Amelia Crowe found a way to get better.
It was just a year ago when the then-sophomore entered the CAL basketball scene as a serious player, averaging 15.0 ppg with 38 3s and earning both an All-CAL First Team and Daily News All-Star nod. It was quite the high bar that the sharpshooting wing set for herself coming into this season, now having to shoulder even more responsibilities for Pentucket on the court.
But she still was able to exceed all expectations.
Recently, it was announced that Crowe was named the CAL Kinney MVP, as the honor officially remains in the Pentucket family after former teammate Gabby Bellacqua earned the title last year. But Crowe, now a junior, certainly earned it, averaging a league-high 15.8 ppg with 50 3s in helping Pentucket (19-6) win the CAL Kinney and advance to the Division 3 quarterfinals for the second straight year. She will enter her senior season next winter with 819 career points.
And she wasn’t the only Panther to be honored.
Also making the 12-person All-CAL First Team was guard Allie Gagnon, who finished the season strong and would average 8.0 ppg with 17 3s. Then finally, Sofia Bellacqua saw her name on the CAL All-Star Second Team, as the point guard chipped in 5.4 ppg with 18 3s while also being the calming presence that broke the press and got Pentucket into its offense. All three (including Crowe) are juniors, so the Panthers should have a strong core coming back next year.
Moving on, the trio of Amesbury, Georgetown and Newburyport each had an All-CAL selection.
For the Redhawks (10-12), that happened to be Olivia McKay. The exciting freshman put together an excellent rookie campaign, averaging 12.1 ppg with 21 3s in helping the team get back to the playoffs for the first time in three years. The program had just five combined wins in each of the past two seasons, but managed to double that this winter. The Redhawks then also saw both senior captain Ellie Marden (9.3 ppg, 34 3s) and sophomore forward Ellison Talbot (9.5 ppg, 21 3s) make the CAL All-Star team.
Meanwhile, earning a spot on the All-CAL First Team for the Royals (13-9) was junior forward Katie Davies. The talented athlete nearly averaged a double-double with rebounds (9.1 ppg, 17 3s), and was also given the CAL’s Courage Award. Then for the second straight year, Talya Mariani earned a spot on the CAL All-Star list. The sophomore was once again lethal from beyond the arc (13.6 ppg, 45 3s), helping the Royals reach the Division 4 Round of 16.
For Newburyport (15-7), which reached the Division 3 Round of 16 for the fourth straight year, Olivia Foley earned a spot on the All-CAL team after being named a CAL All-Star a year ago. The senior center was dominant in the paint, averaging a team-high 13.3 ppg. Her absence next season will be felt, but the Clippers saw a pair of sophomores in Ava Bailey and Clara Thompson be named CAL All-Stars this winter. Bailey averaged 8.7 ppg with 19 3s, while Thompson was right behind her pouring in 8.2 ppg.
Lastly, Triton had two athletes earn a spot on the CAL All-Star team. Senior forward Margaret Welch averaged 6.5 ppg, while junior forward Lily D’Andrea led the Vikings in scoring at 9.8 ppg.
Here are the complete CAL girls basketball All-Star teams.
All-CAL
Amesbury: Olivia McKay, Frosh., guard; Essex Tech: Thais Dos Santos, Sr., forward; Georgetown: Katie Davies, Jr., forward; Hamilton-Wenham: Sasha Makogonov, Sr., center; Annie Moynihan, Sr., guard; Lynnfield: Hayden Valiton, Soph., guard/forward; Manchester Essex: Lily Oliver, Jr., guard; Newburyport: Olivia Foley, Sr., center; North Reading: Sophia Gallivan, Soph., guard; Ariana Demetri, Soph., guard; Pentucket: Amelia Crowe, Jr., guard/forward; Allie Gagnon, Jr., guard
CAL All-Stars
Amesbury: Ellie Marden, Sr., guard; Ellison Talbot, Soph., forward; Essex Tech: Janelle Dalton, Sr., guard; Georgetown: Talya Mariani, Soph., guard; Hamilton-Wenham: Sadie Gamber, Sr., guard; Margot Bryce Morris, Jr., forward; Ipswich: Hazel Hoog, Sr., forward; Natalie Elder, Frosh., center; Lynnfield: Erika Pasquale, Sr., guard; Chloe Grieves, Frosh., forward; Manchester Essex: Tess Carpenter, Sr., guard; Newburyport: Ava Bailey, Soph., guard; Clara Thompson, Soph., forward; North Reading: Kiersten Higgins, Jr., guard; Pentucket: Sofia Bellacqua, Jr., guard; Triton: Margaret Welch, Sr., guard/forward; Lily D’Andrea, Jr., forward
Miscellaneous Awards
MVP (Kinney): Amelia Crowe, Pentucket.
MVP (Baker): Sasha Makogonov, Hamilton-Wenham.
Coach of the Year (Kinney): Bob Romeo, North Reading.
Coach of the Year (Baker): Mark Cole, Hamilton-Wenham.
Sportsmanship (Kinney): Lynnfield.
Sportsmanship (Baker): Manchester Essex, Amesbury.
Courage Award: Katie Davies, Georgetown.