Mid-Penn Colonial Division girls basketball predicted order of finish by coaches, preseason MVP
Here’s a look at the voting conducted by the Colonial division girls basketball coaches.
Last year Shippensburg brought home the Colonial division title and made the District 3 Class 5A tournament. Big Spring also made the District 3 Class 5A tournament and Northern just missed a postseason bid in Class 5A.
7. Waynesboro
Waynesboro cheerleaders perform during a 2017 basketball game. Mark Palczewski | Special to PennLive.
Coach: Allison Steiger
Key players: Leah Blount, senior, forward; Taylor Brooks, senior, forward; Taylor Clawson, senior, guard; Bailey Dockman, junior, guard; Emma Steiger, senior, guard; Jenna Stoops, senior, guard
Buzz: The Maidens are eager to put last season’s 0-22 finish behind them. Having a senior-laden roster should help. Dockman, a 2018 Colonial division all-star, is the name to know for Waynesboro.
6. Northern
Katie Ryan, Coach Paula Clendaniel and Allie French, Northern York girls basketball during basketball media day on Nov. 14, 2018. Sean Simmers | ssmmers@pennlive.com
Coach: Paula Clendaniel
Key players: Katie Ryan, sophomore, guard; Allie French, junior, guard; Cassie Smith, senior guard/forward; Abbie Clendaniel, senior, forward
Buzz: Northern’s solid 14-8 record wasn’t enough to get into the District 3 playoffs as the Polar Bears just missed the cut once again. The Polar Bears will miss Corinna Smith who spearheaded Northern’s rebounding efforts and became one of the division’s top players during her senior year.
5. Big Spring
Shelby Miller, Allison Frick, Emily Parish, Alex Kutulakis, Coach Randy Jones, Big Spring girls basketball during PennLive's 2018 boys and girls high school basketball media day. November 14, 2018 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com
Coach: Randy Jones
Key players: Shelby Miller, senior, guard; Allison Frick, junior, forward; Alex Kutulakis, junior, guard; Laney Noreika, freshman, guard/forward; Emilee Sullivan, freshman, guard; Rebecca Franklin, junior, forward; Shelby Hoffeditz, junior, forward; Emily Parrish, senior, guard
Buzz: Jones guided the Bulldogs to a 16-7 finish and a District 3 tournament berth last season. Now, what do the Bulldogs do for an encore? The 6-foot Noreika and the 5-foot-5 Sullivan have the tools to impress in year one.
4. James Buchanan
Maggie Strawoet, Coach Jenny Lauthers and Cass Martin, James Buchanan girls basketball during basketball media day on Nov. 14, 2018. Sean Simmers | ssmmers@pennlive.com
Coach: Jenny Lauthers
Key players: Maggie Strawoet, senior, forward; Cass Martin, senior, forward/center; Reilly Heinbaugh, junior, guard; Hannah Kimmel, junior, forward/center; Alyssa Blair, senior, guard
Buzz: The Rockets increased their win total from five to six in Lauthers’ fourth season on the bench. Can they keep climbing? Martin is active on the glass and forms a solid frontcourt duo alongside Strawoet.
3. Shippensburg
Tori Rumbaugh, Coach Andrew Markel, and Remy Staver, Shippensburg girls basketball during basketball media day on Nov. 14, 2018. Sean Simmers | ssmmers@pennlive.com
Coach: Andrew Markel
Key players: Tori Rumbaugh, sophomore, point guard; Brantlea Fridinger, sophomore, guard; Remy Staver, sophomore, guard; Emelie Nonemaker, sophomore, guard/forward; Alyssa Nori, sophomore, forward/guard; Apsyn Keetch, sophomore, guard; Shea Morris, sophomore, forward; Chelcie Forrester, freshman, forward; Gracie Johnson, freshman, guard
Buzz: Shippensburg is undergoing a serious youth movement, but that doesn’t mean the defending Colonial division champions don’t have talent. Rumbaugh (10 ppg last season) is the leader here on both ends of the floor. Markel describes his 5-foot-4 point guard as “small but fearless” and someone who “goes 100 percent all of the time.” Rumbaugh and Staver anchor what could be one of the Colonial’s top defenses.
2. Greencastle-Antrim
Greencastle-Antrim's Lydia Crist (right) figures to be one of the Colonial's top players again tgis season. Sean Simmers |ssimmers@pennlive.com
Coach: Mike Rhine
Key players: Lydia Crist, senior, guard; Sayge Wilhide, sophomore, guard; McKenna Racaczweski, junior, guard; Madison Sweitzer, senior, forward; Jordan Yeager, senior, forward; Olivia Winslow, sophomore, forward; Ashley True, senior, forward; Kylie Cunningham, junior, guard; Lauren Pool, freshman, forward; Heidi Schanzanbacher, senior, guard
Buzz: Last year’s 9-13 finish was a rare misstep by a Greencastle-Antrim squad that’s been a winner under Rhine (122-51 career record). The 5-foot-6 Crist (11.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) is one of the division’s top players. True (6.9 rpg) and Sweitzer (5.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg) handle the rebounding efforts. Long-range specialist Wilhide, who led G-A’s junior varsity team in scoring last season, could be in for a big year at the varsity level.
1. Boiling Springs
Boiling Springs' Ashlyn Yocum, head coach Marisa Elliot and Sydney Hemler. Vicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLive
Coach: Marisa Elliot
Key players: Sydney Hemler, senior, forward; Ashlyn Yocum, senior, guard
Buzz: Expectations are high for the Bubblers in year three under Elliot. That’s mainly due to the return of seniors Hemler and Yocum. Hemler (more on her later) is one of the league’s best. After a disappointing 5-16 finish last season, look for the Bubblers to make some serious improvements this winter.
Preseason Player of the Year
Sydney Hemler, Boiling Springs
Boiling Springs' Sydney Hemler. Vicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLive
Class: Senior
Position: Forward
Buzz: Hemler’s nightly play will be the key if Boiling Springs hopes to rebound from a disappointing 2018 season. Hemler (13.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg last season) is a fierce competitor and the go-to scorer for the Bubblers. She was a first-team Colonial division all-star last year and should play at that level again in her final season.
