City of Basketball Love

By Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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The CoBL Girls’ Winter Classic is less than one week away: Sunday, Jan. 12 at Ursinus College. Our six-game showcase is a great way to check out a dozen of the area’s best girls’ basketball teams, featuring dozens of future college basketball players — not to mention give you something to do before the Eagles play later on in the day!

Admission will be $10 for everybody 12 and older.

We’re also excited to announce that this year’s event will be presented by Team Tutor. Read ahead for more about our sponsor, and for a preview of all six games:

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About Team Tutor
Is your child ready to achieve success in the classroom? At Team Tutor, we believe every student has the power to achieve academic success—and we’re here to help them unlock it!

For over 20 years, Team Tutor has been a trusted partner for families and schools, offering personalized tutoring, test prep, and study skills programs for students in grades K through 12. Whether online or in-person, our expert tutors are dedicated to helping your child build confidence, improve grades, and discover a love for learning.

We’re more than tutors—we’re your child’s partners in success. From mastering core subjects to acing the big test, we provide the tools and strategies they need to thrive now and in the future.

Visit TeamTutor.com today or call 215-657-1981 to learn more and schedule your free consultation. Team Tutor—empowering students, inspiring success!

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Germantown Academy vs. Bishop Shanahan (10:30 AM)
The day starts off this with PIAA vs. PAISAA matchup, as the Patriots and Eagles go head-to-head, both with some exciting young talent. Germantown Academy, one of last year’s Inter-Academic League tri-champions, features senior point guard Jess Kolecki and senior wing Gabby Bowes, a 5-11 Millersville commit, along with junior wing Sylvie Harrington, with the young frontcourt of sophomores Claire McKee and Jo Owens plus freshman Taylor Williams all giving head coach Lauren Power the ability to get constant frontcourt production. Shanahan’s got experience in the backcourt in senior Abby Garrity and junior Carmel Ambrose, both members of last year’s state qualifiers, as was junior wing Lauren Foster; sophomore center Anne Udo is a key for the Eagles and head coach Jim Powers with her ability to handle things on the block. 

Archbishop Carroll vs. Friends’ Central (12:00 PM)
This fun matchup features two teams that aren’t shy at all about utilizing their depth all over the court, though each have some no-doubt stars. For Friends’ Central, those stars include 6-3 senior wing Logyn Greer (Colorado), 6-2 sophomore wing Zya Small, 5-6 senior guard Nal’la Bennett (Stony Brook) and 6-0 senior forward Kaiya Rain Tucker (Siena), but keep an eye out on 6-0 freshman forward Faith Watson, 5-2 senior guard Saniyah Washington and more that head coach Vinny Simpson can utilize at his disposal. Carroll junior Alexis Eberz, with offers from Villanova and Marquette, is their biggest name, though she’s got plenty of seniors around her like Olivia Nardi, Brooke Olender and Brigid Archbold as well as her own younger sister, freshman wing Kayla Eberz, who’s got one of the brightest upsides around. 

Audenried Charter vs. Notre Dame (1:30 PM)
The defending Public League champions against the Inter-Ac favorites (and defending co-champs) is yet another high-profile matchup. If you haven’t seen Shayla Smith by now, the Audenried senior and Penn State commit  is chasing down the PPL scoring record (2,503), now within 400 points and closing fast as she continues to string together 30-point outings. And she’s not the only weapon Kevin Slaughter has at his disposal: sophomore Nasiaah Russell (6-3) keeps getting better and better in her recovery from a knee injury, and senior guards Reynah Rattliff and Seneya Parker have both consistently gotten into double figures with plenty of auxiliary stats. Notre Dame’s depth is to its advantage, with Terry Mancini getting quality efforts from seniors Catie Kelly and Sophia Hall, juniors Alex Gillin and Emma Anthony and sophomores Grace Nasr, Maddie DeFronzo and Riley Davis. Stopping Smith will be a group effort, while the 6-3 Nasr against Russell will be a matchup to watch.

Cardinal O’Hara vs. Upper Dublin (3:00 PM)
The powerhouse matchups continue with this potential state 6A clash, as the defending state champs go up against a Cardinals squad that’s playing like it plans to continue well into March. Upper Dublin junior point guard Megan Ngo (FDU) is the table setter for a senior-less group that includes classmate Emilia Coleman (5-11), sophomores Tamia Clark and Bridget DiMartile and freshmen Lexi Ngo and Ella Morris, all of whom have been clicking as a unit, taking down Rutgers Prep (N.J.) this past weekend among other impressive wins. O’Hara is centered around Molly Rullo (Drexel) for one final season but the 5-11 wing has a strong supporting cast in senior point guard Brigid MacGillivray, junior guard Natalie DiBlasi and sophomores Leah Hudak, Carly Wakefield and Brigidanne Donohue, along with freshman guard Catie Doogan. 

Conestoga vs. Neshaminy (4:30 PM)
An all-District 1 matchup in the fifth game of the affair, between two teams that are currently both in contention for a bye in the opening round of the District 1 tournament, with this game going to mean some serious district points for the winner. Conestoga features senior forward Janie Preston, an Army West Point commit, and junior guard Ryann Jennings, a Division I recruit, plus senior guard Ruth Lanouette (MIT) and junior guard Maggie Neary all back from last year’s Pioneers squad which made it to the second round of the PIAA 6A tournament. Neshaminy’s powered by senior guard Alena Cofield, a dynamic defender with a vastly improved offensive game, leading a talented group of youngsters that includes sophomore guard Grace Weyler, sophomore wings Mia Raivitch and Ashlyn Duffy and sophomore forward Hayley Kolk, who all give them good size and the latter three the ability to play inside and out. 

Spring-Ford vs. Springfield (Delco.) (6:00 PM)
The event closes with another matchup of public school programs with a history of success on the hardwood, and this year’s no different. Spring-Ford graduated a pair of Division I recruits but keeps rolling on with a senior-heavy squad led by Lilly Brescia, Kareena Preuss, Christina Tiffan, Devon Chamberlain and Haley Prophet, while sophomore guard Emma Kaercher and Miley Maloney represent the future for Mickey McDaniel’s Rams. Springfield (Delco.), which just thrashed one of the Central League leaders Harriton by 30 last week, features seniors Molly Clifford and Alyssa Estep, junior Lilianna DiTrolio, sophomores Abbie McFarland and Megan Zane and freshman Eva Lemieux, all of whom play the patient, defense-first style Ky McNichol demands.