PC's Powell just wants to beat GA

Penn Charter's Aleesha Powell has an outside chance to become the top girls' basketball scorer in school history, but the senior guard probably would pass on that for an opportunity to beat Germantown Academy and have a chance to win the Inter-Academic League championship. Penn Charter has never beaten the 12-time league-champion Patriots in her career.

Powell, who has committed to play for Iona next season, pumped in 15 points Friday night in the Quakers' 46-33 league win over Springside. Her effort raised her career point total to 1,433, 140 behind leader Virginia McMunigle. McMunigle is now a junior at Cornell.

With only two games left in the regular season, including one with Germantown Academy on Tuesday afternoon, Powell would need some prolific scoring and a long run in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools playoffs to catch McMunigle. Penn Charter, ranked No. 4 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, is 8-1 in league play. The Patriots are 8-0, including an earlier win over the Quakers.

"I know that I'm close to the record, but it's never been a goal of mine. I've never thought much about it," said the soft-spoken Powell. "I'd love to win the Inter-Ac. It's been a blessing for me to play at Penn Charter and be a leader here."

The win over Springside was a perfect example of her leadership.

Her team was trailing the Lions, 22-16, at halftime. The senior guard made a steal and a field goal to start the second half and rally the Quakers to the win.

"I see it as my fault if we're not playing right," Powell said. "I had to get us out of our slump."

Penn Charter coach Diana Caramanico called Powell a natural leader.

"She has great energy and enthusiasm," the coach said. "She's fast, quick, and versatile."

No time to celebrate. Jim Ricci picked up the 100th win of his six-year career as coach at Archbishop Wood Friday night, but he didn't have much time to dwell on it.

The Vikings have an important Catholic League date with defending champion Archbishop Carroll Monday night at 7 on their home court. The game was initially snowed out.

This will be the only regular-season meeting between the two teams. Wood, ranked second in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, is 14-3 overall, 8-0 in the league. Carroll, ranked eighth by The Inquirer, is 9-0 in league play, 13-5 overall. The teams play 12 league games.

Wood, the defending PIAA Class AAA champion, lost twice to Carroll last season, once in the regular season and once in the league title game.

"I don't think I have to remind the girls about Carroll's record in the Catholic League playoffs," said Ricci, who said he never thought much about his own coaching record. "We would get into these tournaments and they would always ask what my record was. That would remind me, but then I'd forget about it. Being successful [as a coach] is a combination of so many things. I've had some very good people around me. When I look at some others coaches' records, mine pales in comparison."

Making history. Communications Tech coach Joe Garrett says his team can make a little history Monday with a win over Randolf in its Public League regular-season finale. A victory would give the Class AA Phoenix an 8-0 mark in the league and overall mark of 8-2.

"It would be the best record in the school's history," said Garrett who has been the coach for four years. "We have some outstanding athletes this year. Last year we missed the playoffs by a game. This time we made it."

Shalae Davenport has been one of keys to the Phoenix's success this season. She is closing in on 100 steals for the season.

"She's our No. 1 guard," Garrett said.

Lornay Rowe, a sophomore, gives Communications a strong backcourt combination.

"She's our second-leading scorer behind Khadijah Gardner," Garrett said. "Gardner's our go-to girl, averaging about 19 points a game."

Garrett's daughter Biannca has also been a big contributor.

"We've put a lot of effort into this season," said Biannca Garrett, a 5-foot-10 senior who plans to study education and psychology and run track at Virginia Union next school year. "We've gotten along very well."

Team Record

Records are through Sunday.

Last week's rankings in parentheses.

1. Germantown Ac. (1) 18-3

2. Arch. Wood (2) 16-3

3. Council Rock N. (3) 16-1

4. Prep Charter (4) 18-1

5. Penn Charter (5) 18-2

6. Mt. St. Joseph (4) 19-2

7. Cheltenham (7) 17-3

8. Arch. Carroll (8) 13-5

9. Cardinal O'Hara (9) 13-4

10. Boyertown (10) 19-2

Under consideration (listed alphabetically): Archbishop Prendergast (16-3), Central Bucks East (15-2), Downingtown East (17-3), Spring-Ford (18-4), Upper Dublin (18-3), Villa Maria Academy (14-5).

- Don Beideman
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