City of Basketball Love

By Evan Hartenstein
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(Ed. Note: This story is part of CoBL’s “Prepping for Preps” series, which will take a look at many of the top high school programs in the region as part of our 2025-26 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed thus far can be found here.)

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Leadership.

It’s an attribute that Pennsbury girls coach Frank Sciolla requires in all who rep the orange and black.

Graduates Ava Jordan (Case Western Reserve) and Maggie Burns (Muhlenberg) were models for leadership in the program, but now it’s the next generation's turn.

“[Jordan and Burns] were great examples for other players in our program, who saw ‘keep working, keep working, keep working’ and then their senior year they had fantastic years,” Sciolla said.

Pennsbury is coming off of a 15-11 overall record and came in 3rd place in the SOL Patriot League with a 7-3 record. An underclassmen-heavy team last year, the Falcons are hoping that the return of a key player from injury and the maturation of a young core leads to more success this time around.

Emily Panaro, the team’s lone returning varsity senior, knows she has to fill Jordan and Burns’ shoes. 

“I really want to be there for my teammates,” said Panaro, a 5-foot-10 forward. “If they have any questions at all, to know that they can come to me with anything they want, any pressure, because I know how being a freshman to varsity — I know how that pressure is going to happen.”

Sciolla had nothing but praise for the senior. 

“Emily is a really good leader,” Sciolla said. “She is one of the best kids I’ve ever coached. Going into year 30 as a high school varsity coach, 20 with the boys, now 10 with the girls — I would put her in a small handful of the best kids ever. She’s very positive. She’s nurturing.” 

Panaro’s leadership will be crucial, but it’s the return of junior Joley Hohman that was the highlight of Pennsbury’s offseason.Hohman missed all of last year with a torn ACL and is a massive addition to the Falcons. 

Her June return was highly-anticipated, and her teammates couldn’t be more excited to have her back on the court with them this fall and into the season.

“It means so much,” sophomore Alyssa Thomas said. “It makes such a big difference, defensively and offensively. And she works so hard and also not just her skill, but the energy she brings to the team does nothing but benefit us.”

Hohman’s skill is evident — she was a promising young player prior to her injury, and now wants to help lead the Falcons on the court alongside Thomas.

“It’s just about being a communicator and being on the floor, and being the point guard on the floor other than Alyssa,” Hohman said.

“I missed it here — I’m super excited to see where this year takes me and parts of my future.”

Along with Hohman and Thomas, Sammie Haws will be a primary option for the Falcons.

The junior is a three-level scorer, who can knock down the three, mid-range, and finish down low efficiently. She had a breakout year last season, finding herself in the starting lineup as a sophomore as she continued to dominate throughout the year. 

While Pennsbury is going to heavily rely on Hohman and Haws, their counterparts are just as dangerous. 

Pennsbury’s floor general, Thomas is coming off a Second Team All-League selection as a freshman. She is an excellent distributor who’s way to help the team the most is by finding the open teammate. 

“I want to help direct my teammates to get open shots,” Thomas said. “And just kinda let everybody have confidence and play their own game.”

Sophomore guard Keira Socha established herself as one of the team’s go-to three-point shooters last year as a freshman and her classmate Adrianna Oberto found that defense was her strong suit. 

Bella Stewart and Grace Shaufler controlled the paint throughout last season and will work alongside Panaro for that role this year. The two sophomores both saw significant time last year, working in and out of the starting lineup depending on the game. 

Juniors Shea Quenzer and Milan Reaves also found time in the rotation last year, setting up opportunities this year to expand on their roles.

The Falcons start their season against reigning 6A state semifinalist, PCL powerhouse Archbishop Carroll and then take on Abington for their second game. Abington defeated Pennsbury at home in the district playbacks, but the girls have a chance to redeem themselves early in the year.

Sciolla’s squad came just short of a Patriot League title last year, falling to the champion Council Rock South in the final game of the regular season.

But these girls are hungry to win that — and more — this year.

“I really want this year to push and win the SOL,” Panaro said. “I think we have tremendous ability to do that and I think our potential can lead us very far.”

“[My goal for the team] obviously is winning an SOL title,” said Hohman. “And making it to districts — getting back to our expectations again.”