WPIAL Class 6A girls basketball breakdown

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, December 2, 2017 | 6:51 PM

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Preseason Player of the Year

Makenna Marisa

Peters Township

5-11, Jr., guard

16.5 ppg in 2016-17

Players to watch

Laura Graytok

Latrobe

5-7, Sr., G, 21.6 ppg

Kamryn Lach

Bethel Park

5-5, Sr., G, 11.4 ppg

Rachel Martindale

North Allegheny

5-7, Jr., G, 12.0 ppg

Piper Morningstar

North Allegheny

6-1, Sr., G, 9.4 ppg

Tayonna Robertson

Penn Hills

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.

— Bill Hartlep

Tags: Bethel Park, Latrobe, Mt. lebanon, North Allegheny, Penn Hills, Peters Township