Five teams that combined for 149 wins last year make up Pennsylvania's best in 2015-16. Watch out for Neumann-Goretti, Cumberland Valley, Central Bucks West, Archbishop Wood and Blackhawk in the Pennsylvania #MaxPrepsFab5.
Neumann-Goretti won it all last season - nationally and in Pennsylvania.
Photo by Ken Reabe, Jr.
2015-16 Pennsylvania Girls Basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia)
Head coach: Andrea Peterson
2014-15 record: 30-0
The defending mythical national champions return just two players from last year's team, but one of them is 6-foot-9 senior
Felicia Alyeotan, an ever-improving post player ranked the 15th best player at her position in the country by ESPN. The other returner is 5-10 senior
Alicia Kebbe. Neumann-Goretti won last year's 2A state championship by 45 points, the second-biggest margin in state history.
See last season's Pennsylvania girls basketball computer rankings
2. Cumberland Valley (Mechanicsburg)Head coach: William Wolf
2014-15 record: 32-1
The Eagles return their top three scorers: senior
Kelly Jekot (18.8), junior
Katie Jekot (12.7) and senior
Morgan Baughman (7.0). Cumberland Valley won the state 4A championship with a 40-35 win over Central Bucks West. The Eagles, who finished No. 22 nationally last year, gave up just 34.7 points per game.
See Pennsylvania girls basketball pro photo galleries3. Central Bucks West (Doylestown)Head coach: Terry Rakowsky
2014-15 record: 32-2
The Bucks lost their top three scorers from last year's 4A state finalist, but bring back fourth-leading scorer
Makenzie Mason. Other key players back are junior
Maggie Rakowsky and sophomore
Maddie Maio.
See last season's Pennsylvania girls basketball playoff brackets 4. Archbishop Wood (Warminster)Head coach: John Gallagher
2014-15 record: 26-6
The Vikings lost just two seniors from a 13-person roster that last year lost in the state 3A finals to Blackhawk, 46-40. Wood returns leading scorer
Bailey Greenberg, who hurt her ankle during the postseason last year. Sophomore
Kate Connolly and junior
Claire Bassetti also are big returning contributors.
See last season's Pennsylvania girls basketball stat leaders5. Blackhawk (Beaver Falls)Head coach: Steve Lodovico
2014-15 record: 29-3
The Cougars won their second-straight and fourth state title overall with a 46-40 win over Wood. They return nine players from last year's squad but lose 6-1 center Courtney Vannoy and 5-5 guard Chassidy Omogrosso, who combined for 39 of their team's 45 points in the state title game. The Cougars have won 130 games over the last five seasons.
