Check out the results for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Friday. Photo of the Neshaminy/CB South game provided courtesy of Jesse Garber (http://jsgarber.zenfolio.com/p614719589). Photos of the CR South/Chester game provided courtesy of Diana Leferovich. Check back for a gallery of photos.
SOL Tipoff Tournament
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 51, NESHAMINY 34
Alexa Brodie served notice that she’s more than ready to step into the role of floor general for the Titans. The sophomore point guard scored a game-high 20 points, which included a perfect 8-for-8 from the foul line – 6-for-6 in the fourth quarter.
Haley Mein added 13 points for the Titans, who received eight points from senior newcomer Lexi Edwards.
“I think as a team we played very well,” coach Beth Mattern said. “Alexa hit some big shots that we needed and made free throws at the end.
“I thought Haley Meinel really ran the floor well. She got out in transition and really got us going in the first quarter.
“Lexi Edwards – this is her first game with the team, and she hit some big shots. It was just really nice to see a lot of people contribute. Everyone on the floor contributed. It was just nice to see a great team effort.”
Meinel jumpstarted the Titans with seven points in a first quarter that saw the Titans open up a 16-7 lead. The Redskins – sparked by five points from Allison Harvey – outscored the Titans 15-11 in the second quarter to make it a 27-24 game at the intermission.
The Titans – behind seven points from Brodie – outscored the Redskins 9-7 in the third quarter and put the game out of reach with a 15-5 fourth quarter burst.
“I’m overall pleased with the team aspect and how we really worked as a team and tried to really take advantage of what our strengths were on the court and executed pretty well for most of the game,” Mattern said. “The second half we made a couple of adjustments on our defensive matchups and tried to really turn up our intensity on the defensive end.
“We only gave them 12 points in the second half after giving them 24 in the first half, and that always makes a coach happy when you can just really tighten up your defense and execute on that end of the floor to help create your offense.”
Brooke Mullin led the Redskins with 15 points while Harvey added eight. Devon Storms had six points.
Central Bucks South (1-0) will face Upper Dublin at Neshaminy on Saturday at 12 noon. Neshaminy (0-1) will take on Central Bucks East at 1:30.
Neshaminy 7-15-7-5 34
Central Bucks South 16-11-9-15 51
Neshaminy (34) – Devon Storms 6, Allison Harvey 8, Brooke Mullin 15, Hannah Stonkus 2, Kristin Curley 3.
Central Bucks South (51) – Lindsay Scott 3, Meghan Kuypers 3, Haley Meinel 13, Alexa Brodie 20, Maddie McShane 3, Sofia Sonnet 1, Lexi Edwards 8.
UPPER DUBLIN 36, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 26
The Flying Cardinals took a beating in scrimmage against Souderton earlier this week. It served as motivation heading into Friday’s opener.
“We saw (East’s) scrimmage against St. Basil, and they handled St. Basil pretty easily, so we knew we were going to have our hands full,” UD coach Morgan Funsten said. “We lost by 34 points to Souderton in our scrimmage, and I’m not exaggerating at all – it was 60-26.
“I don’t think we needed a wake-up call, but we definitely got one on Tuesday. Our girls were really embarrassed by our performance. We weren’t going out tonight to prove anything to anyone else. We needed to prove to ourselves that we could beat a good team.
“Winning tonight wasn’t all that important. Obviously, you want to win, but proving to ourselves that we could compete at a high level was really what we wanted to do. The response by our players was really, really exciting for me to know that these girls will not quit at any point. It was pretty easy to point fingers and be frustrated with our performance – I know it was a scrimmage, but it was embarrassing. Our girls really responded with two good days of practice and really prepared for this game against CB East.”
The score was deadlocked 9-9 after one quarter, and the Cardinals edged the Patriots 6-3 in the second to go into halftime with a 15-12 advantage. It was still a three-point game heading into the final quarter when the Cardinals closed it out with a 12-7 run.
Nicole Kaiser led the Cardinals with 12 points and nine rebounds, and 6-3 freshman Jackie Vargas had six points and four rebounds.
“Jackie Vargas in her first varsity game stepped up and made two big foul shots in the fourth quarter to keep the lead at five, a two-possession game,” Funsten said. “We were down by two at the end of the first quarter, and (freshman) Kara Grebe made a big shot to tie the game 9-9 at the end of the quarter.
“We got big-time contributions on both ends of the floor by those two freshmen, so we’re really excited to introduce them to varsity basketball and have them for the next four years.”
Demi Balasa added five points, eight rebounds and some standout defense on Bridget Birkhead, who Funsten had seen bury five three-pointers against St. Basil.
“Demi and the entire team needed to know where Birkhead was,” the Cardinals’ coach said. “We knew she was their best shooter, and other parts of their offense would open up if she would start making some shots.
“Demi, as always, is not on a lot of people’s radar, but she does so many little things well. She was always at a safe distance and made Birkhead take tough shots. Birkhead was very close to making a few in the first half, but they were very, very challenged, tough shots. Demi has good height, and she closes out hard. She blocked a couple of long-range shots.
“Josie Barrett played a great game defensively, Maggie Weglos did a great job on (Bri) Talbot holding her to four points. We did a great job defensively as a team, and we were really excited to get out with a win tonight.”
Also for the Cardinals, Josie Barrett added four points, six rebounds and three steals.
East was led by the 12-points effort of Bailey McManus. Birkhead finished with six points.
Upper Dublin (1-0) will face Central Bucks South at Neshaminy at noon on Saturday while Central Bucks East (0-1) will face Neshaminy at 1:30 p.m.
Upper Dublin 9-6-7-12 34
Central Bucks East 9-3-7-7 26
Upper Dublin (34) – Nicole Kaiser 12, Josie Barrett 4, Demi Balasa 5, Maggie Weglos 5, Kara Grebe 2, Jackie Vargas 6.
Central Bucks East (26) – Bridget Birkhead 6, Gina Russo 2, Bailey McManus 12, Bri Talbot 4, Grace 2.
Sixth Annual Lady Knights Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 61, PERKIOMEN VALLEY 53
Alex Burkauskas and Maddie Burke – the senior veteran and freshman newcomer – stood in the hallway outside their team’s locker room after Friday’s hard-fought win over the Vikings. Both had a hard time containing their excitement.
It turns out they’d been literally counting the days until Friday’s season opener.
“We were all super excited,” Burkauskas said. “We’ve been counting down – game day eve, game day eve eve, game day eve eve eve. We’ve been doing it forever.
“We couldn’t wait to get out on the court tonight.”
“I was so excited to get out there,” Burke added. “I love everybody on the team – they’re all so welcoming. I just love it.”
Burkauskas led a balanced West attack with 14 points – which included three three-pointers, and Burke had 12 points with two treys in her varsity debut before fouling out a minute into the fourth quarter.
Burke wasn’t the only player battling foul woes as the Bucks’ first-game excitement translated into more fouls than they would have liked. They were whistled for 17 in the first half while the Vikings had just six team fouls.
“Our kids are young,” coach Terry Rakowsky said. “That’s just our kids anxious and putting their hands on them. They’ll get better.”
Twenty-four trips to the foul line in the first half allowed the Vikings, who owned the backboards, to remain within striking distance after the Bucks raced out of the gate to 10-0 lead just over two minutes into the contest.
Burkauskas and Burke accounted for all 10 of those points with Burke turning a Tori Abelson pass into a short pull-up jumper on the Bucks’ opening possession. After a Viking turnover, Abelson penetrated and kicked the ball out to Burkauskas, who hit nothing but net on a three-pointer. After another Burke basket, the Vikings turned the ball over, and Burkauskas made it hurt, burying her second three-pointer to put the Bucks on top 10-0.
The senior guard acknowledged that she’s playing with more confidence.
“It’s senior year – I just want to have a good year and have fun with it,” Burkauskas said. “That’s kind of my mentality.”
The Bucks were whistled for their seventh foul with 2:35 remaining in the first quarter, their 10th with 30 seconds left in the quarter, but West led 23-16 after one quarter. By halftime, the Vikings had trimmed the Bucks’ advantage to three (37-34).
The game got a whole lot tighter in the third quarter as the Vikings outscored the Bucks 11-7 to go on top 45-44 heading into the final frame. The Bucks- thanks to Rakowsky’s switch to a two-three zone – outscored the Vikings 17-8 to close out the game.
With the Vikings pushed away from the basket, the Bucks took charge. A driving basket by Abelson gave the Bucks a 46-45 lead with 6:15 remaining, and that lead grew to four after a Maggie Rakowsky trey. A pair of free throws by Rakowsky, who stole the inbounds, gave the Bucks a 51-45 lead, and when Abby Spratt buried an outside shot, West led 53-45.
“We needed to stop our fouls, and we knew that’s how they were getting a lot of their points – on foul shots and rebounds,” Burkauskas said. “(The zone defense) worked.”
The Vikings pulled to within six late (56-50), but Rakowsky – who scored seven of her nine points in the quarter – connected on a pair of foul shots, and Abelson, who had six points in the quarter, also buried a pair to seal the Vikings’ fate.
“We told them in the second half – if we keep them off the foul line, we win the game,” coach Rakowsky said. “Fifteen of their 34 points in the first half were foul shots, and how many were putbacks after that?”
Eight players contributed scoring for the Bucks, who believe their good chemistry will translate to success on the court.
“We spent a lot of time together in the offseason,” Burkauskas said. “Even after practices, we’re always together.
“We’re so close, and I think that shows on the court. We knew ‘Little Bambi’ (Burke) would come in and really help us out. She’s just an asset – we love her.”
Central Bucks West (1-0) will take on Pope John Paul on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Perkiomen Valley 16-18-11-8 53
Central Bucks West 23-14-7-17 61
Perkiomen Valley (53) – Bridgette Bonjo 8, Kelly Owens 2, Megan Jonassen 18, Hanan Richmond 7, Iman Richmond 5, Alex Blomstrom 13.
Central Bucks West (61) – Alex Burkauskas 14, Maddie Burke 12, Tori Abelson 8, Izzy Treon 6, Maggie Rakowsky 9, Abby Spratt 7, Molly Rodebaugh 2, Kaili Carey 3.
NORTH PENN 62, POPE JOHN PAUL 22
The Knights didn’t get on the scoreboard until Irisa Ye sank one-of-two from the foul line with 5:34 remaining in the first quarter. Once they started scoring, they didn’t stop.
Led by Ye’s five points and Jess Huber’s six the Knights raced to a 15-2 lead after one quarter. By halftime, their lead had grown to 36-9. Huber led the Knights with all 13 of her points in the opening half while Ye had seven.
Ye finished with 10 points, Sam Carangi had nine and Bri Hewlett scored eight points. Freshman Carley Adams had six points in a contest that saw 10 Knights put their names in the scoring column.
North Penn (1-0) will face Perkiomen Valley on Saturday at noon.
Pope John Paul 2-7-7-6 22
North Penn 15-21-18-8 62
Pope John Paul (22) – Rachel Yerger 5, Jenna Finley 4, Marie Cotellese 2, Shannon Mullen 3, Lauren Ciuba 4, Monica Rapchinski 4.
North Penn (62) – Irisa Ye 10, Jess Huber 13, Sam Carangi 9, Mia Melchior 4, Bri Hewlett 8, Jenny Hulmes 1, Alaina Mullaly 3, Kate Early 4, Carley Adams 6, Jess McKenzie 4.
Pennridge Tipoff Tournament
PENNRIDGE 58, DOCK MENNONITE ACADEMY 19
The Rams earned a spot in Saturday’s title game with a no-doubt-about-it rout of the Pioneers. This one was over almost as soon as it began with the Rams opening up a 17-0 lead after one quarter and taking a 38-4 advantage into halftime.
Madison Stolarski led the Rams with 12 points – one of 11 players to get their name in the scoring column. Gillian Anderson, Rose McCormick and Stephanie Cicero each added six points while Samantha Muredda, Brooke Bachtle and Claire Podraza had five points each.
Pennridge (1-0) will face Pennsbury in the championship game on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
Dock Mennonite 0-4-8-7 19
Pennridge 17-11-11-19 58
Pennridge (58) – Samantha Muredda 5, Gillian Anderson 6, Olivia Pennie 4, Corinn Mart 5, Madison Stolarski 12, Rose McCormick 6,Claire Podraza 5, Evelyn Loughery 2, Stephanie Cicero 6, Emilee Cramer 2.
PENNSBURY 34, FAITH CHRISTIAN 23
Oreland Lions Tournament
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 55, BISHOP McDEVITT 49
Molly Dugan torched McDevitt for 33 points to lead the Spartans to a win in Friday's season opener. Grace Barraclough added 12 points.
Springfield will face Jenkintown in Saturday's title game at 6:30 p.m.
Bishop McDevitt (49) - Elan Wali 2, Bri Edwards 8, Nyay Johnson 13, Nasea Burrell 13, Dana Mizelle 12, Jessica Francois 1
Springfield Township (55) - Siana Wynn 4, Grace Barraclough 12, Rileigh Serroni 4, Molly Dugan 33, Brielle Pratt 2.
Galloping Ghosts Classic
ABINGTON 58, LOWER MERION 26
The Aces had no answer for the duo of Lizzie O’Leary (17 points, 11 rebounds, three assists) and Kossondra Brown (six points, 18 rebounds). At 6-2, both were an intimidating presence in the paint.
“We were too big for them,” said coach Dan Marsh, who came directly from the emergency room after it was determined he didn’t have an appendicitis as originally suspected.
“Kossondra might have had four or five assists just passing to Lizzie,” the Ghosts’ coach said. “They were working well together again.”
While O’Leary and Brown owned the paint, Jordyn Allen was excelling in transition, finishing with 15 points.
“Jordyn is one of the best open-court players around,” said Marsh of his junior shooting guard who was dismissed from the team midway through the season last year. “She finishes fast breaks very well, and she can shoot. She’s very smooth and very athletic.”
Abington (1-0) will face Abington Friends in Saturday’s championship game at 3:30 p.m.
Lower Merion 6-7-2-11 26
Abington 13-18-18-9 58
Lower Merion (26) – Berg 5, Eldridge 5, Weber 2, Fitzpatrick 3, Hassman 7.
Abington (58) – Lizzie O’Leary 17, Sam Brusha 8, Kossondra Brown 6, Tamia Wessels 5, Morgan Benson 2.
Hatters Hoops Tipoff Tournament
HATBORO-HORSHAM 44, LITTLE FLOWER 23
The Hatters controlled Friday’s contest from the opening tap on their way to the convincing win. They led 11-4 after one quarter and took a 24-10 lead into halftime. They outscored Little Flower in all four quarters.
Kylie Halko led the Hatters with 12 points, and Katie Fisher added 10 points and six rebounds. Julia Thornton contributed six points and five assists.
Hatboro-Horsham (1-0) will face New Hope-Solebury in Saturday’s title game at 5:30 p.m.
Little Flower 4-6-7-6 23
Hatboro-Horsham 11-13-10-10 44
Little Flower (23) – Tracey 6, Conway 5, Passalacqua 4, Leomgelli 2, Trassar 2, Crowley 4.
Hatboro-Horsham (44) – Bergen Sims 5, Julian Thornton 6, Kylie Halko 12, Katie Fisher 10, lexie Brett 4, Nikki Williams 2, Syd Kemp 4, Kara Kaminski 1.
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 45, BENSALEM 15
William Tennent Tipoff Tournament
WILLIAM TENNENT 41, CONWELL-EGAN 10
The Panthers raced to a 12-0 lead after one quarter and took a 24-3 lead into halftime. They shut out the Eagles in the third quarter en route to a 38-3 lead.
Brianna Broccardi led a balanced Panther attack with nine points. Emma Stanfield added eight, and Kyla Gibson had six points while Kelly Scipione and Jenna Rodebaugh each had six.
William Tennent (1-0) will face Penn Wood – a 51-44 winner over Lower Moreland in opening round action - in the championship game on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Conwelll Egan 0-3-0-7 10
William Tennent 12-12-14-3 41
Lady Hawk Tipoff Classic
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 38, CHESTER 21
The Hawks led 6-4 after one quarter, but sparked by five points from Faith Turner, they outscored the Lady Clippers 12-4 in the second quarter to go into halftime with an 18-8 lead. The Golden Hawks did not allow a field goal in a third quarter that saw them outscore the Clippers 11-2 to go on top 29-10. Emma Jones and Allison McGowan both had four points in the frame.
Jones led a balanced Rock South attack with 10 points while Turner added eight.
Council Rock South (1-0) will face Downingtown East in Saturday’s title game at 1:30 p.m.
Chester (21) – Myah Philips 3, S Kely 11, C Coeman 1, M Colbart 4, S Dashields 2.
Council Rock South (38) – Kasey Schluupp 5, Payton Spadaccino 4, Emma Jones 10, Paige Kutler 1, Allison McGowan 4, Faith Turner 8, Jenna Goldberg 2, Bailey Vetter 2, Claudia Steinmetz 2.
DOWNINGTOWN EAST 40, UPPER MORELAND 23
The Cougars opened up a 13-2 lead after one quarter, and even though the Golden Bears edged East 8-4 in the second quarter, they still trailed 17-10 at halftime.
Caitlin Corr led the Golden Bears with seven points, and Madison Pisut added five.
Upper Moreland (0-1) will face Chester in Saturday’s consolation game at noon.
Upper Moreland 2-8-3-10 23
Downingtown East 13-4-9-14 40
Upper Moreland (23) – Phoebe Longstreth 4, Caitlin Corr 7, Madison Pisut 5, Brianna Hughes 3, Noelle Woodman 2, Maura Casey 2.
Downingtown East (40) – C. Riley 6, D Tyrell 4, A Dienes 4, C Welker 4, E Crum 3, B Smuda 6, E Phelan 8, O Williams 5.
COLLEGIUM CHARTER 40, CHELTENHAM 34
The game started out on a promising note for the Lady Panthers, who led 10-4 after one quarter and took a 26-10 lead into halftime. Things changed in a hurry in a second half that saw Collegium outscore the Lady Panthers 30-8. The Panthers did not score in the fourth quarter.
Senior Mia Leonard led the Lady Panthers with eight points while Danielle Brown had seven.
Collegium Charter 4-6-19-11 40
Cheltenham 10-16-8-0 34
Collegium Charter (40) – Ayann Reunell 6, Kiana Brown 4, Destyni Wood 16, Kiara Brown 5, Lacy MacLaughlin 6, Cheyenne Rivas 3.
Cheltenham (34) – Mia Leonard 8, Caitlin Wallace 4, Courtney Murray 3, Taylor Johnson 5, Danielle Brown 7, Kelia Holmes 3, Kai Williams 2, Nashira Brown 2.
Jim Church Classic
SOUDERTON 51, PHOENIXVILLE 15
The Indians – behind the hot hand of Sammi Falenckii – opened up a 19-2 lead and extended that to 36-4 by halftime on their way to the rout of the Phantoms. Falencki had eight of her 13 points in the opening frame. She connected on two of her three three-pointers in the quarter and had all of her points by halftime.
Sophomore Megan Walbrandt also scored 13 points, which included a pair of three’s. Alana Cardona added eight points while junior Kate Connolly had six, all in the first half.
Souderton (1-0) will face Germantown Academy on Saturday at 3 p.m. in the title game.
Phoenixville (15) – D Graham 5, Hrynkow 2, Sands 2, Gibbons 2, Anthony 2, P Graham 2.
Souderton (51) – Tori Dowd 4, Alana Cardona 8, Megan Walbrandt 13, Erica Stephens 4, Curran O’Donnell 3, Sami Falencki 13, Kate Connolly 6.
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