The Paul VI girls’ basketball team is expecting big results this season. The Lady Panthers, coached by Scott Allen, are already off to a 2-0 start.

The Panthers won the Flint Hill Tip-Off Tournament Dec. 2-3 by defeating both St. Anne’s Belfield from Charlottesville 48-42 and the Flint Hill Huskies from Oakton 67-58 in overtime.

"One of our goals this season is to win every tournament that we participate in," said Allen, one of the youngest head coaches in the WCAC.

Leading the Panthers in scoring versus St. Anne’s Belfield was sophomore forward Danae Hill (16), junior forward Rebecca Grimes (10) and junior point guard Erin Furey (eight).

Against Flint Hill, Hill (25 points) paced the Panther scoring attack. Grimes (10), freshman forward Shavonne Duckett (eight), and sophomore post Alison Johnson (seven) also contributed in the victory. Johnson also had nine rebounds and an amazing nine blocks versus the Huskies.

Hill was named the tournament "most valuable player." Furey and Duckett were selected to the "All-Tournament Team."

In addition to several of the tournament stars, Paul VI also is sparked this season by seniors Sophia Senyo and Nora Sherry, juniors Alexa McMillan and Nicole Westphal, sophomore Maddie Sumser and freshman Brianna Johnson.

Westphal was the standout goalkeeper for varsity head coach Meg Ashley's soccer team.

"There are at least nine or 10 players in our rotation," said Allen. "We are very versatile and very flexible in all of our positions."

Senior Senyo and juniors Grimes and Furey are the Lady Panther captains.

Thus far, in the young season, Alison Johnson, McMillan, Sumser and Duckett combined have pulled down nearly 45 rebounds.

"We play in a very difficult league. It is kind of the ACC of high school basketball. It is very difficult to win on the road, and anyone at home can beat anyone else on a given night," said Allen.

"St. John’s (College High School in Washington), McNamara (High School in Forestville, Md.) and Good Counsel (High School in Wheaton, Md.) are all ranked in the USA Top-20," he said.

During Allen's three previous seasons: the Panthers finished 17-10 overall and 9-4 WCAC during the 2004-05 season; 20-9 overall and 8-5 WCAC during the 2003-04 season; 16-12 overall and 11-7 WCAC during the 2002-03 season.

(In both 2002-03 and 2003-04, the Panthers won the Virginia Independent Schools State Title).

"This season, offensively, we want to get out and run. Defensively, we want to apply pressure," said Allen.

The Panthers will host Holy Cross Academy from Kensington, Md., on Dec. 8 and St. John’s on Dec. 13.

"We will play every team in the conference twice this season," said Allen.