Pennsbury senior Ava Sciolla was named 2022 PA Sports Writers All-State Player of the Year. She is one of six SOL basketball players recognized. (Sciolla & Worley photos courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. PW photos courtesy of Larry Small)
2022 PENNSYLVANIA SPORTS WRITERS ALL-STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM (CLASS 6A)
Class 6A Player of the Year, First Team
Ava Sciolla, Pennsbury, 5-11 Senior Guard
Signed to continue her basketball career at perennial national powerhouse University of Maryland, Sciolla was a three-time all-state pick, earning first team honors as both a junior and senior after earning third team recognition as a sophomore. She is a four-time first team All-SOL selection. The senior guard was the leader of a squad that captured three consecutive Suburban One League
division titles, including this winter after losing four starters from last year’s team. During her four years, Pennsbury was 86-23, the best four-year stretch in program history. She averaged 16.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.1 steals and also guarded the other team’s top scorer. She closed out her career with 1,540 points, 201 3-pointers, 778 rebounds, 270 assists and 198 steals.
Coach Frank Sciolla says: “This is a really big deal in our community. This is the first time that a girl at Pennsbury has achieved this honor and had back-to-back all-state recognition. This is the third time I’ve had this. I coached Dalton Pepper in 2009 when he won it for the boys, and Stevie Jordan won it at Conwell-Egan in 2015. At Pennsbury, it’s just two people and one female. The rise of the profile of girls’ basketball in our community has a lot of factors in it, but obviously, one of the biggest was what Ava was able to do helping to elevate us to another level. Traditionally, Pennsbury has not been a consistently successful girls’ basketball program, and to win three consecutive league titles for the first time ever and just the schedule we were able to play – we are playing in a Class 6A league, and we’re playing in our division and in our crossover games against many of the teams that are competing to win the 6A state title. This year we had 13 wins over state playoff teams, and two of our losses were to Plymouth Whitemarsh which was far and away the best team in the state.
“Ava has taken us to wins over Catholic League teams like Archbishop Carroll, and when we beat Norview in game one, they went on to play in the Virginia state title game. Then, of course, let’s talk about the crowds that we play in front of at our home games. There are many factors to that and so many good players on our team and coaches that have helped out, and certainly Ava has been a big piece of the atmosphere at our games. She winds up ending her career with a 44-3 home record, including never losing a home playoff game and not losing any home games this year. She’s not the only part of that, but her legacy is going to be that she definitely elevated her teammates and her coaches. I think she’s a little bit unique because she could not afford to have a bad game for us to be able to win. It didn’t have to be on the scoreboard. A lot of times it was on the backboards and on the playmaking. She was always the focal point in terms of how we were defended, whereas, a lot of the players on the all-state list at the 6, 5 and 4A levels - at times you couldn’t double team them for big parts of every game because of their teammates. We recognized that, and Ava’s unselfishness and her ability as a playmaker really enabled us to be successful because if she would have decided that she wanted to force it a little more, she may have scored more points, but we would not have had the level of success that we had as a team.”
First Team
Kaitlyn Flanagan, Plymouth Whitemarsh, 5-7 Senior Point Guard
The engine of the Colonials' 34-0 state champion squad, Flanagan could dominate a game without scoring. The College of the Holy Cross recruit averaged 7.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3 steals for the Suburban One League, District 1 and state champion Colonials. An outstanding
passer with next-level vision, she generated numerous easy transition scores with her distribution skills. Flanagan is also a terrific defensive player who rarely got in foul trouble with strong anticipation to create steals or block shots. She is a skilled athlete who also played defense for PW’s soccer team. Statistics don't come close to capturing Flanagan's impact - she had just two points in state title game and was the most influential player on the floor. Flanagan is an outstanding student and three-year team captain who directed every set offensively and led the Colonials in minutes played. The team was 98-13 in her four years, and she was a three-time first team All-SOL selection after earning second team recognition as a sophomore. She scored 910 career points and had 510 assists for new program record.
Coach Dan Dougherty says: “The selection of four of our players just goes to show how balanced this team was one through five. You could certainly make an argument for Jordyn Thomas too in terms of everything she means to our team too. On the flip side, I’m really glad people see our team and see the value of each kid and realize it’s not about putting up 20 points or things like that. Kate Flanagan was named The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media Player of the Year. She was everything for our team in terms of a leader and just a true point guard this year. I think the growth of the other players on the team is also a great sign of a player that makes everyone else around them better. That’s really something that Kate displayed this year – the ability to make everyone around her better. Just her fierce competitiveness through the playoff run – once we got into districts and states, preparing for each game almost feels like you’re preparing for a whole season. Her preparation and her leadership within the team and within the locker room was really special.”
First Team
Abby Sharpe, Plymouth Whitemarsh, 5-10 Junior Guard
The University of Pennsylvania commit turned her first year starting into a breakout campaign as the leading scorer for the 34-0 state champions. Sharpe, who was named first team All-SOL, brought a much-improved game back after last summer and turned it into averages of 14.3 points, 3 rebounds, 1.1
assists and 2.1 steals for a team that had five starters who could all put up big numbers. A strong outside shooter with college range, she scored 442 points during the season and added a much stronger midrange and rim-attacking game that made her a three-level scorer. Sharpe scored 26 points in PW’s 60-40 win over Mount Lebanon in the state title game and buried 7-of-7 shots in the second half. She made 10-of-13 shots for the game, 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
Coach Dan Dougherty says: “If there’s a most improved player award, that would go to Abby Sharpe. From where she came in as a freshman and sophomore who had all this ability and all this athleticism, it just really clicked for her this year. Also, just her increased role on the team - the last couple of years we were seven or eight players deep and a more balanced rotation. This year was a six-person rotation, sometimes seven-person. Abby continues to be just impossible to guard sometimes, and when you score a career high in a state championship game, what a culmination to your season. I thought it was a good representation of the balance of our team that a lot of her points in the state championship game came off great assists from her teammates as well. That game was just a full display of everything she can do – finish at the rim, hit big 3s, score in transition. That was really special.
“Something else that comes to mind about Abby was just how big of a shot she hit in the district championship. She hit a deep 3 right in front of the Spring-Ford bench in the second quarter right near the buzzer. It was one of those games where we were up, but it wasn’t really comfortable yet, and she hits that big 3. When we went into the locker room at halftime of that district championship, that three really gave us a lot of confidence. When you’re the leading scorer on the best team in the state, that really says something, and next year she’ll have an even bigger role.”
Second Team
Lainey Allen, Plymouth Whitemarsh, 6-2 Senior Forward
A rangy and athletic post, the first team All-SOL selection – a four-year varsity player - had a breakout season after an injury-plagued sophomore season and COVID-shortened junior season. She averaged a double-double
with 12.5 points, 10 rebounds plus two steals and 1.5 blocks as a key part of PW's press defenses. Allen is an outstanding open floor player, especially for a big, and she is able to finish in transition and cover the entire floor defensively. Signed to continue her basketball career at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, she is also a brilliant student and finishes her PW career with 760 career points and 608 career rebounds.
Coach Dan Dougherty says: “Lainey Allen was incredible this year. From the minute she came into the preseason, people would ask me – ‘How does the team look?’ I’d say, ‘Wait until you see Lainey Allen this year.’ I thought the two previous years were the hardest on her. Her sophomore year she was injured and in and out of the lineup, and then COVID hit, and she didn’t get an AAU season her sophomore year. She comes back junior year, and we barely have a season. For her this year, I thought it was the most gratifying because she got to display what an elite talent she is. At her height, sometimes people would say – ‘Oh, just put that kid in the middle of a zone,’ but not with her. She’s so athletic. She was the top of our press all season. She has an elite ability to finish with both hands at the rim too, which was really special this year. Defensively, Lainey and Jordyn (Thomas) together in the lane – it’s special. What coaches look for at the next level, and I thought Lainey really displayed that too is her ability to switch on to anybody. She didn’t have to guard a post player. She could switch to a guard, keep them in front, defend without fouling. In the playoffs, whenever a team focused on Abby or focused on Flanagan, it was Lainey who stepped up and had a monster game. I’ve said more than once – I think she will be an immediate impact player at UMES next year. I know the coaches are over the moon that they got her, and I think there are some local coaches that are scratching their heads and saying, ‘How in the world did we miss out on this kid?’”
Third Team
Erin Daley, Plymouth Whitemarsh, 6-1 Junior Guard/Forward
A versatile and energetic wing, Daley took on the role of defensive stopper for the undefeated PIAA 6A state champions. She averaged 9.5 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and 1.5 blocks
per game. She guarded all manner of all-league/all-state level players during season and earned Second Team All-SOL honors. A potent offensive player with an inside-outside game, she tallied 17 points and 13 rebounds in PIAA title game and limited Lebanon Valley’s Ashleigh Connor, who averaged over 21 points a game, to just 12 points. She is weighing her collegiate options.
Coach Dan Dougherty says: “Erin and Jordyn are just so overlooked. I thought one of the things that was on full display was the state championship game. You can’t not see the fact that she guarded Ashleigh Connor. She took it so personally, and (Connor) was a kid we were a little nervous about. The state championship game was the Erin Daley show. She’s shutting down Connor at one end of the floor, and I think she scored eight of our first 12 or 14 points. She was so focused and so hyped for that game. That’s special to be able to do. Not everyone can play when the lights are on the brightest. You just look at her body of work for the season. She guarded Ava Sciolla when we played Pennsbury. She switched on to Amy Ngo when we played Upper Dublin. When we played (Archbishop) Carroll, she guarded the Wilson sisters. When we played O’Hara, she guarded their freshman (Molly) Rullo. She was the kid who at the beginning of the season came to me and said, ‘Coach, I want to defend the other team’s best player, no matter who it is,’ and she embraced that role. Sometimes when you take that role on, your own offensive numbers aren’t as gawdy, but the people that know basketball and watch the team play see that and see what a special player she is. If you projected her to 32 minutes a game, she would almost be like a Draymond Green, a triple-double machine in terms of what she’d be able to do. Erin had a career high 17 points in the state championship game, but to have a double-double in the state championship game is really impressive. Coaches know – that’s a kid you want on your team, and you hate if you have to go against her.
Third Team
Cire Worley, Abington, 6-0 Junior Guard
A two-time first team All-SOL selection, Worley was the Suburban One League’s top scorer, averaging 20.3 points to go along with 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 steals
and 1.8 assists for a Ghosts team that reached the District One quarterfinals and PIAA second round. She scored a program record 38 points in the second game of the season and surpassed 30 points on several occasions this season. She is equally dangerous from long range or taking it to the basket and surpassed the 1,000-point mark this season. Worley is weighing several Division 1 offers.
Coach Dan Marsh says: “Cire was always, in my opinion, an elite scorer, but I think what took her to the next level this year was her full all-around game. She was a great defender, she got inside and rebounded, she got offensive rebounds, got steals, and she was the head of our press and really just expanded her game. I think that’s what made her go to the next level. I would expect the same kind of jump next year. I’m really looking forward to seeing how much she develops next year too. Cire could always shoot and could always create her own shot by getting to the rim, but adding a little bit of strength and maturity and adding other aspects to her game – she’s very difficult to defend because teams are like, ‘Do we put a big kid on her or do we put a guard on her?’ She can do multiple things, and that’s what makes her so tough. She can score in multiple ways.”
Class 6A Coach of the Year
Daniel Dougherty, Plymouth Whitemarsh
Dougherty, in his 10th season at the helm, led the Colonials to their third straight SOL division title. His squad also captured the 2022 Suburban One League crown, the District One 6A title and the PIAA 6A state championship.
2022 PENNSYLVANIA SPORTS WRITERS ALL-STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAMS
The 2021-22 Pennsylvania Sports Writers All-State Girls Basketball teams, including each player’s school, height, class and scoring average.
CLASS 6A
First team
Ashleigh Connor, Mount Lebanon, 5-10, Sr., 21.6
Kaitlyn Flanagan, Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 5-8, Sr., 7.7
Jillian Jekot, Cumberland Valley, 6-0, So., 17.3
Ava Sciolla, Pennsbury, 5-11, Sr., 16.3
Abby Sharpe, Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 5-11, Jr., 14.3
Caroline Shiery, Central Dauphin, 6-3, Sr., 14.3
Jasmine Timmerson, North Allegheny, 5-7, Jr., 14.0
Second team
Lainey Allen, Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 6-2, Sr., 12.5
Kailah Correa, Lebanon, 5-5, Fr., 20.8
Vatijah Davis, Pocono Mountain West, 5-10, Jr., 23.9
Olivia Jones, Cedar Cliff, 5-10, Fr., 13.6
Grace O'Neill, Archbishop Carroll, 5-4, Sr., 15.0
Third team
Anna Azzara, Spring-Ford, 5-7, So., 13.1
Erin Daley, Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 6-0, Jr., 9.5
Marissa Gingrich, Mifflin County, 5-7, Jr., 20.0
Journey Thompson, Peters Township, 6-2, Sr., 16.2
Nicole Timko, Methacton, 5-11, Sr., 18.8
Cire Worley, Abington, 6-0, Jr., 20.3
Player of the year -- Ava Sciolla, Pennsbury
Coach of the year -- Dan Dougherty, Plymouth-Whitemarsh
CLASS 5A
First team
Anne Bair, Gettysburg, 5-6, Sr., 14.9
Maggie Doogan, Cardinal O'Hara, 6-2, Sr., 16.0
Alexis Hess, Fleetwood, 6-0, Jr., 19.0
Maddie Knier, Manheim Central, 5-10, Jr., 21.9
Aislin Malcolm, Chartiers Valley, 5-11, Sr., 16.5
Sydni Scott, Cardinal O'Hara, 5-8, Sr., 11.0
Second team
Marin Miller, Hollidaysburg, 5-1, Sr., 21.5
Perri Page, Chartiers Valley, 6-0, Sr., 15.8
Emma Ruhlman, Warren, 5-10, Sr., 15.6
Reilly Sunday, Moon, 5-9, Sr., 16.6
Emma Theodorson, Moon, 6-0, Sr., 18.4
Maddie Webber, South Fayette, 5-7, Jr., 18.2
Third team
Gianna Grassifulli, St. Hubert, 5-7, Sr., 18.3
Gracie Fairman, Thomas Jefferson, 5-5, Sr., 20.8
Molly Rullo, Cardinal O'Hara, 5-11, Fr., 10.5
Faith Walker, West York, 6-0, So., 9.7
Trinell Watson, Pottstown, 5-7, Sr. 23.1
Annie Welde, Cardinal O'Hara, 5-11, Sr., 8.0
Player of the year -- Maggie Doogan, Cardinal O'Hara
Coach of the year -- Jeff Gregory, Pittston
CLASS 4A
First team
Ryanne Allen, Archbishop Wood, 6-1, Sr., 17.0
Gabby Casey, Lansdale Catholic, 5-9, Sr., 22.0
Gianna Hoddinott, Delone Catholic, 5-9, Sr., 19.4
Maeve McErlane, Notre Dame de Namur, 5-9, Sr., 17.8
Moriah Murray, Dunmore, 5-9, Sr., 17.3
Ciera Toomey, Dunmore, 6-4, Jr., 20.1
Second team
Kendall Bennett, Germantown Academy, 6-3, Jr., 13.0
Jayden McBride, Erie Villa Maria, 5-11, So., 13.9
Carissa Dunham, Erie Villa Maria, 5-7, Sr., 14.3
Payton List, Beaver, 6-0, Sr., 22.6
Skyler Searfoss, Jim Thorpe, 5-9, Sr., 14.1
Third team
Bri Bowen, Archbishop Wood, 5-10, Sr., 8.2
Bianca Coleman, Gwynedd Mercy, 5-11, Sr., 9.8
Sofia Coleman, Gwynedd Mercy, 5-11, Sr., 13.8
Jaida Parker, Tyrone, 5-9, Sr., 13.9
Deja Evans, Archbishop Wood, 6-2, Jr., 8.1
Hannah Griffin, Gwynnedd Mercy, 5-7, Jr., 9.0
Olivia Smelas, Jim Thorpe, 6-1, Sr., 11.2
Player of the year -- Ryanne Allen, Archbishop Wood
Coach of the year -- Todd Askins, Bermudian Springs
CLASS 3A
First team
Shaye Bailey, Freedom, 5-5, So., 16.4
Mihjae Hayes, Neumann-Goretti, 5-3, Sr., 24.3
Kylie Lavelle, Riverside, 6-2, Sr., 25.1
Dacia Lewandowski, North Catholic, 5-11, Jr., 15.9
Renae Morbacher, Freedom, 5-6, Sr., 15.7
Janai Smith, Imhotep, 5-9, Sr., 16.5
Aleah Snead, Penn Charter, 5-9, Jr., 15.3
Second team
Maddie Evans, Bloomsburg, 5-11, Jr., 16.7
Hope Garrity, Fairview, 5-8, Jr., 20.6
Allyia Kennedy, Loyalsock, 6-0, Sr., 17.0
Kaeli Romanowski, Western Wayne, 5-6, Sr., 20.1
Alayna Rocco, North Catholic, 5-11, So., 17.9
Third team
D'Ayzha Atkinson, Neumann-Goretti, 5-7, Sr., 12.2
Belle Bosch, Chestnut Ridge, 6-0, Jr., 19.4
Reese Gadsby, Lakeview, 5-8, Sr., 18.7
Brianna Moore, Palmerton, 5-8, Sr., 14.9
Remi Smith, Forest Hills, 5-7, Sr., 14.4
Xola Wade, New Church, 5-4, So., 13.9
Player of the year -- Mihjae Hayes, Neumann-Goretti
Coach of the year -- Kristi Britten, Camp Hill Trinity
CLASS 2A
First team
Mairan Haggerty, Neshannock, 6-1, Jr., 17.1
Kaci Kranson, Holy Cross, 5-11, Sr., 27.0
Clare Meyer, Germantown Friends, 6-3, Sr., 17.9
Neleh Nogay, Neshannock, 5-6, Sr., 12.4
Kaylene Smikle, Westtown, 6-1, Sr., 23.0
Second team
Taliyah Carter, Parkway Northwest, 6-1, Sr., 28.0
Brie Droege, Columbia, 5-9, So., 22.1
Alli Griscavage, Southern Columbia, 6-1, Jr., 15.9
Zahra King, Westtown, 5-10, So., 9.6
Genesis Meadows, Lancaster Country Day, 5-5, Jr., 20.5
Selena Buttery, Brockway, 5-10, Sr., 16.5
Grace Sundback, Westtown, 5-10, Jr., 11.7
Third team
Emily Anthony, West Middlesex, 5-3, Sr., 15.5
Carlie Beatty, West Middlesex, 6-0, Sr., 20.0
Mallory Daly, Seton LaSalle, 5-8, So., 23.9
Salote Franklin, Penn Treaty, 5-9, Sr., 26.4
Nadia Moore, Winchester Thurston, 5-10, Jr., 25.2
Summer Tillett, Southern Columbia, 5-10, Sr., 11.5
Alicia Young, Sto-Rox, 5-11, Sr., 21.1
Player of the year -- Kayla Smikle, Westtown
Coach of the year -- Luann Grybowski, Neshannock
CLASS 1A
First team
Bellah DiNardo, Kennedy Catholic, 5-9, Sr., 10.9
Emily Garvin, Northumberland Christian, 5-6, Sr., 25.1
Corynne Hauser, Rochester, 5-8, Sr., 25.1
Leah Homan, Bishop Guilfoyle, 5-10, Sr., 23.4
Jenna Muha, Shade, 6-0, Jr., 27.2
Second team
Layke Fields, Kennedy Catholic, 6-0, Fr., 11.6
Ayla Hileman, Williamsburg, 5-8, So., 16.4
Katie McGrath, Jenkintown, 5-7, Sr., 17.6
Katie Sheeler, Otto-Eldred, 5-5, Jr., 18.3
Josie Snyder, Shanksville-Stonycreek, 5-10, Sr., 18.9
Rylee Snyder, Shanksville-Stonycreek, 6-0, Sr., 14.3
Third team
Sanaa Brodie, Farrell, 5-9, Sr., 16.6
Minyhah Easterling, Glendale, 6-3, Jr., 16.2
Bella Forker, Faith Christian, 5-8, Jr., 14.0
Anna Ulmer, Northumberland Christian, 6-1, Sr., 10.7
Iyanna Wade, Clairton, 5-3, Fr., 23.7
Jayla Woodruff, Williamsburg, 6-0, Jr., 15.1
Player of the year -- Emily Garvin, Northumberland Christian
Coach of the year -- Lance Hudak, Portage
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