2010-2011 WPIAL Girls Basketball Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, December 9, 2010 | 12:00 AM

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Could it be a threepeat for the Mount Lebanon girls' basketball team? That's one of the storylines for the upcoming girls' basketball season. The Blue Devils have won WPIAL and PIAA Class AAAA championships two years in a row.

Here is a look at the 2010-11 season.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA:

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kelly Brennan, North Allegheny

Jessica Brooks, Connellsville

Madison Cable, Mt. Lebanon

Emily Hansen, Canon-McMillan

Anna Kestler, Mt. Lebanon

Candace Martino, Bethel Park

Val McQuade, Shaler

Laurel Miller, Bethel Park

Merissa Morgan, Peters Township

Belma Nurkic, Baldwin

Ali Patton, North Hills

Hilary Sauer, Shaler

Ally Schmidt, Oakland Catholic

AAAA SECTION 1:

ONE TO BEAT:

Kiski Area – This team is led by two returning starters – senior Celena Meighan and (10 ppg) and Maddie Antone (11.2 ppg). Junie Makenzie Zidek is the other returning starter from a team that made the Class AAAA quarterfinals.

ONES TO WATCH:

Hempfield

Penn-Trafford

Norwin

AAAA SECTION 2:

ONE TO BEAT:

FOX CHAPEL – The Foxes lost some key players, but senior guard Lindsey McKamish is back. Things are a little easier in this section this year with the departure of Oakland Catholic to Section 3.

ONES TO WATCH:

McKeesport

Plum

AAAA SECTION 3:

ONE TO BEAT:

Shaler – This team is good enough to challenge for the WPIAL title. The Titans have plenty of experience and size. All five starters from last year return. Val McQuad and Hilary Sauer were both all-section last season. McQuade averaged 13 points a game.

ONES TO WATCH:

Oakland Catholic

North Allegheny

Butler

AAAA SECTION 4:

ONE TO BEAT:

Mount Lebanon – This is an easy choice as the Blue Devils are strong again. Maybe they are not as good as the past two years, but still very talented. Guard Madison Cable is ranked among the top 100 players in the country and already has committed to Notre Dame. Senior guard Anna Kestler is a William & Mary recruit.

ONES TO WATCH:

Baldwin

Bethel Park

Peters Township

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WPIAL CLASS AAA:

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LaShauna Brothers, New Castle

Alena Esposito, Montour

Alexa Hayward, Blackhawk

Jazmyne Hayes, West Mifflin

Alexa Lee, Mars

Jayla Leftwich, West Mifflin

Meghan Mastroianni, Montour

Ja'Nia McPhatter, New Castle

Kelsey Sleighter, Uniontown

Leslie Stapleton, Indiana

Ashley Stoner, Thomas Jefferson

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Hopewell

Kaylynn Waters, New Castle

AAA SECTION 1:

ONE TO BEAT:

Mars – The Planets finished in a tie for second last year but have the makings to finish first this season. Alexa Lee avreaged 13 points a game this season. Also back are Megan Kelly and Kelsey Pelles.

ONES TO WATCH:

Hampton

Kittanning

AAA SECTION 2:

ONE TO BEAT:

New Castle – The Red Hurricanes have one of the finest one-two punches in Class AAA in 5-10 senior forward LaShauna Brothers and 5-7 junior guard Kaylynn Waters. They helped New Castle win the WPIAL Class AAA title a year ago.

ONES TO WATCH:

Blackhawk

Hopewell

Beaver

AAA SECTION 3:

ONE TO BEAT:

Indiana – Leslie Stapleton is one of the best guards in the WPIAL. She averaged 17 points a game last season and was selected the section MVP. Also back is 6-foot senior forward Kristin Brice and 5-7 senior guard Marita Mathe. Both averaged 7 points last year.

ONES TO WATCH:

Uniontown

Mount Pleasant

AAA SECTION 4:

ONE TO BEAT:

West Mifflin – After being forced out of his job for a season, Phil Shar is back as the Titans' coach. Senior swingman Jazmyne Hayes and junior forward Jayla Leftwich both averaged in double figures last season.

ONES TO WATCH:

Thomas Jefferson

South Park

Belle Vernon

AAA SECTION 5:

ONE TO BEAT:

Montour – The Spartans might have enough to compete for the WPIAL title. Meghan Mastroianni is back for her senior season after averaging 16 points last season. Forward Alana Esposito and guard Marina Scarantino also are back.

ONES TO WATCH:

Chartiers Valley

South Fayette

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WPIAL CLASS AA:

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Catherine Costa, Avonworth

Heather Davis, Ford City

Kori Ford, Sto-Rox

Carly Forse, Bishop Canevin

Ciara Gregory, Jeannette

Angela Heintz, Seton-LaSalle

Lakia Herbert, Wilkinsburg

Chelsea Kaufman, Neshannock

Lauren Mayernik, Avonworth

Erin Waskowiak, Bishop Canevin

Sam Weir, Riverside

Tess Zufall, Greensburg C.C.

AA SECTION 1:

ONE TO BEAT:

Ford City – Four starters return from a team that went 15-8 last year. Heather Davis, a junior guard, averaged 11 points, and Ashlee Panchik, a 5-6 senior, average 10. Other returning starters are Maria Prazenica and Maggi Russo.

ONES TO WATCH:

Deer Lakes

Elderton

Freeport

AA SECTION 2:

ONE TO BEAT:

Neshannock – The Lancers have made the playoffs seven years in a row, and this year they figure to win their first section title since 2006. Chelsea Kaufman averaged 17 points and Ericka Warvell 12.

ONES TO WATCH:

Mohawk

Riverside

Beaver Falls

AA SECTION 3:

ONE TO BEAT:

Greensburg Central Catholic – The Centurions feature a Division I college recruit in senior guard Tess Zufall, who has signed with Cleveland State. She averaged 15 points a game last season for the section champions. Alex Meyer is back at point guard and Emily Kelly at guard-forward.

ONES TO WATCH:

Jeannette

Shady Side Academy

AA SECTION 4:

ONE TO BEAT:

Washington – The Little Prexies finished second to Beth-Center in the Section 5 race last year, but Washington could end up on top this year, especially with the return of senior guard-forward Aujuwa Moore.

ONES TO WATCH:

Brownsville

Charleroi

Beth-Center

AA SECTION 5:

ONE TO BEAT:

Seton-LaSalle – A WPIAL finalist the past two seasons, the Rebels will sorely miss center Katie Gattuso, who is now at Niagara. But guard play could take the Rebels with Angela Heintz and Alexa DelGreco. The Rebels also have a new coach in Dennis Squeglia.

ONES TO WATCH:

Bishop Canevin

Keystone Oaks

AA SECTION 6:

ONE TO BEAT:

Avonworth – The Antelopes will sorely miss the inside play of leading scorer Tara Gallupe. But Catherine Costa is back and should be one of the top guards in Class A. Forward Lauren Mayernik averaged near 10 points a game.

ONES TO WATCH:

Sto-Rox

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

South Side

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WPIAL CLASS A:

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Gabby Baldasare, Vincentian

Ashlee Darby, Vincentian

Erin DiSanti, North Catholic

Nakira Emerson, Aliquippa

Kendall Hoffman, North Catholic

Hayden Kimbrough, Rochester

Ivorie Law, Rochester

Savannah Partridge, Union

Geena Shrader, Monessen

Amanda Temple, Avella

Haylee Vaccarelli, Sewickley Academy

Mariah Ward, Vincentian

A SECTION 1:

ONE TO BEAT:

Aliquippa – The Quips feature Nakira Emerson, a 5-11 junior guard-forward who is one of the best players in Class A. She averaged 16 points a game last season. Two other returning starters averaged in double figures last year. They are senior guard Danyia Perry and junior forward Jaclyn Watkins.

ONES TO WATCH:

Rochester

Quigley

Sewickley Academy

A SECTION 2:

ONE TO BEAT:

Vincentian Academy – Four starters return from last year's WPIAL championship team. It would've been five, but standout Keturah Vactor is out with a knee injury and probably won't play this season. Gabby Baldasare, a 6-1 senior forward-center, is back after averaging 11 points and 14 rebounds last year. She has signed with Division I Niagara. Ashlee Darby is a talented junior guard who averaged 14 points last year.

ONES TO WATCH:

North Catholic

St. Joseph

Riverview

A SECTION 3:

ONE TO BEAT:

Fort Cherry – The Rangers finished second in the section two years ago and won the section last year. Look for them to be on top again this year. Beka Bellhy, a junior guard, averaged 12 points last year and is one of the top returnees.

ONES TO WATCH:

Carmichaels

Char-Houston

Avella

A SECTION 4:

ONE TO BEAT:

Moneseen – The Greyhounds have a nice one-two punch in the backcourt in junior guard Geena Shrader and sopphomore guard Mariah Ward. Shrader averaged 14 points last season and Ward 12. Three other starters return – Natawsja Sosnak, Passion Harrison and Lauren Johnson.

ONES TO WATCH:

Serra Catholic

Clairton

Geibel

California