City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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We’re getting down to it in District 1 6A. 

There’s four teams left in the chase for the championship, three high-quality programs and defending champs Perkiomen Valley leading the pack, looking as strong as they have all season.

Semifinals
1) Perkiomen Valley vs. 5) North Penn (7 PM)
It’s been a year as expected for the Vikings (25-1), who captured the Pioneer Athletic Conference and District 1 6A titles a year ago and entered the season widely expected to do the same again. They’ve already captured the PAC championship, beating archrival Spring-Ford for the third time this season and sixth in a row, and have won their first two district tournament games by 27 and 29 points. North Penn’s only lost once since mid-December, however, beating the likes of Haverford High, CB East, Pennsbury, Neshaminy and more, then beat Haverford again on the road in the quarterfinals.

Perkiomen Valley head coach John Russo has a well-established top seven, which combine to bring a variety of size, speed, athleticism, shooting, and they all play together. All but Kutztown commit Anna Stein, a 5-10 senior, are juniors: Quinn Boettinger (6-3), Grace Galbavy (6-1), Grace Miley (5-10), Lena Stein (5-9), Julia Smith (5-8), and Bella Bacani (5-6). Boettinger, a Navy commit, is a problem for every team they play with her ability to rebound, pass, and score around the bucket as well as face up, while the playmaking Stein sisters, point guard Bacani, versatile wing Galbavy and the rest can all space the floor and move the ball well. 

North Penn doesn’t have quite as much balance: Caleigh Sperling is the top dog, and everybody knows it. The 5-9 Jefferson University commit, who scored 28 points in the quarterfinals, is a hard-working wing guard who loves to score around the bucket and in the mid-range, but she’s strong from the outside if left open. Junior Cam Crowley can score or set-up at point guard, senior Kelly Donnelly is a good shooter and freshman Lily Brown brings an attacking mindset off the bench. Senior Liv Stone is a disruptive defender with her quickness and length.

2) Conestoga vs. 6) Spring-Ford (5 PM)
These are two teams playing with something a little extra in the tank right now. Conestoga, into the district semifinals for the first time in 45 years, is hoping to at least equal that 1979 group which made the championship game. Spring-Ford, meanwhile, wants desperately to get one more shot at its PAC archrival, those six straight losses to Perk Valley not the way that the Rams’ seniors want to leave it, even if they can win another piece of hardware or two before the season’s end. 

Conestoga (23-3), under the direction of head coach A.J. Thompson, finished as runner-ups to Haverford High in the Central League tournament. The Pioneers can hurt you in different ways, whether that’s the driving of point guard Marisa Francione, the shooting of sophomore Ryann Jennings, the post play of 6-1 junior Janie Preston, or the all-around contributions of twins Isabella and Katrina Valencia, who can both score inside and out. Jennings, a 5-11 guard with Division I offers, had 22 points and the Scranton-bound Francione had 11 in their quarterfinal win, but against a Spring-Ford team without a true post in the starting lineup, Preston has an opportunity in the post.

The Rams (21-6) have a couple Division I-bound guards in Anna Azzara (Wright State) and Mackenzie Pettinelli (St. Bonaventure), who are both nearing the end of stellar four-year runs in the varsity rotation. Azzara, a four-year starter at point, excels at getting downhill, while Pettinelli’s best asset is her versatility and passing; senior Aaliyah Solliday, senior Katie Tiffan (Lynn), junior Kareena Preuss and junior Christina Tiffan give head coach Mickey McDaniel a good core of upperclassmen to rely on, and it’s a group that’s got good size and shooting ability across the board. 

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Seeding Games
4) Haverford vs. 8) Central Bucks East (7 PM)
A loss to North Penn in the quarterfinals spoiled an 11-game winning streak for Haverford, which defended its Central League championship by beating Conestoga. The Fords feature 6-1 junior wing Rian Dotsey, senior guard Aniya Eberhart (Millers) and forwards Natalie Wright and Ashley Wright, plus junior point guard Megan Kelly. Central Bucks East has actually lost five of its last eight games, but a strong regular season and win over Neshaminy in the second round ensured they’ll end up with a top-eight seed going into states. Senior guard Anna Barry leads the way, with support from Jess Lockwood, Natalie Berndt and Sydney Ralph. 

3) Upper Dublin vs. 7) Garnet Valley (7 PM)
Despite losing starting point guard Megan Ngo to a torn ACL earlier this month, a devastating blow for the Cardinals, Upper Dublin has still stayed competitive, giving Spring-Ford a run for its money in the quarterfinals after beating Penncrest by 26 in the second round. Older sister Amy Ngo, a senior Holy Family commit, along with twins Nora and Brighid Brady (both going to Neumann) have stepped up, while freshman Tamia Clark and Bridget DiMartile provide an inside presence. Both this game and the one above it will play for the PIAA 1-5, 1-6, 1-7 and 1-8 seeds.

12) Kennett vs. 16) Pennsbury (7 PM)
This game and the one below are for the last four District 1 seeds in the PIAA tournament. Kennett, which has made the 6A state playoffs for the first time in school history. Forward Mia Matthews is their go-to bucket-getter, but head coach Vince Cattano gets help inside from junior forward Sarah Mullin plus point guard Mary Carroll and more. Pennsbury’s got its own strong group of seniors led by scoring guard Sofia Vitucci, while Layla Mattias, Daniella MacDonald and others give head coach Frank Sciolla great defense and rebounding. 

10) West Chester Henderson vs. 11) Downingtown East (7 PM)
These division rivals will meet for the third time this season at Henderson having split the first two: 54-49 East on Dec. 19 and 44-39 Henderson on Jan. 23, both teams winning on their home courts. Henderson coach Greta Neff has been relying on the inside-out duo of seniors Jackie Shea and Whitney Evans, but point guard Ari Rivera has stepped up with some big-time playoff performances and Bailey Schalleur has hit some timely shots. Downingtown East coach Darren Domsohn’s young group is in states after beating Penncrest in playbacks, getting 16 points from freshman Kendall Chiavelli. Sophomore guard Charlotte Aldridge leads a young core that also includes sharpshooter Grace Hodges and point guard Chloe Hunold, both sophomores, a good sign for the Cougars moving forward.