Playing it differently

The Neumann-Goretti Saints have a chance to make history. If they make it to the postseason, they would be the first girls’ team to do so under the banner of the new school. The playoffs had eluded the Goretti Lambs for more than two decades.

The Saints will have to pursue their mission without All-Catholic players Shante Cummings and Jimerea Lee. The juniors, who recently transferred from Hallahan, have been ruled ineligible to play in a controversial archdiocese decision (see sidebar, page 59).

The squad will leave tomorrow for its holiday tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with a 3-0 record.

Change also is underway in the Public League, which is adopting a new three-division format (see sidebar, page 58). The realignment is based on enrollment, and will result in three separate district champions.

The old Bok-Southern and Furness-Bok rivalries will remain intact in the new AAAA South Division, but the local teams will face formidable former Gold Division squads University City, William Penn and Bartram in the fight for one of four playoff berths.

Here is a team-by-team look as the South Philly squads bound into the regular season.

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Public League

All Public League games start at 3 p.m.

Team: Audenried Warriors
Coach: Bill Edger
2004 record: 5-5
Division: AAA/AA
PIAA classification: AAA
Home court: 11th and Catharine streets

Much of the Warriors’ success in 2004 had to do with the veteran leadership and scoring touch of former Public League All-Star Jamillah Mason, who led the team with 18 points per game. Now that the standout has graduated, Edger is looking for returning players and newcomers to step up their games.

"Jamillah led the team in scoring, and we have to find some scorers to replace her," the coach said.

The team also is feeling the effects of a reduced student body consisting of only juniors and seniors. Audenried has put enrollment on hold while it awaits construction of a new facility at 33rd and Tasker — the site of the old school. As a result, Audenried’s female population stands at about 200, Edger said. Students are using the old Palumbo school building at 11th and Catharine streets while their new building is being constructed.

Key players:
G Anani Arandules 5’3" JR
G Yalonda Foster 5’6" SR
G/F Aleasia Welton 5’4" SR
G Rashera Sims 5’4" SR
C Keeva King 5’9" JR
C Mykina Simmons 5’9" JR
G Ashley Willis 5’5" G JR
F Corrie Gonzales 5’6" JR

Teams to beat: FLC and E&S;

Coach’s outlook: "There are a lot of good teams in our division. If we can finish .500, I would be happy."

Schedule/Results

Dec. 10 Ben Franklin L 36-29
Dec. 15 Strawberry Mansion (started after press time)
Tomorrow Franklin Leaning Center Home
Wednesday Freire Charter Away
Jan. 5 Masterman Home
Jan. 7 Parkway Away
Jan. 12 Swenson Home
Jan. 14 Carver Away
Jan. 19 PET Charter Home
Jan. 21 Lamberton Away
Jan. 26 Franklin Towne Charter Away
Jan. 28 Prep Charter Away
Feb. 2 Bodine Home
Feb. 4 Human Services Home

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Team: Bok Wildkittens
Coach: Greg Frangipani
2004 record: 9-1
Division: AAAA South
PIAA classification: AAAA
Home court: Eighth and Mifflin streets

All the starters from last year’s playoff squad have either graduated or transferred. Frangipani is left with an inexperienced varsity roster to challenge Public League runner-up University City and semifinalist Bartram in the new AAAA South Division.

The Wildkittens’ major losses include Gloria Brown and her 20 points per game. Brown is now playing for Catholic League neighbor Neumann-Goretti. The upside is that 12 players, including several underclassmen, are suiting up for varsity — up from just six on the first day of practice.

Still, the coach’s hopes are modest.

"I am hoping we can win at least a couple games," Frangipani said.

Key players:

G Devita Austin 6′ SO
G Tiyaunia Jenkins 5’6" JR
G Lacy Davis 5’5" SO
F Sierra Brinson 6’2" FR
F Natasha Kendrick 5’7" SO
G Denea Johnson 5’4" JR
F Ivory Miller 5’5" JR

Teams to beat: Bartram, University City, Dobbins and William Penn

Coach’s outlook: "I am hoping we go .500, but I don’t know if it’s realistic."

Schedule

Tomorrow West Philadelphia Away
Wednesday Southern Home
Jan. 5 Bartram Away
Jan. 7 William Penn Home
Jan. 12 Kensington Away
Jan. 14 Dobbins Home
Jan. 19 Overbrook Away
Jan. 21 University City Home
Jan. 26 Edison Away
Jan. 28 Mastbaum Home
Feb. 2 Furness Away

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Team: Furness Lady Falcons
Coach: Bob Weidinger
2004 record: 4-8
Division: AAAA South
PIAA classification: AAAA
Home court: Third and Mifflin streets

The end of the Bronze Division means the beginning of some lopsided contests for Furness. Weidinger knows his team is no match for the former Gold Division squads, so the Lady Falcons will focus their attention on squads like Bok and Southern, with whom they were competitive in the Bronze.

The upside is seven of Furness’ games are on home court, which is smaller than opponents’ courts. That advantage will likely not be enough in the Lady Falcons’ Jan. 12 game against University City, though.

Furness opens the regular season tomorrow at home against Mastbaum. The athletes enter the contest riding the momentum of last Wednesday’s 54-40 non-league win over Audenried.

"It was good to just let them get a win under their belts right from the beginning," Weidinger said.

Key players:

G Shaneek Copper 5’3" SO
G Latasha Thompson 5’5" JR
F Qunita Brown 5’5" FR
F Tyshawnna Parks 5’8" SO
C Alisha Joyner 5’10" C
F Crystal Nunez 5’6" JR

Teams to beat: University City and Bartram

Coach’s outlook: "With the realignment, if we finish close to .500, I would be happy."

Schedule

Tomorrow Mastbaum Home
Wednesday Edison Away
Jan. 5 Dobbins Home
Jan. 7 Overbrook Away
Jan. 12 University City Home
Jan. 14 West Philly Away
Jan. 19 Southern Home
Jan. 21 Bartram Home
Jan. 26 Kensington Home
Jan. 28 William Penn Away
Feb. 2 Bok Home

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Team: Prep Charter Lady Huskies
Coach: Linda Page
2004 record: 9-1
Division: AAA/AA
PIAA classification: AA
Home court: 18th and Christian streets

When the Lady Huskies joined the Public League two years ago, they made an immediate impact by qualifying for the playoffs. Last season, they came very close to upsetting Gold Division squad John Bartram in the Public League quarterfinals.

With six returning seniors, Prep Charter is a serious contender for the AA title. The athletes opened the regular season Friday with a 60-37 win over Masterman. Division I prospect Crystal Enoch led all scorers with 30 points.

"We have six seniors who have been playing together for a long time," Page said. "I think this year we really have what it takes to get there."

Key players:

G Crystal Enoch 5’9" SR
G Ashley Pearsall 5’5" SR
C Sabriya McDuffie 6’3" SR
G/F Courtney Pratt 5’8" JR
F Victoria Wiley 5’11" FR
G Jakiya Workman 5’6" SR
G Myra Ware 5’8" SO
F Corrida Tutt 5’11" SR
F Deana Chambers 5’10" SO

Teams to beat: E&S; and Bodine

Coach’s outlook: "If the seniors play like there is no tomorrow, I see us winning the whole thing."

Schedule

Dec. 10 Masterman W 60-37
Dec. 15 Franklin Learning Center (started after press time)
Tomorrow Freire Charter Home
Monday Philadelphia Academy TBA
Wed. Bodine Away
Jan. 5 Parkway Home
Jan. 7 Swenson Home
Jan. 12 E&S; Home
Jan. 14 PET Charter Away
Jan. 19 Lamberton Away
Jan. 21 Franklin Towne Charter Home
Jan. 26 Strawberry Mansion Away
Jan. 28 Audenried Home
Feb. 2 Ben Franklin Away

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Team: Southern Lady Rams
Coach: Gene Jordan
2004 record: 2-8
Division: AAAA South
PIAA classification: AAAA
Home court: Broad Street and Snyder Avenue

After spending the last eight seasons coaching the Lady Rams junior-varsity program, Jordan has moved up to the varsity sidelines, replacing the retired Bob Fisicaro.

"We are trying to continue the basic system that he put in place," Jordan said.

The system will be new for the majority of the team, as the Lady Rams have just two returning seniors in their starting lineup.

Had the old Public League divisions remained in place, this young and inexperienced Southern team would have been able to cut its teeth in the lower-rung Bronze Division. Instead, the squad’s schedule features games against some of the city’s top programs, including University City and William Penn.

Key players:

C Kristen Allen 6′ SR
G/F Simone Scott 5’8" SR
G Maya Hunter 5’6" JR
F Fateemah Daniels 5’7" JR
F Nyeemah Muhammad 5’11" FR

Teams to beat: University City, William Penn and Overbrook

Coach’s outlook: "I think we’ll get better as the season goes on. We could surprise some people during the year."

Schedule

Tomorrow Edison Home
Wednesday Bok Away
Jan. 5 Overbrook Home
Jan. 7 University City Away
Jan. 12 West Philly Home
Jan. 14 Bartram Home
Jan. 19 Furness Away
Jan. 21 Mastbaum Home
Jan. 26 Randolph Away
Feb. 2 William Penn Home

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Catholic League

Team: Neumann-Goretti Saints
Coach: Chip Reitano
2004 record: 16-8
Division: Catholic League South
Home court: 10th and Moore streets

How do you top your first winning season in more than two decades?

Simple: Make the Catholic League playoffs. It would be a fitting way to open the new era as the Neumann-Goretti Saints.

Last Thursday, the athletes improved to 3-0 with a convincing 58-33 win over Penn Charter. The victory christened Neumann-Goretti’s newly refurbished gymnasium.

"It was a great start to the first-ever basketball game played here," Reitano said. "The boys coming right behind us and winning was tremendous. It’s all about school spirit and supporting each other."

The boys’ squad also defeated Penn Charter, 74-45.

Gloria Brown, a promising 6-foot-2 sophomore who transferred from Bok, already is boosting the middle with three straight double-doubles in points and rebounds. She tallied 19 points and 17 rebounds in the Penn Charter game. Senior forward Shonte Skinner, a returning Second Team All-Catholic, averaged 19.1 points a game in her junior season. She is being recruited by Central Michigan, High Point and Towson State.

Key players

F Shonte Skinner 5’9" SR
F Kelly McGinn 5’6" SR
C Gloria Brown 6’2" SO
G Alicia Klevecka 5’4" SR
G Jasmine Daniels 5’7" SO
G/F Kirstyn Edwards 5’8" SO
G Jen Santore 5’6" SR
F Jessica McAllister 5’9" JR

Road trip: The athletes leave tomorrow for Fort Lauderdale, where they will play in the Rock Holiday Classic.

Teams to beat: Archbishop Carroll and Cardinal O’Hara

Coach’s outlook: "My goal is to make the playoffs. This year there is no doubt that we need to be there. It’s time for this team to step up and show we belong there."

Schedule

Friday-Tuesday Rock Holiday Classic Fort Lauderdale, Fla. TBA*
Dec. 29-30 Goretti Roundball Classic Home TBA*
Jan. 4 West Catholic Home 6 p.m.
Jan. 8 Cardinal O’Hara Away 8 p.m.
Jan. 9 Archbishop Ryan (Cabrini College) 5:30 p.m.*
Jan. 11 Archbishop Prendergast Away 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 14 Archbishop Carroll Home 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 21 Hallahan Home 5 p.m.
Jan. 25 Little Flower Away 5 p.m.
Jan. 27 West Catholic Away 6 p.m.
Feb. 1 Cardinal O’Hara Home 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 3 Archbishop Prendergast Home 4 p.m.
Feb. 8 Archbishop Carroll Away 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 Friends Select Away 4 p.m.*
Feb. 12 New Hope-Solebury Away 6:30 p.m.*
Feb. 15 Hallahan Away 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 17 Little Flower Home 6:30 p.m.

*Denotes non-league game

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League regroups for PIAA

Like all Philadelphia Public League sports, girls’ basketball teams are realigning as part of their official membership in Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state competition. Gone are the colorful Gold, Silver and Bronze divisions, as well as the Public League championship. Instead, the league now known as PIAA District XII will have three separate championship tournaments based on female enrollments.

The three new divisions are AAAA North, AAAA South and an AAA/AA grouping. Here is a breakdown of the new divisions and playoff formats. South Philly teams are in bold.

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AAAA North: Central, Washington, Roxborough, Fels, Frankford, Germantown, Girls High, Gratz, King, Lincoln, Northeast, Olney

AAAA South: Bartram, Bok, Furness, Overbrook, William Penn, South Philadelphia, University City, West Philadelphia, Dobbins, Edison, Kensington, Mastbaum

Playoff format: The top four teams from each of the two divisions will qualify for the district playoffs. The four resulting finalists will advance to the state tournament.

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AAA/AA (combined division)

AA teams: Bodine, E&S;, Lamberton, Masterman, Prep Charter, Philadelphia Electric, Human Services

Playoff format: The top four teams make the district playoffs, with the top three advancing to the state tournament.

AAA teams: Audenried, FLC, Parkway, Strawberry Mansion, Ben Franklin, Swenson, Franklin Towne Charter

Playoff format: The top four teams qualify for the district tournament, with the winner advancing to the state tournament.

–by Bill Gelman