City of Basketball Love

By CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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The District 1 playoffs get underway this week with elimination games in the 5A and 6A brackets. The girls’ 5A bracket has eight games, all of which will see one team move into the second round — with at least two more games to play — and the others done for the season:

Here’s a look at the eight first-round girls’ games, which all take place Friday with one exception (indicated below):

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Second Round: Wed., Feb. 19
Quarterfinals: Sat., Feb. 22
Semifinals: Weds., Feb. 26
Championship: Fri., March 1 @ Hagan Arena (6:00 PM)

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16) Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. 17) Pennridge (4:00 PM)
Winner gets 1) Perkiomen Valley

PW’s goal last season was just to get in. This year, the Colonials (14-9) have taken a step beyond and earned a home game to start things off but they won’t be satisfied with just an invite. Juniors Kenna Winland and AJ Avery, along with senior Taylor Williams, lead a group that’s gotten a lift from some younger players including Eliza Meersman and Olivia Patete; they’ve also had an interesting season, with eight wins followed by six losses, followed by six wins, followed by three losses. Time to start another streak?

The Rams are back in the postseason after a year gap, Pennridge now looking to nab a win and extend its season. Senior Ella Brown (Holy Family) is a potent scoring threat capable of putting up 20-plus points with a versatile offensive game. Layla Verbit (Gwynedd Mercy) gives the Rams some punch inside with point guard Madison Lapp and sharpshooter Emily DeHaven controlling play in the backcourt. Their best stretch came from Jan. 7-21, a seven-game win streak, but they’ve won 10 of 13 overall entering the playoffs.

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9) Conestoga vs. 24) Coatesville (7:00 PM)
Winner gets 8) Council Rock South

The Pioneers (18-6) have quite a bit of talent for a No. 9 seed starting with junior D-I recruit Ryann Jennings, a 5-11 guard/wing, and senior Army commit Janie Preston, a 6-1 forward. Senior guard Ruth Lanouette (MIT) is also battle-tested with juniors Libby Brown and Maggie Neary capable of pitching in on any given night, and sophomore Lu Misener has been giving quality minutes off the bench. After losing in the Central League title game, they’re out for some redemption before the season is over. 

The Red Raiders (11-10) are one of the smallest, if not the smallest team, in the District 1 tournament. The Red Raiders make up for that with speed, quickness, and a press that can generate offense off steals. This team is capable of beating most of the teams in District 1 Class 6A, and it’s also a team that can fall apart, as it did during one spell this season, dropping six of seven games. Coatesville’s 5-foot-5 freshman guard Milan Bryant is a difference maker; starting sophomore guards Makiah Datil and Gianna Jackson and junior Nasira Towels are in supporting roles. The Red Raiders are still a dangerous team, entering the tournament having won four of their last five. 

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13) Spring-Ford vs. 20) Lower Merion (6:00 PM)
Winner gets 4) Central Bucks East

Senior 5-10 forward Kareena Preuss is the lone starter back from last year’s district runner-up squad and is the only double-figure scorer. But coach Mickey McDaniel’s Rams (18-7) have continued to win with defense as well as have players like senior point guard Devon Chamberlain (Alvernia), senior guard Lily Brescia and sophomore Miley Maloney step up. Spring-Ford made a surprise run to the final as a No. 11 seed three seasons ago.

The Aces (14-10) reached the Central League semifinals, where they lost to the far taller league runner-up, Garnet Valley, 59-40. Lower Merion relies heavily on their guard play, behind exceptional freshman Natalia Kasmer and junior Alexa Braslow, who possesses a high basketball IQ. Their bigs, Ella Liberatoscioli and Megan Walters, caused problems for Radnor in the Aces’ league quarterfinal victory.

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12) Chester vs. 21) Methacton (5:30 PM)
Winner gets 5) Downingtown East

The Del-Val champs, Chester (18-4) has only lost twice since the year turned to 2025, including a quality win over Cheltenham midway through January and then a perfect 8-0 slate in the Del-Val. It’s a four-win improvement from last year, when Chester earned the No. 10 seed in the 5A bracket, losing to Phoenixville in the opening round. Senior forward Ja’Mya Muhammad is the team’s leading scoring, with junior guards Imani Dorsey and Jordan Dennis also in double figures; and junior forward Zayana Vann is tough on the glass. 

Methacton (14-9) bounced back from a six-win season to get back to the playoffs. Senior Abby Arnold (Arcadia) is a 1,000-point scorer, who has racked up most of them over the last two seasons. 5-11 forward Jenna Kaufman is the Warriors only other senior, while 6-1 freshman forward Ava Wolf could be a two-way difference maker before long, and she’s impacting the game for longer and longer stretches. 

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15) North Penn vs. 18) Phoenixville (7:00 PM)
Winner gets 2) Garnet Valley (Tues., Feb. 18)

North Penn is back in the postseason despite losing a few key pieces from last year’s PIAA quarterfinalist. Senior Cam Crowley has set the table all year, an extension of coach Brianna Cullen on the floor at point guard while sophomore Lily Brown is already a strong talent offensively on the wing. The Knights are supported by senior Leah Mikluski and junior Tallie Smink, a pair of stretch forwards and a young group that includes sophomores Mehya Godhania and Jadyn Sperling.

The Phantoms (14-10) stepped up to the Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty division this season and handled themselves well, and now they jump from the 5A to the 6A district bracket. Junior guard Kayden Baratta recently surpassed the 1,000-point milestone. Senior 5-10 forward Emine Ulcay and junior 6-0 forward Riley Ford-Bey provide the interior scoring punch, and senior guard Nevaeh Latimore-Beasley is a steadying presence.

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10) Haverford vs. 23) Central Bucks South (7:00 PM)
Winner gets 7) Downingtown West

The Fords (18-5) have been one of the area’s top programs over the last four years with the Dotsey sisters playing a big role in that. Senior 6-2 wing/forward Rian Dotsey (St. Joe’s) will finish up her career with this postseason run. Senior guard Mya Foley and Megan Kelly and senior 5-11 wing Natalie Wright are other seasoned vets looking to go on another deep postseason run.

CB South had to earn its way in, the Titans (12-10) winning their last two games to lock up a spot. Seniors Ella Wheeler (Jefferson softball) and Mia Klein have led South all year in the backcourt, while twins Gabby and Jules Tropea create a solid interior presence offensively and defensively.

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14) Pennsbury vs. 19) William Tennent (Thurs., 4:30 PM)
Winner gets 3) Upper Dublin

Despite a large roster turnover from last year’s large senior class and a significant offseason injury, the Falcons (14-9) have earned another game at home. Pennsbury’s mostly young crew is led by a pair of hardworking seniors in Maggie Burns and Ava Jordan, along with junior Emily Panaro. Sophomore Sammie Haws has stepped up in a bigger role while freshman Alyssa Thomas has shown plenty of poise and some gutsy shot-making at point guard.

It’s been a long time coming for the Panthers (14-8) as they return to the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Juniors Avery Kocur and Halie Staub, both three year starters, are a tough backcourt combo that can score, facilitate and defend. Sophomore Megan Volz grabs rebounds at a high rate inside while Lindsay Catoni and Aubrey Lynch add contributions for a team with just one senior on its roster.

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11) Neshaminy vs. 22) Abington (7:00 PM)
Winner gets 6) Cheltenham

With four 10th graders in the starting five, it’s no secret where Neshaminy’s present and future lie. However, the team’s lone senior in Alena Cofield (Arcadia) is one of the hardest working players around and her teammates follow her lead. Hayley Kolk is an intriguing player for Neshaminy (17-6) as an inside-out post while any of the sophomore trio of Grace Weyler, Ashlyn Duffy and Mia Raivitch can step up and put a manor mark on a game.

Abington’s certainly got the firepower to win in the postseason, it’s just a matter of if the Ghosts (12-10) are making shots. Few are better than senior Maya Johnson at setting up teammates for clean looks and the crafty point guard can get hers too. Mikaiya Durham and Aniyah Williams can both get going in a hurry from outside and if both are hitting, Abington can pile up points. Hailey Hernandez, Shya Crafton and Vanessa Griffin add depth in the lineup.

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