Check out the results for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Wednesday. To view photos of the Spring-Ford/Upper Dublin game, please visit the Photo Gallery. Neshaminy/Phil-Mont photos courtesy of Jesse Garber. To view photos of that game, please click on the following link: http://JSGarber.zenfolio.com/p2075744
UPPER DUBLIN 41, SPRING-FORD 35
Ashley Barber is starting to find her stride on the basketball court.
The Upper Dublin senior was sidelined the entire season last year after suffering a concussion in an automobile accident. Barber – who earned tournament MVP honors - played a key role in Wednesday’s come-from-behind win in the title game of the Cardinals Holiday Classic, finishing with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
“It was really tough,” Barber said of her return to the court. “I’m very hard on myself with everything I do, and to this day, I hang my head on everything.
“It’s hard because you know how good you can be, and you want to come out that first game and just be the best you can, but it took me a couple of games obviously.”
In the second quarter, the Flying Cardinals fell behind 14-9, and it was Barber turning a Chernow pass into a fast break layup after a Spring-Ford miss to make it a 14-11 game.
“Starting from the first game, she’s been having double digit rebounds,” point guard Allison Chernow said. “Now with her points coming along with it – she’s another weapon for us.
“For me as a point guard, I like to run sometimes, and now that Ash is getting back in with us – when she runs and finishes, it’s awesome.”
“She’s just such a talented girl,” coach Morgan Funsten added. “Every day she seems to be getting more and more comfortable and thinking less. Thinking while you’re on the court is just about the worst thing you can do. She did a lot of that early on, and now she’s just playing, and you can see the difference.”
Late in the half, Chernow found Nicole Kaiser for another fast break basket, and the Rams’ lead was trimmed to 14-13 at the intermission.
“They were up in our face, but I think it was more us – we panicked for no reason,” Chernow said. “We weren’t totally in it in the first half, but we came out and went on a huge run.
“We just refocused – that’s what coach Funsten reiterated in our halftime talk. There was nothing else we could do.”
“We needed to forget about the first two quarters and win the next two,” Barber added. “We started fresh – 0-0.”
Another fast break off a Spring-Ford miss to open the third quarter – again from Chernow to Barber – put the Cardinals on top by one. A steal by Demi Balasa set the stage for a Josie Barrett three-pointer that gave the Cardinals an 18-14 advantage. A Chernow trey put the Cardinals on top 21-14, and they opened up a 26-16 lead after Chernow again found Barber on a fast break.
“We didn’t change anything we were doing – we just started doing it better, and we were taking care of the ball better,” Funsten said of his team’s second half surge. “Twelve first-half turnovers is always going to be ugly, and it was certainly ugly in the first half.
“We played a game last night and won by 30. The sport is not an easy sport to play, and sometimes after a 30-point win, you feel like it was easy, you feel like you didn’t have to work for it, and the next game you come out a little flat. We were definitely in the first half.”
Spring-Ford made things interesting in the fourth quarter, pulling to within 28-27, but a Barrett three-pointer upped the Cardinals’ lead to four. The Rams again pulled to within one (31-30), but Chernow converted a difficult drive in traffic to give the Cardinals a three-point lead.
“I got a little fouled,” Chernow said with a laugh. “That kind of got me going on the defensive end, and it got everybody up – let’s go, this is our game.”
The Rams would get no closer than three the rest of the way.
“We didn’t start the season as well as we had hoped,” Chernow said. “We lost the first two games to very good teams, but for us to beat a very good team like Spring-Ford and pull it out when it was that close in the end – that just really boosts our confidence a lot.”
Funsten was especially pleased with his team’s defense.
“That’s the one thing that doesn’t go away for us,” he said. “We try to take away the other team’s strengths. We know that (Sydney) Wagner is a really good player, and I don’t think she took more than five shots the entire game.
“Our goal was to take away Wagner and (Maddie) Haney. Those are their two go-to scorers, and I thought Maggie Weglos playing Wagner – she did a good job on her, and Demi Balasa playing Haney – I think that was what kept us in the game.”
Wagner had just two points and Haney, eight.
For the Cardinals, Chernow had another big day – finishing with 12 points, seven assists, four steals and three rebounds. Barrett, who was battling foul problems, added 10 points. Balasa was a force on the boards with 10 rebounds.
Upper Dublin (7-2, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Upper Merion next Tuesday night.
Spring-Ford 8-6-5-16 35
Upper Dublin 7-6-14-14 41
Spring-Ford: Sydney Wagner 2, Jul Alessandroni 8, Molly Hynes 2, Amy Roth 6, Emily Walker 6, Maddie Haney 8, Diane Nicholson 2.
Upper Dublin: Nicole Kaiser 5, Josie Barrett 10, Alison Gouveia 3, Allison Chernow 12, Maggie Weglos 1, Ashley Barber 10.
NESHAMINY 63, PHIL-MONT CHRISTIAN 42
The Redskins took the suspense out of Wednesday’s championship game of the Deby Recupido Memorial Tournament early, opening up a 21-3 lead after one quarter. The Falcons trimmed that lead to 31-19 at the intermission but never really threatened as the Redskins led wire to wire.
“We knew we had to pressure their guards because they have two dominant post players (Tracey Goodman and Keyen Green),” coach Joe Lally said. “I thought we did a good job of pressuring their guards and also getting them out of their zone and forcing them to play man by making our jump shots.
“I thought it was a really good team effort by everybody on our part.”
Freshman Allison Harvey – who earned tournament MVP honors - led the Redskins with 19 points, which included five three-pointers. Morgan Goldenbaum also earned a spot on the all-tournament team, finishing with 13 points – 11 in the second half – to go along with six assists, five steals and five rebounds.
“Morgan had a really good night – she controlled things for us,” Lally said. “It’s always nice to win the tournament, and it’s for a teacher that everybody loved.
“Last year it was just the boys, and this year it was boys and girls. It was special to win our first one for Miss Recupido.”
Also for the Owls, Tiara Porterfield had 10 points and Devon Storms, nine.
Green led all scorers with 26 points.
Neshaminy (7-3, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Pennsbury next Tuesday night.
Phil-Mont 3-16-13-10 42
Neshaminy 21-10-17-15 63
Phil-Mont: Tracey Goodman 8, Keyen Green 26, Kayla Griffin 6, Julia Johnson 2.
Neshaminy: Emily Alexis 4, Morgan Goldenbaum 13, Allison Harvey 19, Brooke Mullin 5, Tiara Porterfield 10, Devon Storms 9, Thyra Tuttle 3.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 44, BODINE 32
Coach Daniel Dougherty needed just one word to describe the performance of Taylor O’Brien in PW’s win in the championship game of its own Colonials Holiday Tournament.
“Taylor O’Brien was sensational,” Dougherty said.
O’Brien – who was named tournament MVP – scored 20 of her game high 26 points in the first half. She had 16 in a first quarter that saw the Colonials race to an 18-13 lead. In the opening frame, Taylor was 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. The Colonials led 28-21 at halftime. Bodine outscored PW 9-4 in the third quarter to make it a 32-30 game, but the Colonials closed it out with a 12-2 fourth quarter.
O’Brien also had eight rebounds and three steals. Lauren Coscia came up big for the second time in as many nights, finishing with 14 points and eight rebounds.
“Laurel Suchsland and Ali Diamond played outstanding defense all night,” said Dougherty. “Bodine was undefeated going into the game.
“We played really solid defense.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-3, 3-1 SOL) will travel to Springfield next Tuesday.
Bodine 13-8-9-2 32
Plymouth Whitemarsh 18-10-4-12 44
Bodine: Garvin 13, Stanford 4, Housey 3, Adekunie 3, Harp 9.
Plymouth Whitemarsh: Taylor O’Brien 26, Ali Diamond 2, Laurel Suchsland 2, Lauren Coscia 14.
BENSALEM 51, WEST CHESTER EAST 39
Lyric Lewis reached a magical milestone in the second quarter of Wednesday’s consolation round win in the Colonials Holiday Tournament when she scored the 1,000th point of her career. Lewis came into the game needing 11 – she finished with 19 and earned a spot on the all-tournament team.
The Owls took a 13-6 lead at the end of one quarter and led 22-16 at the intermission. They outscored East in each of the four quarters.
“We didn’t play great,” coach Geoff Per said. “We turned the ball over too much, and we kind of forced it.
“West Chester East played a packed-in zone where they pressured the ball and the other four girls were inside the foul line, and I don’t think we were patient enough. We tried to force the tempo. We did a great job on the boards, and that was one thing I was really happy with. We limited West Chester to one shot.”
The Owls connected on just 11-of-26 from the foul line.
“We didn’t play well against Plymouth Whitemarsh, and we didn’t play great tonight,” Per said. “Our kids like a routine – going to school and then practicing.
“I think we need to get back to our routine.”
Savannah Jordan added 11 points, and Sam Werth had 10. Destiny Rogers finished with eight points.
Bensalem (4-5, 1-3 SOL) will be on the road at Harry S Truman on Tuesday night.
Bensalem 13-9-11-18 51
West Chester East 6-10-9-14 39
Bensalem: Samantha Werth 10, Anna Dean 3, Destiny Rogers 8, Lyric Lewis 19, Savannah Jordan 11.
West Chester East: Richardson 1, Culbertson 9, Boyle 8, McDonald 3, Yoegel 7, Hartman 9, Lewis 2.
QUAKERTOWN 63, CONWELL EGAN 3
The Panthers opened up a 31-0 lead on their way to a rout of Conwell Egan in the consolation round game of the Deby Recupido Memorial Tournament at Neshaminy.
Senior Meghan Klee led the Panthers with 14 points while Jill Martin and Maggie Garlick each had 12. Olivia Morano and Marina Cooke both chipped in with nine points.
Quakertown (3-6, 1-3 SOL) will host Central Bucks East next Tuesday night.
Quakertown 31-15-11-6 63
Conwell Egan 0-1-2-0 3
Quakertown: Brooke Alwine 2, Maggie Garlick 12, Spenser Gray 2, Veronica Best 3, Olivia Morano 9, Marina Cooke 9, Meghan Klee 14, Jill Martin 12.
Conwell Egan: Gayflorzee 3.
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 42, DOWNINGTOWN EAST 31
The Indians rebounded from an opening round loss to win Wednesday’s consolation game in the John Carlson Memorial Bracket at the Boardwalk Classic in Wildwood.
The Cougars used an 11-6 second quarter to erase a four-point deficit at the end of one quarter and took an 18-17 lead into halftime. The Indians erased that in a hurry in the second half, outscoring the Cougars 12-8 in the third quarter to go on top 29-26 and then closing it out with a 13-5 fourth quarter run.
Megan Haggerty had the hot hand for the Indians, finishing with a career high 16 points – which included four three-pointers. Freshman Tara McGuigan – thrust into a starting role in place of Becca Margolis (soccer tournament) – had a strong all-around performance, contributing four points, four rebounds, three steals and three assists.
McGuigan and Camryn Polinsky both went 2-for-2 from the foul line in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter to seal the Cougars’ fate.
Mackenzie Tinner and Hannah Weiler had huge games under boards – both pulled down 11 rebounds. Tinner also had six points while Weiler had two and also drew a charge. Kaelin Mealey also had six points.
Council Rock North (4-4, 3-1 SOL) will be on the road at Council Rock South next Tuesday.
Downingtown East 7-11-8-5 31
Council Rock North 11-6-12-13 42
Downingtown East: Atyah Aungst 4, Danielle Tryell 5, Lindsay Kent 2, Laura Ochsner 14, Emily Crum 2, Elise Person 1, Olivia Williams 3.
Council Rock North: Camryn Polinsky 4, Megan Haggerty 16, Tara McGuigan 4, Kaelin Mealey 6. Dana Bandurick 2, Samantha Sauifer 2, Mackenzie Tinner 6, Hannah Weiler 2.
SETON KEOUGH 37, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 33
Bri Talbot had a big night for the Patriots, finishing with a double-double that included 18 points and 10 rebounds – eight defensive, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Seton Keough in the title game of the Diamond State Classic on Wednesday.
Megan Brown added six points, but no other East player had more than four.
The Patriots, who led 10-8 after one quarter, took a 21-15 lead into halftime but struggled offensively in the second half. They scored just 12 points while Keough Seton scored 22 to earn the win.
Central Bucks East (6-4, 1-3 SOL) will travel to Quakertown next Tuesday night.
Central Bucks East 10-11-5-7 33
Seton Keough 8-7-9-13 37
Central Bucks East: Bridget Birkhead 3, Kyra Scaliti 4, Megan Browne 6, Bailey McManus 2, Bri Talbot 18.
PERKIOMEN VALLEY 45, UPPER MERION 29
Senior Tatiana Pleasant and junior Jessica Michael each scored 11 points, but no other Viking player scored more than three points in Wednesday’s non-league loss to the undefeated Vikings.
PV led 13-9 after one quarter and extended that to 25-13 by halftime on its way to the win. KT Armstrong led all scorers with 16 points.
Upper Merion (3-6, 1-3 SOL) will host Upper Dublin next Tuesday.
Upper Merion 9-4-7-9 29
Perk Valley 13-12-16-4 45
Upper Merion: Tatiana Pleasant 11, Amya Anthoney 3, Jordan Wilson 3, Hailey Kozuchowski 1, Jessica Michael 11.
Perkiomen Valley: KT Armstrong 16, H. Richmond 2, Haley Streeper 1, Ashley Bangert 6, Waler 1, Megan Jonassen 11, Taylor Hamm 8.
LAKE TAYLOR 50, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 39
Lake Taylor, winners of three consecutive Class 4A Viriginia State titles, opened up a 15-9 lead after on quarter in Wednesday's Silver Bracket game of the Boo Williams Christmas Classic. The Bucks still trailed 28-21 at halftime and found themselves staring at that same seven-point deficit heading into the final quarter.
Maggie Rakowsky led the Bucks with 11 points, which included three three-pointers. Makenzie Mason and Tori Abelson both added eight points.
Central Bucks West (6-3, 3-1 SOL) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday night.
Central Bucks West 9-12-11-7 39
Lake Taylor 15-13-11-11 39
Central Bucks West: Makenzie Mason 8, Maggie Rakowsky 11, Maddie Maio 4, Tori Abelson 8, Alex Burkauskas 5, Kaili Carey 3.
PENN WOOD 73, HARRY S TRUMAN 37
KINGS FORK (VA) 42, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 41 (Tuesday, Dec. 29)
Games don’t get much closer than Tuesday’s Silver Bracket semifinal game in the Boo Williams Christmas Classic. The Bucks led by one after one quarter (13-12) and took a 21-19 lead into halftime only to watch Kings Fork knot the score 31-31 heading into the final frame.
Tori Abelson led the Bucks with 12 points, and Makenzie Mason added 11, which included a three-point field goal and a perfect 8-for-8 effort at the foul line. Maggie Rakowsky contributed nine points for the Bucks.
Central Bucks West 13-8-10-10 41
Kings Fork 12-7-12-11 42
Central Bucks West: Makenzie Mason 11, Maggie Rakowsky 9, Tori Abelson 12, Abby Spratt 3, Alex Burkauskas 2, Bailey Tracey 2, Izzy Treon 2.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 43, WEST SPRINGFIELD (VA) 40 (Monday, Dec. 28)
The Bucks opened play in the Silver Bracket of the Boo Williams Christmas Classic on Monday with a come-from-behind win. The Bucks led 13-8 after one quarter and took a 19-18 lead into halftime, but they were outscored 14-10 in the third quarter and trailed 32-29 heading into the final frame. They closed it out with a 14-8 fourth quarter.
Maggie Rakowsky led the Bucks with 14 points, which included a 10-for-14 effort at the foul line. Makenzie Mason added 10 points, and Tori Abelson chipped in with six.
Central Bucks West 13-6-10-14 43
West Springfield 8-10-14-8 40
Central Bucks West: Mackenzie Mason 10, Maggie Rakowsky 14, Maddie Maio 1, Tori Abelson 6, Abby Spratt 5, Alex Burkauskas 2, Bailey Tracey 2, Izzy Treon 3.
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