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Bok Wildkittens
Coach: Greg Frangipani
Division: AAA
Current record: 2-0
The Bok girls’ basketball team is on a more level playing field this season in the Public League’s AAA Division, which means it no longer has to worry about bigger schools like University City and Bartram.
There are still many difficult games, however, including Prep Charter (Jan. 17) and Engineering & Science (Jan. 19), but a majority of the squads are on the same level as Bok.
"I am glad to be in AAA because I think we will be more competitive," Frangipani said.
The South Philly girls opened the regular season Dec. 15 with a 52-27 win over Parkway. They had balanced scoring, with three players chipping in 12 points or more. Senior Devita Austin, the top returning scorer, led the way with 18.
In non-league action, the Wildkittens brought in a 45-28 victory over Mastbaum. The team got 17 points from Austin, who is being recruited by Harcum Junior College. Sophomore newcomer Shanah Miller, a point guard, headed the squad with 18 points.
"We played pretty well our first game," the coach said. "I found a second scorer to go with Devita."
Senior forward Lacey Davis adds experience, while junior forward Marcia Stinney, sophomore forward Fatoumata Sangare and sophomore guard Alice Keosann, who chipped in 12 points against Parkway, also are expected to contribute.
Come February, Frangipani hopes his team will be in contention for a postseason nod.
"If we are right there it would be a pretty good season for us," he said.
Furness Lady Falcons
Coach: Anthony Pastore
Division: AAA
Current record: 0-1
Visit the Lady Falcons’ Web site and there is a clear message of what the season is all about: "Hard work plus dedication equals wins."
So far, first-year coach Pastore likes the attitude.
"The girls are really committed," he said. "They come to practice all the time and work hard. I am pleasantly surprised."
Dec. 15, Furness opened with a 49-22 non-league loss to Engineering & Science, considered one of the top teams in the city. What the final score doesn’t show is, after scoring four points in the first half, the Lady Falcons didn’t quit, tallying 18 more in the last 16 minutes.
"Even though the game got a little out of hand, they played hard for the entire game," Pastore said. "In the second half things got a little better for us."
Playing in the AAA division, the coach is confident the only way to go is up as his team tries to improve on last year’s 2-8 mark.
Leading the way will be captain/point guard Shaneek Cooper, who scored 10 points against E&S.; Forward Tyshawnna Parks is the other senior. The remaining players seeing minutes are freshmen and sophomores. The coach is counting on sophomores guard-forward Sabrina Powell and forward Shakira Jones, and freshmen guard Waynesha Alexander, forward Unique Jefferson and guard Deanna Bryson.
Aside from Prep Charter and E&S;, Pastore said his team should be able to compete this year.
"I am real excited," he said. "If we start winning I think [the girls] will get confidence in themselves."
Prep Charter Huskies
Coach: Paul Rieser
Division: AAA
Current record: 3-0
If the first games are a sign of things to come, the Prep Charter girls’ basketball team will create plenty of nightmares for the opposition. In three non-league contests, the Huskies outscored their opponents 207-29. The most recent win came Dec. 15 over Franklin Learning Center, 60-9.
The Huskies are enjoying the early success with a very young roster that includes four freshmen, a sophomore and a junior. Some will need a year or two to reach full potential, but the Huskies aren’t about to let other teams push them around. In games against Maritime Charter Academy and Mastery Charter, the South Philly squad held both to 10 points while scoring more than 70.
The true test will come the afternoon of Dec. 22, when Prep Charter visits Engineering & Science in a difficult league game. E&S; eliminated the Huskies in the ’06 Public League playoffs, but ended up losing to Central in the championship.
"We are going to be a lot better in February than we are now. If we can win the [E&S;] game on Friday, the District 12 AAA championship will be played at Prep Charter," Rieser said, referring to the district playoffs.
The team has three guards who saw significant minutes last year and earned All-Public recognition: Senior Emerald Robinson (First Team), sophomore Raven Jones (Second Team) and junior Erin Hunley (Honorable Mention) combined for 39 points per game during the ’05-06 season.
Junior center Alyea Miller led the Huskies with 11 points and 14 rebounds in last week’s win over FLC. Freshmen guards Leshay Banks and Courtney Edmonds Banks, along with guard-forwards Tyjma Bacon and Robin Harcum, are expected to see some playing time. Junior forward Marquise Brinkley and senior center Deara Chambers add to the deep bench.
To get his team ready for a February run, Rieser put together a tough non-league schedule, including Christmas tournaments at Conwell-Egan and Germantown. The squad also has a Jan. 29 home game against AAAA school Simon Gratz.
"I think it’s going to be a good year," Rieser said.
Southern Lady Rams
Coach: Gene Jordan
Division: AAAA South
Current record: 1-1
It’s only two games into the season, but the Lady Rams have already experienced their share of ups and downs. In the Dec. 1 non-league opener they were held to just 15 points in a 56-15 defeat. Two weeks later, on Dec. 15, Southern showed it’s capable of scoring a lot more in a 61-15 non-league victory over Edison, holding the opposition to seven first-half points. Southern’s top performers were Meiya Tirera, 33 points, and Shakira Gray with 21.
But the games are going to get a lot harder as the squad plays the city’s large enrollment schools in the AAAA South Division. Next up is a Jan. 3 contest at Bartram.
Neumann-Goretti Saints
Coach: Chip Reitano
Division: Catholic League South
Current record: 4-2
The Saints almost tasted success in ’06, making it to the Catholic League championship where they lost to Cardinal O’Hara. Now that they’re once again top-notch, Neumann-Goretti players and coaches have March 4 circled on their calendars — when the ’07 champs will be decided at the Palestra.
"It’s an opportunity to finish what we didn’t finish last year," Reitano said.
Neumann-Goretti, who is 4-2 in non-league action, won’t have to wait long to find out how it matches up against the Catholic League’s best. The first of two regular-season meetings against O’Hara is scheduled for Jan. 3 at 10th and Moore streets.
Like previous years, O’Hara and Archbishop Carroll are considered early favorites but, Reitano said, "playing the underdog role is fine with me."
Having senior center Gloria Brown, a returning First Team All-Catholic selection, in the lineup makes the Saints a serious threat. Through the first five contests, Brown, who will continue her career at Division I NC State, is averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds a game.
In addition, Neumann-Goretti returns with several others who played key roles in ’06, including four seniors, point guard Jasmine Daniels, forward Alison Nelson, guard-forward Amberal Diaz and center-forward Deanna Tropea. Sophomore guard Ashley White, senior guard Caitlyn Smith, junior forward Siedah Dallas and senior guard-forward Kerri Dougherty also are expected to work the court.
The Saints are spending the week in Myrtle Beach, S.C., playing in the Crescent Bank Holiday Invitational. See the story on this page.
Come January, Reitano will have his team ready to make another run at the prize.
"People were wrong about us last year, so we want to go out and do it again," he said of being a championship-caliber program.
