Mid-Penn Colonial Division girls basketball predicted order of finish by coaches, preseason MVP
In early November, basketball teams from across the Mid-Penn Conference attended PennLive’s winter high school sports media day.
In conjunction with that event, PennLive has asked the boys and girls coaches from each of the four divisions – Commonwealth, Keystone, Capital and Colonial – to make their predictions for the order of finish for their respective division. The coaches have also made their picks for divisional MVPs.
Here’s a look at the voting conducted by the Colonial Division girls basketball coaches.
Greencastle-Antrim (18-6, 12-0) brought home the Colonial Division title.
7. Waynesboro Indians
Coach: Allison Steiger
Key players: Leah Blount, junior forward; Emma Steiger, junior guard; Taylor Clawson, junior guard; Taylor Brooks, junior forward.
Buzz: Because the Indians are the lone 6A product in the Colonial ranks, a much cleaner resume is needed to break into the district neighborhood. Getting there will be difficult with the graduation of 1,246-point dynamo Cat Weber and a few more key assets. While there isn’t a senior on this year’s roster, all four of those names above are going to compete.
6. James Buchanan Rockets
Coach: Jenny Lauthers
Key players: Maggie Strawoet, junior forward; Reilly Heinbaugh, sophomore guard; Hannah Kimmel, sophomore forward/center; Cass Martin, junior forward/center; Abby Mackling, senior guard; Alyssa Blair, junior guard; Rachel Manikowski, senior guard.
Buzz: It doesn’t figure to be an easy climb for the Rockets, who collared just five wins a season ago. The good news for Lauthers, in her fourth season, is the Rockets are fairly young and certainly ambitious, so expect that left column to rise a few numbers. A determined set of seniors will help with that.
5. Big Spring Bulldogs
Coach: Randy Jones
Key players: Megan Emlet, senior guard; Madison Bishop, senior guard; Elizabeth Fry, senior guard; Lauryn Cunningham, senior guard; Paige Snyder, senior forward; Madana Tigyer, senior guard; Emily Smith, senior forward.
Buzz: You can bet Jones and her solid senior class are not planning to miss the postseason for the second straight season. While that challenge won’t be easy, Emlet returns from a near 200-point season. She’s also got 63 games under her belt and is tough around the tin. Bishop, Snyder and Cunningham will supply some points and rebounds, as well. Could be a midseason team to watch.
4. Boiling Springs Bubblers
Coach: Marisa Elliot
Key players: Ashleylyn Yocum; Sydney Hemler.
Buzz: So the Elliott era turns to year 2 after a 10-win opening season for the former hoopster at Hagerstown J.C. and Lock Haven University. The plan is a return visit to the District 3 Class 4A playoffs, where the Bubblers were foiled by West Perry in the opening round.
3. Northern Polar Bears
Coach: Paula Clendaniel
Key players: Kyra Gerber, senior guard; Allie French, sophomore guard; Abby Reeder, senior guard; Steph Violette, senior guard; Corrina Smith, senior forward; Jill Naylor, senior guard; Cassie Smith, junior guard/forward; Abbie Clendaniel, junior forward; Katie Ryan, freshman guard.
Buzz: Clendaniel enters her fourth season at the helm with the same goals, to push into the District 3 playoffs. The Polar Bears were just outside the cutline a season ago, but Gerber, Smith and Reeder gives Northern a solid and experienced backcourt. How quickly some of the newcomers adapt will tell the ’17 story.
2. Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils
Coach: Mike Rhine
Key players: Lydia Crist, junior guard; Ashley True, junior guard; Ashley Noblit, sophomore guard; Jordan Yeager, junior forward; Madison Sweitzer, junior forward.
Buzz: Yes, graduation stripped the Devils of a couple of longtime generals in Jenay Faulkner and Morgan Wagaman. That’s one All-Stater and two conference all-stars, so replacing that kind of production won’t be easy. That said, getting a healthy Ashley True back is great news. True missed the ’16 season with an ACL tear. And Crist comes back after banking 38 treys. Add in defensive wiz Sweitzer and all preseason predictions could go up in flames.
1. Shippensburg Greyhounds
Coach: Andrew Markel
Key players: Kara Newell, senior guard; Mariah Martin, senior forward; Sam Barmont, senior forward; Tori Rumbaugh, freshman guard; Brantlea Fridinger, freshman guard.
Buzz: We’re thinking Markel’s fourth season is shaping up to be a very competitive one. While tough-minded Liz Logan has moved on, Newwell (9.6 ppg.) and Martin (9.8 ppg.) bring experience and a certain edge to the court. No reason the Hounds won’t be at or near the top of the Colonial mountain.
