Bay Area News Group girls basketball Top 15
(Mercury News & East Bay Times)
No. 1 ARCHBISHOP MITTY
Last spring’s final ranking: 2
Mitty graduated its top three scorers from last spring’s team that lost to Pinewood in the Central Coast Section Open Division championship game. But Morgan Cheli, who was terrific as a freshman, is back for her sophomore season. Three seniors — Noemie Bariteau (Seattle), Siena Guttadauro (UTEP), Makayla Moore (Seattle) — just signed college letters of intent.
No. 2 PINEWOOD
Last spring’s final ranking: 1
Elle Ladine and Emily Lee are back for the reigning CCS Open Division champs, who went 17-0 in the spring. That’s the good news. The not-so-great news is longtime coach Doc Scheppler has to reload his lineup after graduating all of his starters. But given Scheppler’s track record of success, a reload seems more likely than a rebuild for the storied Los Altos Hills program.
No. 3 SALESIAN
Last spring’s final ranking: 3
Longtime coach Stephen Pezzola has seven seniors, six juniors and a sophomore on his roster. “This is truly the case where there is strength in numbers with great team chemistry,” he said. Senior center Silivia Fonongaloa, senior guard Nevaeh Asiasi, junior point guard Sofia Fidelus, junior guard Makiah Asidanya and senior guard Kaylie Edge lead the way for the Pride, who went 14-1 in the spring.
No. 4 SAN RAMON VALLEY
Last spring’s final ranking: 4
The Wolves went 11-0 in the spring and bring back their top player, senior Natalie Pasco, the reigning Bay Area News Group player of the year. The dynamic scorer had at least 40 points on three occasions, averaged 28.3 points per game and led the Wolves to the top of the East Bay Athletic League standings.
No. 5 CARONDELET
Last spring’s final ranking: 5
Kelly Sopak, who had a great run at Miramonte, is quickly turning around the Carondelet program. The Cougars went 10-1 in the spring, his first season with the team, and will rely on eight seniors as they aim for more success this winter. Senior post Megan Dickert is a four-year varsity player and the “heartbeat of our program,” Sopak said. Sophomore wing Katie Kostolansky has a great shooting stroke and high basketball IQ, the coach added.
No. 6 BISHOP O’DOWD
Last spring’s final ranking: 8
Finished 6-3 in the spring and the losses were to the top three teams in the rankings — Pinewood, Mitty, Salesian. Cal-bound Amaya Bonner is back for her senior season. She was a Bay Area News Group Fab 25 selection in the spring.
No. 7 ST. IGNATIUS
Last spring’s final ranking: 9
The Wildcats reached the semifinals of the CCS Open Division playoffs in the spring. Their losses were to Mitty (three times), Salesian and Pinewood.
No. 8 PIEDMONT
Last spring’s final ranking: 12
Finished the spring 14-2 and ended the season with a 43-point victory over Berkeley, which beat Piedmont earlier in the season. Trinity Zamora received Bay Area News Group Fab 25 honors in the spring.
No. 9 PRIORY
Last spring’s final ranking: 13
Had only seven players on the roster last spring but still managed to reach the semifinals of the CCS Open Division playoffs. The team lists 12 players on its roster this season, including senior Valentina Saric, a BANG Fab 25 selection last spring.
No. 10 MIRAMONTE
Last spring’s final ranking: 6
Jordan Allred, who averaged nearly 20 points per game, graduated in the spring. The Mats finished 12-2 overall in the spring, losing to Carondelet and Marin Catholic, and went 8-0 in the Diablo Athletic League’s Foothill Division. Karena Eberts is the team’s top returning scorer.
No. 11 HERITAGE
Last spring’s final ranking: 7
Rolled last spring through the Bay Valley Athletic League, finishing 10-0. Went 10-2 overall. Its only losses on the season were to Salesian and Miramonte. Amanda Muse was a Bay Area News Group Fab 25 selection in the spring.
No. 12 JAMES LOGAN
Last spring’s final ranking: 10
Finished atop the Mission Valley Athletic League standings in the spring, closing out the season with a three-point win over previously undefeated American.
No. 13 AMERICAN
Last spring’s final ranking: 11
Went 9-1 in the spring, losing only to James Logan. Won at least 23 games in each of the past two full seasons.
No. 14 VALLEY CHRISTIAN-SAN JOSE
Last spring’s final ranking: Not ranked
Qualified for the CCS Open Division playoffs in the spring, losing in the first round to Priory. The top two scorers from that team — senior Jael Butler and junior Synise Byrd — are back this season for longtime coach Chris McSwain.
No. 15 LYNBROOK
Last spring’s final ranking: 15
Went 16-3 in the spring to claim the CCS Division II title. Beat St. Francis in the final after winning games against Hillsdale and Aragon in previous rounds.
Who’s back?
In the spring, the Bay Area News Group didn’t choose a traditional postseason honors team, Instead, we went with a Fab 25.
Here’s who is back from the team:
Amaya Bonner, Bishop O’Dowd, 6-0, senior
Signed a letter of intent with Cal. Top-ranked prospect in the Bay Area in the Class of 2022, per ESPN.com.
Jael Butler, Valley Christian, 6-2, senior
Posted double-doubles in all but one game. Averaged 16.6 points and 13.4 rebounds per game.
Morgan Cheli, Archbishop Mitty, 6-0, sophomore
Averaged 7.6 points, 2.1 assists and 2.9 steals in 15.4 minutes per game for CCS Open runners-up.
Nya Epps, Carondelet, 5-10, senior
Signed a letter of intent with UC Davis. Transfer from Sacred Heart Cathedral led the Cougars in scoring (16 points per game), assists (5.7 per game) and steals (3.4 per game).
Silvia Fonongaloa, Salesian, 6-1, senior
Led 14-1 Salesian in points (13.3 per game) and rebounds (6.4 per game).
Aunika Hornung, James Logan, 6-2, senior
Averaged a double-double, with 15.4 points and 14.6 rebounds per game.
Amanda Muse, Heritage, 6-4, junior
A top prospect in the Bay Area in the Class of 2023.
Natalie Pasco, San Ramon Valley, 5-10, senior
Bay Area News Group player of the year. One of the top scorers in the entire Bay Area.
Valentina Saric, Priory, 6-2, senior
Pinewood transfer helped lead Priory to first CCS Open Division appearance.
Trinity Zamora, Piedmont, 5-11, junior
Averaged 23 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists per game last spring.
