Pre-Season All-Area Girls Basketball Team

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

Welcome to the wonderful world of winter sports. Where it's cold outside and the games are indoors. I love football, but I am thankful this Holiday Season for no more standing on the sidelines while I lose the feeling in fingers.

High School Basketball, in my opinion, is at its best in and around this area. Teams from Lansdale Reporter, Mercury, Times Herald, and Montgomery Media's coverage area always seem to be in the mix for district and even state championships. There are always a handful of players that commit to Division-One schools and more than you can count that go one to play Division Two and Three.

So without further adieu... Here is one man's opinion on the best teams and the best players in the area prior to the 2013-2014 season starts.

Check back to this blog all season for stats and scores. Go to www.gametimepa.com for stories everyday.

Top 10 Pre-Season Teams

1. Spring-Ford Rams - Out is coach Jeff Rinehimer and in steps long-time assistant and Athletic Director Mickey McDaniel. However the girls returns several of the stars from their state championship season a year ago. The duo of Stipa and Payonk are surrounded by talented roll players that could be stars on any other team.

2. Central Bucks West Lady Bucks - The Bucks continue to inch closer to the promise land and the group of juniors this season, led by Michigan bound Nicole Munger and shooting guard Mackenzie Carroll could have the girls in more than just league title contention. This team is state bound.

3. Mount Saint Joseph Magic - Alex Louin is back for her senior season and ready to send off the Magic to another District One Class AAAA title at Villanova before she makes The Pavillon her home floor. Louin could carry this team far by herself, but with hard working role players and a stellar coach in John Miller, the Magic are in for a magical season.

4. North Penn Maidens - Losing Lauren Crisler will be tough, but the Maidens have several girls that are more than capable of picking up the slack. Erin Maher and Vicky Tumasz are the known commodities and good ones at that, but girls like Bri Cullen and Michaela Giuliani make the Maidens a threat for league and district titles onnce again.

5. Archbishop Wood Vikings - Another year and another tough senior class to watch graduate. The perennial powerhouse is without coach Jim Ricci this season, but that does not mean they should not be expected to make noise early and often.

6. Germantown Academy Patriots  - Just becuase the Lady Pats have one senior is no reason to take Margaret Ann Hubell and her girls lightly. Look for the freshman to make and impact for this team to come on strong quickly.

7. Abington Galloping Ghosts - I am already regretting not ranking the Ghosts higher in the pre-season polls becuase this team is loaded with experience. Deja Rawls has been doing it for years and her supporting cast has only gotten stronger. The Ghosts could challenge for a District One championship this season.

8. Souderton Indians - After finishing the season one win away from a state playoff berth the Indians are back and more motivated than ever. The senior class, led by NJIT commit Bianca Picard, wants nothing more than a banner in the gymnasium commemorating the year.

9. St. Basil Panthers - The Panthers are coming off a District One Class AA title from last season and a surely prepared to repeat. The bring back sharpshooting Molly Greenberg for her senior season and the competition in the Class AA is not at its best these days. Delco Christian will be the biggest challenge again.

10. Methacton Warriors - The Warriors have taken a backseast to the Rams, and rightfully so with a state championship banner to show off, but the Kelly Glatthorn led group could play spoiler this year if they rebound and execute on both sides of the floor.

Other possible title contenders: Jenkintown, William Tennent, Norristown, Wissahickon, Plymouth-Whitemarsh, Christopher Dock

Pre-Season All-Area Teams

Alex Louin (Mount)

FIRST TEAM

Alex Louin (Mount St. Joe's)
Nicole Munger (Central Bucks West)
Bianca Picard (Souderton)
Deja Rawls (Abington)
Sammy Stipa (Spring-Ford)

Aubree Brown (Wood)

SECOND TEAM

Erin Maher (North Penn)
Sarah Payonk (Spring-Ford)
Margaret Ann Hubbell (Germantown Academy)
Aubree Brown (Archbishop Wood)
Mackenzie Carroll (Central Bucks West)

Emma Dorshimer (Jenkintown)

THIRD TEAM
Molly Greenberg (St. Basil)
Emma Dorshimer (Jenkintown)
Brianna Hedgepath (Norristown)
Bailey Greenberg (Archbishop Wood)
Regie Robinson (Upper Merion)