City of Basketball Love

By Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
__

Only four districts have put forth a large classification PIAA champion in the last decade, and that was three before Archbishop Carroll came out of District 12 last season. Cumberland Valley won three in a row out of District 3 from 2014-16 before District 1 and 7 faced off for the next five championships. 

Unless there are some surprises, it looks like the top teams lie in familiar places with District 1, 12 and 7 boasting a few teams who look like they might have potential to make a run to the state crown.

Reigning champion Archbishop Carroll is back after a run to the Catholic League championship game, but there are plenty of worthy adversaries standing in their way of a repeat.

Here is a look at some of the top teams in the bracket: 

~~~

Favorites

Perkiomen Valley (District 1-1, 27-1)
The Vikings have dispatched almost everyone with ease this season, including 20-point over last season’s state champion Archbishop Carroll, which dispatched PV in the second round last season. Junior 6-foot wing Grace Galbavy and junior 6-3 forward Quinn Boettinger (Navy) and pretty much everyone else are back. Juniors Bella Bacani, Lena Stein, Grace Miley and Julia Smith and senior Anna Stein (Kutztown) all college level talents. They were tested by league rival Spring-Ford in an overtime District 1 title win but the Rams are on the opposite side of the bracket.

Archbishop Carroll (District 12-1, 17-9)
The Patriots entered the state tournament two games below .500 last season before winning five in a row for a PIAA title. Senior 5-9 guard Brooke Wilson, the Philadelphia Catholic League MVP and Army commit, and co. enter with more wins than they finished with last season after a run to the Catholic League championship game. Sophomore 5-9 guard Alexis Eberz is another D1 recruit, but it’s been more about balance this year with sisters Felicity (senior), Maddie (junior) and Abbie (freshman) McFillin adding depth this season along with junior Olivia Nardi.

Cardinal O’Hara (District 12-2, 21-4)
After winning consecutive 5A titles in 2021 and 2022, the Lions were bumped up to 6A last season and made a run to the semifinals that was halted by rival Carroll. Junior Molly Rullo (Drexel) and senior Joanie Quinn (La Salle) are both D1 commits and first team All-PCL players. Seniors Carly Coleman and Greta Miller return experience from last season’s run. 

Spring-Ford (District 1-2, 23-6)
Four of the Rams’ losses have come against state favorite Perk Valley, two of them in overtime, including most recently in the District 1 title game. Luckily for Spring-Ford, that matchup won’t be possible until a potential state championship meeting. Seniors like Anna Azzara (Wright State), Mac Pettinelli (St. Bonaventure) and Katie Tiffan (Lynn) went to the state title game as freshmen. They’ve followed with a quarterfinal run in 2022 and a second-round finish in 2023. They’ve proven themselves as capable as anybody to get to Hershey.

Norwin (District 7-1, 21-3)
Norwin grabbed its first WPIAL final since 2016 with a win over North Allegheny. After a state semifinal run last season as the District 7 three seed, they’re eyeing a PIAA title  as the top seed out of District 7 this season. Senior 6-2 forward Lauren Palangio (Holy Family) and junior 5-10 guard Kendall Berger, who recently picked up an offer from Seton Hill, were both all-state selections last season. Senior 6-foot stretch forward Ava Kobus (Allegheny College) and senior 5-2 guard Bailey Snowberger, a Holy Cross softball commit, make up the top of a deep group.

~~~

Contenders

Conestoga (District 1-3, 24-4)
The Pioneers were able to erase a poor shooting night against Spring-Ford in the district semis to bounce back for a convincing win over North Penn. With Central League MVP Ryann Jennings, a 5-10 guard, on fire at the moment, a strong senior core of Marisa Francione (Scranton), Katrina and Balla Valencia, and 6-1 junior forward Janie Preston giving the team a true post presence 'Stoga has pieces in place to give any team a run. However, a potential second round matchup with Carroll is daunting.

Central Dauphin (District 3-1, 23-2)
The Rams have won 13 in a row since a Jan. 21 loss to North Allegheny, winning the Mid-Penn Conference and the District 3 championship, their second in three years. Senior 6-foot forward Alexis Ferguson is the only holdover from the 2022 group that went to the PIAA semifinals after claiming district gold. The District 3 champion is typically poised to make a run. Cedar Crest reached the title game last season. Along with Ferguson, senior 5-4 guard Lauren Cavoli (McDaniel), senior 5-8 wing Leah McGarvey (Gordon College) and sophomore 6-foot forward Olivia Green are two of the other key pieces that lead a group that wins with its defense.

North Allegheny (District 7-2, 22-3)
The Tigers have four college-bound seniors in Kellie McConnell (Duquesne University) Lydia Betz (Goldey-Beacom College), Grace Heliger (Baldwin Wallace) and Caroline Henderson (Rochester Institute of Technology). Betz is a 5-10 wing/forward, while McConnell is a 5-3 guard, who both played together for the WPA Bruins. North Allegheny was the District 7 champion before falling to Norwin in the semis last year, looking to reverse the fortunes of that game and the WPIAL title game loss.

Peters Twp. (District 7-3, 23-2)
District 7 is pretty deep with Peters Twp. another dangerous squad. Peters Twp. started with 20 straight wins before a three-point loss to Canon-McMillan followed by a three-point WPIAL semifinal loss to North Allegheny. Junior 6-3 forward Natalie Wetzel is a big time recruit and senior 5-10 guard Gemma Walker (Saint Francis) is another D1 talent followed by junior 6-2 forward Daniela Radulovich and Sophomore 5-6 guard Bri Morreale. Peters Twp. went 30-0 and won the PIAA title back in 2019.

Parkland (District 11-1, 26-2)
District 11 hasn’t had a team reach the largest classification title game since Parkland won the PIAA Class 4A title in 2006. Senior 5-7 guard Talia Zurinskas (Lafayette) and senior 6-foot forward Madison Siggins (East Stroudsburg) are both 1,000-point scorers. They lead a group that’s playing its best ball down the stretch, winning each of their Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and District 11 tournament games by double digits.

Haverford (District 1-5, 24-4)
There isn't a whole lot separating the District 1 teams behind Perk Valley and Spring-Ford, but we'll go with the Fords here because of their size. Senior 5-10 guard Aniya Eberhart (Millersville) and junior 6-2 wing Rian Dotsey can match up with almost everyone's 1-2 punch. The Central League champs were bounced in the first round of states last season after losing in the district title game. This season they enter on a two-game win streak after a quarterfinal district exit. A possible second-round meeting with PV is intriguing.