After several years of setting a standard of excellence, the Greencastle-Antrim girls basketball squad took a step back last winter, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
Needless to say, the Blue Devils are hungry to put last season behind them and return to the postseason for the seventh time in eight years. So far, things have been going according to plan: Greencastle has a winning record and ranks among the Top 14 teams in the District 3-5A power rankings.
The Blue Devils, however, will face their biggest test of the season on Friday, when they travel to the friendly confines of Dillsburg to take on the unbeaten Northern York Polar Bears. We’ve selected this crucial Mid-Penn Colonial Division contest as our Game of the Week.
Greencastle has a quality squad, but will most certainly be the underdog when it takes the court against the high-powered Polar Bears, who have won their first four games by an average of nearly 25 points. It’s too early to call this a must-win game for the Blue Devils, but they will need to bring their ‘A’ game if they hope to avoid an 0-2 start in the Colonial.
In the weeks and months to come throughout the high school sports season, we plan on spotlighting multiple teams and sports with our Game of the Week. Any big upcoming games or meets we should know about? Send suggestions to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Greencastle-Antrim at Northern York
Tip-Off: Friday, 7 p.m., at Northern York
Records: The Blue Devils come in at 3-2 (0-1 Colonial Division), while the Polar Bears check in at 4-0 (1-0).
Last game: Greencastle-Antrim fell to Middletown, 59-40, while Northern is coming off a 50-36 victory over Waynesboro.
Last meeting: The Polar Bears swept the season series in 2024-25, defeating the Blue Devils by 58-39 and 50-40 scores.
Meet the Blue Devils: Greencastle-Antrim is eager for a bounceback season after missing the playoffs last winter and snapping a streak of six-straight district playoff appearances … The Blue Devils are led by first-year head coach Scott McKeever, who takes over the top job after 12 years as an assistant … McKeever’s Blue Devils, who are scoring 47.4 points per game and allowing 52.0, currently check in at No. 13 in the District 3-5A power rankings … Greencastle is off to a winning start this season, even without the graduation losses of Colonial Division All-Star Meadow Gambacurta … The Blue Devils are led by two players averaging double-digit scoring: Kiersten Swain (15.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and Liv Carey (11.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg) … Greencastle has a solid third scoring option in Callie Izer (9.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg), while Sophie Fries, a 6-foot forward, is averaging 6.7 points and pulling down 11.0 rebounds per night … Look for Ellie Bigler (6.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg), Braelyn Cordell (3.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg), and Morgan Baer (2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg) to also make an impact … If the Blue Devils can find a way to take out the unbeaten Polar Bears, they will have their third win in four games.
Meet the Polar Bears: Northern hasn’t missed a beat since the graduation of Colonial Division All-Stars Anna Lehman (1st Team) and Abby Freese (2nd), as the Polar Bears have torched every opponent they’ve faced this season … Lucas Zampelli, last winter’s Colonial Coach of the Year, are averaging 58.3 points per game, while allowing just 34.3 … Northern, currently No. 6 in the District 3-5A power rankings, is aiming to repeat its postseason success from last winter, when it took fifth place in the district and qualified for states … The Polar Bears are led by two primary scorers in Mackenna Bonner (11.0 ppg) and Anika Mladenoff (10.0 ppg), with Liz Montgomery (9.5 ppg), Kate Jayman (8.5 ppg), Ava Ondecko (6.5 ppg), Taelyn Townsend (4.0 ppg), and Bella Westrick (4.0 ppg) all providing support … Northern’s offense has scored at least 50 points in every game, including a season-high in a 66-28 win over Hanover on Dec. 5.
Sandrik’s pick: Northern by 6.
