Girls basketball: Bishop Kearney's repeat bid leads list of storylines in Section V

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(Photo: CARLOS ORTIZ/@CFORTIZ_DANDC/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Win a Section V girls basketball championship and circumstances can change for a team, even if it's an established powerhouse like Bishop Kearney.

The reigning Section V Class AA champion now is officially the bar, the standard and hurdle all others in this group of teams need to target for glory.

Last season, Bishop Kearney won a sectional championship for the first time since 2015. The team coached by Kevan Sheppard may not be done yet, even without 2017-18 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester small forward Allure Simmons, now a guard at Monmouth University in New Jersey.

Not with a starting five that consists of three sophomores, a senior and a freshman, four of whom are starters back for another championship run.

"I hope we are," Sheppard said. "My girls are sophomores, but playing-wise, I approach them the same way I would approach seniors (as far as expectations). For them, it’s new. The mountain they had to climb, we're finally getting past that.

"The title put the target on them. Every game is someone else's championship game. You have to approach it the same way."

There is a strong sense that Bishop Kearney can handle the job.

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Bishop Kearney's Saniaa Wilson received her first offer of a scholarship from Syracuse University, as an eighth-grader. (Photo: CARLOS ORTIZ/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

Saniaa Wilson, a 6-foot sophomore, scored 16 points a game last season while also grabbing an average of 15 rebounds and blocking three shots per game. The 2017-18 AGR team member received the first on a list of about a dozen offers to play on a Division I college scholarship as an eighth-grader from Syracuse University.

Marianna Freeman, a second-team AGR guard (15 ppg., 4 assists and 3 steals) at 5 feet-5 inches, also is on the radar of Division I colleges.

"Her ability to shoot kills all of the height situation," Sheppard said about recruiters' concerns.

Taylor Norris, a 5-9 sophomore, stepped into this season's starting lineup at forward. Kia Goode (9 ppg., 3 apg., 2 spg) was in the starting five as an eighth-grader last season, which included three games against a championship-caliber Mercy team - including the sectional tournament final - plus matchups against Edison, Jamesville-DeWitt, a state-level power in Section III and Section VI's Williamsville South.

"With all of that being said, my senior (5-11 swingman Lytoya Baker) is probably my most important player," Sheppard said. "She provides that release for everybody. You can’t focus on anyone else. 

"If you give her an opportunity to go get 20 or 30 points, she’s going to do it." 

Baker, who also had offers from Division I colleges to think about, signed with Division II LeMoyne during the most recent period.

"At the end of the day, you are going to have to get through BK,” Penfield coach Mark Vogt said. 

Mendon Machine

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Mendon's Alana Fursman grabs a rebound away from Aquinas' Nia Williams-Matthews last March. (Photo: JAMIE GERMANO/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

Once upon a time, the Pittsford Mendon Vikings played their way to seven Section V tournament finals before they carried home the trophy.

Those days seem like a long, long time ago.

Mendon is a two-time reigning sectional champion, a five-time winner of those titles during the last eight years. The Vikings played in sectional finals each of those last eight seasons. It is pretty established where the local team to beat is in Class A.

"The kids and parents put a lot of time, energy and resources into it," Mendon coach Todd Julien, who is in his 17th season as Vikings coach, said. "They are dedicated. 

"They enjoy the challenge of it. Each group we’ve had, continues to set the bar higher in effort.”

The approach of the Vikings is to "try to beat you collectively," according to Julien. Some of the best options in Section V are available.

Alana Fursman, a 5-10 senior on last season's AGR team, has accepted a scholarship to Merrimack, a college with plans to move into Division I in 2019-20. The high-energy 2017-18 Monroe County Division III Player of the Year scored 32 points during a win over Greece Athena in Mendon's season-opener.

"She can play anything, (positions) 1 to 5 with me," Julien said. "They don’t come around that often. She is a forward with guard skills." 

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Pittsford Mendon's Lexi Green goes in for a layup against Williamsville South's Amari DeBerry in the first quarter. (Photo: CARLOS ORTIZ/@CFORTIZ_DANDC/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Lexi Green, a guard named to the AGR second team, also averaged 15 points last season as a freshman. Ellie Mooney (9 ppg.), the MVP of the 2018 Section V Class A1 Tournament. is back in the starting lineup with senior point guard Courtney Naugle..

Add 5-8 junior guard Katie Bischoping's capability to chip in eight points a game as a reserve, and the other Class A sectional title contenders get a sense of what they might have to deal with, sooner or later.

Is it Fair season?

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Edison’s Dyaisha Fair, left, drives to the basket against SOTA’s India Jordan during a regular season game played at School 33 on Monday, Dec.11, 2017. (Photo: ADRIAN KRAUS)

Edison Tech in the Rochester City School District, is where one of Section V's best players suits up. It's been that way the last two seasons, if the AGR team is the measure.

"The love I have for the game is out of this world," Edison senior guard Dyaisha Fair typed in her short 2017-18 AGR profile.

Fair will score, maybe regardless of opponent or strategy. The questions for the Edison Inventors are, how many points can teammates add to the pool game-to-game? How far can Edison take its season through the Section V Class AA Tournament? 

Last season, the Inventors ran into Bishop Kearney, and were down and out of the tournament in the quarterfinals. Fair scored 30 and 32 points during a six-point win at Canandaigua on Nov. 30 and a nine-point loss at Penfield on Dec. 4, respectively. 

Penfield, Mercy will contend

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Penfield’s Brianne Moxley, right, is defended by Mercy’s Emily McDonough during a regular season game at Our Lady of Mercy High School on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. Penfield beat Mercy 53-48. Moxley, a four-year starter, has signed a letter of intent to play at Queens College. (Photo: ADRIAN KRAUS)

Thank goodness that, no matter the mountain of a team in whichever classification, regular-season games must be played and the goal is to win those contests.

While Bishop Kearney is the team to beat in Section V Class AA, Penfield and Mercy also have realistic championship plans. It's what these teams do.

Yes, three AGR players no longer are in Mercy's starting lineup, but try and convince fifth-year varsity member Emily Tabone, a junior guard, that the Monarchs will fail to make a championship celebration for them happen.

Mercy has played in the last five tournament finals.

The new Monarchs starting lineup includes 6-4 sophomore Katie Whitaker at center, 5-8 senior forward Jenna Babcock and 5-10 junior Hannah Chaffer.

When was the last time the Penfield Patriots were a pushover? We may have to get back to you later on that one about the 2015-16 champion. Instead, we will go out a very short limb and say that the answer will not be this season.

"Guard-play is everything in high school basketball," Mendon's Julien said.

Penfield may have two of Section V's best.

Brianne Moxley, a 5-9 senior, was a first-team Monroe County league shooting guard last season, as she averaged 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds a game. The fourth-year starter's future includes basketball at Queens College.

Baylee Teal, a 5-6 junior in her third season as a starter, has begun to receive offers from Division I college programs along the lines of Fordham, Massachussets Lowell and Maryland, Baltimore County.

"One is a true point guard, one is a true off-guard," Vogt said.

The pair is among four returners in a starting lineup with a combined 18 seasons of experience.

"These guys have played a lot, they have seen a lot," Vogt said.

And the Penfield Patriots may have a stronger, genuine presence around the basket. Vogt called 5-10 junior forward Nyara Simmons' 21-point, 18-rebound performance against Edison "a breakout."

"That makes us that much better," Vogt said. 

Canandaigua has experience

The team at Canandaigua is well aware that it plays in the same Section V Class A group as Pittsford Mendon.

Pittsford Mendon has defeated Canandaigua during the last two sectional tournament seasons, including in last year's Class A1 final.

Canandaigua's leading scorer and rebounder has graduated. Taryn Kelley and Killian Mahoney, both guards, are back, along with forwards Katie Stegall and Isabelle Ceddia. They are all seniors — like the fifth starter Jaylea Ransom — who have been running around out there for awhile, as they have been together in basketball since they were freshmen.

"There is nothing quite like experience, it allows you do a little bit more offensively and defensively," Canandaigua coach Michael Brennan said. "This group has progressed steadily. You could see the talent was there and the light at the end of the tunnel.

"To their credit, they are a very much a game by game group, accomplish what we want to accomplish in this quarter, this possession."

Canandaigua defeated Wilson, lost to Edison and took a victory over Churchville-Chili during a 2-1 start.

"We're going to cross that bridge when we come to it," Brennan said about Pittsford Mendon.

Others to watch

Geneseo was out of last season's Section V Class C2 Tournament after the quarterfinals. Two starters on that team are back on the court. The Blue Devils expect to welcome back a third, junior Grace Hainsworth (16.7 ppg.) from injury in January.

Kurt Graupman took over for Jeff Eichas as head coach of the Hilton Cadets, after eight seasons in assistant role in the program. There are four starters back from a team that finished 14-7, after a loss to Mercy in the Section V Class AA quarterfinals.

Greece Odyssey made it to the Class B semifinals last season. Can the Leopards, with four starters back, improve on a 12-10 record? The team won a sectional title in 2012-13.

Dansville expects to throw out different combinations of experienced starters, including Livingston County league all-stars Jacquelyn Blechinger and Grace Rittenhouse, after a semifinal appearance in the Class B Tournament. The Mustangs also are candidates to improve on their 12-11 record.

Midlakes appears to be the mountain in Class B, after a 25-1 run that ended in the state semifinals, led by AGR senior guard Alaina Forbes and Finger Lakes East all-star Cara Walker. Both are back, along with another pair of starters.

JAMESJ@Gannett.com

Players to watch in Section V girls basketball this season

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(Photo: JAMIE GERMANO/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

The Section V girls basketball season kicks into high gear this weekend.

Here are more than three dozen players to watch as the season unfolds (returning All-Greater Rochester selections in bold):

Lytoya Baker, Bishop Kearney forward/guard

Jacquelyn Blechinger, Dansville forward/center

Treanna Blenman, Greece Odyssey forward

Sydney Close, Red Jacket guard

Lauren DeVaney, Geneva forward/guard

Kelechi Dimgba, Greece Athena forward

Dyaisha Fair, Edison point guard

Alaina Forbes, Midlakes guard

Marianna Freeman, Bishop Kearney guard

Alana Fursman, Pittsford Mendon 

Vanessa Galbraith, Livonia forward

Lexi Green, Pittsford Mendon guard

Grace Hainesworth, Geneseo guard

Leah Harkenrider, Hornell guard

Bryn Hayes, Brockport guard

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Mercy’s Emily Tabone, right, is defended by Penfield’s Nyara Simmons during a regular season game at Our Lady of Mercy High School on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. (Photo: ADRIAN KRAUS)

Miriam Ibezim, Gates Chili center

Kaniya Jackson, Geneseo guard

Autumn Kunes, Naples guard

Shinya Lee, Brockport forward

Taylor Lockwood, Webster Thomas guard

Callie McCulley, Batavia Notre Dame forward/guard

Ellie Mooney, Pittsford Mendon guard

Brianne Moxley, Penfield guard

Maddie Muehlig, Elba guard

Jade Parsons, South Seneca center

Alahna Paige, Irondequoit guard

Payton Powers, Keshequa forward

Grace Rittenhouse, Dansville guard

Liz Roach, Canisteo-Greenwood center

Jaden Sciotti, Hornell point guard

Nyara Simmons, Penfield

Brianna Smith, Oakfield-Alabama center/forward

Katie Smyth, Palmyra-Macedon guard

Ryann Stefaniak, Batavia guard

Emily Tabone, Mercy guard

MacKenna Taggart, Bath forward

Baylee Teal, Penfield guard

Djeynaba Thiam, Edison guard/forward

Sara VanAken, Red Jacket forward/guard

Elyse Van Auken, Caledonia-Mumford forward/guard

Cara Walker, Midlakes guard

Saniaa Wilson, Bishop Kearney forward

JAMESJ@DemocratandChronicle.com