District 2 Girls Division Races (Lackawanna League)

Written by: Jon K on February 16, 2021

Lackawanna League Girls Division Races

DIVISION 1

Scranton Prep (10-0)

Abington Heights (8-1)

Valley View (6-4)

Scranton (2-8)

West Scranton (0-10)

In Division 1, Scranton Prep remains laser-focused on winning a division championship. The Classics extended their overall winning streak to 38 games as they continue their dominance, averaging 74.5 ppg during February with a victory margin of an incredible 52.6 points. Prep returned their entire lineup from last year’s undefeated squad, a 27-0 team that remained standing as the state debated about shutting things down. They have so many options on the floor, but it’s their senior duo that remains steady and kicks them into high gear when needed. Versatile 6-0 playmaker Cecelia Collins (headed to Division 1 Bucknell University next year) nets 18.5 ppg and recently eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau. Complementing her is 5-6 guard Rachel Rose (18.3 ppg with 26 triples) who will be attending Division 1 South Carolina Upstate University. Additional perimeter support comes via a pair of juniors in Maria Belardi (8.7 ppg) and Lizzie Neville (10.4 ppg). Inside, the Classics feature 5-8 senior forward Meredith Purcell (4.3 ppg), 6-0 senior center Maggie Kosierowski (3 ppg), and 6-2 junior forward Avery McNulty (5 ppg). Top challenger to Prep is their rival Abington Heights. The Lady Comets feature one of their more powerful teams in recent memory and will be favored to win the district 5A championship. AH, their lone loss to Scranton Prep (53-33), is led by a dynamic pair of senior guards in 5-10 Claire Marion (18.9 ppg) and 5-4 Rachel McDonald (14.3 ppg with 29 triples). Marion topped 20 points in recent wins over Valley View, Scranton, and West Scranton. McDonald netted 25 points with 7 treys in the win over the Lady Cougars. The Lady Comets also have 5-9 junior guard/forward Anna Scoblick (12 ppg) and 5-11 junior center Allison Dammer (7 ppg). They have also been getting contributions from 5-10 sophomore center Lauryn Notari (3 ppg). Valley View has four division losses, but all have come against division frontrunners (AH twice, Scranton Prep and Western Wayne). The Lady Cougars have one of the premier inside players in the entire district in 5-10 senior forward Skylar Bianchi (21 ppg). In the backcourt they have senior Alivia Romano (8.7 ppg) along with a trio of sophomore guards – Molly Muphy (7.9 ppg), Alexa Evangelista (7.6 ppg), and Lucy Loftus (3 ppg). Valley View definitely has successful days ahead as their rosters features many sophomores and freshman. Scranton was heavily impacted by graduation last year and continues to rebuild behind one of the youngest lineups in the entire league. Lanee Olson, a 5-4 sophomore guard, leads the way with 15.5 ppg. She is joined by senior guard Reanna Cleveland (7 ppg). The remaining spots are filled by a handful of freshmen guards including Finley Bittenbender (11.8 ppg with 26 triples), Kennedy Bittenbender (5 ppg), Canyah Randle (3.6 ppg), and Kamyn Alers. West Scranton, another team impacted by graduation, is still looking for their first victory on the season. The Lady Invaders, who impressively captured the district championship a year ago, are led by a trio of underclassmen guards, Olivia Dougher (11.6 ppg), Madison Maloney (7 ppg), and Mia Butko (6.6 ppg). Coming up on Thursday (weather permitting) is a blockbuster rematch as Abington Heights hosts Scranton Prep. Valley View will travel to Wallenpaupack for a crossover game while Scranton and West Side will renew their city rivalry.

DIVISION 2

Western Wayne (7-2)

North Pocono (5-3)

Wallenpaupack (3-5)

Honesdale (2-6)

Delaware Valley (1-5)

In Division 2, Western Wayne continues to play very well, winning 7 of their last 8 games. The Lady Wildcats have a pair of crossover losses to Division 1 powerhouses Scranton Prep and Abington Heights. They have no seniors on the roster so there is plenty of excitement on their squad. Junior guard Kaeli Romanowski is spectacular with a team-leading 16.5 ppg. She is joined by a pair of impactful sophomores in Skylar Long (6 ppg) and Jacque Morris (5.5 ppg). Inside, Cathy Shephard, a 5-10 junior forward, adds 9 ppg. And Emily Romanowski, a 5-7 freshman guard, is also contributing with 7 ppg. Trailing WW is North Pocono. The Lady Trojans dropped a 56-46 loss to the Lady Wildcats but will get another opportunity against them next week. Riding a four-game winning streak, NP is paced by senior guard/forward Carena Colo hitting 14.1 ppg. She is joined in the backcourt by a pair of seniors in Jenna Beach (9.2 ppg) and Morgan Seidita (4.8 ppg). Inside, 5-11 senior forward Alicia Goldenziel is having a great season averaging 11 ppg. The Lady Trojans have also been getting solid efforts from freshman Kyle Mastillo (9 ppg). Their other losses have come to Abington Heights and Valley View in crossover tilts. Wallenpaupack is looking to continue to improve on last year’s mark. The Lady Buckhorns are led by junior guard Megan Desmet with 13.5 ppg. She is joined by another junior guard, Devon Kiesendahl (5 ppg). Paupack also gets contributions from a pair of sophomores in the frontcourt, center Grace Steffen and forward Aviona Rosenthal, who add a combined 7.6 ppg. Honesdale has dropped five games in a row. The Lady Hornets are led by a trio of forwards, 5-8 senior Grace Maxson (4 ppg) plus juniors Chloe Lyle (5-9, 7.5 ppg) and Rowan Murray (5-8, 10.7 ppg). Katie Ludwig is their junior guard. Delaware Valley features a solid inside-outside combination in 5-11 senior forward Brooke Acoveno (8.7 ppg) and 5-7 junior guard Mackenzie Olsommer (9.4 ppg). On Wednesday, North Pocono entertains Wallenpaupack while Western Wayne travels to play Honesdale. Thursday features Honesdale entertaining North Pocono while Western Wayne hosts Delaware Valley.

DIVISION 3

Dunmore (7-0)

Riverside (7-1)

Holy Cross (6-3)

Old Forge (4-4)

Lakeland (2-7)

Mid Valley (2-7)

Carbondale (1-7)

In Division 3, Dunmore remans perfect with all eyes turning toward their Thursday rematch against Riverside (weather-permitting). The Lady Bucks continue to roll along, winning their 10th in a row following a 50-45 loss to Scranton Prep in a non-league main event. They are led on the perimeter by 5-9 junior guard Moriah Murray (15 ppg with 37 triples). Inside, 6-3 sophomore center Ciera Toomey (13.7 ppg) is already garnering a LOT of Division 1 recruiting attention. Their other starters are all solid contributors, junior guard Mia Blume (7.5 ppg with14 triples), senior guard Anna Tallutto (7 ppg), and 5-9 senior guard Elisa Delfino (4 ppg). Off the bench, senior guard Alexis Chapman also hits 4 ppg. Dunmore came away with a 62-53 road win over Riverside at the end of January, the only blemish on the Lady Vikings 14-1 overall record. Riverside, riding a 7-game winning streak, has played a challenging non-league schedule against District 11 powerhouses Allentown Central Catholic, Jim Thorpe, and Notre Dame Green Pond. They recently celebrated the 200th win for head coach Jack Mekilo. Kylie Lavelle, their fantastic 6-1 junior guard who plans to attend Division 1 Drexel, averages just under 24 ppg. She recently reached the 1,000-point scoring mark. She is joined by a trio of versatile 5-8 senior forwards in Kayla Rose (12.5 ppg), Emily Taylor (8.6 ppg with 32 treys), and Alese Karpinski (5.5 ppg). Senior point guard Bella McKeefery hits 3 ppg. Added contributions come from juniors Kate Slaboda (6-0 forward), Morgan Antoniacci (guard), and Paige Olanovich (guard) with a combined 6 ppg. Holy Cross has a very talented squad and the Lady Crusaders came close to defeating Riverside last week. They led 43-41 heading into the final period before dropping a 57-53 loss to the Lady Vikes. Their other losses were against Dunmore and Old Forge. Holy Cross is led by 1,000-point scorer Kaci Kranson, a 5-8 junior playmaker who nets 21.8 ppg. She is joined by 5-7 senior forward Abbey Lentowski who adds 19 ppg. Julia Goetz, another talented forward, adds 3.5 ppg. Senior guard Emily Ferguson is steady with 5 ppg. Another key contributor is junior Krista Carachilo (3 ppg) who scored 14 points in the loss to Riverside. Old Forge dropped their last two games to Riverside and Holy Cross. The Lady Devils are paced by a trio of seniors in 5-10 forward Olivia Ciullo (20 ppg), guard Makayla Parker (6 ppg), and center Angelina Rios (6.3 ppg). They also get solid efforts from senior Hannah Grasso and junior Brooke Arnold. Lakeland is led by junior guard Skylar Arendt (12 ppg) plus senior guards Colby White and Addie Piraino who score a combined 14 ppg. Mid Valley returned much of their all-underclassmen lineup this season so there is plenty of future optimism for the Spartanettes. MV is led juniors Kaylee Terranella (9.6 ppg) and Katie Glinsky (8 ppg). Carbondale features a trio of seniors who have been playing very well – guard Deanna Wallace (8.4 ppg), forward Sarah Tolerico (7.5 ppg), and forward Alyvia Schiavone (6.4 ppg). On Wednesday, Carbondale entertains Dunmore. Thursday, weather-permitting has the blockbuster rematch as Dunmore hosts Riverside along with Holy Cross entertaining Lakeland, and Mid Valley traveling to Old Forge.

DIVISION 4

Montrose (6-0)

Elk Lake (6-0)

Lackawanna Trail (6-2)

Susquehanna (4-5)

Mountain View (2-6)

Blue Ridge (1-6)

Forest City (1-7)

In Division 4, Montrose and Elk Lake are headed a pair of showdowns, one set for next Monday and the other currently a TBA on the schedule. Montrose returned a majority of their scoring punch from last year. The Lady Meteors are led by a quartet of underclassmen, including 5-8 sophomore forward Haley Pompey (11.7ppg), 5-7 junior guard Tangi Smith (11.6 ppg), 5-10 sophomore forward Mia Snyder (8 ppg), and freshman guard Aspen Smith (5.6 ppg). Elk Lake is paced by junior guard Krista Jones (14.5 ppg). She is joined in the backcourt by junior Lily Decker (8 ppg) and sophomore Delaney Curley (7 ppg). Inside, the Lady Warriors rely on senior forward Tamara Voda (9 ppg). They also have sophomore guard Megan Johns and senior guard Destiney McCarey. Lackawanna Trail has won 3 of their last 4 games, including a close 38-33 loss to Elk Lake. The Lady Lions are led by a pair of junior guards in Amaralis Thiel (12 ppg) and Megan Gatto (7.5 ppg). LT is also getting strong efforts from some of their younger players, 5-10 sophomore forward Nadia Toth (4 ppg) plus freshmen Gretchen Rejrat (guard) and Mackenzie Schirg (5-9 forward) who combine to add 12 ppg. Susquehanna Community is led by 5-9 senior forward Meghan Kiernan with 11.5 ppg. Lexi Iveson, a sophomore guard, has been adding 9 ppg for the Lady Sabers. They also get steady contributions on the perimeter from juniors Mackenzie Decker and Megan Decker (7.6 combined) and in the frontcourt from sophomores Alexandra Iveson and Kerstin Dooley (8.6 combined). Mountain View is led by a pair of seniors, guard Regan Cameron (15 ppg) and forward Morgan Hammond (7 ppg). Blue Ridge gets 6.5 ppg from 5-11 sophomore forward Lilly Bleck. The Lady Raiders are also getting contributions from a trio of freshmen in Leigha McCain, Libby Zick, and Abigail Laude. Forest City is led by Bella Pleska, their senior guard who adds 6.5 ppg. Coming up on Thursday (weather-permitting) Blue Ridge hosts Elk Lake.