The District 3-AA girls’ basketball tournament has come and gone, and for the ninth staggering year in a row, York Catholic captured the coveted gold trophy.
Nine.
That’s pretty heady, downright rarified-air stuff.
To put a bow on the tournament, here’s our all-star list, with an MVP plus five players who also enjoyed a standout two-week stretch …
DISTRICT 3-AA TOURNAMENT MVP
Deanna Chesko, senior, York Catholic
Have floor general, will travel. And the Fighting Irish have a solid court leader in Chesko, who steered York Catholic to its ninth district championship in a row.
She was steady as she goes during the Fighting Irish’s latest title venture; Chesko popped in 10 points in the quarters against Bishop McDevitt, bucketed 19 points in the semis against Camp Hill, and played a solid floor game setting up her teammates in the title win over rival Delone Catholic.
Chesko averaged 11.0 points in three games, and now she and York Catholic will try and maneuver their way back to the PIAA championship again; Fighting Irish kick-off the state playoffs on Friday vs. Community Academy of Philadelphia at Dallastown at 6 p.m.
DISTRICT 3-AA ALL-STARS
Maddie Comly, junior, Delone Catholic — Silky-smooth floor leader helped the Squirettes reach the district title game for the fourth year in a row. Of course, bitter YAIAA rival York Catholic walked away with the crown — again — but Delone Catholic waged a good war. Comly popped in 17.0 points per game during the district playoffs, including a game-high 22 points in a semifinal win over Oley Valley. York Catholic coach Kevin Bankos, who knows a thing or two about point guards, called Comly the best floor leader his team prepares for in York/Adams.
Mary Gingrow, senior, Delone Catholic — Not a true post player, but plays much bigger than her frame — and can beat you from the outside, too. Gingrow teamed with Comly to give the Squirettes a heck of a 1-2 scoring punch during the tourney. Gingrow scored at a 16.7 clip, including 18 points in the semis vs. Oley Valley.
Addie Guyer, junior, Camp Hill — This was a good bracket for point guards, and Guyer had three solid games running the show for Camp Hill, which earned third place, and the final PIAA berth, with a 3-point win over Oley Valley for bronze. Guyer averaged 13.7 points in three games, including 19 points and four 3s in the third-place game vs. Oley Valley. She drilled seven 3s in the tourney in all, and Guyer and the Lions will take on undefeated and top-ranked Neumann-Goretti in a first-round state game on Friday at 6 p.m. at South Philadelphia.
Anne Lehr, junior, York Catholic — Playing on a roster full of potential scorers, Lehr has firmly established herself as one of the Fighting Irish’s top go-to players on the offensive end. She set the tone from the jump, pumping in 20 points in the quarterfinals vs. Bishop McDevitt. And Lehr led the way in the title game against Delone Catholic, hitting a 3 on York Catholic’s first trip and scoring seven of her 15 points in the first quarter to help stake her Fighting Irish to an early lead. Lehr averaged 12.0 points in the three games, helping York Catholic make it a staggering nine titles in a row.
Hannah Laslo, junior, York Catholic — Fighting Irish’s post threat was solid in all three tourney games, but she saved her best for last. Against Delone Catholic, Laslo pumped in 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the finale, helping York Catholic clinch yet another gold trophy. She averaged 11.7 points in three games.
