WPIAL Class 2A girls basketball breakdown

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | 6:42 PM

WPIAL Class 2A

Preseason Player of the Year

Shamyjha Price

Bishop Canevin

5-9, Sr., guard

14.4 ppg last season

Players to watch

Dymond Crawford

Jeannette

5-9, Sr., G, 20.4 ppg

Gigi Mele-Madigan

Serra Catholic

5-7, Sr., G, 11.5 ppg

Natalie Murrio

Brentwood

5-6, Sr., G, 9.0 ppg

Ashley Norling

OLSH

5-11, Sr., G/F, 14.5 ppg

Brooke Poling

Frazier

5-7, Sr., G, 23.0 ppg

Preseason Top 5

1. Bishop Canevin (24-5)

Price, a UMass Lowell recruit, was a second-team all-state selection for the three-time defending champion Crusaders, who moved down from Class 3A this season. Bishop Canevin lost first-team all-state pick Bri Allen (15.6 ppg) to graduation. Point guard Diajha Allen, perimeter shooter Gillan Gustine and super-sub Danielle Deasy also return.

2. OLSH (19-3)

The Chargers rolled to the Section 1-2A title last season with a 13-1 record before bowing out of the playoffs in the quarterfinals. They return four starters, though Kennede Mickle is out with a knee injury. They feature experience at guard with Norling, Maddie Hoff and Haley Hamilton.

3. Serra Catholic (16-9)

The Eagles will rely on a senior trio of guards in Mele-Madigan, Rayna Andrews and Grace Navarro. Mele Madigan and Andrews (10 ppg) were all-section selections last season.

4. Frazier (13-10)

Poling leads a talented Commodores roster that returns all five starters. In addition to Poling’s 23 points per game, forward Sierra Twigg averaged a double-double.

5. Laurel (14-12)

Laurel dropped down from Class 3A and returns all but one player lost to graduation. Guard Caroline Gibson is a two-time all-section performer. Guard Faith Gibson was a second-team all-section selection.

Notable

• WPIAL Class 2A girls basketball was realigned from 24 teams to 22 in three sections.

• Bishop Canevin, Laurel and South Side Beaver dropped down from Class 3A.

• Winchester Thurston moved up from Class A.

• Beth-Center and Washington moved up to Class 3A.

• California, Leechburg, Greensburg Central Catholic and Vincentian Academy dropped down to Class A.

• Serra Catholic coach Bill Cleary has a career record of 606-186 over 30 years.

Alignment

Section 1: Aliquippa, Laurel, New Brighton, Northgate, OLSH, Shenango, South Side Beaver, Sto-Rox

Section 2: Brentwood, Ellis School, Jeannette, Riverview, Serra Catholic, Springdale, Winchester Thurston

Section 3: Bentworth, Bishop Canevin, Burgettstown, Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston, Frazier, Fort Cherry

— Bill Hartlep

Bill Hartlep is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bhartlep@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TribHSInsider.

Tags: Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Frazier, Jeannette, Laurel, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart