No one will ever accuse Serra coach Bill Cleary of scheduling early season cupcakes to fatten the Lady Eagles' win total.
Cleary makes a point to play the premier teams in the area.
Teams and talents to watch
Serra's non-section schedule includes Bishop Canevin, Butler, Shady Side Academy, Vincentian, West Allegheny, West Mifflin and Yough.
"When you play someone good, it can only make you better," said Cleary, entering his 17th season as head coach.
"It really is an advantage for us to play those teams, it definitely pays off later in the season."
The defending WPIAL Class A champions enter the season as the No. 2-ranked team in the Post-Gazette's preseason poll, behind only top-ranked and section foe Mount Alvernia.
Serra has two of the top players in Class A, with 5-foot-10 Niagara University recruit Michelle Manfredi (20.1 points) and 5-7 sophomore guard Laura Grimm (16.1 ppg). Manfredi is just as comfortable in the post as she is 18 feet from the basket, and Grimm is an excellent long-range shooter.
"They are two really nice players," said Cleary. "I think having the two of them puts a lot of pressure on the opposing defense because they give us a player inside and another outside that we can go to."
Cleary is hoping the two will carry Serra to a WPIAL title repeat and continue its rich winning tradition. Serra is 65-5 in its past 70 section games.
Here's a look at the rest of WPIAL Class A:
Section 1
No. 4 Sewickley Academy took Serra to overtime in the WPIAL semifinals last season and should be No. 1 in the section, but it must find a replacement for the graduated Tammy Hoch (16 ppg). Junior forward Katarina Lackner might be that player.
Farrell won 15 games last season and has the top returning player in the section, 5-8 senior forward Kelly Davis (16.5 ppg).
Monaca went to the playoffs last season, but have a first-year coach in Tim Morgan. The Indians return three starters -- Brittany Giannetti, Kylee McKay and Selena Rowan -- and should make another run at the postseason.
Quigley finished sixth in the section last year and returns four starters but lost leading scorer Laura McAllister (15 ppg).
Section 2
Avella should win this section. The No. 5-ranked Lady Eagles have all five starters back from a 20-win team and are led by 5-8 guard Lisa Mitchell (15.2 ppg, 5.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists).
Geibel should slip into the playoffs, but, with four sophomores and a freshman getting significant minutes, the Lady Gators might be a year away from challenging for the section crown.
Section 3
Notre Dame recruit Charel Allen (29.9 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 4.8 apg) is unquestionably the top individual talent in Class A and will lead No. 3 Monessen back to the playoffs. The Greyhounds, WPIAL finalists last year, also have 5-3 senior guard Nychole Whitlock back.
Life without Kamela Gissendanner (2,703 career points) begins at Clairton. Now at North Carolina State, Gissendanner averaged 30.3 ppg last season, and much of the slack must be taken up by 5-8 junior forward Velissa Vaughn if the Bears are going to challenge for the section title.
Section 4
This will be a great battle between No. 1 Mount Alvernia and No. 2 Serra for the section title.
Mount Alvernia went 13-12 last season, but this season the win total should be in the 20s, thanks largely to 5-4 junior guard Leanne Wisniewski.
First Published: November 27, 2003, 5:00 a.m.