By Philip Cmor
All-State Selection Chairperson
More than half of the players selected to this year's Pennsylvania Sports Writers All-State Girls' Basketball Team have signed, committed or are weighing Division I college scholarship offers, and that doesn't even include about another dozen others going to top colleges in other sports.
Some, though, still stood out amidst such an illustrious and accomplished field.
In a very rare achievement, Lancaster Catholicís Kiki Jefferson and Bellwood-Antis' Alli Campbell were voted players of the year in their respective classifications unanimously. Jefferson heads up the Class 4A team. Campbell's team competes in Class 2A.
They weren't the only ones who were clear choices in the statewide print media poll. In Class 6A, Peters Township's Makenna Marisa was voted to the top spot on all but three ballots. In Class 3A, only five voters had someone other than Neumann-Gorettiís Diamond Johnson as their player of the year selection.
Southern Lehigh's Olivia Snyder and Berlin Brothersvalley's Kiera Booth are the players of the year in Class 5A and Class 1A, both garnering honors by comfortable margins.
Each of the six coach of the year winners guided their teams to PIAA titles: Peters Township's Bert Kendall (6A), Chartiers Valley's Tim McConnell (5A), Bethlehem Catholic's Jose Medina (4A), Delone Catholic's Gerry Eckenrode (3A), Bellwood-Antis' Jim Swaney (2A) and Berlin Brothersvalley's Rachel Prosser (1A).
Jefferson and Campbell not only were unanimous player of the year honorees, they also were repeat winners of the award.
A James Madison recruit, Jefferson averaged 20.6 points and 10.6 rebounds in propelling Lancaster Catholic to a 30-1 record and a berth in the PIAA quarterfinals, where it were upset by Mifflinburg. The 6-foot swing player capped her scholastic career with 2,510 points.
A 6-foot-1 guard, Campbell, a junior who already is committed to Notre Dame, poured in 29.1 points for Bellwood this season while also collecting 9.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 4.4 steals. She surpassed the 2,000-point mark for her career and recently was named USA Today Player of the Year for Pennsylvania.
Marisa saved her best for last, registering 29 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as Peters Township completed an undefeated season with a 62-49 victory over Garnet Valley in the PIAA final. The 5-foot-11 Penn State recruit posted averages of 20.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists and shot 53 percent from the floor.
A 5-foot-6 junior, Johnson was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state following the season. She netted 54 points in a March game against Imhotep Charter, scored her 2,000th point and finished the season with averages of 25.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.0 blocks.
Snyder averaged 24.1 points to wrap up her prep career with 2,077; the three-time all-state pick is going to Georgetown. Booth nearly put up a double-double per game in leading her team to the state championship, although she's committed to Villanova to play volleyball after she completes one more high school campaign.
Four seniors bound for Division I colleges join Marisa on the Class 6A first team -- Abington's Kassondra Brown (Rhode Island), Northampton's Victoria Keenan (Seton Hall), North Allegheny's Rachel Martindale (Akron) and Garnet Valley's Emily McAteer (Loyola, Md.). Upper Dublin junior Jackie Vargas rounds out the squad.
The 6A second team includes Peters Township's Isabella Mills and Garnet Valley's Becky Borcky.
Two players from PIAA champ Chartiers Valley -- Megan McConnell and Mackenzie Wagner -- help Snyder head up the 5A first team. Meanwhile, PIAA runner-up North Catholic placed three players on the Class 4A squad, as junior Kylee Lewandowski and Tess Myers made the first team and Yale recruit Dani Short made the third.
Blackhawk also had two Class 4A first-teamers: guards Mackenzie Amalia and Mady Aulbach.
Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association champion Germantown Academy, which went 30-1 against a national schedule, had three players on the 3A team, including first-teamer Jaye Haynes. The 3A first team also includes Philipsburg-Osceola's Halle Herrington, who scored 30.5 points per game.
Along with Campbell, the 2A first team includes Penn State recruit Anna Camden of Shipley School and Quinnipiac commit Halee Smith of Juniata Valley. Although 2A is comprised of schools with small enrollments, 10 of the 19 all-state players are Division I college recruits.
Three of the six first-team players in Class 1A are underclassmen, including Kennedy Catholic's Malia Magestro, who scored 28.9 points per game. Twin sisters Madison and McKenna Lampe of West Greene were voted to the 1A second team.
2019 SPORTS WRITERS PENNSYLVANIA ALL-STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM
The 2018-19 Pennsylvania Sports Writers All-State Girls Basketball teams, including each player's school, height, class and scoring average.
CLASS 6A
First team
Kassondra Brown, Abington, 6-2, Sr., 17.8
Victoria Keenan, Northampton, 5-7, Sr., 16.6
Makenna Marisa, Peters Township, 5-11, Sr., 20.8
Emily McAteer, Garnet Valley, 6-0, Sr., 15.5
Rachel Martindale, North Allegheny, 5-9, Sr., 14.3
Jackie Vargas, Upper Dublin, 6-3, Jr., 12.9
Second team
Brianne Borcky, Garnet Valley, 6-0, Sr., 10.4
Dajahnae Brannon, Harrisburg, 5-10, Sr., 17.4
Alexa Brodie, Central Bucks South, 5-6, Sr., 16.7
Maddie Burke, Central Bucks West, 6-0, Jr., 13.2
Isabella Mills, Peters Township, 5-11, Sr., 14.3
Brooke Mullin, Neshaminy, 5-11, Sr., 15.8
Third team
Dana Bandurick, Council Rock North, 6-0, Sr., 17.2
Maya Bokunewicz, State College, 6-0, Jr., 16.2
Bridgid Fox, Altoona, 6-0, Sr., 15.7
Olivia Gribble, Norwin, 5-8, Jr., 16.1
Colette Mulderig, Scranton, 6-2, Jr., 18.7
Lucy Olsen, Spring-Ford, 5-9, So., 15.2
Olivia Westphal, Bethel Park, 5-9, So., 16.9
Player of the year -- Makenna Marisa, Peters Township
Coach of the year -- Bert Kendall, Peters Township
CLASS 5A
First team
Jenna Clark, Thomas Jefferson, 5-7, Sr., 20.5
Tai Johnson, Mars, 5-8, Sr., 20.3
Megan McConnell, Chartiers Valley, 5-7, Jr., 15.0
Kaitlyn Orihel, Archbishop Wood, 5-10, So., 17.1
Olivia Snyder, Southern Lehigh, 6-0, Sr., 24.1
Mackenzie Wagner, Chartiers Valley, 5-10, Sr., 16.7
Second team
Ali Benim, Harbor Creek, 5-9, Sr., 19.2
Taylor Geiman, South Western, 6-0, Sr., 13.0
Cali Konek, Franklin Regional, 5-6, Sr., 16.8
Margo Loutzenhiser, Warren, 5-9, Sr., 20.7
Peyton McDaniel, Twin Valley, 6-0, Jr., 22.5
Erin Sweeney, Archbishop Carroll, 5-10, Jr., 18.4
Third team
Sierra DeAngelo, Oakland Catholic, 6-0, Sr., 14.0
Lexi Jackson, Gateway, 6-3, Jr., 16.9
Alisha Lewis, Strath Haven, 5-6, Sr., 13.1
Marena Lonardi, Elizabethtown, 5-10, Sr., 21.3
Alexis Sestric, Oakland Catholic, 5-7, Sr., 17.1
Abby Walheim, Malvern Villa Maria, 6-0, Sr., 16.4
Jaden Walker, Susquehannock, 5-10, Sr., 15.7
Player of the year -- Olivia Snyder, Southern Lehigh
Coach of the year -- Tim McConnell, Chartiers Valley
CLASS 4A
First team
Mackenzie Amalia, Blackhawk, 5-5, Jr., 19.6
Mady Aulbach, Blackhawk, 5-5, Sr., 16.9
Riley Griffith, Mifflinburg, 5-9, Sr., 17.6
Kiki Jefferson, Lancaster Catholic, 6-0, Sr., 20.6
Kylee Lewandowski, North Catholic, 6-1, Jr., 16.7
Tess Myers, North Catholic, 5-10, Jr., 16.0
Second team
Addy Cross, Erie Villa Maria, 5-8, Sr., 11.6
Olivia Fasick, Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt, 5-8, Sr., 15.5
Kate Fitzpatrick, Middletown, 5-5, Jr., 23.1
Hannah Kauffman, Jersey Shore, 5-10, Sr., 18.1
Megan Kallock, Greensburg Salem, 5-7, Sr., 24.9
Emma Kuczynski, Tamaqua, 5-7, Jr., 21.0
Third team
Peyton Jaquis, Lancaster Catholic, 5-7, Sr., 11.0
Maeve McCann, Bonner-Prendergast, 5-5, Sr., 11.5
Gillian Piccolino, Keystone Oaks, 5-11, Sr., 21.4
Rachael Rose, Scranton Prep, 5-6, So., 17.6
Skyler Searfoss, Jim Thorpe, 5-7, Fr., 18.7
Dani Short, North Catholic, 6-2, Sr., 12.3
Aniya Walker, Ambridge, 6-2, Sr., 20.7
Player of the year -- Kiki Jefferson, Lancaster Catholic
Coach of the year -- Jose Medina, Bethlehem Catholic
CLASS 3A
First team
Jaye Haynes, Germantown Academy, 5-9, Jr., 14.3
Halle Herrington, Philipsburg-Osceola, 5-6, Sr., 30.5
Diamond Johnson, Neumann-Goretti, 5-6, Jr., 25.8
Sunshine McCrae, Camp Hill Trinity, 6-0, Sr., 11.8
Moriah Murray, Dunmore, 5-8, Fr., 15.8
Victoria Toomey, Dunmore, 6-2, Sr., 12.6
Second team
Brooke Lawyer, Delone Catholic, 5-9, So., 12.8
Cassie Murphy, Notre Dame-Green Pond, 6-0, Jr., 17.9
Casey Remolde, Saint Basil, 5-10, Sr., 13.0
Elle Stauffer, Germantown Academy, 5-11, Jr., 14.3
Alana Swift, Imhotep, 5-6, Sr., 13.8
Bradi Zumbrum, Delone Catholic, 6-0, Sr., 11.7
Third team
Rachel Balzer, Germantown Academy, 5-9, Sr., 10.1
Bella Burrelli, Neshannock, 5-11, Sr., 17.6
Makalyn Clapper, Penn Cambria, 5-8, Sr., 15.3
McKenna Hayward, Central Cambria, 5-5, Sr., 15.6
Kassidy Ingram, Camp Hill Trinity, 5-9, Sr., 11.0
Grace Kelleher, Lewisburg, 5-6, Sr., 17.8
Nadjy Tyler, Imhotep, 6-2, Sr., 10.1
Player of the year -- Diamond Johnson, Neumann-Goretti
Coach of the year -- Gerry Eckenrode, Delone Catholic
CLASS 2A
First team
Anna Camden, Shipley, 6-2, Sr., 17.0
Alli Campbell, Bellwood-Antis, 6-1, Jr., 29.3
Ella Marconi, Kane, 6-2, Sr., 22.9
Kaitlyn Maxwell, Everett, 5-6, Jr., 23.8
Halee Smith, Juniata Valley, 5-11, Jr., 21.2
Makennah White, West Middlesex, 6-0, Jr., 21.2
Second team
Bella Hunt, Bishop McCort, 5-11, Jr., 13.8
Mandy McGurk, Notre Dame de Namur, 5-6, Sr., 18.2
Maggie Pina, Notre Dame de Namur, 5-7, Sr., 15.8
Angelina Meola, Iroquois, 5-7, Jr., 29.6
Shamyjha Price, Bishop Canevin, 5-9, Sr., 18.0
Raanae Smith, Friends Central, 6-1, Sr., 14.3
Third team
Autumn Fennell, Penns Manor, 5-3, Sr., 17.4
Sakeria Haralson, Bellwood-Antis, 6-0, Jr., 11.2
Dymond Crawford, Jeannette, 5-9, Sr., 21.9
Jordan Karmonick, Mahanoy Area, 5-6, Jr., 12.6
Dani Rae Renno, Mount Carmel, 6-2, So., 19.1
Lauren Ross, Shipley, 5-8, Sr., 12.2
Hetta Saatman, Linden Hall, 6-2, Sr., 10.5
Player of the year -- Alli Campbell, Bellwood-Antis
Coach of the year -- Jim Swaney, Bellwood-Antis
CLASS 1A
First team
Lillyauna Bickel, Lourdes Regional, 5-8, Sr., 13.6
Kiera Booth, Berlin Brothersvalley, 6-1, Jr., 17.9
Mia Kolb, Jenkintown, 5-9, Sr., 15.5
Malia Magestro, Kennedy Catholic, 5-9, Jr., 28.9
Alexis Robison, Rochester, 5-7, So., 18.1
Emily Zoscin, Weatherly, 5-7, Sr., 17.9
Second team
Jessica King, Sullivan County, 6-1, Jr., 11.4
Madison Lampe, West Greene, 5-4, Sr., 13.2
McKenna Lampe, West Greene, 5-4, Sr., 14.1
Mykenzie Malacusky, Sullivan County, 5-4, Sr., 15.3
Zoie Smith, Berlin Brothersvalley, 5-11, Sr., 13.5
Sidney Stutzman, Shanksville-Stonycreek, 5-8, Sr., 11.9
Third team
Abby Gatesman, North Clarion, 5-10, Jr., 14.3
Anna Haigh, Bishop Carroll, 5-11, Sr., 11.1
Tayler Huyck, Susquehanna, 5-8, Jr., 14.7
Taylor Kirschner, Quigley Catholic, 5-8, Sr., 19.5
Emily Lockard, Benton, 6-0, Jr., 17.7
Taylor Newton, Elk County Catholic, 5-11, Jr., 17.0
Kenedy Stroup, Greenwood, 5-10, Jr., 19.8
Player of the year -- Kiera Booth, Berlin Brothersvalley
Coach of the year -- Rachel Prosser, Berlin Brothersvalley
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