Everyone is chasing Cumberland Valley to begin the 2016-17 season. PennLive file photo
By Aaron Carr | acarr@pennlive.com
As the calendar flips to December, the Pennsylvania high school basketball regular season officially tips off this week.
The major hoops storyline in the area is of course whether or not three-time defending PIAA state champion Cumberland Valley can claim a fourth consecutive state title. The Eagles were ranked No. 5 in the East region in the recent USA TODAY Super 25 regional rankings.
Below is PennLive’s preseason Dandy Dozen, a ranking of the top 12 program’s in Central Pa.
Each team’s final win-loss record from the 2015-16 campaign is in parenthesis:
12. West Perry (16-7) – Seniors Gracie Stauffer (12.7 PPG, 12.4 RPG) and Meredith Brown (12.1 PPG, 7.7 RPG) create a formidable frontcourt tandem for the Mustangs. Stauffer and Brown are 6-foot-3 and 5-foot-10, respectively. With guard Savannah Urich (6 PPG, 3.7 APG) providing additional scoring, West Perry is primed to contend for a Mid-Penn Capital Division title.
11. Harrisburg (21-6) – Sophomore Dajahnae Brannon averaged 14.7 PPG as a freshman as the Cougars made a trip to the PIAA state tournament. More will be asked of her now that all-state guard Tysha Brown (20.6 PPG) is a Providence Friar.
10. Camp Hill (22-5) – The defending PIAA District 3 Class 2A champions will surely miss Leah Springer (573 total points) but return star guard Diamond Bragg (16 PPG). With Bragg back in the fold, the Lions are the early favorites to win the Mid-Penn Capital Division crown.
9. Greencastle-Antrim (24-4) – No midstate player sank more triples last season than Jenay Faulkner (99). Faulkner, a Holy Cross commit, averaged 19 PPG a year ago as the Blue Devils won their third straight Mid-Penn Colonial Division title.
8. Lancaster Catholic (29-2) – The defending PIAA District 3 Class 3A champions return one of the area’s premier players in sophomore Kiki Jefferson (20.1 PPG). The Crusaders will be a tough out in L-L League Section 3.
7. Lower Dauphin (21-8) – Head coach Bob Heusser is back for his 14th season on the LD bench. Juniors Amber Schweiger, Paulina Malinen and Olivia Friedrichprovide the Lady Falcons with three seasoned building blocks in their pursuit of a Mid-Penn Keystone Division championship.
6. Northern Lebanon (28-4) – The Vikings posted their best season in program history during the 2015-16 campaign and claimed the L-L League Section 3 title. Senior Zoe Zerman (13.8 PPG), an all-state player last year, returns to run the point.
5. Cedar Crest (22-6) – There may not be a more electric duo in the midstate than senior Alyssa Austin (16.9 PPG) and junior Ariel Jones (17.7 PPG). The Falcons begin the season as the team to beat in the L-L League Section 1 ranks.
4. Central Dauphin (19-10) – Senior Alexis Smith, a Kutztown recruit, averaged 11.5 PPG last year for the Lady Rams. Head coach Randy Gambelunghe’s squad will have to somehow replace Tori Lesko’s (13.5 PPG) leadership and production.
3. Bishop McDevitt (19-8) – The defending co-Mid-Penn Keystone Division champs return virtually every impact player from last year’s team, notably sophomore guard Olivia Fasick (12.6 PPG). Senior Noelle Cameron (4.3 PPG) and sophomore Treasure Morrow (4.4 PPG) anchor McDevitt’s frontcourt.
2. CD East (12-11) – There may not be a more talented bunch in the loaded Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division. The senior-laden Panthers are led by West Chester signee Justyn Roberts (13.6 PPG). Forwards Jessica Rawls and Aunbrielle Greeneach check in at 5-foot-11.
1. Cumberland Valley (29-3) – The Eagles open the season in the Central Pa. penthouse after winning three straight PIAA state titles. All-state guard Katie Jekot(10.5 PPG), a Saint Joseph’s signee, and fellow senior Addison Kirkpatrick (5.8 PPG) return to once again defend Cumberland Valley’s crown.
