Girls basketball: Berks III team-by-team preview capsules
2023 Berks basketball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Wyomissing Spartans
(Tim Macrina photo)
Coach: Aaron Anders, fourth season, 53-20.
Last season: 11-0 Berks III champ, 28-3 overall, Berks champ, District 3 champ, PIAA quarterfinalist.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA classification: 4A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2023/2023.
Key losses: G Maddie Campbell, G Lexi Loeb.
Top players: All-State and All-Berks Jr. F Amaya Stewart, Sr. F Annie McCaffrey, Jr. G Alexis Hardy, Jr. G/F Audrey Hurleman.
Key players: Jr. G Abby Noey, So. Kacey Maggs, So. Ella Anders, So. Izzy Campbell, Fr. Karly Hyde, Fr. Addy Loeb.
Outlook: The Spartans lost two key, experienced seniors, but Berks Coach of the Year Aaron Anders, Player of the Year Amaya Stewart and the rest of the team are ready to continue making noise at the county, district, and state level. A clear favorite to repeat as Berks champions with the goal of defending the District 3 Class 4A crown and winning state playoff games. Will have to navigate some early injury issues after losing Abby Zechman and Lily Marshall to knee injuries; each is out for the season.
Schuylkill Valley Panthers
(PhilMarPhoto)
Coach: Jason Bagenstose, ninth season, 85-94.
Last season: 7-4 Berks III, 11-12 overall.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA classification: 4A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2022/2008.
Key losses: None.
Top players: All-Division Sr. G Natane White, all-division Sr. G Juliana Stichter (Bryn Athyn College), all-division Jr. G CC Reali, Sr. F Kalika Kauffman.
Key players: So. C Julia Lassandro, So. G Elyssa Sellers, Jr. G Taryn Rittenhouse, Jr. F Meghan Wickersham.
Outlook: Panthers return top eight players, including double-digit scorers Natane White and Juliana Stichter, although White is working her way back from a torn ACL in the offseason. If she can return to full strength, the Panthers are looking to push Wyomissing, hold off Hamburg, and qualify for the BCIAA playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
Hamburg Hawks
Coach: Amanda McBreen, third season, 15-29.
Last season: 4-7 Berks III, 6-16 overall.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA classification: 4A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2014/2014.
Key losses: F Katie Behler, G Anabel Kennedy, F Hannah Gravish.
Top players: Sr. G Hailie Edwards, Jr. G/F Amelia Gassert, Sr. F Emily Zimmerman.
Key players: Jr. G Ashleigh Guers, Jr. F Shayna Morales, Sr. F Alexia Ewing.
Outlook: Hawks return top two scorers in Hailie Edwards (10.0 points per game) and Amelia Gassert (6.5), giving them hopes for their first winning season since 2020-21 and first BCIAA playoff appearance since 2012.
They’re in a tough division and must beat out Schuylkill Valley to earn a league playoff spot.
Fleetwood Tigers
(Tim Macrina photo)
Coach: Courtney Mitchell, first season.
Last season: 6-5 Berks III, 11-10 overall.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA classification: 4A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2021/2020.
Key losses: All-State and All-Berks G Alexis Hess (Kansas State), F Haley Wojciechowski.
Top players: Jr. G Sophia Barrell-Kobryn, Jr. G/F Emily Miller, Jr. G Morgan Koehler.
Key players: Sr. F Abbie Hostetler, Sr. G Izzy Funari, Jr. G Courtney Bowles, So. F Teagan Hilburt.
Outlook: Lots of moving parts in Blandon, where the Tigers lost Kansas State commit Alexis Hess and transition to a new head coach in Courtney Mitchell. Sophia Barrel-Kobryn is primed for an increase in production, but it’ll be tough to keep pace in this division.
