Daniella Ranieli
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Pittston Area advanced in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament for the first time in the recently completed season.
Daniella Ranieli, one of the two leaders of a turnaround in the program’s fortunes over the past two seasons, was rewarded Monday afternoon with a selection to the Class 5A all-state third team by Pennsylvania Sports Writers.
Ranieli made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2021-22, supporting established scoring leader Kallie Booth and giving the Lady Patriots another option on their way to the first of two straight Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 titles.
The sophomore point guard kept getting better, becoming the team’s leading scorer on the season while providing a spark in other ways on the team’s path to a District 2 Class 5A championship and first-round state win.
“in the offseason, I worked more on my left hand and mid-range and floaters,” said Ranieli, who made 49 percent of her 2-point attempts, 35 percent of her 3-pointers and 76 percent of her free throws.
That accuracy allowed Ranieli to score 16.3 points per game while also averaging 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals.
“It was a lot better because Kallie and I had much more experience playing together from my freshman year and we were on the same (NEPA Elite 17U Clark) AAU team for a little bit,” Ranieli said. “We worked a lot better and had more chemistry this year.
“If I was having an off day, she always picked me up and vice versa.”
Ranieli was the only WVC player honored and was one of four players from District 2 recognized.
Ciera Toomey and her mother, Carrie Toomey, were named Player and Coach of the Year in Class 3A for their roles in Dunmore producing the first state championship by a District 2 girls basketball team since Bishop Hoban (now part of Holy Redeemer) in 1999.
North Carolina commit Ciera Toomey is a four-time, all-state choice.
Mountain View freshman Addison Kilmer was a first-teamer in Class A while Scranton Prep sophomore Maya Jenkins made the second team in Class 4A after leading their teams to the state semifinals.