HS Girls’ Basketball: Division I preview, Hurricanes eye league title repeat
Schuylkill Haven's Ava Terefencko and Kylie Siket, right, celebrate after scoring a bucket during Friday's win over Bodine at Martz Hall (Photo by Karlee Feger).
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The Schuylkill Haven girls’ basketball team accomplished something for the first time in program history last season: Win a Schuylkill League title.
A year later, the Hurricanes are hungry for another.
Schuylkill Haven returns four key pieces from last year’s squad that finished 23-7 and outlasted North Schuylkill 38-31 in the Schuylkill League final at Martz Hall.
Do-it-all junior forward Mckenna Runkle earned Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 3A third-team All-State honors after averaging 11.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 4.9 steals per game. Senior defensive wizard Audrey Hutchinson, junior 3-point specialist Kylie Siket and scrappy junior guard Ava Terefencko are also back for the Hurricanes, who reached the PIAA playoffs for the first time since 1986 and won their first PIAA playoff game since 1985, a span of 40 years.
The Hurricanes’ returning quartet talks about the upcoming season during this interview at the second Schuylkill League Basketball Media Day held Nov. 16 at Schuylkill Haven’s Sports Performance Center:
Repeating as league champion won’t be easy for Schuylkill Haven.
First, the Hurricanes will have to replace graduated starters Anna Schaeffer and Alea Porter, each of whom played key roles during the postseason. Second, they’ll need to build depth after three key reserves from last year’s squad didn’t come out for the team this season.
Most importantly, they’ll have to navigate a tough Division I schedule full of teams eager to knock them off.
At the top of that list is defending Division I champion North Schuylkill, which rolled through its Schuylkill League Division I slate to a 14-0 record a year ago.
Schuylkill League Coaches’ Association Division I Player of the Year Mya Conti is back after averaging 15.6 points, 3.8 assists and 4.3 steals per game while making 34 3-pointers. Also returning are junior guard/forward Gianna Capone and senior forward Jadelin Stitzer, while key bench pieces Monica Selgrade and Addisyn Balicki will step into starting roles.
With a guard-oriented lineup, expect the Spartans to run the floor and have a fast-paced offense. Their area of concern will be in the paint as they must find someone to fill the shoes of graduated center Hannah Kane, who dominated on both ends of the floor.
“We have the potential to compete for the division, league and district championships,” North Schuylkill coach Rich Wetzel wrote in his preseason outlook. The Spartans have played in the league final the past six years.
“This year we have the smallest group I’ve had since I’ve been coaching at North Schuylkill, but we are again athletic and our core group has put the time in over the last 10 months to improve their ability to become better basketball players.”
Tamaqua also returns three starters from last year’s club that was 18-7 and finished as the Division I wild card. The Blue Raiders upended Division II co-champion Williams Valley in the league quarterfinals, then fell in the final seconds to North Schuylkill in the league semifinals.
Junior forward Lauren Ligenza averaged 13.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season. Also returning are senior forward Leah Black, senior guard/forward Kendle Miller and sophomore forward Millie Black.
The Blue Raiders’ area of concern is finding someone to run the offense as point guard Kolbe Robb graduated.
“We expect to compete in every game,” Tamaqua coach Erika Davis wrote in her preseason outlook. “We had a lot of great competitive battles throughout our postseason last year and are hoping to build off that.”
While Schuylkill Haven, North Schuylkill and Tamaqua expect to be at the top of the division standings when the smoke clears, they are not the only talented teams in Division I.
Pine Grove went 14-9 overall and 8-6 in league play a year ago in Allison Rizzo’s first year at the helm. Senior guard Callee Leffler, junior guard Meadow Umbenhauer and sophomore center Hollyn Sampson return for the Cards, who only have one senior on their roster.
Blue Mountain fell to 7-7 in Division I play a year ago after winning the 2024 Schuylkill League championship. Mila Fleagle, Hailey Place and Callie Peel return for Rose Carper’s squad.
Pottsville has a new coach in Damian Fritz, who left Marian after guiding the Fillies to 91 wins and two District 11 crowns over the past four seasons. Jes Siminitus, Jo Barnhart, Myla Fegley and Megan Goodman return for the Tide, who will look to improve on last year’s 8-15 mark.
Panther Valley and Minersville both feature young rosters that contain a player who could take over the game on any particular night.
Senior Morgan Orsulak paces the Panthers, who were 8-14 a year ago. Junior guard Jenna Cullen is back for a Minersville squad that also has only one senior on its roster.
