving from that position. Rustin ran the table in the American division and Shanahan ran the table in the National division before the Golden Knights won their battle in the Ches-Mont League championship.

This season looks much more wide open, very hard to pick out a squad that stands out above the rest. There’s an influx of young players in the league, while some upperclassmen are ready to step into bigger shoes with most of the stars of last season off to the next level. Here’s a breakdown of the squads by division:

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American

With reigning division champion Rustin graduating a large part of last season’s league champion squad, Unionville is one of the squads that feels it is capable of competing for a Ches-Mont title. The Longhorns (21-8, 8-2 American) reached the Ches-Mont playoffs and broke a lengthy state playoff absence in the program’s best season since 2003. Junior 5-10 guard Elle Johnson is a name to know. She’s one of four starters back along with two other fellow all-league players — senior 5-6 guard Milana Amoss and senior 5-9 forward Shannon Megill — and senior 5-10 wing/forward Savannah Lang. 

West Chester Rustin graduated four senior starters, including Laine McGurk (Drexel), from a squad that went 27-4 (10-0 American) on the way to Ches-Mont and District 1-5A titles and a PIAA semifinal run. Senior 5-7 guard and Widener commit Riley Stackhouse (8 ppg) is a three-year starter and already has a few big outings in the go-to role for the first time. The Golden Knights didn’t go too deep last season but have a returning varsity players in 5-8 senior Kailey Barry, 5-6 senior Gia DiMichele, 6-0 junior Sara Betchyk and 5-2 sophomore Jenna Kraft that will step into bigger roles and should help Rustin stay in the mix for a league title.

Coming off a 9-12 (3-7 American) season, Kennett could surprise this season in a division that graduated a lot of talent. Vince Cattano, in his 22nd year as head coach, brings back a veteran core in senior forward Mia Matthews, senior guard Greta Burns and junior guard Quinn Simmons, all starters an all-league honorable selections a season ago. Senior point guard Mary Carroll, a starter as a freshman and sophomore, and junior Sarah Mullin, a starter as a freshman, both return after injuries kept them out last season.

Oxford head coach Paul Day, along with his assistant Bruce Reeves, led a turnaround in their second year, improving from 5-16 to 12-10 (2-8 American). Senior Deidre Reilly and a five-member junior nucleus of Kate Kline, Kaia Patterson, Jordan Eshleman, Gianna Ferrario and Jasmine Johnson return to build off the success of last season, which ended with a loss to West Chester East in the first round of the District 1-5A tournament.

Sun Valley was passed for a District 1 playoff spot on the last day of the season last year after finishing 10-12 (1-9 American) for the second straight season. Fifth-year coach Tony Zambino lost two starters but junior Brielle Wright and sophomores Luci D’Amico and Alison Riley. Wright, a 5-6 guard, and D’Amico, a 5-9 forward, will be looked to take a step forward to help replace All-Ches-Mont players Jania Preuhs and Rory Tiedman. With nine varsity players back the VanGuards certainly have a core in place to get back to the postseason.

Great Valley first-year coach Todd Frederick has to replace almost everyone from the Patriots’ district playoff squad that went 16-7 (6-4 American).  Senior 5-foot-3 guard Julia Curran will have a lot more on her plate as the only returning member of the rotation. Sophomore 5-7 guard Reilly Lackman and freshman 5-6 guard Kate Weikert are two other young players to keep an eye on but Frederick is excited to see what he has on an inexperienced roster.

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National

Bishop Shanahan (24-6, 12-0 National) was the division champ and league runner-up last season but has quite a few big pieces to replace, including Alex Bojko (14 ppg) and Alyssa Brown (14 ppg). The senior trio of 5-8 forward and Catholic commit Sam Blumenthal (9 ppg), point guard Faith Ambrose (10 ppg) and 5-9 wing Abbey Wolfe (7 ppg) give the Eagles a good core to lean on but they’ll need a large group of freshmen and sophomores to learn on the fly quickly, including Lauren Foster (5-7), Carmel Ambrose (5-6) and Allie Bretz (5-9).

Coatesville second-year coach Tina Nicholson led her team to a 14-10 (8-4 National) season in Year 1. The Raiders were bounced in the first round of the Ches-Mont playoffs and brought a shorthanded squad to districts, also falling in their opener. First team all-league guard Dejah Morris (Harcum College) is a tough piece to replace but senior 5-7 guard Serenity Burgess, senior point guard Alexis Fields and senior 5-7 wing Kate Ward provide talent and experience. They’ll try to blend with some newcomers to keep the Raiders in contention at the top of the division.

West Chester East (13-12, 5-7 National) knocked off Oxford in the District 1-5A playoffs last season. Senior guard Annie Kerns, junior guard Annalise Kubasko and junior forward Sofia Keith are three-year starters, Kerns and Kubasko earning second team all-league honors last season. 10th-year coach Erin Listrani also brings back sophomore guard/wing Lauren Horan to the starting lineup. Sophomore Carly Bickle had a big game in a win over West Chester Henderson already this season and is one of several players looking to step up alongside the veteran core and push toward the top of the division.

West Chester Henderson’s 14-8 (7-5 National) campaign went a little under the radar last season, finishing a game behind Coatesville for a spot in the league playoffs and dropping their district opener in a tight one to a good C.B. East squad. 10th-year coach Greta Neff has four starters back, led by 5-5 guard Whitney Evans and 5-10 post Jackie Shea, both seniors and first team all-league selections a season ago. They’re two of just three first team all-league selections returning along with Shanahan’s Sam Blumenthal. The Warriors opened their league slate with a loss to West Chester East but expect the Warriors to be in the mix for the division and a playoff spot.

Downingtown East (8-14, 3-9 National) had a rare finish near the bottom of the league last season with a freshman-filled group for third-year coach Darren Domsohn. Sophomore 6-foot guard/wing Charlotte Aldridge (9.8 ppg) and classmate Grace Hodges (5.6 ppg) return to the starting lineup. Junior Jordyn Daniel, the team’s starting point guard as freshman, returns from injury. Seniors Lauren Bell, Callie Ardoline and Mackenzie Comegys. There’s a few fresh races that could help the Cougars turn things back around this season as well.

Avon Grove graduated Vermont soccer commit Abby Mills from last season’s 8-14 (3-9 National) squad but sixth-year coach Bart O’Connor has everybody else back, including one of the league’s young players to watch in 6-foot sophomore guard/forward Naiya Murphy (8.0 ppg. 50 rpg, 1.5 spg). Senior 5-11 guard/forward Brooke Huver is another versatile threat who can help lead the way along with junior 5-9 forward Gabby Beltran (8.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg) and junior 5-10 guard/forward Leila Rubin (7.1 ppg).

Downingtown West juniors Liv Young (4.3 ppg) and Caitlin Grant (3 ppg) gives fifth-year coach Mike Young two starters from last season’s (9-13, 4-8 National) team that snuck into the last spot of the district playoff field. The Whippets have four seniors in Lena Gibson, Bridget Rymer, Kenadie Haymond and Colleen Fromhartz and will look for some production from the junior, sophomore and freshman classes.