Four SOL girls’ basketball teams will be in action when the PIAA Class AAAA Tournament begins on Friday.
By Mary Jane Souder
Lauren Budweg, according to her former coach, could be described in one word as a player.
“Tenacious,” said Maggie deMarteleire of the former Lansdale Catholic standout. “And she’s so smart.”
When the veteran coach took over the helm at North Penn seven years ago, she asked Budweg – a math teacher in the high school – to join her staff as an assistant.
“At the beginning, I was a little nervous about it,” said Budweg. “Here I am 23 years old, and I’m going to start coaching with the woman who coached me, but it’s been a blast, especially to see the program transform the way it has over the past seven seasons.
“To think about what it was like when we took over to what it is now – the expectations and demands are much different from our first season.”
The results are much different as well. The duo – who more recently were joined by former North Penn standout Dara Nelson – have turned the program into a district power, and the Lady Knights secured their spot in history when they captured the program’s first District One AAAA championship last week.
The dust had not settled on the Lady Knights’ 63-51 win over Spring-Ford when deMarteleire was deflecting credit to Budweg for her contributions.
“She puts a lot of time in,” the Lady Knights’ coach said. “She does everything we need when we do our camps, our clinics and our summer league.
“This year I gave her the defense. She has the responsibility of coming up with different defensive game plans for different teams, and she’s done a good job.”
Making Budweg especially effective has been the special rapport she has developed with her players.
“When I say she does everything for us, I mean she does everything for us,” senior tri-captain Erin Maher said. “She’s so selfless, and she really does treat us like half little sister and half her kids.”
There’s a standing joke that Budweg is the ‘team mom,’ so when Budweg turned 30 last week, the players opted to buy her a sentimental ‘dear mom’ card.
“She’s also a great teacher,” senior tri-captain Vicky Tumasz said. “We go to her for math help whenever we’re stuck in school. She’s there for anything.”
And that apparently is not an exaggeration.
“You need math help, go to Budweg,” Maher said. “You need a pass to class, go to Budweg. You have a question, go to Budweg.”
“You need food, go to Budweg,” Tumasz said.
“When in doubt – Budweg,” Maher said.
Budweg is more than just a go-to coach for the players.
“She’s not an openly affectionate type of person, but she has a quiet compassion about her,” Maher said. “She’s not afraid to tell you how it is. She’s so honest and up front with us. She cares about whatever is going on. It’s indescribable how much she cares for us. We always let her know how much we appreciate her.”
“She’s so loving and cares so much,” senior tri-captain Bri Cullen added. “I know she’d do anything for us, and I know we feel the exact same way.”
Tumasz paid Budweg the ultimate compliment.
“This is weird, especially because she’s 13 years older than us, but I honestly think she’s perfect,” the senior tri-captain said. “She’s smart, she’s honest with us, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without her and, obviously, coach Maggie.”
“I’ve only been here two years,” Cullen said. “But she’s pushed me so hard and gotten me so much further in life, and I’m where I am today because of Budweg and Maggie, obviously.”
Budweg, like deMarteleire, is a fierce competitor.
“Budweg will yell at you, but she’s also there for positive reinforcement,” Tumasz said. “If you’re having a bad game, she’ll get in your face about it, but she’ll also calm you down.”
“She’s just as competitive as we are,” Maher said. “She’s not going to be light with you. She’ll call you out at halftime just as much as coach will.”
deMarteleire calls Budweg a ‘mini me,’ and Budweg admits they share a lot of the same traits.
“It’s so funny – we joke with the girls how much calmer she is here than she was at LC,” Budweg said of deMarteleire. “I think her coaching style has been exactly the same.
“When I played for her, she always demanded the best, and that’s why we were so good. I was raised that way by my mom as well. We were always raised to give 100 percent and do your best in everything.”
It’s hardly a coincidence that Budweg was a key member of deMarteleire’s two LC squads that advanced to the District One AAA title game. Twice the Crusaders lost in overtime – falling to Pottstown in 2001 and Villa Maria Academy in 2002.
The duo have combined forces to twice lead the Lady Knights to the District One AAAA title game. Last Friday’s win gave deMarteleire – who won one as a player – her first district title as a head coach.
“This has really been a goal that we’ve had for ourselves, and this team has really stepped up and done everything we’ve asked them to do,” deMarteleire said. “They’re a special group of kids, and she’s a very special coach.”
Just how special is very clear.
“It doesn’t get any better than Budweg,” Maher said. “On the basketball level, she’s the ultimate assistant coach.”
1-1 NORTH PENN vs 3-7 LEBANON (Friday, March 7, 7:30 p.m., Plymouth Whitemarsh High School)
North Penn
- 24-3 overall
- 12-2 SOL Continental Conference champions
- Captured program’s first District One AAAA title
- Only losses have come at the hands of fifth-seeded Central Bucks West (44-36), sixth-seeded Upper Dublin (35-34) and 14th-seeded Central Bucks South (61-53).
- Led by senior tri-captains Vicky Tumasz, Erin Maher and Bri Cullen.
- Won 10 of 11 games to close out regular season and have won 15 of 16 games heading into the state tournament. Boast a 10-game winning streak.
Players to watch: Vicky Tumasz (Sr., Guard, 14.6 PPG), Erin Maher (Sr., Forward, 8.2 PPG, 9.3 rebounds), Sam Carangi (Fr., Point Guard, 9.1 PPG)
How they got here: The Lady Knights earned an 83-51 win over Council Rock South in their district opener. Vicky Tumasz scored a game-high 21 points and surpassed the 1,000-point mark. Erin Maher had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Freshmen Irisa Ye and Jess Huber both had 12 points and freshman point guard Sam Carangi added 10 points. North Penn had a season low six turnovers. In their second round 43-40 win over Central Bucks South, Maher had 11 points and eight rebounds, and Mikaela Giuliani had nine points and 10 rebounds. Carangi added eight points. In the Lady Knights’ 55-43 win over Central Bucks East in quarterfinal action, Maher (14 points, six assists, five rebounds), Tumasz (14 points), Bri Cullen (10 points) and Giuliani (six rebounds) all made important contributions. In a district semifinal game, the Lady Knights defeated Rustin 74-59. Four players – Tumasz (22), Maher (19), Carangi (17) and Cullen (11 points) -finished the game in double figures. The Lady Knights avenged their loss to Spring-Ford in the 2012 district title game with a 63-51 win over the Rams in the district title game. Tumasz scored a game-high 27 points while Ye (12 points), Carangi (11 points) and Maher (10 points) also finished in double figures.
Lebanon
- 21-7 overall
- Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 Champs
- Made first appearance in Lancaster-Lebanon playoffs since 2010-11
- Led by trio of long-range snipers – junior point guard Brittany Ulrich (12.0 ppg, 36 3-pointers), senior Lauren Chambers (8.9 ppg, 26 3-pointers) and senior Shaela Shellehamer (6.3 ppg, 34 3-pointers) – as well as 6-2 junior center Madison Rakow (7.9 ppg)
- Cedars have connected on 104 three-pointers this season
- Lost three of last five games in postseason after winning 10 in a row.
How they got here: The sixth-seeded Cedars defeated 11th-seeded Cocalico 43-42 in the opening round of District 3 play. Madison Rakow scored a team-high 12 points. In a second round game, Lebanon fell to third-seeded Dover 47-43. Junior point guard Brittany Ulrich scored 17 points, including four three-pointers. In a playback game, the Cedars lost to 10th-seeded Red Lion 53-43. Ulrich scored 11 to lead Lebanon. In a seventh-place game, Lebanon defeated 12th-seed Hempfield 37-26
#1-5 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST vs. #3-3 CUMBERLAND VALLEY (Friday, March 7, 5 p.m., Central Dauphin East High School)
Central Bucks West
- 21-6 overall
- 10-4 SOL, tied for second in Continental with CB South and Souderton
- Defeated SOL Continental and District One AAAA champion North Penn 44-36 in the initial meeting between the two teams
- Strong core of juniors provides the nucleus of the team that is led by University of Michigan bound Nicole Munger (15.4 ppg) as well as Corrinne Godshall (10.0 ppg), Mackenzie Carroll (9.9 ppg) and Peyton Traina (7.2 ppg)
- Average 57.4 points per game
How they got here: In an opening round district game, the Bucks defeated Norristown 76-48. Nicole Munger (17 points), Mackenzie Carroll (15 points) and Makenzie Mason (14 points, 12 rebounds) led the Bucks. In West’s 59-47 second round win over Methacton, Munger had 20 points while Corrinne Godshall had 14 points and nine rebounds. The Bucks fell to Spring-Ford 53-52 in a quarterfinal game, Munger (16 points), Godshall (14 points) and Carroll (11 points) all finished the game in double figures. In a playback game, the Bucks – sparked by 11 points from both Munger and Makenzie Mason – earned a come-from-behind 36-32 win over Bishop Shanahan. In their 74-52 win over Abington in the fifth place game, freshman Maggie Rakowsky led the Bucks with 19 points. Godshall (16 points), Mason (11 points) and Munger also finished in double figures.
Cumberland Valley
- 23-5 overall
- Mid-Penn Commonwealth champions
- Defending PIAA Class AAAA state runner-up
- Ranked fifth in the latest state rankings after occupying the state’s top spot earlier this season.
- Sophomore guard Kelly Jekot averages 14.3 points a game with 45 three-pointers and, according to Penn Live’s Jeff Reinhart, already has seven scholarship offers.
- Senior forward Maddie Torresin leads CV, averaging 15.7 points a game, which included 26 three-pointers. Both Jekot and Torresin measure in at 6-0.
- Average 60.1 points a game and, as a team, connected on 142 three-pointers.
How they got here: In an opening round 56-23 win over 15th-seeded New Oxford, Maddie Torresin led the way with 17 points. Cumberland Valley defeated 10th-seeded Red Lion 51-29 in a second round game. Torresin scored 17 of her game-high 18 points in the first half. Meghan Rhoades added nine points and seven rebounds. In a district semifinal game, Cumberland Valley fell to second-seeded Dover 47-43. Kelly Jekot led the way with 11 points. In Cumberland Valley’s 64-52 win over top-seeded Manheim Township in the third place game, Jekot led the way with 20 points, which included two three’s, while Torresin had 19, including three treys.
1-6 ABINGTON vs. 11-2 POCONO MOUNTAIN WEST (Friday, March 7, 7 p.m., Stroudsburg High School)
Abington
- 19-8 overall
- 12-2 SOL, second to Neshaminy in National Conference
- Won nine of 10 games to close out regular season.
- Saw their eight-game winning streak snapped in quarterfinal loss to Rustin
- Led by American University-bound Michael Harris and junior point guard and Division One recruit Deja Rawls.
Players to watch: Deja Rawls (Jr., G, 14 PPG), Michael Harris (Sr., 14 PPG, 12 RPG), Sammy Lochner (Soph., 8 PPG), Gabby Nolan (6 assists, 3 steals per game), Leah Simmons (8 PPG, 8 RPG)
How they got here: The Ghosts travelled to Downingtown East for their district opener and sent the Cougars home for the season. Senior Michael Harris led the Ghosts with a double-double – 15 points and 15 rebounds. Gabby Nolan and Deja Rawls both had nine points, and Leah Simmons had eight points. The Ghosts continued to work their road magic with a 38-33 win over second-seeded Garnet Valley in a second round game. Rawls led the Ghosts with 15 points while Harris had nine points and 12 rebounds. Gabby Nolan had eight rebounds, and Sammy Lochner, eight points. In a quarterfinal game, Abington fell to Rustin 65-46. Rawls scored 20 points – 19 after the intermission – and surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career. Simmons added 14 points. In a double overtime playback 51-49 win over Central Bucks East, Rawls scored a layup at the buzzer to win it. Rawls finished with 14 points while Harris had 17. In the Ghosts’ 74-52 loss to CB West in a fifth place game, Rawls had 13 and Harris, 10 points.
Pocono Mountain West
- 19-8 overall
- Mountain Valley Conference champion for second straight year
- Jackie Benitez is the undisputed go-to player. The junior guard/forward averages. 23.4 points and 9.6 rebounds a game. She surpassed the 1,000-point mark earlier this year and has 1,252 points. She was the league MVP and is a three-time All-MVC first team pick.
- Senior Kira Flaherty is a standout athlete who will take her soccer talents to American University.
- Averaged 48.4 points a game.
How they got here: In PMW’s 69-50 win over Emmaus in a district quarterfinal game, Jackie Benitez led the way with 27 points. Kirston Jones (11 points) and Jasmine Murray (10 points) also finished in double figures. In Pocono Mountain West’s 59-47 semifinal win over Pleasant Valley, Benitez scored 22 points. In a 38-35 district title loss to Parkland, Benitez had 20 points.
1-8 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST vs. 11-1 PARKLAND (Friday, March 7, 6 p.m., at William Allen High School
Central Bucks East
- 16-10 overall
- 8-6 SOL, fifth place in Continental Conference
- Highlight of season was a late season win over fifth-seeded Central Bucks West (49-48).
- All five starters are seniors.
Players to watch: Courtney Webster (Sr., C, 14.5 PPG, 8 RPG, 2 blocks), Karoline White (Sr., PG, 6 assists, 2.5 steals, 5 PPG), Katelyn Miller (Sr., G, averaging 9.4 PPG over last five games)
How they got here: The Patriots knocked off 11th-seeded Harriton 49-36 in an opening round game. Courtney Webster led a balanced attack with 14 points. Karoline White and Katelyn Miller both had nine points with White also contributing five steals and six assists. Lindsay Neir had eight points and Emily Sebesky, seven. In second round action, the Patriots fell behind sixth-seeded Upper Dublin 8-1 after one quarter but came back to take a 10-8 lead at halftime. They went on to earn an 18-15 win. White led the Patriots with seven points. In Saturday’s 55-43 quarterfinal loss to North Penn, the Patriots fell behind 20-5 after one quarter but rallied to make it a seven-point game in the second half. Webster led East with 14 points while White and Neir each added eight. In a playback double overtime 51-49 loss to Abington, Webster led the way with 17 points. In a seventh place game, the Patriots fell to Bishop Shanahan 37-28. Webster had 11 points.
Parkland
- 18-8 overall
- Won first LVC North title since 2007
- Captured second District 11 AAAA and first since 2006
- Ninth appearance in state playoffs.
How they got here: Parkland defeated Bangor 37-23 in a district quarterfinal game. Eric Bross led the Trojans with 11 points. In a district semifinal game, Parkland used a layup by sophomore forward Nadine Ewald with six seconds remaining to eke out a 45-43 win. Bross scored a career-high 15 points to lead the Trojans. In the Trojans’ 38-35 district title win over Pocono Mountain West, Olivia Brown scored 10 of her 21 game-high points in the fourth quarter. Bross added 13 points.
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