Central Bucks West and Abington will do battle in Monday’s SOL Tournament championship game at Souderton Area High School (7 p.m.)
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 63, UPPER DUBLIN 41
Nicole Munger talked about the importance of keeping the ‘pedal to the metal’ after the Bucks rolled to an impressive win over Central Bucks East earlier this week.
The reality is that’s the only way the Bucks’ senior guard knows how to play, and behind her inspired 18-point effort in the first half of Saturday’s SOL Tournament semifinal battle of conference champions, the Bucks seized complete control of the game and never really took their foot off the gas pedal.
“I’m not shocked,” teammate Meghan Tillger said of Munger’s first half performance. “When you see her so hyped and so energetic, you’re just like ‘Wow, that’s us,’ and we all feed off of her energy.”
Munger scored in every imaginable way in the first half, turning a steal into a layup after Mackenzie Carroll spotted the Bucks a 2-0 lead on their first possession. By the time the quarter had ended, Munger had buried a short pull-up jumper, connected on a three-pointer and also was a perfect 2-for-2 at the foul line.
Behind Munger’s nine points, the Bucks led 15-8 after one quarter.
The Cardinals trimmed the Bucks’ lead to 15-11 after an Alissa Klammer bucket, but Corrinne Godshall answered at the other end. A Peyton Traina steal set the stage for a Carroll basket, and another Upper Dublin miscue set the stage for a Munger three. The senior guard completed a personal 7-0 run with a putback and then – after a steal – connecting on a pair of foul shots.
Traina hit nothing but net on a three-pointer, and after Allison Chernow banked home a three-pointer to break the Bucks’ 14-0 tear, Munger turned a Traina pass into a bucket, and then Carroll connected for a basket to send the Bucks into halftime with a 33-14 lead.
Any concerns that the Bucks might be flat for the noon start after Friday’s Senior Night win over Central Bucks South were quickly forgotten.
“It was just fun,” Munger said. “I liked the warm-ups – we got to be on the court 30 minutes prior (to the game).
“I love watching our jayvee team and all, but it was nice being able to go right into it. I think that helped us. I know it helped me focus – getting right off the bus, listening to music in the locker room and running right out on the court and getting into it. Plus with AAU, we’re kind of used to it.”
In the second half, the Michigan-bound guard scored just two points, but her teammates kept the pressure on the Cardinals. Maggie Rakowsky connected on a pair of three-pointers and scored eight points in the third quarter. Godshall added a pair of baskets as the Bucks outscored the Cardinals 19-12 to go on top 52-26 heading into the final quarter.
Coach Terry Rakowsky credited his team for its strong performance after playing their league finale the night before.
“We try to teach them – when your mind starts to wane away, come back to the moment,” he said. “We were missing shots early – taking great shots, but they weren’t dropping. Eventually they do or our kids get to the backboard. I was proud of them.”
In addition to Munger’s 20-point effort, Maggie Rakowsky had 10 points, Carrolll added eight while Traina contributed seven and Godshall and Makenzie Mason, six each.
The Flying Cardinals were led by the 21-point effort of Julie Cross, who buried three three-pointers. Chernow added 12 points.
Central Bucks West will face Abington in the SOL Tournament title game at Souderton Area High School on Monday at 5 p.m.
Upper Dublin 8-6-12-15 41
Central Bucks West 15-18-14-11 63
Upper Dublin (41) – Alissa Klammer 3, Josie Barrett 3, Julie Cross 21, Allison Chernow 12, Allison Gouveia 2.
Central Bucks West (63) – Mackenzie Carroll 8, Peyton Traina 7, Corrinne Godshall 6, Makenzie Mason 6, Nicole Munger 20, Abby Spratt 2, Meghan Tillger 2, Maggie Rakowsky 10, Maddie Maio 2.
ABINGTON 51, NORTH PENN 25
Sammy Lochner and Gabby Nolan are no longer “the other guards” in Abington’s potent lineup that is led by Siena-bound point guard Deja Rawls. The duo combined for 17 first-half points in Abington’s convincing win over the Lady Knights in a semifinal game of the SOL Tournament at Council Rock North. Lochner, who finished with a game-high 16, accounted for 12 of those points.
“From her sophomore to her junior year, Sammy’s maturity level has gone from zero to 100, and it’s translated onto the court,” coach Dan Marsh said. “She’s more confident, she’s more aggressive.
“So is Gabby – Gabby’s played really well for us also. They’ve both matured and become comfortable with who they are in their roles and how to work with Deja. Sammy has been tremendous – she works tremendously hard.”
Lochner had eight points in the first quarter, including a pair of buckets from just inside the three-point line. Nolan had five points, including a three-pointer, as the Ghosts sprinted to a 16-4 lead after one quarter.
According to Lochner, life has become a whole lot easier for the guards with the presence of Liz O’Leary and Leah Simmons under the basket.
“With both of them down low, teams have to watch out for them at the same time, which helps us a lot,” she said.
The Ghosts edged the Lady Knights 6-4 in the second quarter to go into halftime on top 22-8, and it was their ability to bury the outside shots that opened things up on the inside in the second half.
Liz O’Leary, who had just two first-half points, began to dominate in the paint. After a Lochner bucket put the Ghosts on top 24-8, Nolan found O’Leary with a nifty pass for an easy basket and a 26-8 lead. According to O’Leary, it all began on the defensive end.
“The key today was definitely getting out on their shooters because we know they have a lot of great shooters,” O’Leary said. “I think we did a great job of that.
“I don’t think they had many three’s, and that was one of the main goals today – to keep them off the chart with the three’s.”
An O’Leary putback was followed by a Leah Simmons basket, and the Ghosts led 32-12. They took a 35-17 lead into the fourth quarter, and in yet another impressive passing sequence, O’Leary found Simmons on the opposite side of the basket for an easy deuce and a 37-17 lead early in the fourth.
“We share the ball well,” Marsh said. “When we share the ball, we’re tough to beat.”
The Lady Knights were never heard from the rest of the way as the Ghosts rolled to the win.
“These kind of games are my favorite – playing against good teams,” O’Leary said. “Just the atmosphere and this is the first time they’re doing this – it’s a whole lot of fun.”
While Lochner led the Ghosts offensively, O’Leary added 10 points and 11 rebounds while Nolan and Simmons both had eight. Rawls had just four points but handed out eight assists, and it was her penetration early in the game that set the stage for easy buckets from the outside by Lochner and Nolan.
“We do have weapons and Deja realizes that,” Marsh said. “Deja will do whatever is necessary – play defense or make the extra pass.
“There will be times when she needs to score. She has a knack for finding what we need, and tonight she found Sammy a lot.”
“When Deja gets in the lane, they all collapse on her because she is great at finishing,” Lochner said. “So when she passes it out to us, we can get open shots, and even if they run back out to us, then Lizzie is almost always open down low.”
The Lady Knights were without starter Irisa Ye (injury), and Sam Carangi was back in action after being sidelined since Tuesday night because of illness. The sophomore guard, who was shadowed by Lochner, had just two points.
“Her shot is amazing,” Lochner said of Carangi. “If she starts making them, she won’t stop. I just had to stay in front of her so she can’t shoot over me.”
Mikaela Giuliani led the Lady Knights with eight points while Jess McKenzie had six.
“We were just tentative offensively and indecisive,” North Penn coach Maggie deMarteleire said. “That was not us, and I told the kids after the game, ‘You need to hit the delete button on that one. I’m not even making a copy of that tape.’
“They just played very well, and we didn’t show up today.”
When it was over, Marsh was pressed by reporters to talk about what his team’s win over North Penn meant.
“North Penn is obviously a very good basketball team, and I thought we did a good job on them, and that’s really all it means,” he said. “We played well today, and you’re only as good as your last game.
“We have to get to work on Monday. If we don’t play well on Monday, we’re going to get the doors blown off of us. We’ve got to make sure we’re ready.”
On Monday at 5 p.m., the Ghosts will face Central Bucks West in a battle for the first SOL Tournament title at Souderton Area High School.
North Penn 4-4-9-8 25
Abington 16-6-13-16 51
North Penn (25) – Mikaela Giuliani 8, Taylor Thames 2, Sam Carangi 2, Bri Hewlett 0 2-2 2; Taylor Putnam 3, Jess McKenzie 6, Jenny Hulmes 2.
Abington (51) – Gabby Nolan 8, Sammy Lochner 16, Liz O’Leary 10, Deja Rawls 4, Leah Simmons 8, Taylor Deal 1, Jordyn Allen 2, Britney James 2.
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