Photos/Videos: Zamani Feelings & Lennie Malmgren
By: Marc Narducci
Westtown Has Assumed Command Once Again
Westtown has won five consecutive Friends League girls’ basketball championships and the Moose don’t appear to be slowing down.
They again are the team to beat and once again Friends Central looms as the biggest challenger. Westtown has beaten Friends Central in each of the past three championship games.
The Moose went 20-1 in their first 21 games, with only a 50-48 loss to Finest Basketball Club Cresset NC 50-48.
In the latest ESPN national high school rankings, Westtown was No. 13.
This is a relatively young team, although one senior has stood out – 5-11 Atlee Vanesko. A three-year captain, Vanesko is an Ohio State commit.
“She is not only a great player but a great leader in the community and a high academic kid,” veteran Westtown coach Fran Burbidge said.
Burbidge added that Vanesko has the versatility to play either point or shooting guard.
In 6-2 Jordyn Palmer, Westtown has one of the top juniors in the country. She is already a two-time Gatorade PA Player of the Year.
Westtown senior Atlee Vanesko #4 - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
“She just keep getting better,” Burbidge said.
Jada Lynch, a 5-11 junior, is in her first season at Westtown and Burbidge says she has been a great addition to the program.
Her parents were noted athletes. Mom Kim Clijsters was once the No. 1 tennis player in the world and ended up winning four Grand Slam singles titles. Her father Brian Lynch was a standout basketball player at Villanova who enjoyed a successful professional career overseas.
“Jada has had a significant number of (scholarship) offers and hasn’t zeroed in yet,” Burbidge said.
Ashley Kreiger, a 6-3 junior, is another player Burbidge says has drawn serious college interest.
Among the other highly touted players are twins Ishana and Radhi Sundararajan, a pair of 5-11 sophomores; 6-3 Lara Csaplar-Nagy from Hungry, and 6-5 freshman Jordyn Jones.
The Moose aren’t able to give everybody substantial minutes, but where a lot of the growth occurs is during practice.
“We are able to compete in practice with a lot of good players,” Burbidge said.
Westtown plays a national schedule and the Moose will no doubt be ready to once again defend their Friends League title.
Two-time Gatorade PA Player of the Year, Westtown junior Jordyn Palmer #20 - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
Friends Central Again a Powerhouse
Friends Central has advanced to the Friends League title game three consecutive years, only to be turned back by Westtown each time.
Nobody would be surprised if a fourth meeting occurred.
At press time, the two hadn’t met yet, with the game scheduled Jan. 29 at Friends Central.
The Phoenix are No. 17 nationally in the latest ESPN high school basketball rankings.
This is a very young team, but one that has plenty of talent. The Phoenix went 19-4 in their first 23 games, including 5-0 in the Friends League.
The starting lineup consists of two juniors and three sophomores.
The juniors are 6-0 Ryan Carter and 6-2 Zya Small.
“They are both nationally ranked,” said Friends Central veteran coach Vinny Simpson. “Carter is a leader and gets to the hoop, can make plays,” Simpson said. “Zya is Miss Intangible who can do anything offensively or defensively.”
The other three sophomore starters are 6-0 Faith Watson, 5-8 Kayla Snyder and point guard Ki’yari King.
Friends' Central junior #1 Ryan Carter - PSD Photo by Zamani Feelings
Snyder is a combo guard who is also a fine shooter, according to her coach. Watson is a player who is very difficult to stop inside.
Simpson likes the makeup of this year’s squad.
“This team is little tougher,” he said. “We have a bunch of kids who believe and feel like they’re underdogs and they want it. There is definitely a different type of leadership and different type of attitude.”
Balanced scoring for Shipley
Shipley continues to get balanced scoring. In an 87-39 win over Friends Select, six players scored between nine and 18 points. Senior Gabby Vaughn led the way with 18 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Before the season, freshman Melody Vaughn was listed on the 2029 ESPN W Watchlist – which included the best up-and-coming players nationwide. She has not disappointed, averaging a team-high 15 points per game. In a 42-40 win over highly touted Archbishop Carroll Vaughn scored 18 points.
A player who has shown great versatility is 6-1 junior Natalie Goldstein. Also against Archbishop Carroll, she had 15 points and seven rebounds.
Seniors leading young ANC team
Academy New Church has battled a depth problem, but second-year coach Cody Glunz can’t say enough about his two seniors, guards Ava Teich and Jayda Mayo.
Academy of the New Church senior guard Ava Teich #3 - PSD Photo by Zamani Feelings
There are only eight players on the team, and the two seniors are usually playing the entire game.
“The two of them have been great leaders and they have been awesome,” Glunz said. Jayda and Ava play most of the game and if we take them out, we lose a lot of ballhandling.”
ANC won two of its first three games defeating Kimberton Waldorf and Peddie.
In the win over Kimberton Waldorf, Teich had 20 points, six assists and three rebounds.
Against Peddie, Mayo contributed 19 points and seven assists, while freshman Amia Etreih scored 18 points, hitting six, three-pointers.
“Biggest problem is depth,” he said. “We have played a lot of really good first halves, but then have had a tough time in the third quarter.”
Glunz says the players are giving him tremendous effort. Now the next step is attempting to get more players out for the team.
Strong Rebuild at Germantown Friends
Germantown Friends has done a good job adjusting after a pretty serious rebuild. Through their first 15 games, the Tigers were 9-6 and 2-2 in the Friends League.
“We lost about 75-80 percent of our production,” veteran coach Michael Lintulahti said. “Things have gone really well with this group.”
This is a young team, but one that is known for its trademark defense. As for the offense, the leading scorer is 5-7 freshman Laila McNeal, averaging 11.6 points, along with 5.6 rebounds.
Sophomore Jojo Lintulahti, daughter of the coach, is the second leading scorer, averaging 7.0 points. She also leads GFS in assists, averaging 2.5 per game. An All-Friends League soccer player, Jojo Lintulahti has taken more of a leadership role, according to her coach/father.
Two seniors who have been key contributors are Emmie Day and Sarah Goldberg. Day is in her second year in the program. She will play lacrosse at Oregon, joining her sister Katie, another former GFS basketball player.
“She is our second leading rebounder and has shown great spirit,” Lintulahti said of Day.
Goldberg will also play lacrosse at Amherst. She is a four-year basketball starter and the second-leading rebounder on the team.
Two sophomores who have taken advantage of increased minutes this season are Samantha Sims-Pettiford and London Rothmiller. Yet another sophomore, Cianna Cyrus, has been a key contributor off the bench.
Germantown Friends School freshman Laila McNeal #14 - PSD Photo by Zamani Feelings
Zoe Brownlee, a freshman guard has been a major disruptor on defense, according to her coach.
Mel Budd, a 5-6 eighth grader, has provided a little bit over everything, averaging 6.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and a team-high 2.3 steals.
The team’s lone junior is 5-11 Izzy Ritchie, who earlier this season had a double-double – 14 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Friends Select.
“As the season has progressed, we have continued to improve,” Lintulahti said. “The young kids have accepted the challenge and we’re battling every game.”
Minus seniors, George School continues to impress
Through the first 20 games, the George School was 13-7, 2-2, a record that is even more impressive considering that the Cougars don’t have a senior on the team.
Couple with the fact that the non-league schedule has been difficult – not to mention the Friends League schedule as well – and coach La’Keisha Sutton feels her team is progressing nicely.
“The girls are playing well,” Sutton said. “I am happy they are competing and playing basketball the right way, which is together.”
Leading the offense is junior guard Maya Ravindranathan.
“She is our leading scorer, a tough competitor who wants to win no matter who we play,” Sutton said. “She makes our team better.”
Sophomore guard Selena Kareem is a headache for posing defenses.
“She has a very high IQ and can shoot the lights out and is a good playmaker,” Sutton said.
George School junior guard Maya Ravindranathan #23 - PSD Photo by Justin Maldonado
Oceane Yagoli is a 6-3 junior from England. She has received a few Division I offers, but has other colleges looking closely at her game.
“She is getting a ton of interest,” Sutton said. “Everybody wants to see how she competes in the FSL playoffs.”
Junior Zamiya Lowe, who has an offer from Rider, is the heartbeat of the team.
“She has a lot of energy and as she goes, we go,” Sutton said.
Sutton feels that the difficult non-league and Friends League schedule will benefit the Cougars down the road as this young team continues to show growth.