District 2 Girls Division Previews

Written by: Jon K on January 3, 2024

DISTRICT 2 GIRLS DIVISION PREVIEWS

WYOMING VALLEY CONFERENCE

DIVISION 1

1.  Hazleton Area (Joe Gavio) 6A

2.  Pittston Area (Jeff Gregory) 5A

3.  Wilkes-Barre Area (Dale Rapson) 6A

4.  Crestwood (Mary Mushok-Namey) 5A

5.  Dallas (Vince Bucciarelli) 5A

6.  Wyoming Valley West (Gary Ferenchick) 6A

7.  Berwick (Bill Phillips) 4A

8.  Tunkhannock (Dan Williams) 4A

If you love watching competitive hoops throughout the conference season, you are going to love following Division 1 this year.  That is not to say there aren’t a few decided frontrunners, but most of the teams feature tremendous upside so the landscape may look a bit different in another month.  And that’s going to make for plenty of exciting hoops.  Hazleton Area (8-1) is loaded with underclassmen and many of them already have a year of valuable experience.  The Lady Cougars captured the Punxy holiday tourney with dominating wins over Red Bank Valley and host Lady Chucks.  Their lone loss was to district powerhouse Scranton in a game that was close through three quarters.  They have team leadership from a pair of juniors in Olivia Williams and Sophia Shults.  The bulk of their scoring has been from a pair of sophomores (Kayla Lagowy and Alexis Reimold) hitting a combined 20 ppg.  Freshman sharpshooting guard Kaitlyn Bindas has been a strong contributor with over 18 ppg.  Joe Gavio has a deep lineup that can use their patented defense to create offensive opportunities.  There are a bunch of teams that will be looking to challenge Hazleton Area and rise to the top of the standings.  Pittston Area (7-2) is just a few points away from an undefeated record.  The Lady Patriots graduated a few critical cogs from their 25-3 campaign last year, but there is enough returning talent to give Jeff Gregory plenty of optimism.  Junior guard Daniella Ranieli is an all-star and leading the team once again (16.9 ppg).  She is a terrific outside shooter.  Junior Maddie Karp brings plenty of experience onto the floor.  And the pieces continue to fall into place as sophomore guard Lili Hintze is contributing over 12 ppg and helping to solidify their perimeter shooting.  Take note that PA dropped their division opener as Berwick rallied for a 52-49 win.  Wilkes-Barre Area (3-5) has a pair of returning players in senior guard Emma Krawczeniuk (10.4 ppg) and junior guard Diamond Thorton (11.4 ppg), a versatile playmaker that makes things happen all over the floor.  The Pack has also been getting valuable contributions from another pair of senior guards in Mahogany Robinson and Kate Keating who are combining for about 14 ppg.  WBA has played a tough non-league slate.  Putting Crestwood (5-4) in the upper half of the division may have been a bit of a leap just a few weeks ago as there were some big questions marks as to how long it’s going to take for their young talent to develop.  But, the Lady Comets have earned much respect as they have navigated through a challenging exhibition schedule, including a one-point loss to highly regarded Gwynedd Mercy Academy from District 1.  Their 6-0 freshman forward Charlie Hiller has shown incredible maturity around the basket averaging 14 ppg.  She is joined inside by 5-11 junior Kate Gallagher.  On the perimeter, sophomore guard Keira Dougherty has displayed terrific ball-handling skills and can take it to the hoop with precision confidence.  She is hitting 14.4 ppg.  Also in the backcourt, freshman Jackie Gallagher, sophomore Jordan Andrews, and junior Kendall Petrosky combine to net over 20 ppg.  Dallas (5-3) and Wyoming Valley West (3-6) definitely have the pieces to impact this division race.  The Lady Mountaineers are another young team, but they get senior leadership from guard Elizabeth Viglone (8.5 ppg).  A pair of sophomore guards are continuing to show their success, Molly Walsh and Mia DelGaudio, have been combining for over 30 ppg.  Their program continues to have an influx of talent with newcomers Caitlyn Mizzer and Brianna Casey combined to add over 10 ppg.  Wyoming Valley West returns several starters, including senior guards Mackenzie Perluke (14.9 ppg) and Gabby Marsola (7 ppg).  Perluke is a terrific ball handler that has a smooth shot and can take over a game at times.  Sophomore guard Thalia Irizarry has been steady with 11.4 ppg.  Inside, Anya Richet is joined with Gabby Novitski.  The Lady Spartans have played a rugged non-league slate and should be a factor in the division race.  Berwick (3-6) is another team that loaded up their exhibition schedule with solid opponents.  The Lady Dawgs can be the real surprise team here as they continue to gel and get some of last year’s injured players fully back into their flow.  They have a talented trio of senior guards in Rae Ann Andrews (14 triples), Alysa Lewis, and Lybbi Switzer.  They are joined by junior guard Carly Ochs.  Inside, senior forward Gabby Starr is superb, hitting 11 ppg.  Grace Robbins (freshman forward) is also contributing.  Tunkhannock (1-7) is led by junior forward Lourianna Alston (18 ppg).                                   

DIVISION 2

1.  Lake-Lehman (Charlie Lavan) 3A

2.  Holy Redeemer (John Jezorwski) 3A

3.  Nanticoke Area (Ed Grant) 4A

4.  Wyoming Seminary (CJ Kersey) 3A

5.  Wyoming Area (Mark Casper) 4A

6.  MMI Prep (Terry Hartz) 1A

7.  Hanover Area (Marie Skrepenak) 4A

The race in Division 2 is going to be a close battle between Lake-Lehman, Holy Redeemer, and Nanticoke Area.  And don’t sleep on Wyoming Seminary as they have the ability to get by any of those teams.  This is going to be a fun race.  Lake-Lehman (4-4) features a trio of exceptional seniors and lots of sophomores.  Brenna Hunt, Ella Wilson (12 triples), and Molly Jenkins provide over 80% of the scoring for the Black Knights so the key to winning this division will be getting more output from their sophomores (like Kathryn Morgan and Delcia Biscotta).  Depth needs to be developed too.  Holy Redeemer (6-4) graduated several key players that might send some other programs into a definite rebuilding mode.  But, with one of the deeper lineups in the conference, the Lady Royals have the experience and skill to be a strong contender once again, and into future seasons. Inside they have seniors Angie Corridoni and Lucie Racicky along with junior Brooke Kroptavich.  In the backcourt, they have a talented trio of sophomores in Tessa Cegelka, Isabella Boylan, and Mckenzie Chimoch (who has 17 triples).  They are joined by junior guard Megan Albrecht.  Holy Redeemer moves the ball around really well.  Don’t be fooled by their four losses as two of them were at a powerhouse holiday event in Albany.  The others were against district championship contenders, Abington Heights and Trinity.  Nanticoke Area (4-6) is another program that plays a rugged non-league schedule.  Win or lose, that competition will help prepare them for conference play.  The Trojanettes get solid outside-inside contributions from sharpshooter Claire Aufiero (16.3 ppg with 15 triples) and 6-0 junior center Caitlyn Majiros (9.5 ppg).  Added perimeter contributions come from junior Kate Reed and sophomore Naveah Baran who net a combined 15 ppg.  They also get solid play from junior Jordyn Johnson and sophomore Marli Donahue.  Wyoming Seminary (6-2) is a program that is going in the right direction.  Look for the Blue Knights to be a factor in this division race.  They have a great blend of experienced and younger players.  They feature seniors Lexy Lichenstein, Haley Smeraldi, and Ellie Parra along with junior Clare Griffin.  Sem is also getting scoring contributions from a pair of freshmen, Ella Stambaugh and Ellie Kersey, who net a combined 18 ppg.  Wyoming Area, MMI Prep, and Hanover Area will be looking to get things going in a better direction as the season progresses.  Wyoming Area (3-8) graduated virtually all of their lineup from last year’s successful 14-11 campaign.  The Lady Warriors do return guards Krea Bonita (a junior) and Morgan Slusser (a senior).  WA has been getting contributions from a freshmen duo in Addison Gaylord and Abigail Sterba.  MMI Prep (1-4) will rely on senior Bria Kringe (11 ppg).  Hanover Area (0-8) features Brenna Slusser and Caitlyn Vigorito.                                                                                      

LACKAWANNA LEAGUE 

DIVISION 1

1.  Scranton (PJ Hughes) 5A

2.  Scranton Prep (Bob Beviglia) 4A

3.  Abington Heights (Deanna Klingman) 5A

4.  Valley View (Rob Martin) 4A

5.  West Scranton (Sarah Holweg) 5A

All goods things eventually have to end.  Or do they?  Without question, Scranton Prep has been the longtime barometer of girls’ basketball excellence in Lackawanna League Division 1 play.  But, their 6+ year division winning streak of 80 games will be severely tested this season.  Scranton, meanwhile, created their own slice of hoops history last week when the Lady Knights defeated the Classics to win their first-ever Lynett Memorial Tourney Championship.  The much-anticipated sequels are set for January 12 and February 2.  But, not that far off the pace is a very well-balanced Abington Heights squad that expects to be right in the thick of this race.  Scranton (8-0) is a team that can do a lot of things really well.  They have outstanding guards and move the ball around the floor with precision.  The Lady Knights have superb perimeter shooting and can run the floor with a lights-out fast break.  Add in a tenacious defensive effort and a pair of legitimate Division 1 freshmen prospects…and, well, you get the picture.  Freshman guard Chrissy Jacklinski (12.7 ppg) has boosted an already potent backcourt with junior Maggie O’Shea and seniors Kamryn Alers, Finley Bittenbender, and Kennedy Bittenbender.  Inside, 5-11 senior Canyah Randle creates havoc.  Zya Small (6-2 freshman forward) is averaging over 20 ppg and has an incredible level of maturity on the floor.  Scranton Prep (5-4) always plays a challenging non-league schedule.  Close losses were against Upper Dublin, Neumann-Goretti, and Scranton.  Playing Red Bank Catholic gave them a peak at state championship level competition.  The Classics feature five juniors in their starting lineup.  Maya Jenkins (12.4 ppg) and Jenna Hillebrand (12.7 ppg) are their top scores and are joined on the perimeter by Claire McGrath and Ashlyn Moore who net a combined 10 ppg.  Bella Dennebaum is effective getting to the inside and hits about 4 ppg.  Prep is very well-coached and plays with terrific floor chemistry.  They are stellar on the defensive end and don’t turn the ball over.  They also get contributions from senior forward Jayna McIntyre and sophomore guard Cecelia Haggerty.  The Classics are a dangerous threat from 3-point land.  Abington Heights (7-2) has won seven games in a row after struggling a bit in their season opening tournament at Hazleton Area.  The Lady Comets have a nice blend of players, some height, and might have their best mix of ball handlers in a while.  Emily McDonald (11 ppg) is back in their lineup and anchors a solid backcourt with seniors Kate Scoblick and Madison Zalewski plus juniors Maggie Coleman (11 ppg with 23 triples) and Madeleine Walsh.  Inside, they have 6-0 senior forward Peyton Houlihan who hits 10 ppg.  AH has historically had a difficult time matching up against Scranton Prep’s guards.  If the Lady Comets are going to make a run for the top, it has to begin with their guards being able to minimize turnovers.  Valley View (6-3) has several talented senior guards but the surprise so far has been the impact of freshman Cora Castellani who has been netting 16 ppg with 26 triples.  She is joined by Giada Costa and Emma Maddage who combine to score 20 ppg.  Additional backcourt depth is provided by returning seniors Ella Cooper and Bella Rebar.  The Lady Cougars are also getting contributions from sophomore forward Ava Gazoo.  West Scranton (2-7) is led by sophomore Mia Tallo who is averaging 12.1 ppg.  The Lady Invaders are also getting 8.8 ppg from senior guard Madison Nowakowski.  West is also getting contributions from 5-9 sophomore forward Sahmira Manifee (8.1 ppg) and freshman Aubrey Kerrigan (8.2 ppg). 

DIVISION 2

1.  Western Wayne (Mike Judge) 3A

2.  Wallenpaupack (Maria Miller) 5A

3.  North Pocono (Lauren Carra) 5A

4.  Honesdale (Ron Rowe) 5A

5.  Delaware Valley (Mikaela Smith) 6A

Division 2 looks to be a very competitive race between Westen Wayne, Wallenpaupack, and North Pocono.  Western Wayne (7-2) has several returning players including senior guard Emily Romanowski (16.8 ppg).  She is joined by junior guard Raegan Palmer (11.5 ppg).  Other players include senior guard Allie Pauler and sophomore forward Khloe Mistishin.  The Lady Wildcats have of pair of non-league wins over Wallenpaupack during December tournaments.  Wallenpaupack (7-3) is paced by junior guard Ella Smith (15.3 ppg) and senior guard Erika Badner (10 ppg).  The Lady Buckhorns also feature sophomore Lily Mancino with 7.1 ppg.  They have played a tough non-league slate and have wins over Wyoming Valley Conference contenders Wilkes-Barre Area and Pittston Area.  North Pocono (5-4) has a great blend of experience and youth in their lineup.  Senior guard Autumn Koch (7.3 ppg) is joined by sophomore guard Celia DeCesare who score a combined 12.6 ppg.  Ella Clemontoni has burst onto the scene.  The freshman guard is averaging 16.5 ppg and has 23 triples.  The Lady Trojans always play a strong non-league schedule.  They have wins over several WVC contenders and dropped a game against Hazleton Area by only 3 points.  This is a team with lots of potential.  If there is a team that could surprise in this race, it’s definitely Honesdale (4-4).  The Lady Hornets return much of their lineup from an 11-12 campaign last year.  They’re getting 9.5 ppg from 5-11 senior forward Elyse Montgomery.  Sophomore playmaker Natalie Goldstein is their top scorer with 16.2 ppg.  They have several other sophomores including Karsyn Kromko, Ruby Martin (14 triples), and forward Lily Murray.  They played well in a 6-point loss to Dunmore back in December.  Delaware Valley (3-5) continues to improve as the Lady Warriors are paced by several juniors and sophomores.  Juniors include Ciara Newton, Keira Lazzarro, and Rainna Carr.  Sophs include forward Brianna Waldron and guard Jordan Dickerson.                                                  

DIVISION 3

1.  Dunmore (Carrie Toomey) 3A

2.  Riverside (Justin Kearney) 3A

3.  Mid Valley (Denise Larson) 3A

4.  Old Forge (Peter Sulla) 2A

5.  Carbondale (Will Reckless) 3A

6.  Holy Cross (Barry Fitzgerald) 2A

7.  Lakeland (Kelly Vogt) 3A

Dunmore graduated a pair of key players from their state championship team, but there is plenty of returning talent to make the Lady Bucks the overwhelming selection to take Division 3 honors.  Back from the title team is 5-9 senior forward Tristan Canavan (8.8 ppg), junior guard Sophia Talutto (15.8 ppg), and sophomore guard Amanda Dempsey.  Second-year head coach Carrie Toomey will also rely on senior guard Sophie Summa, sophomore forward Jaclyn Brown, and sophomore guard Leena Conte.  Riverside (4-4) and Mid Valley (4-4) should be battling for second place.  The Lady Vikings return several players from their 13-10 season a year ago including senior guard Lillie Pon (8.8 ppg) and sophomore Cassidy Merrifield (9.8 ppg).  They are joined by seniors Alexa Williams and Zoey Zimorowicz.  Mid Valley returns a solid pair of guards in senior Chiara Zavislak and junior Krista Cortazar.  Additional backcourt contributions come from juniors Elise Larson and Mackenzie Adolfson.  On the inside, they have Natalie Barrett (5-9 senior forward).  The Spartanettes also have a pair of freshmen in guard Parker Bennett and forward Addison Frein.  The rest of the division should be battling hard for the remaining positions.  Old Forge (3-5) brings back a trio of players in seniors Talie Piragas (5-9 center, 12.2 ppg) and Leah Domiano (forward, 6.7 ppg) plus junior guard Jewlya McCullon (13,2 ppg).  Carbondale (4-4) is paced by senior guard Sadie Gardis (16.9 ppg).  She is joined on the perimeter by junior Abby Wall, senior Max Rosler, and sophomore Maureen Newcomb.  Inside, the Chargerettes have a pair of 5-8 junior forwards in Caitlyn Burns and Rylie Toolan.  Holy Cross (3-5) is looking to rebound from last years’ 5-19 record.  The Lady Crusaders are led by guards Alison Ross (senior) and Abby Thompson (junior) who combine for 21 ppg.  Lakeland (0-7) returns the majority of their lineup.  The Chiefs are paced by senior guard Alexia Bauer (11 ppg) and sophomore guard Kaylan Davis (9.6 ppg).

DIVISION 4

 1.  Mountain View (Bill Simmons) 1A

2.  Elk Lake (Meghan Casselbury) 3A

3.  Lackawanna Trail (Joel Nietz) 2A

4.  Montrose (Todd Smith) 2A

5.  Blue Ridge (Mike Courtright) 2A

6.  Susquehanna (Jeff Baldwin) 1A

7.  Forest City (Kade Kolheffer) 2A

Division 4 appears to be shaping up to be a terrific race between Mountain View, Elk Lake, Lackawanna Trail, and Montrose.  Mountain View (5-3) came within a whisper of smelling Hershey chocolate last year.  The Lady Eagles return their entire starting lineup.  Adison Kilmer (their 6-1 sophomore forward) averages 14.4 ppg.  She is joined by senior guards Claire Getz (10 ppg) and Vanessa Harvey (2.7 ppg) plus juniors Ryleigh Kilmer and Riley Turner.  Freshman guard Aubrey Sanders is hitting about 5 ppg.  Elk Lake (7-1) also has plenty of returning talent.  The Lady Warriors are paced by junior forward Leah Traver (18.7 ppg) and senior guard Sydney Upright (11.8 ppg).  They also have junior guard Camryn Greenwood (5.7 ppg) and 5-11 junior center Katie McGlynn (8.3 ppg).  Their sole loss is from WVC Division 2 contender Lake-Lehman.  Lackawanna Trail (5-2) is another team which returns much of their roster from an 11-11 squad.  The Lady Lions are paced by a pair of senior guards who are both averaging nearly 15 ppg, Gretchen Rejrat and Mackenzie Schirg.  They also have senior guards Chloe VanFleet and Samantha Duffy in the backcourt hitting a combined 8.5 ppg.  Montrose (2-4), the perennial powerhouse of the division, graduated several key players from their 25-5 squad a year ago.  They return senior guards Riley Keihl and Aspen Smith plus 6-2 senior center Paley Adams.  Freshman Sadie Jones is averaging 7.8 ppg.  The Lady Meteors are going to need more offensive output if they hope to get into this race.  Blue Ridge (3-4) returns all of their scoring from last year and the Lady Raiders hope to improve on their 8-15 mark from a year ago.   Freshman Abigail Gelinger has been impressive netting 17 ppg with 14 triples.  Senior guard Libby Zick contributes 9 ppg.  Susquehanna Community (4-4) is led by sophomore Ivy Bishop (8.7 ppg).  Senior guards Olivia Orner and Paige Straway combine for 10 ppg.  Inside, the Lady Sabers have 6-0 junior center Bella Bishop.  Forest City (1-7) is led by senior guard Emily Matoushek (9.8 ppg).          

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