Check out the results for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Tuesday. To view photos of the Upper Dublin/Abington game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
ABINGTON 39, UPPER DUBLIN 38
Coach Dan Marsh talked about effort. His counterpart from Upper Dublin, Morgan Funsten, spoke of execution.
Tuesday’s showdown between the SOL powers in the title game of the Upper Dublin Cardinal Classic came down to a little of both. The Ghosts – who trailed by one – forced a turnover on an Upper Dublin inbounds at midcourt with 18 seconds remaining. They misfired on their first two shots, but tracked down both rebounds. Deja Rawls – named tournament MVP – won it with a dazzling drive and scoop shot with 2.6 seconds remaining.
“I had to score,” Rawls said.
“The shot Deja made was incredible,” Funsten said. “She’s such a great player.
“She basically took the same shot 10 seconds earlier and didn’t come close. That one was no doubt about it right off her hand. I knew that ball was going in, but we have to execute better at the end of the game.”
Moments earlier, the Cardinals – who never trailed until Leah Simmons scored on a drive with 3:20 remaining in regulation – erased a 37-35 deficit when Allison Chernow hit nothing but net on a three-pointer to put the 
Cardinals on top 38-37 with just over a minute remaining.
It looked like the Ghosts’ fate might be sealed when – with 26 seconds remaining – they misfired on the front end of a one-and-one and Chernow pulled down the rebound. With just four fouls, the Ghosts began fouling, and a turnover at midcourt after the second foul gave the Ghosts new life. They seized the moment with Rawls scoring the game winner.
“I wrote a speech for them today about effort before the game started,” Marsh said. “Unfortunately, we’ve had a few games that haven’t been close, and it’s difficult.
“I told them ‘If you guys want to be champions, you’ve got to have effort all the time.’ It was on our board – define effort. That’s what won us the game – the effort at the end.”
The Cardinals had the hot hand out of the gate, connecting on four three-pointers in the opening quarter to go on top 16-11. They took a 24-20 lead into halftime and led 32-25 heading into the final quarter when the Ghosts got their inside game untracked.
Sophomore Liz O’Leary (15 points, eight rebounds, two blocked shots) scored six points in the final quarter while Simmons had five.
“I knew their big (Julie Cross) was in foul trouble, and we had to get her out of the game to make it easier for us,” said Rawls, who finished with 11 points and five steals. “We kept lobbing the ball to Liz and Leah, and they were finishing and making foul shots.”
“That’s our bread and butter – our high low,” Marsh said. “At times, for some reason, we get away from it.
“Lizzie and Leah are phenomenal in that area, and we need to take advantage of that more. Lizzie stepped up big.”
It didn’t help the Cardinals that both Cross and Demi Balasa were playing with four fouls down the stretch.
“It’s hard when me and Demi are in foul trouble,” said Cross, who had nine points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. “I had two fouls in the first quarter, so you have to play safer.
“We had to play safer and softer. O’Leary is a great player and really got me in foul trouble, but it changed the whole game. Now they have the upper hand on us, and we can’t do as much.”
Chernow led all scorers with 16 points to go along with five assists and two steals.
“That was the best game she ever played, and it was not just because she was making shots,” Funsten said. “She had control of the game in the halfcourt.
“She’s really developing into a great player. It’s not just because she’s a year older. She works on her game as much or more than anybody I’ve ever been associated with as an athlete and a coach.”
Despite the disappointing outcome, Funsten saw a lot of things he liked.
‘I’m so proud of our toughness,” he said. “To go against some of these other teams that have a ridiculous amount of talent – but sometimes heart and determination and toughness and listening, all that does it.
“I wouldn’t trade my girls for anybody because they listen, they’re tough, and they love to compete.”
Just how big was Tuesday’s win for the Ghosts?
“This is huge,” O’Leary said. “It will be great for district seeding and just overall in our standings.
“We had a rough game yesterday and didn’t really play our best, so today, effort was the biggest part of what we wanted to do.”
“For district seeding, this is huge,” Marsh said. “This team is going to win 20 games. They’re very good. We wanted to make sure we had a quality win.
“We needed a quality win, and this was it. We’re hoping this will boost our confidence, let us know we can come from behind and play through adversity.”
While the Ghosts upped their overall record to 8-2 (4-0 SOL), the Flying Cardinals (7-1, 4-0) suffered their first loss.
“When we’re executing, we’ll win the game,” Cross said. “That was a good team. We knew they were a good team, but we can’t hang our heads when we have big games ahead.
“We have Upper Merion on Tuesday, which is going to be a tough one. Hopefully, our team can take this and turn all the bad things into good things in the future.”
Abington 11-9-5-14 39
Upper Dublin 16-8-8-6 38
Abington (39) – Sammy Lochner 6, Liz O’Leary 15, Deja Rawls 11, Leah Simmons 7
Upper Dublin (38) – Alissa Klammer 2, Josie Barrett 6, Julie Cross 9, Allison Chernow 16, Demi Balasa 5.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 53, DOWNINGTOWN WEST 39
Defense has been a trademark of Beth Mattern-coached Titan squads.
The Titans put on something close to a defensive clinic en route to capturing the title of the Downingtown West Holiday Classic.
The Titans took a 9-6 lead into the second quarter of Tuesday’s title game against the host team but then seized control of the game with a 19-6 second quarter. The Whippets scored just 20 points in the first three quarters as the Titans opened up a 40-20 lead.
Tuesday’s performance came on the heels of allowing just 29 points in an opening round win over Notre Dame.
“It was a nice solid defensive effort out there tonight,” Mattern said. “We missed a couple shots to start the game, but in the second quarter, the shots fell for us.”
Jordan Vitelli, who led a balanced Titans’ offense with 13 points, was named tournament MVP. Taylor Dunn and Chloe Entenberg also earned spots on the all-tournament team. Dunn finished the game with 11 points while Haley Meinel had eight and Emma Gardy, seven points.
It was Vitelli and Meinel sparking the Titans in their 19-point second quarter as both scored six points while Gardy added seven, but it was the Titans’ defense that proved to be the difference.
“I thought the way we ended the last couple of games maybe we didn’t have the best defensive effort,” Mattern said. “We really refocused on it at practice again and went back to the basics and got ourselves re-centered before the last two days.
“I think it really paid off. We have a tough two-week stretch when we come back in January, and just really getting us moving in the right direction and remembering why we play hard and what we want to accomplish.”
So stingy was the Titans’ defense that Whippets’ standout senior guard Maddie Dew, who needed just eight points to reach the 1,000-point plateau, did not accomplish that feat until her team’s final possession with 18 seconds remaining.
“Chloe Entenberg and Kaley Smith split time covering her, and they both did a fantastic job,” Mattern said. “She really does control a lot of what Downingtown West does offensively.
“She’s obviously a great scorer, but even as far as setting the tempo of the game for them and getting them into their offense – in that respect, Chloe and Kaley did a great job of really containing her and trying to get them out of their rhythm as a team.”
The Titans closed out December with an 8-1 record overall (4-0 SOL).
Central Bucks South (53) – Jordan Vitelli 13, Taylor Dunn 11, Emma Gardy 7, Haley Meinel 8, Kaley Smith 2, Chloe Entenberg 2, Sam Clevenstine 3, Courtney Dietzel 4, MacKenzie Ehresman 3.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 55, WEST CHESTER EAST 36
It was anyone’s game entering the final quarter of the title game of the Lady Colonials Holiday Classic. The host Colonials led by just a 35-30 score but then exploded for 20 points in the final quarter to win going away.
“Basically, we forced them to play man defense,” coach Daniel Dougherty said. “They were playing a stretched out zone on us, and we had some poor shot selection in the first half.
“Once we had a lead in the fourth quarter, we made them come out on us, and we were able to start getting to the free throw line too. Our outside shot wasn’t falling in the first half against their zone.”
The Colonials, who had taken just four foul shots in the three quarters, buried 9-of-10 shots from the charity stripe in the final quarter.
Senior Alynna Williams earned tournament MVP honors, finishing with 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. She was 8-for-9 from the free throw line.
“Alynna is a floor general out there,” Dougherty said. “She handles everything offensively and defensively for us.
“She’s just consistently able to get past her girl. She had a couple of real nice assists tonight to Lauren Coscia who was able to finish the baskets. The big bonus is it’s not just her.”
Joining Williams on the all-tournament team was freshman Taylor O’Brien, who contributed 17 points despite battling foul woes and sitting almost the entire second quarter.
“Once their defense stretched out – Alynna and Taylor were able to get to the basket and get to the free throw line,” Dougherty said. “Taylor O’Brien’s defense – once she got past the foul trouble – was really a big turning point, especially in the fourth quarter. She had a couple of crucial steals that led to fast breaks.
“Taylor is really starting to grow into her role on the team. She’s starting to adjust more to the speed at the varsity level. Tonight was a huge step forward for her.”
Khadijah Hickson once again played a major role, finishing with 12 points (27 points over two games.
“If we had another spot, Khadijah Hickson would have been on the all-tournament team too,” Dougherty said.
Lauren Coscia, who added four points, had 14 points over the two tournament games.
The two teams were deadlocked 15-15 after one quarter, and the Vikings trailed by just four at halftime (26-22).
“A lot of credit to West Chester East,” Dougherty said. “We don’t talk about opponents’ records, but West Chester East is 1-8. You would never have known it if you watched the first quarter of that game. You would have thought they were the team that was 6-2 and we were the team that was 1-8. They played super hungry, super aggressive, and they’re very well coached.
“That team came in with little preparation time, but boy, they had a game plan for us. They were 100 percent ready for everything we did.”
For the Colonials, who improved to 6-2, it was their second tournament title in as many years.
“When I talked to the girls after the game, I said ‘You have to win ugly,’” Dougherty said. “It was an ugly win for us.
“No one was pointing fingers or yelling at each other out there. We had to make some adjustments for a team that was very well prepared to play against us tonight. We consistently have two freshmen and two sophomores on the floor with Alynna, and being a young team, you’re going to go through growing pains. Tonight was a growing pain. For a young team, any win is (an important) win.”
West Chester East 15-7-8-6 36
Plymouth Whitemarsh 15-11-9-20 55
West Chester East (36) – Batog 2, Culbertson 5, Hager 2, Rogers 2, McCloskey 20, Stiebritz 5.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (55) – Taylor O’Brien 17, Alynna Williams 16, Ali Diamond 2, Alison Spinelli 2, Khadijah Hickson 12, Laurel Suchsland 2, Lauren Coscia 4.
NORTH PENN 64, MIFFLIN COUNTY 46
Mikaela Giuliani had a big game for the Maidens in the title game of the Boardwalk Cup Bracket at the Boardwalk Classic in Wildwood. The junior center scored a game-high 18 points and also pulled down 13 rebounds.
Sophomore Jess Huber added 13 points while sophomore Sam Carangi added 11 points, five rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Irisa Ye had eight points, three rebounds and two assists, and senior point guard Taylor Thames contributed six points, five rebounds and two assists.
“I feel like we’re just getting to know each other,” coach Maggie deMarteleire said. “Every game I put everybody’s name in the book that’s on varsity, and yesterday was the first game I didn’t have to draw a line through somebody’s name because they were injured.
“We talked to the kids yesterday – we want to start getting better and better and improving now that everyone’s back. We’ve handled all the adversity of the injuries. We were playing pretty well in the offseason, but unfortunately, we suffered a lot of injuries. Thank goodness they weren’t severe, but we kind of got out of sync. We’re trying to build upon that.”
The Maidens led 17-11 after one quarter and extended that lead to 34-20 by halftime. A 20-10 third quarter effectively sealed Mifflin County’s fate.
“We started out the third quarter a little bit sloppy, but we fixed that and cleaned it up,” deMarteleire said. “Then they came out and tried to trap us in the half court, and we did a really good job of hitting the open person, beating the traps and getting good looks at the basket.
“We did it two times in a row, and the kids were so excited and so pumped up. All the positive energy was just a really good thing. We are young, and we do have a target on our backs being the defending District One champs. I think our leaders are growing and our younger kids are progressing. I think we’re just going to keep getting better.”
The Maidens closed out the month of December with a 6-3 record overall.
“We have a lot of kids with a lot of talent, and we again have to find that chemistry and build our way back up,” deMarteire said. “I think this tournament was a good stepping zone. Yesterday we played very good defense and had a lot of steals, but we had a very difficult time finishing layups. Today I felt as though we did everything better. Everyone contributed, and we’re having balanced scoring. Our rebounding was much better, so I think we’re progressing.”
North Penn 17-17-20-10 64
Mifflin County 11-9-10-16 46
North Penn (64) – Irisa Ye 8, Taylor Thames 6, Mikaela Giuliani 18, Jess Huber 13, Taylor Putnam 5, Sam Carangi 11, Mia Melchoir 3.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 74, BETHEL 57
The Bucks completed a successful trip to Virginia for the Boo Williams Holiday Classic with an impressive win over Bethel to finish 2-1 in the Gold Division.
“We probably played the three best teams we’ve played since we’ve been down there,” coach Terry Rakowsky said. “Usually we get one game that’s not really good, but these three teams were really good – very athletic, pressing, running. All three teams we played were undefeated coming into the tournament.
“It was a good game today, and it was a very good tournament.”
The Bucks led 16-14 after one quarter and then exploded for 21 points in the second quarter to go into halftime with a 36-25 lead. Munger ignited the Bucks, drilling a three-pointer and scoring nine points in the frame. She had 11 points in the half.
“It was up and down the floor,” Rakowsky said. “It was like two identical teams. We pressed them, they pressed us.”
Four West players finished the game in double figures. Munger finished with a game-high 19 points while Peyton Traina added 13 and Corrinne Godshall and Makenzie Mason, 11 each. Mackenzie Carroll added eight points and Maggie Rakowsky, six.
“I thought Peyton Traina played probably the most aggressive that she’s played for us,” Rakowsky said. “When we go down there, it’s usually very, very aggressive. They don’t call a lot of fouls, and they really bang you around a little bit.
“I thought Peyton’s composure and leadership in this tournament was exceptional. Everybody played well.”
Rakowsky went on to acknowledge the play off the bench of freshman Abbey Spratt.
“She did very well at a very fast pace,” he said. “The speed of the game is twice is fast as what it is up our way. She was really able to do well with that.”
The Bucks’ only loss came in the first game to Lake Taylor when they were without senior Meghan Tillger.
“She got caught in traffic in Washington, so we went at them with six girls,” Rakowsky said. “By the third and fourth quarter, we would make a run and get back up by eight, but we basically were playing six kids, and we couldn’t sustain it.
“If we had Meghan there to give Corrinne and Nicole a break, I think we could have taken those guys. We just came off a five-hour trip, and our kids were dying.
“I think the kids realized that every role is important. Meghan coming off the bench for two or three minutes a quarter is extremely important to how we want to play the game.”
The Bucks enter 2014 with an 8-1 record overall (4-0 SOL).
Central Bucks West 16-21-18-19 74
Bethel 14-11-21-11 57
Central Bucks West (74) – Laura Roth 2, Mackenzie Carroll 8, Maddie Maio 1, Peyton Traina 13, Abbey Spratt 1, Corrinne Godshall 11, Nicole Munger 19, Meghan Tillger 2, Makenzie Mason 11, Maggie Rakowski 6.
Bethel (57) – James 9, Roberts 5, Grute 14, Braxton 10, Williams 17, Phillips 2.
JENKINTOWN 46, SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 39
The Spartans – after trailing 9-6 after one quarter – rallied to take a 19-17 lead into halftime of Tuesday’s title game of the Robert Hopf Holiday Tournament at Jenkintown. The Drakes responded with a 13-9 third quarter to go on top 30-28 and then outscored the Spartans by five in the fourth quarter. Emma Dershimer scored 14 of her game-high 21 points after the intermission to spark the Drakes.
Leading the Spartans were Jayla Greene (11 points), Molly Dugan (11 points) and Jewell Ringgold (10 points).
The Spartans are 5-5 (2-2 SOL).
Springfield 6-13-9-11 39
Jenkintown 9-8-13-16 46
Springfield (39) – Jayla Greene 11, Bailey Krewson 2, Jewell Ringgold 10, Molly Dugan 11, Maura Ryan 5.
Jenkintown (46) – Jennifer Kremp 8, Nina Lindenbaum-Grosbard 1, Emma Dershimer 21, Ashley Kremp 6, Morrin McShorry 8, Amelia Melvaney 2.
CHEROKEE 47, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 37
The Indians fell behind early and never recuperated in Tuesday’s title game of the George Betz Memorial Bracket of the Boardwalk Classic in Wildwood.
Cherokee, ranked 19th in New Jersey, led 12-6 after one quarter and extended that lead to 25-13 by halftime as the Indians struggled to find an offensive rhythm. They managed to outscore Cherokee 24-22 in the second half but never could make up the ground they lost in the opening half.
Senior captain Jessica Gerber led the Indians with 17 points, which included two three-point baskets. Becca Margolis added 12 points. The Indians (6-2) connected on just 7-of-16 from the foul line.
Cherokee 12-13-8-14 47
Council Rock North 6-7-9-15 37
Cherokee (47) – Shane McGoey 9, Cailey Gibson 9, Isabella Therien 9, Leah Reistle 5, Taylor McGlashon 5, Erin Brown 5, Sammy Debicki 3, Jamie Manzo 2.
Council Rock North (37) – Becca Margolis 12, Jessica Gerber 17, Megan Haggerty 2, Emily Mackin 3, Hannah Weiler 3, Hailey Burns 1.
RED LION 42, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 24
The Patriots struggled to generate offense in Tuesday’s title game of the Unionville tournament, scoring just 13 points in the first half and only 11 in the second half.
The Patriots trailed 13-8 after one quarter and found themselves on the short end of a 22-13 halftime score. A 12-6 third quarter surge by Red Lion all but sealed their fate. Grace Stewart led the Patriots (5-6) with 12 points.
Central Bucks East 8-5-6-5 24
Red Lion 13-9-12-8 42
Central Bucks East (24) – Kyra Scaliti 3, Megan Brown 4, Bailey McManus 5, Grace Stewart 12.
BODINE 54, BENSALEM 43
The Owls (3-7) took an early 12-6 lead after one quarter but were outscored 19-10 in the second quarter to go into halftime on the short end of a 25-22 score in the consolation game of the Lady Colonials Holiday Tournament. They scored just two points in the third quarter, falling behind 38-24.
Bodine 6-19-13-14 54
Bensalem 12-10-2-19 43
SACRED HEART 34, UPPER MORELAND 25
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