Meet PennLive’s 2024 Big 15 Girls Basketball All-Star team

By Eric Epler on 4/6/2024

 

The girls basketball season wrapped up in March, and plenty of Mid-Penn hoopers made their marks during the 2023-24 campaign.

We narrowed down the conference’s elite to three five-player All-Star teams, as an ultra-competitive field required some tough cuts and tougher moves up and down the three squads.

 

So, we present PennLive’s 2024 Big 15 Girls Basketball All-Star team.

 

 

FIRST TEAM

 

Schuyler Coles, Susquehanna Twp., sr. G

Buzz: Ripping past the 1,000-point mark in December was just the tip of the iceberg for PennLive’s Player of the Year. All the University of New Haven signee did was guide Hanna to 21 regular season wins and spot in the PIAA 5A bracket. Coles, the squad’s lone senior, averaged 18.8 points per game. She hit 53 treys with 148 rebounds, 71 assists and 71 steals.

 

Haley Noblit, Greencastle-Antrim, sr. G

Buzz: There was high pressure on the returning All-State third-team pick but Noblit continued to push the Blue Devils’ program. The Liberty University soccer recruit posted 16.4 points per game and chipped in 4.7 rebounds and four steals a night. One of the MPC’s top point guards helped the Devils go 15-7.

 

Alexis Ferguson, Central Dauphin, sr. F

Buzz: Ferguson’s versatility, not to mention her lethal pressure defensively, was the main reason for the Rams’ race to the District 3 6A title and PIAA second round. Ferguson struck for 8.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, all while defending the opposition’s to scoring threat. The Rams capped their season at 26-3.

 

Alaina Sweet, Mechanicsburg, so. G

Buzz: With such a young roster, the Wildcats were the unknown product in a tough Keystone Division. Well, Sweet played a leading role right from the opening tip, scoring 12.3 points per game with one blue-collar performance after another. A quiet leader on the court, Sweet also corralled 112 rebounds with 55 assists and 40 steals for the 19-8 Wildcats that qualified for states.

 

Cassidy Sadler, Northern York, sr. G

 

Buzz: Sadler was the pulse of Northern York’s trek to 21-1 during the regular season and eventual spot in the District 3 5A championship round. Posting 11.2 points per game, the Juniata College recruit was among the best facilitators and clutch shooters in the conference. Sadler also chipped in more than 80 steals.

 

SECOND TEAM

 

Molly Kimmel, Boiling Springs, jr. G/F

Buzz: The Bubblers (12-10) might have just missed the District 3 postseason, but Kimmel certainly did her best to keep the season going. There were few breaks for the junior who finished inside the conference Top 10 in multiple categories, which included 18.3 points per game and a whopping 274 rebounds. Kimmel also pitched in 97 steals and blocked 27 shots.

 

Anna Lehman, Northern York, jr. G

Buzz: Lehman stepped up in myriad ways and helped shape the Polar Bears’ incredible ride to the PIAA 5A tournament. Aside from tenacious defense, Lehman gave Northern a double-digit scorer who could manufacture points at all three levels. The junior provided help around the rim and often provided that little extra that kept the Bears in the win column.

 

Jayla Koser, Middletown, so. G

Buzz: Koser produced plenty highlight-reel moments during her freshman campaign and, well, didn’t miss a beat a year later. Among the MPC’s best scorers, Koser’s quick handle and athleticism led to 16.9 points per game, 173 rebounds and a bevy of assists (51) and steals (79) for the 15-10 Blue Raiders.

 

Olivia Green, Central Dauphin, so. F

Buzz: The Rams were fortunate to have Green, who brought a lot of physicality and grit to every minute of the game. Posting 8.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, opponents had to consistently deal with keeping the sophomore off the glass. Green led the MPC is rebounding, with 165 of her conference-best 294 rebounds coming on the offensive end.

 

Sophia Formica, Bishop McDevitt, sr. G

Buzz: On her way to leading the Crusaders into the PIAA 4A circuit, Formica charged past the 1,000-point plateau in January. The versatile, up-tempo guard led McD at 17.4 points per game and also contributed 50 3-pointers, 67 assists and 50 steals. The Crusaders took third in districts and finished inside the state bracket.

 

THIRD TEAM

 

Ava London, Susquehanna Twp., fr. G

Buzz: Expectations were soaring for Hanna’s new point guard and London validated her skill set at every turn. Showing a great knack for knifing through the lane or locating an open teammate for a high percentage shot, London scored nearly 11 points per game and also turned in 94 assists and 92 steals during her rookie season.

 

Melana Ayer, Altoona, jr. G

Buzz: The Mountain Lions’ most consistent player during a dynamic season, Ayer paced Altoona at 12.1 ppg., hitting nearly 50-percent from the field. The junior added 45 3-pointers, 47 assists and 47 steals for the Commonwealth Division co-champs and District 6 champs.

 

Olivia Grella, Bishop McDevitt, sr. G

Buzz: Defense has been Grella’s calling card for years, although the senior continued to expand her reach for the 18-8 Crusaders, who marched into the PIAA 4A bracket. Grella again led the conference with 121 steals, all while picking up 10 points per clash and pulling down 104 boards. She added 47 assists.

 

Addi Salus, Palmyra, so. G

Buzz: Add Salus to the Mid-Penn’s rising sophomore class after the Cougars’ ace paced John Polly’s crew at 12.6 points per game with 41 steals. Salus, a tough inside-outside scorer and defender, also blocked 28 shots in helping Palmyra (18-9) reach states.

 

Lyla Kaercher, Cedar Cliff, so. F

Buzz: No way coach Scott Weyant and the Colts, already shorthanded, make a play for the postseason without Kaercher’s skill and overall effort. Kaercher led the Colts in points (12.1), rebounds (183) and notched seven double-doubles on the season. She kicked in 39 steals and 32 assists.

 

HONORABLE MENTION

Karrine Beamer, Carlisle, sr. F

Keely Bowers, Palmyra, sr. G

Madyson Brownawell, Boiling Springs, fr. G

Lauren Cavoli, Central Dauphin, sr. G

Emma Cleland, Middletown, so. G

Carlee Collier, Red Land, sr. G

Karli DaCosta, Red Land, jr. G

Nikki Davis, Waynesboro, jr. G

Carley Donnell, State College, sr. G

Mya Doster, Palmyra, so. F

Bella Dupes, Trinity, fr. G

Grace Egli, James Buchanan, sr. G

Cadyn Eismann, Lower Dauphin, sr. G

Summer Emlet, Red Land, sr. G

Kayla Fletcher, Central Dauphin, so. G

Emily Forrester, Chambersburg, fr. G

Natalie Freed, Trinity, sr. F

Hannah Freese, Northern York, sr. F

Natalie Hoffman, Cedar Cliff, sr. G

Irys Kline, East Pennsboro, jr. G

Jaiden Krull, Altoona, sr. G

Lauren Lebo, Mechanicsburg, so. F

Amelia Leister, Mifflin County, sr. G

Sanai Lester, Susquehanna Township, so. F

Lucia Lorento, Shippensburg, sr. G

Julie Loy, West Perry, sr. G

Sienna Manns, Cumberland Valley, jr. G

Eva Martin, Greencastle-Antrim, fr. G

Sammi McAuliffe, Trinity, sr. F

Addison Misiolek, Lower Dauphin, jr. F

Yazmyne Muhammad, Steel-High, so. G

Zaelihn Nguyen-Moore, Altoona, so. G

Maylei Noreika, Big Spring, sr. G

Siena Ondecko, Northern York, sr. F

Mackenzie Peachey, Mifflin County, so. G

Nyree Roberson-Waters, Harrisburg, sr. G

Zaria Spann, CD East, jr. F

Maria Tandle, Big Spring, so. G

Tarianda Washington, Milton Hershey, sr. F

Lanie Wilt, Altoona, jr. G

Sienna Wilson, State College, fr. G

Sheree Wilson, State College, fr. G

Faith Wratto, Milton Hershey, sr. G

Maycee Yanoski, Mechanicsburg, so. G