MaxPreps 2013-14 Pennsylvania preseason girls basketball Fab 5

Click here to see the girls basketball preseason Fab 5 from every state

1. Cumberland Valley (Mechanicsburg)
Coach: Bob Wolf
2012-13 Finish: 26-7 and lost to Spring-Ford, 60-45, in the PIAA Class AAAA state championship
 
The Eagles are pushed by the powerful motivation of returning to the state finals and finishing what they couldn’t last year. Coach Bill Wolf has the kind of talented team to do it. Maddie Torresin (6-0, Jr., F), who averaged 11.3 ppg, and Kelly Jekot (6-0, So., G), who scored 12.1 ppg, make a nice one-two punch. This young team will also feature Taylor Sneidman (5-6, Jr., G), Meghan Rhoades (5-11, Jr., F), Jennifer Falconer (5-9, Jr., G) and Morgan Baughman (5-10, So., F).
 
2. Central Dauphin East (Harrisburg)
Coach: Charlie Harvey
2012-13 Finish: 21-7 and lost to Cardinal O’Hara in the second round of the PIAA Class AAAA state playoffs, 47-32
 
Loyola Baltimore-bound Calee Gelbaugh (5-9, Sr., F), who averaged 19 ppg and her sister, UMBC-commit Michaela Gelbaugh (5-7, Jr., G), who scored 10 ppg, lead the way. Brittany Robinson (6-0, Jr., F) is another key player back, after averaging 10 ppg. Lexi Lemelle (5-10, Jr., F) and Sara Desso (5-5, Jr., G) are valuable assets and the real key to the Panthers chances of playing in March could be these four 6-foot freshmen: twins Alyse Rawls and Jessica Rawls, and Gabi Patterson and Justyn Roberts. Jada Pettis (6-0, So., F), a transfer, gives the Panthers even more size.

"It will depend how healthy we can stay and how good the young kids get," Harvey said. "I’m hoping these freshmen and sophomores can pick it up. We’re very athletic."
 
3. Central Bucks West (Doylestown)
Coach: Terry Rakowsky
2012-13 Finish: 20-8 and lost to Central Dauphin East, 48-46, in the first round of PIAA Class AAAA state playoffs;
 
Every starter is back, led by Michigan-bound Nicole Munger (5-10, Jr., G), and including Taylor Moylan (5-11, Sr., C), Mackenzie Carroll (5-7, Jr., G), Peyton Traina (5-8, Jr., G) and Corrine Godshall (5-11, Jr., F).

"We return a lot of talent and have a chance to be a very good team; it’s going to be a challenging year; but this year, we’ll be battle-tested," Rakowsky said.
 
4. Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia)
Coach: Letty Santarelli
2012-13 Finish: 14-12 and lost in the Class AA state quarterfinals to Notre Dame-Green Pond, 51-49, in double-overtime
 
The Saints were young last year, and return every major player. This could be a record-breaking year for the program, with Tanesha Sutton (5-8, Sr., G), Emmanuela Awobajo (6-0, Sr., F), Stephanie Brown (5-10, Sr., F), Ka'ryne Benson (5-3, Sr., G), and Sianni Martin (5-8, Jr., G), who averaged 12 ppg, all back. Depth will come from Alicia Kebbe (5-10, So., G), Kamiah Smalls (5-8, So., G), Ciani Cryor (5-5, Jr., G), a transfer from Prep Charter, and A.J. Timber (5-10, Jr., G). What could make the Saints very formidable are Christina Acoworo (6-4, Jr., C) and 6-foot-9 sophomore Felicia Aiyotan, who’s from Nigeria and wears a size 17 sneaker.
 
5. Spring-Ford (Royersford)
Coach: Mickey McDaniel
2012-13 Finish: 32-2 and won first state title in school history by beating Cumberland Valley, 60-45, in the PIAA Class AAAA state championship
 
Mickey McDaniel takes over for Jeff Rinehimer as the Rams’ new head coach. McDaniel was Rinehimer’s assistant for 18 of the 19 years he was coach. The Rams return Lafayette-bound Sammy Stipa (5-5, Sr., G), who averaged 11.2 ppg, Shelby Mueller (5-10. Sr., F), who averaged 10.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg last year, and Maggie Locke (6-0, Jr., F). Julia Roshelli (5-6, Jr., G) and Abby Beyer (5-7, Jr., F) will add depth.