Preseason girls basketball top 10

The Inquirer TOP 10

Team   Record

1. Archbishop Wood    26-5

Fourteen of the 15 members of last season's PIAA Class AAA championship team are back to make another run at state honors. A game Sunday against La Salle Academy (R.I.) could be a measuring stick for the Vikings, who figure in the Catholic League hunt.

2. Germantown Academy    22-4

The Patriots are seeking their 13th straight Inter-Academic League championship under coach Sherri Retif. Six-foot-one Alexa Gallagher and 5-8 guard Jaryn Garner, two nationally recognized players, could make that happen.

3. Mount St. Joseph    23-5

The Magic have moved up to Class AAAA this season, so they will have their work cut out when it comes to playoff time against bigger schools. But with a squad led by Steph Smith, coach John Miller says his team will be ready.

4. Prep Charter    22-6

The transfer of 6-2 Kahleah Copper from Girard College makes the Huskies that much stronger. With Copper, they will have three players over 6 feet and one just under. Tiffany Johnson heads a list of four senior guards.

5. Archbishop Carroll    25-4

The Patriots will miss Erin Shields but have 12 returnees from a team that won the Catholic League and District 1 Class AAA titles. Senior guard Jen Carney runs the team.

6. Council Rock North    21-8

The Gold sisters, Devon and Lauren, will lead a very experienced team that will have its share of height. Emily Grundman lists at 6-2 while Megan Cunningham and Helena Gemmell are each 5-10. Council Rock South and Abington will be the Indians' stiffest SOL competition.

7. Council Rock South    24-6

Alex Wheatley, a 6-3 junior, has shown that she can do it all for third-year coach Monica Stolic. Last season, Wheatley, a smooth operator for a tall player who moves very well with the ball, averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds per game.

8. Abington    24-5

Emily Leer is gone from the Ghosts' first team to win a District 1 championship in 35 years, but four out of five starters return. Sisters Aiyanna and Chyna West are part of a talented surrounding cast.

9. Cardinal O'Hara    16-8

The Lions may have dropped a notch last season, but look for transfer Shanice Johnson from Cardinal Dougherty to give them a boost. She's a 6-foot sophomore who will combine with 6-foot senior Marissa Manning, who earned all-Catholic League second-team honors last season.

10. Penn Charter    19-7

With high expectations, the Quakers have already opened the season with a nonleague win over Shipley. Seven returning varsity players, including Aleesha Powell and Brianna Butler, should give Penn Charter a boost in the Inter-Academic League.

Under consideration (listed alphabetically): Archbishop Ryan (22-7), Central (18-7), Cheltenham (27-3), Downingtown East (22-5), Downingtown West (21-7), Engineering and Science (20-4), Nazareth Academy (16-9), St. Basil (22-5), Upper Dublin (16-8).

- Don Beideman