ALL-STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL: Kilmer top player in Class 2A; Castellani, Mamera picked to 4A squad

Addison Kilmer carved out a career that will be remembered as one of the best in Lackawanna League girls basketball.

On Tuesday, the culmination came when the 6-foot-2 senior standout from Mountain View and East Stroudsburg University commit was named Class 2A Player of the Year and first-team all-state by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers.

“I’m just super grateful,” Kilmer said. “Obviously I’ve put a lot of work into basketball and it’s nice to see that hard work does pay off. It’s just super cool.”

Two other Lackawanna League players were recognized. Valley View junior Cora Castellani and Scranton Prep sophomore Chloe Mamera were chosen second-team all-state in Class 4A.

District 2 was well-represented on the squads as seven players from the Wyoming Valley Conference were selected. Wyoming Seminary junior Ella Stambaugh joins Kilmer on the Class 2A first team. Holy Redeemer, which reached the PIAA Class 3A final, placed senior McKenzie Chimock on the second team and Bella Boylan on the third team. Crestwood junior Jackie Gallagher made the first team in Class 5A. Senior teammate Keira Dougherty was a second-team selection as was Dallas senior Molly Walsh. In Class 6A, Hazleton Area junior Kaitlyn Bindas was a first-team choice.

Also, junior Zya Small of Friends Central was a first-team pick on the non-PIAA all-state team for a second straight year. Small played her freshman season at Scranton High School and was the Times-Tribune Player of the Year and Class 5A first-team all-state.

This is the second time Kilmer has been named Player of the Year — she received the honor in Class 1A as a sophomore — and third time she is an all-state first-team selection.

She led the Lackawanna League in scoring with 27.4 points and also had 12.6 rebounds, 55 3-pointers, 127 blocks, 74 steals and shot 80.0 percent from the foul line (152 for 190). She helped the Lady Eagles go 21-7 overall, winning the Lackawanna League Division III championship, a second straight District 2 Class 2A title and fourth district crown in a row. In the final against Wyoming Seminary at Mohegan Arena, Kilmer scored 31 points, including 16 of the team’s 20 points in the fourth quarter as the Lady Eagles overcame a 10-point deficit to win, 47-43.

Mountain View advanced to the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals before losing to Southern Columbia.

“It was really fun to watch this year,” Mountain View coach Corey Gesford said. “She really diversified her game throughout the year. She really adapted being part of our transition game and I think that was a big reason for a lot of her productivity. She was running the floor, trailing the break and getting a lot of opportunities that way. And there was the effortlessness of it, too. After a game, you’d be like, ‘Addison had 20, 25,’ but the book would tell you she had 40.”

On Jan. 28, Kilmer scored 38 against Susquehanna to surpass 2,000 career points. She finished with 2,271 points, which ranks second in Lackawanna League history behind Amber Jacobs of Abington Heights (2,433). She also totaled 1,396 rebounds, 518 blocks, 268 steals and 171 3-pointers.

“She was very appreciative of what her teammates did for her,” Gesford said. “We tried to stress that the night she broke the 2,000 mark that they all are a part of history and to be a part of that is special. She is going to be what a lot of players are measured against. To be the second-leading scorer in Lackawanna League history and the name above you is Amber Jacobs, that’s something pretty impressive to put on your resume.”

Never could Kilmer imagined she would have the career that she did.

“My one goal walking in my freshman year was to get 1,000 points like my mom,” Kilmer said. “So it means a lot to me to be up there with such big names.

“From freshman year on, I just got to spend so much time with my teammates, who I love so much. I love playing basketball and just the community and the program and the togetherness of everybody, it was a successful four years. I don’t even know how to describe it. I couldn’t see it while I was doing it, but having people be like, ‘Oh, my God, you’re Addison Kilmer. What you’re doing is so cool,’ it’s then that I realized the impact.”

Castellani was Valley View’s leader this season. She averaged 18.6 points, which ranked fifth in Lackawanna League and second in Division I. She also averaged 5.0 rebounds and had 69 3-pointers, 93 assists, 105 steals and shot 66.4 percent from the foul line. (69 for 104). She scored her 1,000th career point Jan. 28 and was named Lackawanna League Division I Coaches Player of Year, Defensive Player of Year and a first-team all-star.

“Not a lot of girls get that, so it definitely is an amazing feeling and I’m so beyond grateful,” Castellani said. “It’s like a dream to get and I’m proud of myself.”

The Cougars went 20-7 overall, finished as District 2 Class 4A runnerup to Scranton Prep for a third straight season and advanced to the PIAA Class 4A second round before losing to two-time state champ Neumann-Goretti. In that loss, she had 29 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

“That game was definitely her best performance,” Valley View coach Rob Martin said. “What she did offensively spoke for itself, but also what she did defensively. People don’t realize she played all 32 minutes of that game. To play at that level at both ends of the ball for that amount of time is very impressive as an athlete.

“She had a solid season and filled up the stat sheet with a lot of other things than points, even on the defensive end. It’s a great honor for her. It recognizes her work ethic and all the time she puts into honing her craft.”

Mamera was one of five new starters this season for Scranton Prep. She emerged as the leader, averaging 18,5 points, which was sixth in the Lackawanna League and third in Division I, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.5 blocks. She hit 11 3-pointers and shot 66.5 percent from the foul line (82 for 126). The Classics went 23-7 overall, won their fourth straight District 2 Class 4A title and reached the PIAA Class 4A semifinals, where they lost to two-time state champ Neumann-Goretti, 59-51.

“It definitely is a great accolade to achieve. There’s a lot of great girls in our class,” Mamera said. “Definitely a lot of credit to my teammates. I couldn’t have got it without them. To come into the season with a group of five new girls starting on the floor, we worked super hard and definitely knew we could make it as far as we did.”

Scranton Prep coach Bob Beviglia felt Mamera’s greatest improvement this season was in the other aspects of her game besides scoring.

“Her physicality and willingness to be a force at the defensive end of the floor, particularly blocking shots,” Beviglia said. “We challenged her early on in the season to really focus on rebounding the basketball. She put up a number of double-doubles as we were going through our winning streak in the league and that made her much different from what she was in the beginning of the year where maybe people looked at her as just a scorer. Doing the other things — rebounding, playing defense — made her a more complete player and much more valuable to college coaches who are recruiting her.”

Pennsylvania Sports Writers All-State Girls Basketball Teams

CLASS 6A

Player of the Year: Alexis Eberz, Archbishop Carroll, 5-9 G, Sr:

Coach of the Year: Morgan Funsten, Upper Dublin

First Team

Alexis Eberz, Archbishop Carroll, 5-9 G, Sr.

Ryann Jennings, Conestoga, 5-10 G, Sr.

Kayla Eberz, Archbishop Carroll 5-11 G, So.

Kaitlyn Bindas, Hazleton Area, 5-6, Jr.

Tamia Clark, Upper Dublin, 5-8, Jr.

Second Team

Megan Ngo, Upper Dublin, Sr.

Bailey White, Allderdice, 5-4, Sr.

Emila Coleman, Upper Dublin, Sr.

Olive Brandt, Lebabon, 5-4, Sr.

Ava Jamison, Dallastown, 6-0, Sr.

Third Team

Megan Rullo, Cardinal O’Hara, 5-9, Sr.

Bella Super, Governor Mifflin, 5-8, Jr.

Zaelinh Nguyen-Moore, Altoona, 5-8, Sr.

Denyla Handy, Dallastown, Fr.

Maggie Thompson, Owen J. Roberts, Fr.

CLASS 5A

Player of the Year: Juliette Leroux, South Fayette, 5-11, Sr.

Coach of the Year: Bryan Bennett, South Fayette

First Team

Juliette Leroux, South Fayette, 5-11, Sr.

Lily Fatool, Shikellamy, 5-7, Sr.

Ryan Oldaker, South Fayette, 5-11, Sr.

Jackie Gallagher, Crestwood, 5-9, Jr.

Jayla Koser, Middletown Area HS, 5-11 Sr.

Second Team

Maggie Spell, Thomas Jefferson, 5-10, Sr.,

Alexis Cashdollar, Mars, 5-9, Sr.,

Haylie Lamonde, South Fayette, 5-8, Sr.

Molly Walsh, Dallas, 5-10, Sr.,

Keira Dougherty, Crestwood, 5-6, Sr

Third Team

Lailah Wright, South Fayette, 5-7, Jr.

Colleen Besachio, Archbishop Wood, 5-10, Sr

Aierra Jenkins, Uniontown, 5-11, Sr.,

Bailey Balkir, Gwynedd Mercy, Sr.

Natalie Burkett, Punxsutawney, Jr., 5-4

CLASS 4A

Player of the Year: Aubree Hupp, Blackhawk, 5-10, Sr.

Coach of the Year: Andrea Peterson, Neumann-Goretti

First Team

Aubree Hupp, Blackhawk, 5-10, Sr.

Reginna Baker, Neumann-Goretti, 5-8, Jr.

Josie Fontana, Oakland Catholic, 6-2, Sr.,

Quinlan Blake, Central Columbia,. So., 5-6

Sonny Diehl, Clearfield, Jr., 6-0

Second Team

Eve Housley, Somerset, 5-7, Sr.

Cora Castellani, Valley View, 5-5 Jr.

Reece Meckley, Delone Catholic, 6-0, Sr.

Chloe Mamera, Scranton Prep, 6-0 Soph.

Nasiaah Russell, Audenried Charter, 6-3 Jr.

Third Team

Madison Romanovich, Slippery Rock, 5-6, Sr.

Annsley Baker, Beaver, 5-7, Jr.

Azzure O’Conner, Neumann-Goretti, 5-4, Fr

Ava London, Susquehanna Township, 5-7 Jr.

Eve Helsel, Clearfield, Soph., 5-11

CLASS 3A

Player of the Year: Erica Gribble, Greensburg Central Catholic, 5-11, Sr.,

Coach of the Year: Chris Skatell, Greensburg Central Catholic

First Team

Erica Gribble, Greensburg Central Catholic, 5-11, Sr.,

Oumou ‘Mimi’ Thiero, Quaker Valley, 6-4, Sr.

Makayla Presser-Palmer, Northwestern, 5-11, Sr.

Alaina Dadzie, Loyalsock, 6-1, Sr

Karis Thomas, Shady Side Academy, 5-7, Sr.

Second Team

Maddie Smith, Hughesville, 5-8, Jr.

Janae Patterson, Pequea Valley, 5-6, Sr.

McKenzie Chimock, Holy Redeemer, Sr.

Clara Steinberg, Eisenhower, 5-8, Sr.

Mckenna Runkle, Schuylkill Haven, 5-8, Jr.

Third Team

Cassie Sauer, Shady Side Academy, 6-2, Sr.

Jayla Peterson, Greensburg Central Catholic, 5-8, Sr.

Katie George, Central Cambria, 5-10, Jr.

Bella Boylan, Holy Redeemer, 5-10, Sr.

Taylor Linton, Imhotep Charter, Soph.

CLASS 2A

Player of the Year: Addison Kilmer, Mountain View, 6-2, Sr.

Coach of the Year: Rachel Prosser, Berlin Brothersvalley

First Team

Addison Kilmer, Mountain View, 6-2, Sr.

Coral Prosser, Berlin Brothersvalley, 5-8, Jr.

Bella Magestro, Kennedy Catholic, 5-8, Sr.,

Addison Haight, Kane, 5-7. Soph.

Ella Stambaugh, Wyoming Seminary, 6-2, Jr.

Second Team

Tori Harvey, Kennedy Catholic, 5-8, Jr.,

Payton Newman, Neshannock, 5-9, Sr.,

Lilly Gerwert, Bellwood-Antis, 6-1, Sr.

Bryn Prosser, Berlin Brothersvalley, 5-10, So.,

Kailee Helwig, Southern Columbia, S-8, Soph.

Third Team

Isabel Chaparro, Riverview, 5-9, Sr.

Reese Bruckner, Wilmington, 5-9, Sr.,

Zoey Ferguson, Bishop McCort Catholic, 5-9, Jr.

Addy Bond, Redbank Valley, 5-4, Sr.

Kaylie Gaye, Windber, 5-1, Sr.,

CLASS 1A

Player of the Year: Naomi Crispin, Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy, 5-6, Sr.

Coach of the Year: Angela Detwiler, Williamsburg

First Team

Naomi Crispin, Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy, 5-6, Sr.

Dominique Good, Delco Christian, Fr.

Emma Larkin, Geibel Catholic, 5-5, Sr.

Levada Gorsuch, Williamsburg, 6-2, Jr.

Morgan Ruggery, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, 5-8, Jr.

Second Team

Qynne Demler, New Covenant Christian, 5-5, Jr.

LeeAnna Royer, Williamsburg, 5-5, Sr.

Bella Dumbroski, Serra Catholic, 5-9, Soph.

Hannah Lokitis, Lourdes Regional, 6-1, Jr.

Haley Litzelman, North Penn-Liberty, 5-11, Sr

Third Team

Anberlyn Petrecca, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, 6-0, Jr.

Aubrey Yartz, Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy, Sr.

Mallory Clemmer, Geibel Catholic, 6-1, Soph.

Courtney Good, Linville Hill Christian, 5-6, Sr.

Ja’Niya Daniels, Farrell, 5-8, Sr.

NON-PIAA

Player of the Year: Jordyn Palmer, Westtown School, Jr.

Coach of the Year: Vinny Simpson, Friends’ Central

First Team

Jordyn Palmer, Westtown School, Jr.

Zya Small, Friends’ Central, Jr.

Ryan Carter, Friends’ Central, Jr.

Riley Davis, Notre Dame, Jr.

Milan Trusty, Friends Select, Soph.

Second Team

Sammie Faella, Hill School, Sr.

Grace Nasr, Notre Dame, Jr.

Faith Watson, Friends’ Central, Soph.

Jada Lynch, Westtown School, Jr.

Atlee Vanesko, Westtown School, Sr.

Third Team

Gabby Vaughn, Shipley School, Sr.

Madison Greenaway, Mercersburg Academy, Soph.

Melody Vaughn, Shipley School, Fr.

Ashley Krieger, Westtown School, Jr.

Kate Boerner, Episcopal Academy, Jr.

Marleigh Jackson, Penn Charter, Sr.