City of Basketball Love

By Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
__

The local teams have made some noise in the Class 3A and Class 4A brackets over the last several this seasons. Here’s a look at some of the top squads and players from the area as well as some favorites and standouts from around the state in both classifications:

~~~

Class 4A

Audenried (District 12-1, 21-5)
The Public League champions won their first state playoff game in program history a season ago. This year’s squad comes in looking to do more damage with wins over Catholic League runner-up Archbishop Carroll and Inter-Ac co champion Germantown Academy on the resume. Junior 5-10 guard Shayla Smith is a star, while there’s more depth behind her this season in senior Aniyah Howard, junior Senaya Parker and sophomore Heaven Reese. 

Blackhawk (District 7-2, 22-3)
Last year’s state runner-up has four starters back from as they attempt to make another run. Senior 5-10 Mercyhurst commit Alena Fusetti leads the list of players back that also includes senior 5-10 wings Haley and Piper Romigh and sophomore 5-10 forward Aubree Hupp. 

Neumann-Goretti (District 12-3, 17-6)
The Catholic League’s Archbishop Wood and Lansdale Catholic have won the last three PIAA Class 4A titles, including a matchup between the two in 2022. The Saints, who won Class 3A in 2022, haven’t shown their quite on those squads’ levels but the speedy backcourt of junior 5-4 guard Carryn Easley and Amya Scott are back to try and make some noise and standout 5-foot-7 freshman Reginna Baker is a first team All-PCL selection who wasn’t around last year.

North Catholic (District 7-1, 17-7)
Harvard-bound guard Alayana Rocco leads the way for a group that’s had to replace injured senior Ava Walker. Freshman 6-foot-2 forward Lauren Reitz and freshman 5-foot-6 guard Brady Wehner have been difference makers this season alongside Rocco, senior 5-8 guard Lauren Mihm and junior 5-6 guard Sarah Loughry.

Wyomissing Area (District 3-1, 25-0)
Junior 6-foot-1 forward Amaya Stewart is the centerpiece for the undefeated District 3 champions on both ends. Audrey Hurleman, Annie Mccaffrey and Alexis Hardy make up the rest of the group that will try and improve on a quarterfinal finish last season.

Class 3A

Imhotep Charter (12-1, 12-12)
The District 12 champs ran into eventual champion Dunmoore in the second round last season, but the Panthers are two years removed from a state semifinal run. Junior 6-foot forward Anise Geiger could be a matchup problem for some schools and classmate Kayla Thompson is another first team all-league player for a squad whose strength is in its numbers with the ability to go deep.

Lancaster Catholic (District 3-1, 21-2)
The Crusaders are a popular choice to win the bracket after falling to eventual champion Dunmoore in the semis last season. Senior 5-4 point guard Mary Bolesky (American) is the driving force but senior 5-11 wing/forward Rylee Kraft (Shippensburg) is plenty talented as well. Senior 5-9 guard Autumn Lipson is an AAU teammate of those two and Lily Lehman another senior.

Holy Redeemer (District 2-1, 21-5)
After knocking off defending state champion Dunmoore in the District 2 title game, the Royals are certainly a squad worth noting (particularly with a potential second round matchup with Imhotep looming). It’s a balanced group with some size led by senior 5-11 forward Angelina Corridoni, senior 6-foot-1 forward Lucie Racicky, junior Brooke Kroptavich 5-10 wing, sophomore guard Bella Boylan and junior wing Megan Albrecht.

Shady Side Academy (7-1, 24-2)
The Bulldogs are a roster Class 3A teams should get familiar with as they’ve likely got a few runs in them over the next three years after a quarterfinal finish last season. Sophomore guard Maggie Spell and Karis Thomas are an explosive 1-2 punch, while 6-foot-1 classmate Cassie Sauer, whose father Peter played at Stanford, has emerged this season to give the team an inside presence.

~~~

Players to Watch

Class 4A

Carryn Easley (Jr. | G | Neumann-Goretti)
The 5-foot-4 guard is lightning quick, which helps her break down the defense and set up her teammates. She picked up offers from Stony Brook and Fordham during a second straight first team All-Catholic League season.

Alena Fusetti (Sr. | G | Blackhawk)
The 5-10 guard is headed to Mercyhurst next season. She was a first team all-state selection for the PIAA runner-up last season and has the ability to carry her team on another run despite a district title game loss to North Catholic.

Maya Jenkins (Jr. | G | Scranton Prep)
The 5-foot-8 guard was a second team all-state selection last season, helping the Classics to the state semifinals. She elevated her game in the postseason a year ago and seemed to do the same to help her squad win another District 2 championship.

Reese Power (Jr. | G | Nazareth Acad.)
Power is nearing the 1,000-point milestone and could use a win by the Pandas or a monster performance in the first round to make sure she gets it. She quickly earned respect in the Catholic League this season, receiving first team honors in the program’s first season in the league.

Alayna Rocco (Sr. | G | North Catholic)
Even with last year’s co-star Dacia Lewandowski at Akron, Rocco has made sure North Catholic hasn’t missed a beat . The 5-foot-11 guard is a Harvard commit. She’s a perimeter player with some length who can knock down shots and handle for her team.

Shayla Smith (Jr. | G | Audenried)
Smith, the back-to-back Philadelphia Public League MVP,  has wowed the area for a few years now. A run by the Rockets could help her get deserved attention around the state. She’s a DI recruit who can fill it up from everywhere — a strong driver, who also rebounds the heck out of the ball and piles up assists as well.

Amaya Stewart (Jr. | F | Wyomissing)
Stewart was named the Berks County Player of the Year for a second straight season and another returning all-state player. The 6-foot-1 forward is a handful down low, but she blends her strength with some agility to pile up the points.

~~~

Class 3A

Mary Bolesky (Sr. | G | Lancaster Catholic)
The American commit and 5-foot-4 guard is the definition of a point guard. She leads the way for her team at the point, unafraid to operate in traffic, and can knock down shots from deep as well.

Mallory Daly (Sr. | G | Seton LaSalle)
Daly is a University of Buffalo commit averaging close to 24 points per game this season. The 5-foot-8 guard is the type of talent who will definitely scare some of the higher seeds on the scouting report.

Izzy Elizondo (Jr. | G | New Hope-Solebury)
The 5-foot-7 guard had big shoes to fill this season replacing Regan Chrencik (Gettysburg), but she’s risen to the occasion many times, including a 24-point outing in the District 1 title game. You’ll have to wait until next week to catch Elizondo in action as the Lions already advanced to the second round with a forfeit.

Jocelyn Goldstein (Jr. | F | Masterman)
Goldstein, a 6-2 forward, averaged 26.7 ppg and 9.7 rpg this season to earn Public League ‘C’ Division MVP. She has more than 1,000 points in her career as the centerpiece of a Masterman team that’s won 18 games in each of the past two seasons.

Iyanna Wade (Jr. | G | Clairton)
If you’re looking for a show, Wade fits the description. The 5-foot-4 guard is leading the state in scoring at more than 40 ppg. She’s gone for 50+ five times, including an eye popping season-high of 65.