GIRLS BASKETBALL: 2022-23 preview capsules

Dec. 6—Schuylkill League

DIVISION I

Blue Mountain

Head coach: Rose Carper (1st season)

Last season: 16-8, 8-6 D-I. District 11 5A quarterfinalist

Returnees: Reese Baldwin (sr.), Kylie Conway (jr.), Julianna Faust (sr.), Emily Heydt (jr.), Ava Peel (sr.), Victoria Wagner (sr.)

Newcomers: Kiersten Faust (jr.), Lindsay Gibson (jr.), Skylynne Hardy (sr.), Makayla Keck (soph.)

Outlook: Despite losing Lindsay Kutz and Abby Beam, their top two scorers last season, to graduation, the Eagles return three starters, several others with experience and a solid group of young players. They should compete for both league and District 11 playoff spots.

Jim Thorpe

Head coach: Nadia Gauronsky (3rd season)

Last season: 28-2, 14-0 D-I. Division I, Schuylkill League and District 11 4A champion, PIAA semifinalist

Returnees: Makenzie Yuhas (sr.), Haley Smelas (sr.), Gabby Cinicola (sr.), Sarah Hartman (jr.), Emily Dart (sr.), Brianna Snisky (soph.), Amara Robinson (jr.)

Newcomers: None provided

Outlook: Olympians capped an amazing four-year run last season with a group that included four standout seniors who played their entire varsity careers together. Gauronsky, in her third season at the helm, says this year's team is in a rebuilding phase and must establish its own identity. How well that happens will dictate the success the Olympians are able to achieve.

Lehighton

Head coach: Joe Berezwick (6th season, 24th overall)

Last season: 12-13, 5-9 D-I. District 11 4A fourth place.

Returnees: Taylor Bowman (sr.), Emma Repsher (soph.), Charli McHugh (jr.), Jordon Haley (sr.), Katie Wojton (sr.), Megan Hauser (sr.)

Newcomers: Olivia Serfass (fr.), Ariel Barthol (jr.), Timara Klotz (soph.), Leah Uyvari (fr.), Ryleigh Trotman (fr.)

Outlook: McHugh (7.9 ppg) and Bowman (6.6 ppg) are solid returning players from a team that won its first district playoff game in 25 seasons last year. The Indians should be in the hunt for a league wild-card playoff spot and another berth in the district postseason.

North Schuylkill

Head coach: Rich Wetzel (7th season)

Last season: 22-6, 12-2 D-I. Division I wild card, Schuylkill League finalist, District 11 Class 4A semifinalist

Returnees: Kamryn Mengel (sr.), Maddy Wetzel (sr.), Savannah Gawrylik (sr.), Olivia Burke (jr.), Maddie Hall (sr.), Haley Koutch (jr.), Kailee Lucas (sr.), Tatum Felty (sr.)

Newcomers: Eve Shovlin (jr.)

Outlook: Spartans head into the season as the Division I and league favorite. Between Mengel (15.5 ppg), Wetzel (15.4) and Gawrylik (8.2), they return three starters who provided nearly 40 points a game last season. In all, Coach Wetzel returns six players who he calls "a vital part" of last year's success. Spartans are quick, athletic, can shoot the ball and play great pressure defense.

Panther Valley

Head coach: Rob Kovac (2nd season, 15th overall)

Last season: 2-18, 0-14 D-I.

Returnees: Madison Maynard (jr.), Sera Robin (sr.), Kadence Krapf (jr.), Mikayla Yurichek (jr.), Natalie Vermillion (soph.), Brenna McAndrew (soph.)

Newcomers: Morgan Orsulak (fr.), Carolyn Breslin (fr.)

Outlook: In Kovac's second season at the helm, Panthers should show considerable improvement.

Pine Grove

Head coach: Kyler Burke (4th season)

Last season: 14-11, 7-7 D-I. District 11 Class 3A qualifier

Returnees: Kailen Felty (sr.), Lindsey Wolff (sr.), Christina Becher (sr.), Marissa Stewart (jr.), Ayla Schneck-Haines (soph.)

Newcomers: Hannah Leininger (soph.), Addison Zimmerman (soph.), Victoria Schaeffer (soph.), Callee Leffler (fr.), Hannah Aungst (fr.)

Outlook: Felty, Stewart and Wolff combined to score nearly 20 points per game last season and give the Cards a solid core to build around. Could easily find themselves in the mix for a league wild-card berth and another go in the District 11 playoffs. Short roster will have Pine Grove playing a varsity-only schedule.

Pottsville

Head coach: Steve Ennis (2nd season)

Last season: 13-9, 7-7 D-I. District 11 Class 5A quarterfinalist

Returnees: Alex Blum (sr.), Kyler Bowers (sr.), Maya Golden (sr.), Liv Peleschak (jr.)

Newcomers: Kelly Goodman (jr.), Kali Hinkle (jr.), Jes Siminitis (fr.)

Outlook: Tide graduated a quartet of three-year starters from last year's team, so Ennis, in his second season at the helm, is stressing a team-first mentality. Along those lines, he says the team had a strong offseason and built a commitment to win. League and district playoff berths are within this group's grasp if it stays focused and overcomes early growing pains.

Tamaqua

Head coach: Erika Davis (8th season)

Last season: 8-14, 2-12 D-I.

Returnees: Lorelei Plasha (jr.), Sarah Hope (jr.), Kolbe Robb (soph.)

Newcomers: Laney Werner (jr.), Makayla Barentope (jr.), Kendle Miller (fr.)

Outlook: Raiders are basically starting fresh after losing eight seniors to graduation. Team will feature mostly players inexperienced at the varsity level. Goals will be to take steps forward, improve daily and hopefully qualify for a district playoff berth.

DIVISION II

Lourdes

Head coach: Mike Klembara (39th season)

Last season: 15-11, 6-7 D-II. District 4 Class A runner-up, PIAA second round

Returnees: Victoria Lindermuth (sr.), Chloe Rishel (sr.), Masie Reed (jr.), Leah Kosmer (jr.), Paityn Moyer (jr.), Gabby Coleman (sr.), Cassidy Grimes (jr.), Anna Keer (soph.)

Newcomers: Luci Shingra (fr.)

Outlook: Red Raiders return experience and talent from last year's young team that reached the second round of the PIAA Class A state playoffs. Reed and Kosmer both averaged more than 8 points per game, and Moyer averaged 7. Should be a factor in both the Schuylkill League and District 4 playoff picture.

Minersville

Head coach: Jared Homa (12th season)

Last season: 13-12, 9-4 D-II. Division II runner-up, District 11 Class AA champion, PIAA qualifier

Returnees: Keera Brennan (jr.), Brooke Kopinetz (jr.), Kaycee Raczka (jr.), Julia Burgess (jr.), Taylor Conti (jr.), Macie Carl (jr.), Ayla Castle (soph.), Camryn Colna (soph.)

Newcomers: Janine Hamilton (sr.), Ariana John (fr.), Leah Oshman (fr.), Kylie Herb (fr.), Isabella Cruz (fr.), Calleigh Tripp (fr.)

Outlook: Without a senior on the squad, Miners return a load of talent from team that defeated Tri-Valley 40-39 in the District 11 Class AA final last year. Preseason Division II favorite and likely a major factor in the chase for the district title.

Schuylkill Haven

Head coach: Anthony Sanders (3rd season)

Last season: 5-17, 0-13 D-II

Returnees: Emma Kline (sr.), Olivia Dress (jr.), Karlee Feger (soph.), Alea Porter (soph.), Anna Schaeffer (soph.), Abree Brown (soph.), Faith Goehring (soph.), Isabella Hughes (soph.)

Newcomers: Audrey Hutchinson (fr.), Sarah Tiver (soph.), Cadence Artz (soph.), Alexa Zukosky (soph.)

Outlook: Another very young team with only one senior. Still, the Hurricanes showed improvement last year and will look to build upon that as the team matures. Should be much more competitive, although chasing Minersville and Tri-Valley in the division could be a difficult task.

Tri-Valley

Head coach: Clark Romberger (9th season)

Last season: 17-10, 10-3 D-II. Division II champion, District 11 Class AA runner-up, PIAA second round

Returnees: Megan Canfield (sr.), Hope Colahan (sr.), Carmen Kaczmarczyk (sr.), Grace Header (jr.), Abby Raulston (jr.)

Newcomers: Gianna Poletti (sr., started as a sophomore, but did not play last season), Cassie Huntzinger (jr.), Olivia Lupole (fr.), Avery Miller (fr.), Ava Snyder (fr.)

Outlook: With three returning starters and three more returning letterwinners, the Dawgs should once again be in the mix for Division II honors and a factor in the District 11 Class AA chase.

Williams Valley

Head coach: Shane Zellers (3rd season)

Last season: 7-15, 5-8 D-II.

Returnees: Sage Smeltz (soph.), Jasmine Hechler (soph.)

Newcomers: Mia Miller (fr.), Ella Kobularik (fr.), Quin Smeltz (fr.)

Outlook: Vikings are another big part of the Division II youth movement, with no seniors, one junior, three sophomores and six freshmen comprising the entire roster. Returning starters, Sage Smeltz and Hechler are both sophomores and will provide the center piece for the Vikings to build around.

DIVISION III

Mahanoy Area

Head coach: Monica Williams (1st season)

Last season: 13-10, 11-2 D-III. District 11 Class AA semifinalist

Returnees: Carly Hasara (soph.), Hannah Kane (soph.), Olivia Kennedy (soph.)

Newcomers: Felicia Bro (fr.), Kaci McGowen (fr.), Brooke Hanrahan (soph.)

Outlook: Another very young team in the year of the youth movement with only one senior, one junior, five sophomores and two freshmen comprising the roster. If the Golden Bears are to experience success, team will have to mature quickly.

Marian

Head coach: Damien Fritz (2nd season)

Last season: 21-6, 12-1 D-III. Division III champion, District 11 Class A champion, PIAA second round

Returnees: Ashley Pleban (sr.), Kerrigan Digris (sr.), Frankie Martinelli (jr.), Carly Minchhoff (jr.), Fatikha Tikhtova (sr.), Aliya Tikhtova (sr.), Sophia Lombardo (jr.), Gianna Corrado (jr.)

Newcomers: Addison Fritz (fr.), Olivia Thomas (soph.), Ashlee Zimmerman (jr.)

Outlook: Fillies return five starters and three key reserves. They have size, skill and experience and open the season as the solid favorite in Division III.

Nativity

Head coach: Scott Forney (7th season)

Last season: 9-17, 6-7 D-III. District 11 Class A runner-up, PIAA qualifier

Returnees: Madison Kramer (sr.), Caelan Quick (sr.), Grace Brennan (jr.), Hannah Zimerofsky (jr.), Reagan Bennett (jr.)

Newcomers: Katelynn Pinkey (jr.), Peyton Butz (soph.), Delaney Walborn (fr.), Anna Borden (fr.), Maci Rushannon (fr.), Aurora Luque (soph.)

Outlook: Floor general and leading scorer Kami Abdo graduated, but the Golden Girls return two of their top three scorers in Kramer and Quick, while Brennan was second on the team in assists last year. If team comes together, postseason play is a legitimate goal.

Shenandoah Valley

Head coach: Laura Bisco (2nd season)

Last season: 9-13, 5-8 D-III.

Returnees: Madison Wasser (jr.), Ava Menjivar (jr.), Hannah DeAngelo (jr.)

Newcomers: None provided

Outlook: DeAngelo (7.8 ppg), Wasser (6.8) and Menjivar (6.5) provide a solid core as the Blue Devils look to earn a playoff spot with another of the league's youthful rosters.

Weatherly

Head coach: Brian Billig (4th season)

Last season: 6-16, 1-12 D-III

Returnees: Emma Kane (sr.), Bethany Houser (jr.), Brianna Pugh (jr.), Taylor Davidovich (jr.), Kayleigh Gaydoscik (jr.), Abby Paisley (sr.)

Newcomers: Kelly Reiner (fr.), Abby Binder (fr.), Abby Weston (fr.), McKenzie McGill (soph.)

Outlook: Houser (12.3 ppg) and Kane (11.3) return to provide a solid base for the Wreckers. Improvement in both the overall and league records is likely.

Berks League

Hamburg

Head coach: Amanda York (1st season)

Last season: 9-13, 3-8 Berks III

Returnees: Anabel Kennedy (sr.), Katie Behler (sr.), Hannah Gravish (sr.), Hailie Edwards (jr.), Emily Zimmerman (jr.)

Newcomers: None provided.

Outlook: Kennedy was the top free-throw shooter in Berks County last season, hitting 81.3 percent and also added 35 3-pointers. Behler is the top returning scorer at 6.5 ppg. With solid veteran leadership in the fold, the Hawks should be able to improve in last season's overall and league records.

— Capsules compiled by Charlie Roth