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Faulkner, Mellott named to all-state team


ALTOONA >> Although they've only crossed paths once, the four-year careers of Blackhawk's Chassidy Omogrosso and Vincentian's Brenna Wise have run in close parallels.

Both scored more than 2,300 points. Both won more than 105 games. Both led teams to PIAA championships as juniors and seniors. Both have signed with colleges in Pittsburgh.

Now, Omogrosso and Wise wrap things by becoming two-time Players of the Year on the Sports Writers Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball All-State Team in their respective classes. The team is selected through a vote of state media.

Greencastle-Antrim sophomore Jenay Faulkner was named to the Class AAA second team, while McConnellsburg sophomore Bronwyne Mellott made the third team in Class A.

Omogrosso received the top honor in Class AAA after leading the Lady Cougars to a 28-3 record, while Wise was recognized in Class A after her Lady Royals went 30-1. It also was the fourth time each of them made the team.

Cumberland Valley junior Kelly Jekot and Neumann-Goretti senior Ciani Cryor were the players of the year in Class AAAA and Class AA, respectively.

Vincentian defeated Blackhawk 68-58 on the second night of the season, but both teams were virtually untouchable the rest of the way. Vincentian's only loss came to defending PIAA Class AA champion Seton LaSalle, after which the Lady Royals won 28 straight games, none by fewer than 13 points. Three of those were against Class AAAA teams, and Vincentian won its nine playoff games by an average of 37 points, including an 86-38 victory over Old Forge in the PIAA final.

Wise was a dominant force throughout, averaging 20.8 points and 7.2 rebounds. The 6-foot-1 Pitt recruit had a triple-double in the state finals with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 13 steals and finished her career with 2,331 points and 1,080 rebounds.

A Duquesne recruit, the 5-5 Omogrosso ranked among the state's top scorers, averaging 27.1 points per game to complete her career with 2,686 points. She netted a game-high 23 points in Blackhawk's 46-40 PIAA Class AAA finals win over Archbishop Wood, going 10-for-10 at the foul line.

The Class AA squad was so deep Temple recruit Deja Reynolds of Imhotep Charter was forced to the second team and Texas recruit Christina Aborowa of Neumann-Goretti was pushed to the third team. Neumann-Goretti, which went undefeated en route to winning the Philadelphia Catholic League, District 12 and the state title, placed four players on the team.

In Class AAAA, Jekot, who led Cumberland Valley to its second straight PIAA championship and is committed to Villanova, narrowly held off Michigan recruit Nicole Munger for player of the year – Jekot recently was named Gatorade player of the year in the state, as well.

Pocono Mountain West's Jackie Benitez, Mechanicsburg's Cecily Carl, Norwin's Alayna Gribble and State College's Kyla Irwin comprised the rest of the first team. Benitez, Carl and Gribble are seniors. Irwin, who already has made a verbal commitment to UConn, is a junior.

Cumberland Valley's Bill Wolf was coach of the year in a tight vote with Central Bucks West's Terry Rakowsky.

Pennsylvania Sports Writers

All-State Girls Basketball

CLASS AAAA

Player of the Year – Kelly Jekot, Cumberland Valley

Coach of the Year – Bill Wolf, Cumberland Valley

FIRST TEAM

Jackie Benitez, Poncono Mountain West, 5-9, Sr., 26.3, Cecily Carl, Mechanicsburg, 6-3, Sr., 15.8, Alayna Gribble, Norwin, 6-0, Sr. 17.5, Kyla Irwin, State College, 6-2, Jr., 20.0, Kelly Jekot, Cumberland Valley, 6-0, Jr., 19.2, Nicole Munger, Central Bucks West, 5-10, Sr., 17.5

SECOND TEAM

Michaela Gelbaugh, Central Dauphin East, 5-10 Sr., 14.3, Amari Johnson, Dallastown, 6-1, Sr., 16.7, Ashley Jones, Cheltenham, 5-7, So., 22.6, Amanda Kalin, Pine-Richland, G, 5-8, So., 21.4, Maria Palarino, Penn-Trafford, 5-10, Sr., 17.5, Deja Rawls, Abington, 5-7, Sr., 12.3, Brittany Robinson, Central Dauphin East, 6-2 Sr., 17.2

THIRD TEAM

Mackenzie Carroll, Central Bucks West, 5-10, Sr., 11.4, Julie Cross, Upper Dublin, 6-2, Sr., 15.0, Abby Gonzales, North Allegheny, 5-7, Jr., 11.6, Andi Lydon, Shaler, 6-2, Sr., 16.4, Mary Sheehan, Cardinal O'Hara, 5-10, So., 12.5, Kristen Smoluk, Palmyra, 5-10, Sr., 11.9, Courtney Zezza, Plum, 6-3, Sr., 16.9

CLASS AAA

Player of the Year – Chassidy Omogrosso, Blackhawk

Coach of the Year – Steve Lodovico, Blackhawk

FIRST TEAM

Aubree Brown, Archbishop Wood, 6-0, Sr., 12.1, Bailey Greenberg, Archbishop Wood, 5-11, Jr., 13.3, Alyssa Monaghan, Bonner-Prendergast, 5-7, Sr., 18.0, Chassidy Omogrosso, Blackhawk, 5-5, Sr., 27.1, Kalista Walters, Bethlehem Catholic, 6-0, Sr., 22.1, Sammie Weiss, McGuffey, 5-11, Sr., 25.9

SECOND TEAM

Jenay Faulkner, Greencastle-Antrim, 5-11, So., 17.0, Jess Genco, Scranton Prep, 5-4, Sr., 15.2, Alexa Golden, Chartiers Valley, 5-9, Sr., 16.0, Kaitlyn Lewis, North Pocono, 5-7, Sr., 21.0, Devon Merritt Berks Catholic, 6-2, Jr., 17.2, Claire Oberdorf, Greensburg Salem, 5-7, Sr., 27.1, Maddie Ritsick, Crestwood, 6-0, Jr., 24.3

THIRD TEAM

Miranda Hoover, Susquenita, 5-10, Sr., 18.5, Kayla Kline, Mifflinburg, 5-10, Jr., 21.0, Kayley Kovac, Jim Thorpe, F, 5-11, Fr., 24.6, Allison McGrath, South Park, 5-10, Jr., 17.8, Lexi Posset, Beaver, 5-7, Sr., 22.7, Kaitlyn Slagus, Belle Vernon, 6-2, Sr., 22.6, Courtney Vannoy, Blackhawk, 5-11, Sr., 12.2

CLASS AA

Player of the Year – Ciani "C.C." Cryor, Neumann-Goretti

Coach of the Year – Andrea Peterson, Neumann-Goretti

FIRST TEAM

Sydney Bordonaro, Burrell, 5-7, Sr., 20.6, Maddie Comly, Delone Catholic, 5-7, Sr., 22.8, Ciani "C.C." Cryor, Neumann-Goretti, 5-5, Sr., 11.5, Alexis Lewis, Holy Redeemer, 5-9, Sr., 27.1, Sianni Martin, Neumann-Goretti, 5-8, Sr., 12.5, Cassidy Walsh, Seton-LaSalle, 5-9, Sr., 11.3

SECOND TEAM

Megan Eripret, Salisbury, 6-3, Sr., 18.3, Theresa Fachetti, Harbor Creek, 5-8, Sr., 20.6, Brooke Hinderliter, Redbank Valley, 5-8, Jr., 20.0, Ana Hollen, Bellwood-Antis, 5-7, Sr., 17.1, Deja Reynolds Imhotep Charter, 5-8, Sr., 11.3, Kayleigh Semion, Dunmore, 5-6, Sr., 13.8, Ahnje "A.J." Timbers Neumann-Goretti, 5-11, Sr., 10.6

THIRD TEAM

Christina Aborowa, Neumann-Goretti, 6-4, Sr., 6.0, Becca Gravatt, Franklin, 5-9, Sr., 22.4, Karlee Krchnavi, Palisades, 6-0, Jr., 17.9, Tiffany Lapotsky, North Schuylkill, 5-6, Jr., 15.8, Nicolette Newman, Seton-La Salle, G, 5-7, Sr., 14.0, Conor Richardson, Carlynton, 5-10, Sr., 20.8, Haley Thomas, Bishop McCort, 5-10, Sr., 16.1

CLASS A

Player of the Year – Brenna Wise, Vincentian

Coach of the Year – Ron Stacchiotti, Old Forge

FIRST TEAM

Martine Fortune, Shipley, 6-4, Sr., 12.9, Madison Johnson, Keystone, 5-9, Sr., 20.5, Chelsey Koren, Blairsville, 5-11, Sr., 18.1, Maria Morgan, Bucktail, 5-6, Sr., 28.0, Tori Tansley, Old Forge, 5-7, Sr., 17.0, Brenna Wise, Vincentian, 6-1, Sr., 20.8

SECOND TEAM

Lili Benzel, Bishop Guilfoyle, 5-8, So., 19.3, April Bocian, Kennedy Catholic, 6-3, Jr., 11.4, Maci Bower, Millville, 5-11, Jr., 22.8, Sam Breen, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, 6-2, So., 22.8, Ali Hillson, North Penn-Mansfield, 5-8, Jr., 14.3, Nia Holland, Shipley, 5-5, Sr., 11.9, Emma Spinelli, Shade, 5-4, Jr., 21.6

THIRD TEAM

Bronwyne Mellott, McConnellsburg, 6-0, So., 22.2, Torrieoanna Cash, Vincentian, 5-9, Jr., 8.4, Keyen Green, Phil-Mont Christian, 6-1, Jr., 20.9, Lexi Griggs, Vincentian, 6-0, Jr., 7.9, Maci Thornton, Clarion, 5-5, Jr., 21.0, Mikayla Vaughn, Friends Central, 6-3, So., 17.6, Lexi Wozniak, Portage, 5-4, Jr., 14.8