JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Defending state champion Berlin Brotherswell has an experienced returning roster, including two-time all-state player and NCAA Division I player Coral Prosser, as the Mountaineers look to maintain their spot at the top of the PIAA Class 2A women's basketball bracket.
Bishop McCourt Catholic brings a mix of experience and newcomers as the Crimson Crushers try to take another step after losing to Berlin Brothersvalley in the state title contest in Hershey in March.
Advertising
Last season's gold and silver medal winners are among the intriguing storylines as the school season heats up.
“This team is special and will face a very tough non-conference schedule this year,” said 20-year coach Rachel Prosser, who earned her second statewide Coach of the Year award in 2025 when the Mountaineers went 28-2.
Berlin Brothersvalley opened this season with a pair of wins at the Play 4 Mae Tournament at Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh over the weekend. The Mountaineers beat 5A Penn-Trafford (62-45) and 4A Oakland Catholic (57-47).
“I look forward to seeing this group compete with passion and energy in every game,” said Coach Prosser.
Advertising
“They are also hoping for community support.”
The Mountaineers return three starters and five letterwinners from the 2025 state championship team. Coral Prosser averaged 21.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 4.1 steals per game as she earned first-team all-state honors for the District 5-2A champions.
The talented point guard has 620 points, 229 rebounds, 158 assists and 119 steals. She scored a game-high 35 points with 15 rebounds and eight steals in a 62-50 win over Bishop McCourt in the PIAA 2A championship game on March 27.
The 5-foot-8 junior has 34 NCAA Division I offers including Texas A&M, Air Force, Boston University, Bowling Green State, Dayton, Duquesne and Robert Morris, among others.
Advertising
“She’s the real deal,” Bishop McCourt coach John Hahn said of Coral Prosser after the state title contest. “I can see why she has Division I college offers.”
Crimson Crushers “remember this feeling”
Khan's Crimson Crushers return three starters from a 26-5 team.
Bishop McCourt fell behind Berlin Brothersvalley 15-0 in the state championship game in Hershey.
But the road to the title game was filled with highlights, including a District 6-2A championship win over Penns Manor, 59-49, and a dramatic 55-53 victory over the Comets in a rematch of the PIAA semifinals.
“We learned a lot,” said Crimson Crushers senior guard Emma Preuss, who scored 27 points in the state semifinal win. “We know what we have to work on this year. We know what we need to do.
Advertising
“We all remember that feeling (after losing the state championship). Many of us continue to watch that game to get fired up for the season.”
Looking back to move forward was a common theme.
“Last year didn’t look good, and I think we all have some kind of fire,” senior forward Ava Zucco said. “I think we’re ready to go and we know exactly what we need to do.”
Khan has seen determination throughout the offseason.
“From the first day we started working together in the summer, I could tell they weren't happy and they weren't happy,” the 25-year-old head coach said. “I told them, ‘Keep this feeling inside. This is what we will build.”
Advertising
“We were in the weight room at 6 a.m. We're in the gym. I have four really good seniors. The team is a lot closer this year.”
Bishop Carroll returns five starters.
Bishop Carroll Catholic first-year head coach Nick Smith welcomed back five starters from a 21-8 team that advanced to the PIAA Class 1A semifinals.
“The returning players bring valuable experience and chemistry,” Smith said.
The Huskies opened with wins over Dubois (74-24) and St. Joseph Catholic Academy (62-51). Bishop Carroll hosts Bellwood-Antis Friday.
“We had a really good season last year, so I think that will give us good motivation this year,” junior Ava Public said. “Our team is very friendly. We have a good relationship. It's like a family.”
Advertising
Bishop Carroll won three straight PIAA playoff games before losing to Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic, 49-42, in the state semifinals. The Marauders also defeated the Huskies, 61-44, in the District 6-1A final.
“I think what we did last season really shows us that we can go this far in the playoffs,” junior Adeline Myers said. “Just getting to where we were and how close we got was really fun.”
Senior Madison Delauter added, “We worked hard in practice and kept our motivation and energy high.”
“Expectations are high for Forest Hills”
For the 2024-25 season, two perennial district contenders, Forest Hills and Portage, have had to completely replace their starting lineups.
Advertising
A year later, both the District 6-4A Rangers and District 6-2A Mustangs have four starters and will be teams to watch in the Laurel Highlands and Heritage Conferences, respectively.
“There are expectations now, and the expectations are high,” said Forest Hills coach Carol Cecere, who entered her 31st season with a 505-222 career record. “Expectations are both a blessing and a burden.
“(Assistant) coach (Scott) Lashinski was just talking about how quickly you go from being a young, inexperienced team to having a target on your back because you did something unexpected last year.
“Suddenly we're not inexperienced anymore. We're a veteran team. Things change quickly.”
Advertising
The 17-9 Rangers won last season's 6-4A crown over Penn Cambria, 65-51, and advanced to the second round of the PIAA playoffs.
“We had a whole new starting lineup last year, so we had to get used to each other,” Forest Hills senior Morgan Gdula said. “We have four returning starters and the people coming off the bench will do a great job. They're tough and tough.”
“Having four returning starters will be a good start for us because we know what each other is capable of,” senior guard Aiva Maul said.
“We know where to pass, when to shoot, and the coach prepared us.”
Advertising
Portage has the numbers, returning experience
In his 24th season, Portage coach Lance Hudak will miss just one starter from a 13-11 2024-25 team that lost in the first round of the District 6-2A playoffs.
“We’re optimistic,” Hudak said. “We have the biggest numbers (on the roster) that I've had since I've been coach. Last year at this time we were replacing five senior starters. This year it's just the opposite. Last year we went 13-11 and made the conference semifinals and the district playoffs.”
“Being a year older, the numbers are bigger, the freshmen have come in and helped us. We're excited.”
Hudak said he has a solid lineup of experienced defensemen and forwards. The team finished only two games above .500, but was tested throughout the Heritage Conference schedule.
Advertising
“We built a lot of chemistry last year and that will carry over into this year,” junior Brynn Burkett said. “I think it will work out well for us.”
“A lot of us had to step up last year after losing five seniors,” added junior Kendall Bednarski. “I think that helps a lot. These freshmen are very good too.”
Westmont Hilltop has grown 'significantly'
Westmont Hilltop is nearly two years removed from finishing second in the state. Coach Brittany Eisenhut returns four starters from a 12-9 roster and welcomes seven freshmen to the team.
“They’ve grown a lot,” Eisenhut said. “They've grown not only as players, but as teammates. They're becoming leaders. They're really taking these young girls under their wing.
Advertising
“There is a responsibility. If someone is driving at half speed, they will be told about it.”
“Young Potential” of Central Cambria
Central Cambria replaced four starters from the 2024-25 District 6-3A championship team that routed previously undefeated River Valley 54-53 in overtime during the title game.
“We've lost six seniors but we have a lot more youthful potential in our squad and we're looking forward to growing this year,” said Central Cumbria junior defender Rowin Ruddeck.
“It's a little tough to rebuild,” added senior guard Alaina Long, “but we're looking forward to it. It's a new team and we all have this young potential. It's a new life.”
Advertising
The Red Devils won their first district crown since 1998 and advanced to the PIAA tournament.
“We'll definitely miss the seniors we lost, but I feel very confident in the group we're moving forward,” Central Cambria coach Brittany Bracken said.
“They got a taste of success last season and I feel like it just pushed them to work even harder to get that taste again.”
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
