OIB Ortho Girls Basketball Team of the Week: Ranney

Nick Lowe|February 8, 2025|Last Updated February 8, 2025

2025 OIB Ortho/Shore Sports Insider Girls Basketball Team of the Week Series

Expectations were high entering this season for Ranney, returning all their major pieces from last year’s team and starting the season in the top ten. Leading scorer and All-Shore player Haley Poser, All-Freshman player Ashley Kreiger, and Emily Cavanaugh, Claire Doherty and Lola MacRae all provided the Panthers with the experience they would need for a great season. Plus they had senior transfer Michelle Steele and freshman Lucy Eibeler to add more depth to the team.

With all the talent the Panthers have, the start of the season did not go as planned. Ranney lost their first five games to drop out of the top ten rankings to start the season. The Panthers turned it around and went on a nine game win streak and won 14 out of their last 15 games.

Last week they went 3-0 and clinched Class A North after beating No. 8 Trinity Hall for the second time this season. Trailing 13-6 in the first quarter, Ranney went on a 14-3 run to end the first half and won after a back and forth second half. With the game tied at 43, Steele made the steal and was intentionally fouled going for the lay-up. She connected on 1-of-2 foul shots to give Ranney a 44-43 lead and then Posey was fouled and connected on both her shots to give Ranney the 46-43 win. Kreiger led the team with 18 points and 11 rebounds and Poser finished with 10 points and had 5 assists.

Michelle Steele against Shore Regional on 1/6/25. Photo by Tom Smith

Ranney followed that victory with an easy division win over Ocean Township. The Panthers ended the week with a win against Our Lady of Mercey in the War vs the Shore XI at Mainland High School. Poser drained four 3-pointers and went 8-for-9 from the free-throw line to finish with a game-high 26 points and Steele added 10 points.