PW Basketball Has Sendoff to Remember

Photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for a gallery of photos.

Plymouth Whitemarsh was sent off to Hershey in style on Friday, beginning with an all-school pep rally and culminating with the players greeted by students with signs as they headed for the bus. Photographer Kim Supko was there to capture all the action.

The Colonials will face District 7 champion Mount Lebanon in the PIAA 6A state title game in Hersheypark Arena on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Below a preview capsule of both squads.

#1-1 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH vs. #7-1 MOUNT LEBANON (Saturday, March 26, 5 p.m., Hersheypark Arena)

Plymouth Whitemarsh

• 33-0 overall
• 16-0 SOL Liberty Division champions for third straight year
• SOL Tournament champion
• District One 6A champion
• 33-game winning streak
• Starting five includes the team’s engine, senior point guard Kaitlyn Flanagan (7.7ppg, 2.8rpg, 5.5 apg, 3.0spg), junior Abby Sharpe (13.9ppg, 2.1spg), senior Lainey Allen (12.5ppg, 9.6rpg, 2.1spg), junior Erin Daley (9.2ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.7spg) and senior Jordyn Thomas (8.2ppg, 6.3rpg, 3bpg). Senior Fiona Gooneratne is the first player off the bench.

How they got here:

• In last Friday’s semifinal game, PW defeated #3-3 Cedar Cliff, 48-35. Kaitlyn Flanagan and Abby Sharpe each scored 15 points while Lainey Allen had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
• In a state quarterfinal game, PW rolled to a 56-31 win over #1-6 Perkiomen Valley. Abby Sharpe’s 20 points led the Colonials while Kaitlyn Flanagan had 12 points and 10 assists. Lainey Allen had 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Erin Daley had nine points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots.
• In a second round contest, PW defeated #11-2 Northampton 44-28. Abby Sharpe’s 12 points led the Colonials. Lainey Allen added 11 points and 12 rebounds, and Erin Daley had eight points and eight rebounds.
• In an opening round game, PW defeated #3-6 Manheim Township 63-32. Abby Sharpe scored 19 points, and Lainey Allen added 16 to lead the Colonials. Erin Daley finished in double figures with 11 while Jordyn Thomas stuffed a stat sheet with eight points, six blocks, five rebounds and four assists.

Mount Lebanon

• 27-1 overall
• 3-time state champion (2009, 2010, 2011)
• 4-time WPIAL champions (2009, 2010, 2012, 2022)
• Led by senior and St. Louis University commit Ashleigh Connor. The 5-11 senior guard averages close to 22 points a game.
• Only loss came in final game of the regular season to WPIAL runner-up Upper St. Clair (58-53)

How they got here:

• In last Friday’s state semifinal, Mount Lebanon defeated District 3 champion Central Dauphin 41-35. Ashleigh Connor was a one-woman wrecking crew, scoring 17 by halftime and finishing with 27 points. She was 9-for-15 from the field with four steals. Brooke Collins added nine points.
• In a quarterfinal contest, Mount Lebanon downed #11-3 Easton 46-31. Ashley Connor scored 23 points.
• In a second round game, Mount Lebanon notched a 50-41 win over #7-3 Bethel Park. Ashley Connor led the way with 20 points, which included a 17-for-22 effort at the foul line. Reagan Murdoch, an American University commit for lacrosse, added 14 points.
• In an opening round contest, Mount Lebanon rolled to a 50-19 rout of #3-7 Red Lion. Ashleigh Connor (18 points) and Payton Collins (11 points) led the Blue Devils.