USWNT, Morgan take home top honors at ESPYS
Lehigh Valley Girls Basketball: Looking Back At 2024-25
As area basketball players prepare for summer leagues and vacations, let's take one last look at this past year's girls baseball season.
Here are some of the top players from this past season.
Kourin Carew, Easton, SeniorFormer Easton star Evalyse Cole is now playing her basketball at Toledo University, so it goes without saying that Carew had some big shoes to fill for the Rovers. The point total might not have matched Cole's, but Carew found ways to impact winning in just as many ways to carry her team to the district championship and another state playoff appearance.
The Chestnut Hill commit was sensational at the free throw line (83.3 percent), stretched the floor with 18 triples and used her physicality to lead one of the area's best defenses. She'll be sorely missed by coach Dave Lutz next season, for her leadership and intangibles just as much as her on-court product.
Delaney Chilcote, Parkland, SeniorIn Parkland's incredible run to the state semifinals last year, Chilcote was the initiator of an offense that tried to find now Lafayette freshman Talia Zurinskas and Kutztown freshman Madi Siggins as much as possible. While playmaking was still a big part of her game, the senior needed to take a step up as a shot creator and maker for the Trojans.
Like Zurinskas did last year, Chilcote raised her scoring average in the postseason and led her team to a district championship. The Susquehanna commit was also an outstanding defender all season long, and perhaps the best defending guard in the area, and an invaluable member of Ed Ohlson's team that improbably knocked off Emmaus and Easton to win back-to-back district titles.
Palin Coleman, Becahi, FreshmanThe points-per-game might not stand out, but one look at Palin Coleman this year showed you everything you need to know about her impact on one of the area's best teams. Whether it was providing the Golden Hawks with an interior scoring threat, raining down 3's from all over the court or creating easy opportunities for others, Coleman shined in every aspect for the nine-time defending district champions and EPC runner-up. The future is bright for Becahi and its outstanding young star.
Gabby DeVita, Emmaus, JuniorA dramatic turnaround for the Green Hornets was a collective effort, but of the deep group that sparked it, no one shined brighter than DeVita. With elite ball pressure defensively, excellent slashing skills and a reliable outside jumper, the junior produced time and time again for the EPC champions. It'll be fascinating to see what kind of season she can lead next year with star sophomore Kayla Snyder back by her side in an Emmaus uniform.
Ava Kopetskie, Liberty, JuniorIf there wasn't a hand up to contest, Ava Kopetskie was going to let 3's fly from all over the gym. Because of that, it's no surprise she finished the year as the top 3-point shooter in the area and the leading scorer in the EPC. Kopetskie shared league MVP honors with DeVita and Wells while also reaching 1,000 career points before her senior year and leading the Hurricanes to the PIAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 2012.
Avery Nelson, Bangor, SeniorIt's difficult to say where Bangor girls basketball would've been this season without Nelson, but it probably wouldn't have been the state tournament. Nelson leaves the Slaters as the school's second-leading girls basketball scorer of all-time and third including the boys. She also finished as the Colonial League's leading 3-point shooter, which is a testament to her impressive all-around game heading to Susquehanna with Chilcote.
Cara Thomas, Northwestern Lehigh, SeniorNot many players in the area could get to the basket as quickly as Cara Thomas, even if it wasn't in transition. The senior was an assertive driver to the rim all season long, eventually becoming the program's all-time leading scorer – including boys scorers as well – by the end of the Tigers playoff run. She also capped her career by averaging over 18 points per game as a senior and capturing Colonial League player of the year along the way.
Renee Wells, Nazareth, SeniorThe third and final EPC player who shared league MVP honors is Nazareth's Renee Wells. Everything for the Blue Eagles ran through the yet another Susquehanna commit to a point where coach Rich Bickert had to ask his other girls to stop looking at Wells during an EPC playoff win over Liberty in February. It'll be a difficult transition next year for Bickert without his star who meant an immeasurable amount to a program that could struggle without her.
Milly Wolf, Allentown Central Catholic, SeniorIt's been quite the athletic year for Wolf. After earning The Morning Call's player of the year award in girls volleyball in the fall, the Boston College volleyball commit is also part of the girls basketball first team. Wolf keeps that volleyball skillset on the hardwood with the most impressive and versatile defending in the area, as well as an effective rainbow 3-pointer on the offensive end. She was the heartbeat of a squad that seized a fourth straight district championship to cap her impressive basketball career. Let's see what track and field will bring now.
Catasauqua's Hailey Jenkins, left, guards Notre Dame-Green Pond's Ava Shonk on Friday, March 1, 2024, in the District 11 3A girls basketball championship. (Sheri Bayne/The Morning Call) Player of the year – Hailey Jenkins, Catasauqua, Junior There are many players on this list who were the focal point of the offense for their respective teams, but none were needed as badly as Catasauqua needed Hailey Jenkins. The Rough Riders started four freshman alongside their superstar who all developed drastically throughout the season because of Jenkins' leadership and ability to create for them in ways that no others could.
The standout track athlete led the area in scoring with 24 points per game and accounted for an absurd percentage of her team's points between points and assists. The Rough Riders nearly knocked off eventual district champions Notre Dame-GP in the district playoffs and even put up the best fight despite being the tournament's eighth seed, with Jenkins leading the way. There was no player as polarizing or impressive as the Catasauqua junior this season, which is why she earns the area's top honor as the player of the year.
Honorable mention: Ava Kopetskie, Liberty; Gabby DeVita, Emmaus; Delaney Chilcote, Parkland
Freshman of the year – Palin Coleman, BecahiAny glimpse you get of Coleman's game, from her polished handles to outstanding basketball IQ, indicates that she's far more experienced than just a high school freshman. With one of the best coaches in the area, Palmerton's Jeremy Coleman, coaching her at home and all area coach of the year honorable mention Arnold Alleyne instructing her at Becahi, Palin has two brilliant minds overseeing her rapid development. She can play a small-ball center or initiate the offense as a point guard, making her a fascinating prospect to watch and star in the making for years to come in Lehigh Valley girls basketball.
Honorable mention: Juliana Bonham, Wilson; Natalie Conner, NW Lehigh; Kendall Medina, Liberty
Coach of the year – Avon Mack, EmmausAfter leaving Moravian Academy, Avon Mack took over an Emmaus squad that finished just eighth in the EPC, albeit while reaching the league championship regardless, and not on the radar as a prospective contender in the area. Behind his intense leadership and sound tactics, the Green Hornets finished the regular season undefeated against EPC opponents and captured their first league championship since 2007 in dominant fashion.
While four impactful seniors are departing, as long as Mack is back, no one will make the mistake of counting out the Green Hornets in the preseason with this season's best guard duo, Gabby DeVita and Kayla Snyder, returning with rising senior sharpshooter Olive Whitney as well.
Honorable mention: Arnold Alleyne, Bethlehem Catholic; Josh Kopp, NDGP; Jarrett Carnes, Liberty
Team of the year – Emmaus Green HornetsFrom star guards to athletic wings and from an elite center to a lights out sharpshooter, Emmaus was built to be a championship team. Now, after 18 long years of waiting, the Green Hornets are finally champions again after capturing the 2025 EPC Championship. It seemed like a new player stepped up in each game throughout a 22-game winning streak that resulted in a perfect league record in the regular season and the league crown.
There was some overlap of course, but from DeVita's co-MVP season to freshman Gracie Ervin's impact minutes against Becahi in the EPC Championship, so many different players had their hands in one of the greatest seasons in program history. It's why there was little doubt from all the way back in December that the Green Hornets would be, and now are, the Morning Call's team of the year.
All-Area girls basketball 2024-25FIRST TEAM (alphabetical order)
Kourin Carew, Easton, sr.Delaney Chilcote, Parkland, sr.Palin Coleman, Bethlehem Catholic, fr.Gabby DeVita, Emmaus, jr.Hailey Jenkins, Catasauqua, jr.Ava Kopetskie, Liberty, jr.Avery Nelson, Bangor, sr.Cara Thomas, Northwestern Lehigh, sr.Renee Wells, Nazareth, sr.Milly Wolf, ACCHS, sr.
SECOND TEAM
Natalie Amato, Easton, jr.Katelynn Barthold, Northern Lehigh. Sr.Juliana Bonham, Wilson, fr.Aliyah Brame, Becahi, jr.Emily Lessig, NDGP, sr.Aneri McGalla, Parkland, jr.Teegan Simms, Northern Lehigh, jr.Kayla Snyder, Emmaus, so.McKayla Strunk, Stroudsburg, sr.Julia Vargo, Pen Argyl, sr.
THIRD TEAM
Anne Beenders, Northampton, sr.Courtney Connell, Palmerton, jr.Natalie Conner, NW Lehigh, fr.Anijah Davis, Liberty, sr.Cassie Doemling, Emmaus, sr.Bella Hallal, Parkland, jr.Brenna Hammerstone, NDGP, jr.Jayla Rosario, Dieruff, jr.Sylvia Sokolofski, Emmaus, sr.Olive Whitney, Emmaus, jr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Bethlehem Catholic – Daviana Jones, sr.; Leah Ault, jr.; Mikaila Brooks, so.; Catasauqua – Kaylin Stewart, fr.; ACCHS – Morgan Seagreaves, jr.; Dieruff – Aniya Holder, jr.; Bryanna Fernandez, sr.; Easton – Gabby Wismer, so.; Emmaus – Sofie Laird, sr.; Freedom – Kate Assad, jr., Liberty – Shawna Beatty, sr.; Tula Sobrinski, sr.; Kendall Medina, fr.; Nazareth – Peyton Long, sr., Alexa Davis, jr.; Northampton – Jenna Raysely, sr.; Notre Dame GP – Ava Shonk, jr.; Palmerton – Mikayla Pengelly, sr.; Hailey Barry, jr.; Parkland – Sarah Car, sr.; Salisbury – Kendra Morgan, jr.; Stroudsburg – Emily Bozena, sr., Teagan Strunk, jr.
Final Rankings
1. Emmaus 25-32. Becahi 19-93. Parkland 20-94. Easton 20-75. Liberty 19-96. Notre Dame-GP 24-67. ACCHS 16-118. Nazareth 15-109. NW Lehigh 23-510. Palmerton 21-7Just missed: Dieruff (15-8), Stroudsburg (18-6), Wilson (14-10)
Final top 30 scorers
Hailey Jenkins; Catasauqua; 24.0Teegan Simms; Northern Lehigh; 20.8Katelynn Barthold; Northern Lehigh; 20.4Ava Kopetskie; Liberty; 20.3Julia Vargo; Pen Argyl; 19.7Avery Nelson; Bangor; 18.6Cara Thomas; NW Lehigh; 18.4McKayla Strunk; Stroudsburg; 18.4Renee Wells; Nazareth; 17.4Juliana Bonham; Wilson; 17.3Natalie Conner; NW Lehigh; 17.2Kendra Morgan; Salisbury; 14.8Gabby DeVita; Emmaus; 14.6Anne Beenders; Northampton; 13.7Milly Wolf; ACCHS; 13.2Eliana Marques; Southern Lehigh; 13.1Kourin Carew; Easton; 12.5Kayla Snyder; Emmaus; 11.8Jayla Rosario; Dieruff; 11.5Delaney Chilcote; Parkland; 11.4Palin Coleman; Becahi; 11.4Emily Lessig; NDGP; 11.3Aliyah Brame; Becahi; 11Courtney Connell; Palmerton; 11Kaylin Stewart; Catasauqua; 10.9Alexa Davis; Nazareth; 10.6Morgan Seagreaves; ACCHS; 10.6Emily Bozena; Stroudsburg; 10.6Anijah Davis; Liberty; 10.3Zanaiya Days; PM East; 10.1
Final top 15 3-point field goals
Ava Kopetskie; Liberty; 68McKayla Strunk; Stroudsburg; 67Natalie Amato; Easton; 61Avery Nelson; Bangor; 58Teegan Simms; Northern Lehigh; 55Natalie Conner; NW Lehigh; 54Renee Wells; Nazareth; 52Hailey Barry; Palmerton; 51Alexa Davis; Nazareth; 50Anne Beenders; Northampton; 48Brenna Hammerstone; NDGP; 47Delaney Chilcote; Parkland; 43Olive Whitney; Emmaus; 43Gabby DeVita; Emmaus; 42Kayla Snyder; Emmaus; 40
Final Standings
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
(overall and division record)
Northampton Division
Liberty; 19-9; 9-1Easton; 20-7; 7-3y – Becahi; 19-11; 7-3Nazareth; 15-10; 5-5Northampton; 10-13; 2-8Freedom; 4-18; 0-10
Lehigh Division
x – Emmaus; 25-3; 10-0y – Parkland; 20-9; 8-2y – ACCHS; 16-11; 5-5Dieruff; 15-8; 5-5Whitehall; 7-15; 2-8William Allen; 8-14; 0-10Monroe DivisionStroudsburg; 18-6; 10-0PM East; 8-15; 7-3PM West; 7-15; 7-3ES South; 4-18; 4-6ES North; 3-19; 2-8Pleasant Valley; 0-22; 0-10
Colonial League
(overall and division record)
East Division
xy – Notre Dame-GP; 24-6; 8-0Pen Argyl; 16-9; 5-3Wilson Area; 14-10; 4-4Bangor; 13-13; 3-5Moravian Academy; 2-19; 0-8West DivisionNW Lehigh; 23-5; 7-1Palmerton; 21-7; 6-2Northern Lehigh; 16-9; 4-4Lehighton; 10-13; 3-5Jim Thorpe; 3-19; 0-8
South Division
Catasauqua; 14-10; 8-0Southern Lehigh; 9-13; 5-3Salisbury; 8-14; 5-3Saucon Valley; 2-20; 1-7Palisades; 1-21; 1-7
x – won a league/conference championshipy – won a District 11 championship
Originally Published: May 26, 2025 at 12:38 PM EDT
One Guyana Basketball Premier League…Pacesetters, Kobras And Ravens Take Playoff Wins
One Guyana Basketball Premier League…Pacesetters, Kobras and Ravens take playoff wins
ON Saturday evening, the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) tipped off the playoffs of the One Guyana Basketball Premier League, with the top 16 teams in the country seeking national glory.Defending Champions North Ruimveldt Ravens opened their series with a win, when they clashed with Linden's Retrieve Raiders in a best-of-three series.
Ravens won the opener, 88-55, with Atilla Williamson, Alroy Nurse, and Jude Corlette leading the charge for the champions.Williamson had 12 points, with 10 for Nurse, and a game-high 15 for Corlette.
Kareem Roberts led Raiders with 8 buckets as they lost by 33 points.Meanwhile, one of the Regular season top teams, Pacesetters, also claimed a 12-point win over Mambas in Game One of their three-match series.It was a close contest for the first quarter of the game, as Mambas led by one point after the first quarter, 18-17.
Pacesetters would flip the script for the second quarter, leading 34-32 going into the break, as Troy David came good for his side.After the half-time resumption, Pacesetters started to ramp up their offensive push with Tatawa Daly, Wilman Delgado playing some crucial minutes.Pacesetters took a 13-point lead after a strong third-quarter showing, with David finishing with a game-high 18 points.Delgado was right behind him with 17 points, with 11 from Daly as they battled to take the contest, 73-61.
On the losing end, Brandon Bento was superb for Mambas, with 18 points, 12 of which came from Jared Sears.Also taking a win in their series opener was Kobras in their match with Block 22 Flames from the mining town.Kobras took the encounter by 11 points 70-59.
The trio of Akil Hughes, Carlos Edwards, and Drexel Aaron proved the difference-makers for Kobras.Block 22 Flames started off as the hot team, as, leading after the first quarter, 17-13, compliments of Kerone Joseph who had a game-high 21 points, showing early shooting form.Kobras would step it up in the second period to pull within a point of Flames, 33-32.
Flames, however, had another gear, as Joseph combined with Jonathan Clarke with 10 points and Shawn Cameron with 12 extended their lead by four points, 48-44.Kobras would put in a fine fourth-quarter exhibition of shooting to overtake the lead and eclipse Flames, 70-59, to take the lead in the three-game series.
The playoff sees the top 8 teams in the Jaguar and Harpy Eagles conference battling in the best-of-three series, with the winner of the two-conference battling for the One Guyana Premier Basketball League Title.
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