La Salle Academy is our pick as the top girls basketball team in Rhode Island this season. Watch out for Exeter-West Greenwich, Barrington, Westerly and Johnston too.
MaxPreps 2013-14 Rhode Island Girls Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
Click here to see the girls basketball preseason Fab 5 from every state1. La Salle Academy (Providence)2012-13 finish: 22-4 (Division 1 state champions)
Head coach: Sean Reddy
Davitta Dale, a junior who averaged 17.7 points per game in the playoffs last year, along with point guard
Mikayla Murphy, form a talented 1-2 guard combo that can push the Rams to another state title.
2. Exeter-West Greenwich2012-13 finish: 22-2 (Division 1 state semifinals)
Head coach: Steven McGrane
The Scarlet Knights retain the state’s top girls basketball player,
Taylor Buckley, who averaged 17.5 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. She’ll have to up the ante without Jaclyn Harrington, an all-state forward, and Kathleen Rafanelli.
3. Barrington2012-13 finish: 22-3 (Division 1 state runner up)
Head coach: Stephen Lenz
Barrington fell to La Salle Academy in the state final, 62-29, giving plenty of motivation for senior
Maura Kelty (10.8 points per game) who returns without the help of first-team all-state forward Caitlyn Nolan.
4. Westerly2012-13 finish: 19-6
Head coach: Holly Misto
On a team that lost only four seniors, none bigger than forward Hannah Dobson (16.4 points per game), the Bulldogs appear to be in good shape heading into the season. It helps that Dobson’s little sister,
Emily Dobson, is back. She put up 10.4 points per game last season.
Madison-sean McLaughlin will also be back to help Westerly improve upon last season’s Division 1 semifinal finish.
5. Johnston2012-13 finish: 14-8
Head coach: Chris Corsinetti
Senior
Alexandra Diraimo and
Karina Mattera are expected to carry the load for the Panthers this season for one of Division 2’s top teams.
