By Josh Verlin (@jmverlin) &
Andrew Robinson (@adrobinson3)
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(ED. NOTE: Due to Sunday's impending snowstorm, this event has been postponed to Monday, January 20)
The 18th annual Hoops for Hope charity girls’ basketball showcase event will take place this Monday, January 20, at Arcadia University. The seven-game event, which tips off at 10:00 am and runs all the way into the evening, features 14 area teams representing the Catholic League, Suburban One, Inter-Ac, AACA, Central League and Pioneer Athletic Conference
All proceeds from Hoops for Hope go towards Morgan’s Message, a 501(c)(3) non-profit devoted to helping student-athletes with their mental health. It was founded in memory of Morgan Rodgers, a former Duke lacrosse player who took her own life in 2019.
Admission will be $10 for adults. Here’s a closer look at the event:
AJ Avery (above) and Plymouth Whitemarsh open the event with Mt. St. Joseph. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
Mount St. Joseph’s vs. Plymouth Whitemarsh (10:00 AM)
Two teams without many seniors between them will leadoff the slate of games. PW started the season strong by winning its first eight, but was on a six-game slide heading into Friday’s matchup with Souderton. The Mount has been trading a few wins with a few losses all season but the Magic did win their last two ahead of this.
PW is led by its junior backcourt of AJ Avery and Kenna Winland, both of them third-year varsity players. Joslyn Perez, a standout softball player, is also another experienced junior for Dan Dougherty’s team. Taylor Williams is the only senior in the rotation while sophomores Eliza Meersman and Olivia Patete have been mainstays in a lineup that also features freshman Grace Harvey.
Mount Saint Joseph does have a senior leader in captain Audrey Rocks but Matt Feeney’s team similarly has plenty of underclassmen in the mix. A pair of freshmen, Nina Meierdiericks at guard and Caitlin Cavallaro at forward, and junior Morgan Cross in the backcourt have shown they can score a little bit. Junior Bridget Horgan gives the Magic some size up front and is another leader for the team.
Neshaminy vs. Villa Maria (11:30 AM)
Both Neshaminy and Villa Maria are in stiff battles for District 1 seeding as the playoffs quickly get closer, so there’s a good deal on the line here for a non-league matchup. Neshaminy is No. 15 in District 1 6A (as of this writing), still in striking distance of a top-eight seed and a first-round bye with a string finish, but that would have to start now. Villa Maria, meanwhile, is No. 3 in the unofficial District 1 5A rankings, but there are a number of programs right on the Hurricanes’ tail, and Villa’s only got four games left in the regular season, so a few more wins to close the season out all but guarantees them a top-four seed and first-round bye.
Villa coach Kathy McCartney has another deep and versatile group of multi-sport athletes led by junior wing Sophia Tray. The 5-10 Loyola (Md.) lacrosse commit is a talented 3-level scorer who’s really strong with the ball in her hands, and she’s also the team’s top rebounder, facilitator and defender. Freshman Erin Urbanski, a 5-11 forward, gives them a solid inside presence, and then a whole host of guards fill in with additional shooting. Neshaminy’s John Gallagher has a sophomore-heavy group, though senior guard Alena Cofield is the no-doubt leader; 2027s Hayley Kolk, Mia Raivitch, Ashlyn Duffy and Grace Weyler — all starters — are a strong young core for Gallagher to build around.
Haverford High vs. Council Rock South (1:00 PM)
The Fords, technically the host team for Sunday’s event with head Lauren Pellicane again organizing a terrific field, face a Golden Hawks side that’s one of the hottest teams in District 1.
Rian Dotsey (above, last season) and Haverford High play Council Rock South. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
CR South had won nine games in a row following Thursday’s win againt Villa Maria, the team’s senior-led group finding its footing under first year head coach Stephen Polinski. While they don’t have a ton of size, 5-foot-10 junior Bella Hettler has come into her own as a rim defender and the guards and wings are very scrappy. Kathryn O’Kane makes it all go at point guard, Fiona Reckner is a tenacious defender and Lil Metrick is a knock-down shooter. Twins Maria and Sarah Freeman bring a ton of energy and junior Emerson Gunther is another shooter who can heat up quickly.
Haverford brings a mix of size, solid guards and an always rugged defense to the mix. Senior forward Rian Dotsey, who scored her 1,000th point earlier this week, is a floor-spacing threat and the St. Joe’s recruit alters plenty of shots inside. Senior Natalie Wright is a rugged defender and excellent on the glass while senior point guard Megan Kelly makes everything run. Senior Mya Foley and freshman Grace Maloney are both capable scoring guards on the perimeter or slashing to the rim and junior Maura Gilroy gives the Fords even more size coming off the bench.
Notre Dame vs. Garnet Valley (2:30 PM)
The Inter-Ac front-runners, Notre Dame’s girls take on one of the top teams in the Central League in Garnet Valley. The Jaguars won nine straight coming into the weekend and now face one of their stiffest tests of the season in an Irish squad which didn’t take its first ding until last weekend, Audenried staving off a crazy Notre Dame rally to end a run of 16 wins to start the season.
Notre Dame coach Terry Mancini relies on an equal mix of sophomores, juniors and seniors in a deep rotation. Sophomore guard Riley Davis and her classmate, 6-3 forward Grace Nasr, are usually tops on the scouting report, but senior guard Sophie Hall (Delaware soccer) is arguably the team’s top defender, senior point guard Catie Kelly is steady on the ball, and they’ve been getting strong shooting from junior guard Emma Anthony, a Rutgers lacrosse commit, with the rotation often going 10 deep.
The Jaguars’ attack starts with the all-senior backcourt of Haylie Adamski (Lafayette) and Kylie Mulholland, both of whom have multiple 20-point games this season, both quality outside shooters who can attack the rim at a good clip. Stepping up this season as sophomore have been Adamski’s twin younger sisters, Addison and Kylie Adamski, who’s also popped off for double figures with regularity.
Archbishop Wood vs. Perkiomen Valley (4:00 PM)
One of the most high-profile non-league games of the year pits the back-to-back defending District 1 Class 6A champion Perk Valley Vikings against the reigning PCL and four-time state champion Wood Vikings. The teams played in this event last year, PV coming away with a statement 50-46 win and both sides have had this one circled again. This game is loaded with future college players and should be played at a high level with plenty of intensity.
Ryan Carter (above) and Archbishop Wood play Perkiomen Valley in the most high-profile matchup of the day. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
In the Perk Valley corner, it’s all about the Vikings’ senior core. Forward Grace Galbavy (Wake Forest) is one of the most versatile offensive players in the area, able to score inside or out and she only continues to get better. Inside, center Quinn Boettinger (Navy) controls the glass and will be a handful for Wood’s interior defense. Point guard Bella Bacani (Jefferson) has mastery of the offense, is a lethal shooter and brings plenty of grit defensively. Wings Lena Stein (West Chester) and Grace Miley are the glue, a pair of relentless defenders and energizers that have the full trust of their teammates. Senior Julia Smith and sophomore Katie Nemic are the top reserves for John Russon’s group.
In the Archbishop Wood corner, the Vikings bring plenty of depth. Emily Knouse is the team’s lone senior, the St. Joe’s recruit having grown her game exponentially over the last year, a lights-out shooter who can score inside and defend well on the interior. Sophomore Ryan Carter is starting to look comfortable with her new team, the Top-10 prospect in the 2027 class is a dynamic athlete. Colleen Besachio is also looking more like herself, the sharpshooting junior wing rounding into form after missing last season with an injury. Junior Sophia Topakas and sophomore Mikayla Finnegan finish the starting lineup, two do-it-all guards that the Vikings count on quite a bit. Wood coach Mike McDonald can dip into his bench for a number of options from shooting to defense to size depending what the matchup dictates.
Conestoga vs. Archbishop Carroll (5:30 PM)
Another big-time game between a program with its eye on a Central League title in Conestoga and one of the top contenders for the Catholic League crown in Archbishop Carroll. This is a rematch of last year’s PIAA second-round game, which saw Carroll take out Conestoga 37-33 in a hard-fought battle, though both teams are without their lead guards from that game, Carroll’s Brooke Wilson (West Point) and ‘Stoga’s Marisa Francione (Scranton).
Carroll’s now in the hands of the Eberz sisters, with junior Alexis Eberz and freshman Kayla Eberz forming one heck of a 1-2 punch for the Patriots; a third Eberz sister, Kayla’s twin Kelsey, is out for the rest of the season after knee surgery. Renie Shields’ supporting cast is strong, led by sophomore Abbie McFillin, whose versatility is her calling card; seniors Brooke Olender, Bridget Archbold and Olivia Nardi plus junior Bridget Grant and sophomore Cate Schumacher all can hit open shots and play solid defense.
‘Stoga coach AJ Thompson welcomed back senior and MIT commit Ruth Lanouette back from an opening-game ankle injury last week, the speedy guard immediately giving the Pioneers a standout perimeter defender and ball-handler who can contribute in the scoring column as well. She’ll help take some pressure off junior guard and Division I recruit Ryann Jennings, who recently scored her 1,000th point, as well as senior forward Janie Preston, a 6-1 post headed to West Point. Junior guards Maggie Neary and Libby Brown, senior guard Rebecca Schmidt and sophomore wing Lu Misener all give them great energy defensively
North Penn vs. Gwynedd Mercy (7:00 PM)
The event wraps up with a pair neighboring programs used to postseason appearances - just five miles separates the two - going at it.
The Knights have been a bit of a roller coaster this season, although given their losses from last season’s PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal run and the youth on their roster, that’s not unexpected. North Penn coach Brianna Cullen does have an experienced conductor in senior Cameron Crowley, the guard more of a facilitator but also a capable scorer when needed. Sophomore wing Lily Brown had her breakout game in this event last year and the smooth lefty has embraced a leading role offensively this season. Senior Leah Mikulski can stretch the floor at forward while sophomore Mehya Godhania has seen an increased role lately
Gwynedd Mercy is off to a strong start in Taylor Sweeney’s first season, a group led by juniors and seniors at the top of the District 1 Class 5A standings. Junior Bailey Balkir sets the way offensively as the lead guard while senior forward Megan McDonnell is a keystone player offensively and defensively with her versatility and quickness. GMA also counts on seniors Cara Lapp, Carsy Kelly and Carli Amos on both ends of the floor.
Tag(s): Home Josh Verlin High School Andrew Robinson Girls HS AACA Gwynedd Mercy Mt. St. Joseph Villa Maria Catholic League (G) Archbishop Carroll Archbishop Wood Central League (G) Conestoga Garnet Valley Haverford High Inter-Ac (G) Notre Dame PAC (G) PAC Liberty (G) Perkiomen Valley Suburban One (G) SOL Colonial (G) North Penn SOL Liberty (G) Plymouth Whitemarsh SOL Patriot (G) Neshaminy