Shooting Stars: See who made the Courier Times/Intell Girls Basketball All-Area Team

It was another exceptional season of girls basketball in the Bucks County area.

We have six players (and counting) who have signed to play Division 1 ball in college. This season, eight players scored their 1,000th career point. We had league MVPs and saw scoring records shattered. And we had championships. There were league winners and district titleists, and eventually, a state champion. Having so many talented and committed players doesn’t make selecting all-area teams any easier — it makes it more difficult.

After careful consideration, here are your 2023-24 Bucks County Courier Times/Intelligencer Girls Basketball All-Area Teams.

Girls Basketball All Stars: Player of the Year / Coach of the Year / Team of the Year

Player of the Year: Ava Renninger, Archbishop Wood, senior, guard

First Team:

Reese Zemitis, Neshaminy, senior, forward

Zemitis finished her illustrious high school career as Neshaminy’s all-time leading scorer with 1,428 career points. She led the team in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game, along with 8 rebounds and 1.2 steals, and shooting 85 percent on free throws. Zemitis also broke the school’s single-game scoring record with her 35-point performance in January. A three-time first-team All-SOL Patriot selection, Zemitis received 16 Division 1 offers before deciding on Bucknell University.

Sofia Vitucci, Pennsbury, senior, guard

As the offensive focal point of a defensive-minded Falcons’ team, Vitucci faced constant double teams, and even triple teams. Despite that, she averaged 18.4 points per game, the most of any Courier/Intell player, along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists. In the postseason, she scored 17.5 points per game, including 22 points in an elimination game against Neshaminy, a team Pennsbury lost to twice in the regular season. Vitucci scored her 1,000th career point on Dec. 14.

Caleigh Sperling, North Penn, senior, guard

Sperling led the Knights to their best season since 2017, averaging 17.2 points and 6 rebounds per game. She hit 84 percent of her free throws and shot 46 percent from the field. In the second round of the PIAA Class 6A playoffs, Sperling hit a game-winning buzzer-beater in overtime against North Allegheny. She scored 22 or more points in three of the Knights’ seven playoff games. Sperling, a Thomas Jefferson University commit, finished her high school career with 1,324 points.

Girls Basketball Coach of the Year: See who is Courier Times/Intell Girls Basketball Coach of the Year in Bucks County area

Emily Knouse, Archbishop Wood, junior, guard/forward

After an impactful sophomore season, Knouse took another big leap this season, averaging 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks per game, all increases from last season. As Knouse was often on the bench in the second half of the Vikings’ numerous blowout win, her impact is best judged by her postseason performance. In the playoffs, she averaged 17 points per game, and led the Vikings in scoring in all five state playoff games. The St. Joseph’s University commit also tied the team’s single-game scoring record with 34 points in a game and was named first-team All-Catholic.

Amber Howard, Bensalem, senior, guard

After committing to Division 1 North Carolina A&T in the summer, Howard led the Owls to their first district playoff appearance in five years. Howard led the Owls in scoring and rebounding, with 18.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She scored in double digits in every regular season game this year and had eight games with 20 or more points.

Lola Ibarrondo, Neshaminy, senior, guard

The 5-foot-7 point guard’s speed and athleticism made her an impact player on both sides of the court. She averaged 11.7 points per game and finished her high school career with 1,107 points, 10th all-time at Neshaminy, and averaged 15 points per game in the district playoffs. The Holy Family commit contributed 5.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game and is a three-time first-team All-SOL Patriot selection.

Gianna Johnson, George School, senior, center

The University of Delaware signee had a goal of averaging a double-double this season, and she did just that. Johnson led the Cougars with 17.3 points, 12 rebounds and 1 block per game this season, playing against tough competition in the Friends Schools League.

Isabella Casey, Germantown Academy, senior, guard

A Bucknell University commit, Casey was named Inter-Ac MVP after leading the Patriots to the PAISAA semifinals. She averaged 15.8 points and 6 rebounds, both team highs, along with 1.3 steals this season. Against Penn Charter, she hit a game-winning free throw as time expired to give the Patriots a share of the Inter-Academic League title for the first time since 2020.

Izzy Elizondo, New Hope-Solebury, junior, guard/forward

Elizondo had a breakout season, averaging 17 points per game for the Class 3A Lions, who faced numerous Class 5A and 6A teams during the regular season. She scored 20 or more points 11 times this season, including 24 points in both the District One semifinal and the championship game, leading the Lions to the title. Elizondo was a factor in all aspects of the game, contributing 7 rebounds and 5 assists per game.

Second Team:

Grace McDonough, Lansdale Catholic, junior, forward

In her first year in the Catholic League, McDonough had an instant impact on the Crusaders and earned first-team All-Catholic honors. The 6-foot-2 forward gave the Crusaders an inside presence and she had at least five games with 10 or more rebounds. She did the same on the offensive side, scoring 20 or more points in five games, including a season-high 29 points and 15 rebounds in a win over Neumann-Goretti.

Jess Lockwood, CB East, sophomore, forward

The sophomore had a breakout season, leading the Patriots with 5.2 rebounds per game and contributing 20 blocks and 30 steals in 29 games. Lockwood scored 11 points per game, good for second on the team, and shot 48 percent from the field, while making 81 percent of her free throws. She helped the Patriots reach the state playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Girls Basketball Team of the Year: Girls Basketball: PIAA state champions earn Team of the Year honors for Bucks County area

Ava Gumienny, Villa Joseph Marie, senior, guard

Gumienny led the team in scoring at 14 points per game, and helped the Jems win their first district championship since 2002. The Arcadia commit scored 33 points in a game, believed to be a school record, and had 30 points in a District One 4A playoff win. A two-year captain and first-team All-AACA selection, Gumienny can take over a game while keeping her teammates involved.

Piper McGinley, Abington, senior, guard

The senior was a factor on all fronts for the Ghosts, scoring 9.1 points per game and leading the team with 6 rebounds per game. McGinley shot 46 percent from the field and contributed 2 steals and 4 assists per game. A three-sport athlete, McGinley also plays soccer and lacrosse.

Anna Barry, CB East, senior, guard

The Patriots’ guard led the team in scoring with 13 points per game, surpassing 1,000 career points in late February. She also contributed 2.6 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.

Ella Brown, Pennridge, junior, guard

Brown was one of the leading scorers in the SOL, averaging 16.8 points per game, along with six rebounds. She connected on 40 3-pointers and hit 81 percent of her free throws.

Delaney McCaffery, Council Rock North, senior, guard

The Ursinus commit led the team in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game, up from 10.5 last year, and averaged 5.3 rebounds per game, up from 2.7 last season. She contributed 2.4 assists and 2 steals per game and connected on 84 percent of her free throws. In the second half of the season, McCaffrey scored 16.5 points per game, including six games of 20 more points, keeping the Indians in the playoff hunt.

Holly Gohl, Upper Moreland, senior, forward 

Gohl finished her high school career with 1,220 points, the fourth most in team history. She averaged 11.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, both team highs, and shot 49 percent from the field.

Emilia Coleman, Gwynedd Mercy, sophomore, guard

The point guard led the Monarchs in scoring, with 13.8 points per game, as well as rebounds (5.2 a game) and assists (1.6), and connected on 40 percent of her 3-point attempts. Coleman was named the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies MVP after leading the Monarchs to the AACA title, scoring 23 points in back-to-back playoff games.

Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Bucks County area Girls Basketball Player of the Year left her mark on PCL, PIAA playoffs

Third Team:

• Jess Aponik, Germantown Academy, senior

• Bailey Balkir, Gwynedd Mercy, sophomore

• Olivia Boccella, Lansdale Catholic, senior

• Talia DiMichele, Bensalem, junior

• Lauren Greer, Archbishop Wood, senior

• Maya Johnson, Abington, junior

• Avery Kocur, William Tennent, sophomore

• Mikel Lancit, Upper Moreland, junior

• Brooke McFadden, Conwell-Egan, senior

• Kathryn O’Kane, Council Rock South, junior

• Olivia Stone, North Penn, senior

• Emily Wilson, New Hope-Solebury, junior

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Girls Basketball: All-Area team for Bucks County area high schools