PennLive's first high school girls basketball Dandy Dozen poll of 2017
We’ve reached the midway point of the high school hoops season which has caused some reshuffling within PennLive’s Dandy Dozen – a ranking of the 12 best girls basketball teams in Central Pa.
While teams have moved up, down, in and completely out of the preseason Dandy Dozen poll, Mid-Penn power Cumberland Valley remains entrenched at the top.
Below is a look at the first Dandy Dozen of 2017:
12. Halifax (10-1) – preseason rank: NR
Buzz: The Wildcats currently sit atop the Tri-Valley East Division standings with a 4-0 mark in league play. Brianna Turner (16.1 PPG) provides scoring punch inside. Brynn Miller (10.9 PPG) gives Halifax a pair of dependable scorers.
11. CD East (8-3) – preseason rank: 2
Buzz: You won’t find a longer team in the midstate. Jessica Rawls and Justyn Roberts form an imposing duo on both ends of the floor. East’s three losses came against teams higher on this list – Cumberland Valley, Central Dauphin and Harrisburg.
10. Lampeter-Strasburg (10-1) – preseason rank: NR
Buzz: Lampeter-Strasburg features a triad of scoring options in Nevin Hoenninger (17.3 PPG), Emma Gochnauer (13.2 PPG) and Laura Horner (11 PPG). Tonight the Pioneers, winners of eight straight, can cement their status as the top team in L-L League Section 2 with a win over Cocalico (7-2).
9. Lancaster Catholic (7-2) – preseason rank: 8
Buzz: Sophomore forward Kiki Jefferson is a true difference-maker for the Crusaders. She leads the entire L-L League with 21.5 points per game. Matching Jefferson with Lauren Mills (15.7 PPG) gives Lancaster Catholic two excellent scorers.
8. Dover (11-2) – preseason rank: NR
Buzz: Sisters Rayah and Rajah Fink have the Eagles soaring in York-Adams Division II. Both of them are a threat to record a double-double on a nightly basis.
7. Greencastle-Antrim (10-1) – preseason rank: 9
Buzz: Holy Cross commit Jenay Faulkner impacts the game in a variety of ways for the Mid-Penn Colonial kingpins. The senior guard leads the team in scoring (17.1 PPG), rebounding (9.4 RPG), assists (4.2 APG), steals (4.5 SPG) and blocks (3 BPG).
6. Central Dauphin (8-2) – preseason rank: 4
Buzz: Alexis Smith (15.9 PPG) and Samantha Gress (12.2 PPG) are having standout seasons for the Lady Rams. Central Dauphin lost to Harrisburg and Cumberland Valley by a combined 11 points.
5. Northern Lebanon (10-1) – preseason rank: 6
Buzz: The Vikings have padded their resume with wins over Lancaster Catholic (7-2), Palmyra (9-4) and New Oxford (10-2). Northern Lebanon features a pair of 1,000-point scorers in Zoe Zerman and Megan Brandt.
4. Central York (11-1) – preseason rank: NR
Buzz: The York-Adams Division I leaders are beginning to make some noise in Class 6A. Central York has solid wins over Susquehannock (10-2), New Oxford (10-2) and Cedar Cliff (9-3).
3. Harrisburg (10-1) – preseason rank: 11
Buzz: Top-ranked Cumberland Valley is the only team that’s managed to beat Harrisburg this season. Dajahnae Brannon (16.5 PPG), Ahmya Woodyard (14.7 PPG) and the rest of the Lady Cougars are eagerly awaiting tonight’s rematch held at their home gym.
2. Cedar Crest (12-0) – preseason rank: 5
Buzz: Senior guard Ariel Jones (19.8 PPG) leads the L-L League with 238 total points. She forms a formidable scoring duo alongside classmate Alyssa Austin (12.4 PPG). The Falcons have soared through the L-L League slate and have a win over Mid-Penn Keystone co-leader Cedar Cliff (9-3).
1. Cumberland Valley (9-2) – preseason rank: 1
Buzz: With seniors Katie Jekot (15.7 PPG, 3.3 SPG) and Addison Kirkpatrick (9.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG) leading the way, the three-time defending PIAA champions remain unbeaten (8-0) against in-state foes. The Mid-Penn Commonwealth leaders have signature wins over Harrisburg, Central Dauphin and CD East.
