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Scouting Report: PIAA Girls' Basketball Semifinals
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
GIRLS' CLASS AAAA

The games: Mt. Lebanon (29-0) vs. Cheltenham (28-2), 7 p.m. today, Shippensburg University; Downingtown East (28-2) vs. Cardinal O'Hara (26-2), 7 p.m. today, Spring-Ford High School.

The skinny: Cheltenham won the PIAA title two years ago and lost to Oakland Catholic in the 2005 title game. Cheltenham will be without junior guard Shayla Felder (fractured left tibia) for the second consecutive game. Cheltenham has 6-3 senior center Jenna Peoples. Cheltenham and Mt. Lebanon play strong defense. Cheltenham has allowed only 122 points in three PIAA games, and Mt. Lebanon 123. ... Cardinal O'Hara has 6-4 senior center Stephanie Holzer, a McDonald's All-American and the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year. A Vanderbilt recruit, she averages 19 points and 11 rebounds a game, but has been bothered by a right ankle injury. "I'm not moving, I'm not jumping, and I'm not playing with my normal speed," Holzer told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It's frustrating, but I don't quit. This is too important to me."

Predicted winners: Mt. Lebanon and Cardinal O'Hara.


GIRLS' CLASS AAA

The games: Lampeter Strasburg (28-3) vs. General McLane (26-1), 7 p.m. tomorrow, Central Cambria High School; Camp Hill Trinity (22-8) vs. Archbishop Carroll (28-1), 6 p.m. tomorrow, Geigle Complex, Reading.

The skinny: General McLane has won 14 in a row and is led by 5-4 sophomore guard Valerie Majewski, who averages 18.4 a game. Lampeter Strasburg has three seniors averaging 13 or more -- center Renee Fritz (15), guard Lisa Boyer (14) and guard Danielle Rittenhouse (13). ... Archbishop Carroll has four Division I college recruits. They are seniors Kerri Shields (Boston College), Kaitlin Cole (Holy Cross), Hollie Mershon (Drexel) and junior Erin Shields (St. Joseph's), who is Kerri's sister.

Predicted winners: Lampeter Strasburg and Archbishop Carroll.


GIRLS' CLASS AA

The games: Southern Huntingdon (28-1) vs. Villa Maria (25-3), 8 p.m. today, Clarion University; Delone Catholic (27-4) vs. York Catholic (25-6), 7 p.m. today, New Oxford High School.

The skinny: Southern Huntingdon loves the 3-pointer, making 236 of 691 this season. Kasee Hall has 58, Andrea Shope 42, Elaina Hummel 39 and Jordan Speck 34. Villa Maria has 5-11 junior guard Kayla McBride, who has committed to Notre Dame. ... York Catholic is trying to win a fourth consecutive PIAA title. York Catholic and Delone Catholic have outstanding young players. York Catholic sophomore guard Kady Schrann went over 1,000 points in the second round of the PIAA playoffs. Delone Catholic freshman Sierra Moore scores 17 a game.

Predicted winners: Villa Maria and York Catholic.


GIRLS' CLASS A

The games: North Catholic (24-5) vs. Bishop Guilfoyle (28-1), 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Hempfield High School; Pottsville Nativity BVM (26-3) vs. Benton (26-3), 7 p.m. tomorrow, Shamokin High School.

The skinny: North Catholic and Bishop Guilfoyle are traditional powers. North Catholic has won five PIAA titles and Bishop Guilfoyle four. Guilfoyle's Alli Williams, a 5-11 junior forward, averages 19 points and 5-8 senior forward Rachel Rea 14. ... Nativity is in the playoffs for the 21st consecutive year. Although the top six scorers from last year graduated, the Golden Girls are in the semifinals again, starting three sophomores and two juniors. They are a team without a star. Their leading scorer is sophomore guard Nikki Farr, who averages 10.9.

Predicted winners: Bishop Guilfoyle and Nativity BVM.

First published on March 17, 2009 at 2:19 am