WPIAL Class 6A girls basketball breakdown
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Saturday, December 2, 2017 | 6:51 PM
Preseason Player of the Year
Makenna Marisa
5-11, Jr., guard
16.5 ppg in 2016-17
Players to watch
Laura Graytok
5-7, Sr., G, 21.6 ppg
Kamryn Lach
5-5, Sr., G, 11.4 ppg
Rachel Martindale
5-7, Jr., G, 12.0 ppg
Piper Morningstar
6-1, Sr., G, 9.4 ppg
Tayonna Robertson
5-11, Jr., F, 13.6 ppg
Preseason Top 5
1. North Allegheny (28-2)
Ranked No. 1 in the state, expectations are high for the defending WPIAL champions and PIAA runner-up. They return five players with starting experience, including Division I prospects Piper Morningstar (Radford) and Rachel Martindale.
2. Penn Hills (23-4)
Gone to Temple is standout guard Desiree Oliver, but the Indians return a talented junior class, including forward Tayonna Robertson, who averaged 13.6 points for the PIAA quarterfinalists.
3. Bethel Park (19-8)
The WPIAL runner-up last season, Bethel Park graduated standout forward Justina Mascaro but returns a solid backcourt with Kamryn Lach, Maria Cerro and Emma Papalia.
4. Peters Township (14-9)
The Indians fell just short against Penn Hills in the WPIAL quarterfinals last season but return one of the state’s top prospects in junior Makenna Marisa (16.5 ppg, 6 rpg), who has offers from Pitt and Duquesne, among others. Also back are guard Isabella Mills and forward Lillian Young, who combined for 19 points and 7 rebounds per game.
5. Mt. Lebanon (19-7)
Three starters are back for the Blue Devils, including guards Alyssa Hyland and Jess Wilhelm and forward Jamey Napoleon. The group combined for nearly 20 ppg.
Tags: Bethel Park, Latrobe, Mt. lebanon, North Allegheny, Penn Hills, Peters Township
More High School Basketball
• Hampton basketball readies for rare coaching search• Hall of fame basketball coach Joe Lafko steps down at Hampton
• Dave Pucka, one of Plum’s own, hired to coach boys basketball team
• Corey Dotchin steps down as Highlands boys basketball coach
• PIAA taking bids to host basketball championships
