Check out the results for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Tuesday. CB South/Souderton photos provided courtesy of Lisa Henderson. Upper Moreland/Plymouth Whitemarsh provided courtesy of Larry Small. Abington/CR South photo provided courtesy of Jon Sklut. Check back for galleries of both games…CLICK HERE.
American Conference
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 59, UPPER MORELAND 20
22-0.
The Colonials put their names in the record books as the first team to go through the entire regular season without a loss since the 1982-83 squad went 19-0. That team went on to win a district championship.
On Tuesday night, the Colonials capped a perfect regular season with a win over the visiting Golden Bears.
“It was great,” coach Daniel Dougherty said. “It was really nice to see the whole school come out and support the girls tonight.
“We had everything from Whitemarsh Girls’ Basketball League to the middle school girls’ basketball teams. Faculty and friends, lots of our alumni were there tonight. This is my seventh year with the program – I was Becky Duffy’s assistant for two years. The girls that we had my first year as her assistant were all there tonight.
“It was something we talked about with my girls. A lot of people made a lot of sacrifices and did a lot of hard work to get our program going in this direction, and the girls that are on our team now are the ones that would come to our camps in sixth and seventh grades. Now they’re juniors and seniors, and it was special to have all those people in the crowd to cheer this group of girls on.”
The Colonials’ perfect regular season turned heads in the basketball community, and it surprised even their coach.
“At the beginning of the season, even knowing (junior transfer) Lauren Fortescue came in, never in a million years would I have thought we would go 22-0,” Dougherty said. “We really hoped to compete with Upper Dublin, but it’s one of those things – until you beat them, you can’t believe it happened.
“I absolutely expected us to have a letdown game at some point during the season. To finish off the season with four games in five days, everyone is so happy but so exhausted at the same time. These last couple of games, we’ve received contributions from everyone. The scoring has been super balanced. The kids are really starting to grow and communicate on the floor the way we’re looking for them to do.
“It’s no secret we live in the shadow of the boys’ program, and that’s probably what means the most to the girls and to us as coaches – we cut the net down after the game tonight. It’s a memory they all deserve to have. Everyone was there to cheer for them. It’s special. In a world where women are still fighting for equal rights and recognition, to have the school see what these girls have accomplished, it’s been really special.”
The Colonials owned Tuesday’s game from the outset, opening up a 14-0 lead after one quarter and going into halftime with a 30-3 advantage.
“It was our Senior Night tonight, and our two seniors are kids who have been with the varsity for four years,” Dougherty said. “Lauren Coscia and Laurel Suchsland are just the epitome of what program players do. They just work harder and work harder.”
Both Coscia and Suchsland finished with nine points – both buried a 3-pointer.
“They both have gotten so much better and grown as young women,” Dougherty said. “They’re so confident out there.
“They’re great role models for the young girls that were in the gym tonight.”
Taylor O’Brien led the Colonials with 15 points while Ali Diamond and Lauren Fortescue added 10 each.
While the PW varsity rolled to a 22-0 record, the junior varsity had quite a season of its own, compiling an 18-2 record.
“I don’t know if our jayvee team has won 18 games in the last three years,” Dougherty said. “A lot of credit to my assistant coaches – TJ Delucia and Bridgette McKnight. Bridgette was a tremendous post player in her day, and she has really, really helped with the development of Lauren Coscia.
“We all looked at each other afterwards. Never would we have predicted this ever. It was just a lot of hard work by the two of them. When you go through the league twice, it makes me appreciate all the accomplishments of all those great Cheltenham teams and great Upper Dublin teams. It’s so special for these kids.
For the Golden Bears on Tuesday, Phoebe Longstreth and Noelle Woodman both scored eight points.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (22-0, 14-0 SOL) will face Central Bucks West in Saturday’s SOL Tournament at Bensalem at 5:30 p.m. Upper Moreland closed out its season 0-22 (0-14 SOL).
Upper Moreland 0-3-7-10 20
Plymouth Whitemarsh 14-16-21-8 59
Upper Moreland (20) – Phoebe Longstreth 8,
QUAKERTOWN 32, WISSAHICKON 31
Wissahickon edged Quakertown 36-35 in the initial meeting between the two squads on Jan. 13, and on Tuesday night, the Panthers returned the favor, using some late-game heroics to pull out the dramatic win.
With the Trojans holding for the final shot and the score deadlocked 31-31, Sam Howard came up with a steal at midcourt. She missed the shot for the lead, but Maggie Garlick was there for the rebound and was fouled on the follow up. With 4.1 seconds remaining, the junior point guard missed the first but buried the second. The Trojans shot for the win fell short, and the Panthers earned the thrilling win.
“It was a 31-31 game for four minutes,” Wissahickon coach Rodney Cline said. “With a minute 45 left, I called timeout, and we held the ball.
“We were going to hold for the last shot. We got it down to about 25 seconds, and I called a timeout, drew up a little play. We were going to hold the ball until about 12 seconds and then put the ball in our best girl’s hands, set a high ball screen and let her go to work.
“Their girl (Howard) made a good play. She stole the ball, went down and missed the layup. They got the putback. We thought it was a block, but they called it with the body. She missed the first one, we called a timeout to freeze her, set up a play in case she made it. She made it, we inbounded the ball, three passes and we got the ball in Bri (Tilghman’s) hands. She shot up a three, it hit off the backboard, hit the rim, missed it.”
Garlick finished with six points – which included a 3-of-4 effort at the foul line – to go along with seven rebounds, three steals and three assists. Jill Martin led the Panthers with 14 points and seven rebounds. Caitlin Rosenberger also added six points.
The game was a roller coaster ride for both sides. The Panthers led 13-12 after the first quarter, but the Trojans won the second quarter 11-4 to go into halftime with a 23-17 lead. The Panthers erased that deficit with a 12-4 third quarter to go on top 29-27. The teams combined for just seven fourth-quarter points.
“It was a battle the whole game,” Quakertown coach Brittany Remmey said. “It was fun basketball.”
Wissahickon was the 25th seed, one spot out of the District One 6A field, in this week’s District One 6A power rankings.
“This takes us out from having a chance to go to the playoffs,” Cline said. “Kennett (the 24th seed) had to lose at least one of their games left. We would have gotten some schedule points, some power points if we had won this game.
“It’s tough, but don’t get me wrong – I’m proud of my girls. We had a great season in comparison to the last two or three seasons. A 10-win season is a great season. I’m going to miss my seniors. I love them from the bottom of my heart, but it’s tough because you tasted it.”
Cline bids farewell to five seniors but only one starter, Julianne Griffin.
“We had seven or eight games that were four points or less, and they went both ways,” the Trojans’ coach said. “It evened itself out. We’re moving in the right direction, and that’s all you can ask for. Going through this experience allowed my staff and me to become better coaches. We know what we need to do to get better. Getting to understand your girls and what drives them and motivates them and what they need, you only get that through experience.”
Sydney Ott led the Trojans with nine points while Tilghman and Griffin both added six.
Quakertown (10-11, 6-7 SOL) will close out its season on Thursday at Upper Dublin. Wissahickon closed out the year with a 10-12 record (6-8 SOL).
Wissahickon 12-11-4-4 31
Quakertown 13-4-12-3 32
Wissahickon (31) – Brianna Tilghman 6, Jasmine Bishop 4, Lexi Carradorni 2, Hilma Meiby 4, Sydney Ott 9, Julianne Griffin 6.
Quakertown (32) – Maggie Garlick 6, Hannah LaBonge 2, Marina Cooke 4, Caitlin Rosenberger 6, Jill Martin 14.
UPPER DUBLIN 42, CHELTENHAM 26
The Flying Cardinals found themselves staring at a 12-6 deficit at the end of one quarter. They responded by turning up the defensive pressure, limiting the Lady Panthers to just 14 points over the final three quarters.
Upper Dublin used a 16-4 second quarter to go into halftime with a 22-16 lead and never looked back, outscoring the Lady Panthers 12-4 in the third quarter and 20-10 in the second half.
Nicole Kaiser led a balanced attack with 12 points while Maggie Weglos added nine points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Josie Barrett had eight points and six steals.
Nashira Brown’s nine points led the Lady Panthers.
Upper Dublin (16-5, 11-2 SOL), the 11th seed in this week’s District One 6A power rankings, will close out its regular season by hosting Quakertown on Thursday. Cheltenham, the 23rd seed this week, closed out its regular season with a 12-10 record overall (8-4 SOL).
Upper Dublin 6-16-12-8 42
Cheltenham 12-4-4-6 26
SOL Continental Conference
NORTH PENN 55, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 49
The Knights made it official, capturing sole possession of their fourth title in five years with their win over the Patriots.
“We graduated one player who was a big contributor for us, particularly defensively and rebounding-wise,” coach Maggie deMarteleire said of Mikaela Giuliani. “But we have three seniors (Sam Carangi, Jess Huber and Irisa Ye) who are very, very seasoned, very experienced.
“We came in as the team to beat, and unfortunately, we got beat twice in the first half of the season, but I have to give my girls a lot of credit because they bounced back, buckled down and really did things the right way and grinded it out a few games, which is good. Different people are stepping up. We’ve been consistently having multiple double-digit scorers in the game, which is always a good thing.”
In Tuesday’s win, the Knights received a much-needed offensive boost from Jenny Hulmes, who scored nine second-quarter points to help the Knights dig their way out of a 20-13 hole to go into halftime deadlocked 30-30.
“They weren’t defending my one player, which is what they did the last time as well,” deMarteleire said. “Obviously, (Hulmes) really stepped up big for us tonight when we really needed her.”
The Knights outscored the Patriots 13-6 in the third quarter, but this win was anything but easy.
“They ran their offense beautifully,” deMarteleire said of the Patriots. “We were just fortunate in the third quarter that we played a little bit better defense that one quarter. Thank goodness that was enough.
“I do think Jenny was the difference in the game because no one would expect her to step up like that. She did a great job, so I’m really happy for her.”
Hulmes also buried 3-of-4 from the foul line in the fourth quarter.
“She hit some shots when we were helping off her in the lane – she hurt us,” East coach Liz Potash said. “(With North Penn), you kind of have to pick your poison.”
Jess Huber led a balanced North Penn attack with 14 points while Irisa Ye and Bri Hewlett both scored 13 points. Sam Carangi had five assists.
The Patriots had three players in double figures. Bridget Birkhead and Megan Browne both scored 14 points, and Bri Talbot added 12.
While it might seem as though winning league titles would be old hat for the Knights, this one – according to the Knights’ coach – was especially gratifying.
“The league is so tough,” deMarteleire said. “All you have to do is look at the district rankings, and four out of the top 10 are from our league.
“CB East is just outside of it, and the only reason they are is because they’re in our league and lost to teams in our league. Our league is tough, and hopefully, that’s going to bode well for us when we get to the district playoffs. Hopefully, we won’t see each other too soon.”
North Penn (17-8, 11-3 SOL), the top seed in the District One 6A rankings, will travel to Neshaminy for a non-league contest on Thursday. Central Bucks East (13-8, 6-6) – seeded 14th this week – will be on the road at Perkiomen Valley for a non-league game on Thursday.
North Penn 13-17-13-12 55
Central Bucks East 18-12-6-13 49
North Penn (55) – Jenny Hulmes 12, Irisa Ye 13, Jess Huber 14, Sam Carangi 1, Jess McKenzie 2, Bri Hewlett 13.
Central Bucks East (49) – Bridget Birkhead 14, Megan Browne 14, Bailey McManus 5, Bri Talbot 12, Grace Stewart 4.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 48, SOUDERTON 39
As senior nights go, CB South certainly had a good one.
With their positioning in this week’s District One 6A power rankings as the eighth seed somewhat tenuous, the Titans – who dropped a pair of games last week – needed a win, and they got one.
“This was really important for us,” South coach Beth Mattern said. “In the North Penn game, we fell short at the end. It was a heartbreaker. CB East – we cut it to two, and we felt we let that game get away from us. We’ve just had to kind of regroup and get back to working.
“North Penn, CB East are great teams who have been executing well. You’ve got to be on your game when you play them. Tonight I was just proud of our effort from start to end.”
Tuesday’s win not only all but locked up a top eight seed and an opening round bye, it also showcased some pretty impressive teamwork by the Titans, who received contributions up and down their lineup.
“The thing about our bench and even some of the girls that start who maybe offensively don’t always show what they can do – they really can execute on the offensive end,” coach Beth Mattern said. “We’ve worked hard this season to really try and capitalize on that and help them contribute more.
“Tonight they really did. We got some big points from them.”
After the Indians – thanks to six points from Kate Connolly, opened up an 8-4 lead after one quarter, the Titans went to work. Alexa Brodie – who led all scorers with 17 points in another stellar outing – scored six points in the frame and spent the night thwarting every Souderton comeback attempt.
“She played great,” Souderton coach Lynn Carroll said of the sophomore point guard. “She played really, really well, and we did not execute defensively, unfortunately.
“There were several times we did exactly what we were supposed to do, and she still made a nice play, but we weren’t consistent enough on the defensive end trying to execute out game plan.”
The Titans also received a major boost from Maddie McShane’s six points off the bench in the second quarter. Her four straight points – two at the foul line and two on a putback – turned a 16-14 deficit into an 18-16 lead. The Titans never trailed the rest of the way.
“That really just brings the team up and gets us going,” Veal said. “Once one person starts, it has a chain effect, and it gets the rest of the team pumped up.”
“I just know that even off the bench I have to be on,” said McShane. “I can’t take a couple of minutes to get settled. I have to be ready and work my hardest.”
Veal, an unsung hero for the Titans all season, also came up big in Tuesday’s win.
“I know I’m not a main scorer or a very offensive player, but I really enjoy playing defense, and I like being able to go for the rebounds and play my part,” Veal said. “Even if I’m not getting 20 points in a game like other people, I like to rebound, help on the defense.”
In the second quarter, Veal contributed two rebounds, two points and a steal. She scored eight points – a basket in each of the four quarters.
“Melissa Veal does not get enough credit for the effort she puts in,” Mattern said. “She basically plays 32 minutes every night, she is a leading rebounder. She’s working hard 24-7, watching game film and doing what it takes.
“I’m really proud of her, especially tonight on Senior Night, that her basketball skills and contributions were highlighted.”
The Titans – behind five points from Haley Meinel and a clutch three from Lexi Edwards opened up a 35-29 lead after three quarters, negating the six-point effort of Souderton’s Alana Cardona.
Connolly, who led the Indians with 15 points, scored five points early in the fourth quarter to keep the Indians close.
“Kate seemed to really want the ball in the fourth quarter,” Carroll said. “She had a size advantage, and if I have a player who wants it, I’m going to try to get her the ball. That’s what Kate has been doing for us the second half of the season – really trying to step up offensively when the team is struggling to score.
“I don’t care who scores the points as long as we’re executing and getting a good shot every time down the court, and we didn’t get a good shot every time down the court.”
Brodie – a perfect 4-for-4 at the foul line in the frame – scored a bucket with 1:50 remaining on her team’s third shot of the possession. Her driving basket gave the Titans a 40-36 lead. The Indians would get no closer as the Titans buried 9-of-10 foul shots in the frame.
In addition to Brodie, Meinel added nine points and Veal, eight. McShane finished with six.
“We really didn’t want to lose on Senior Night,” McShane said. “We knew we had something to play for – play for them, play for the last league game.”
In addition to Connolly, the Indians received 11 points from Cardona and six points from Megan Walbrandt.
Central Bucks South closed out its regular season with a 17-5 record (7-5 SOL) while Souderton – seeded sixth in this week’s power rankings – also is 17-5 (8-4 SOL).
Souderton 8-11-10-10 39
Central Bucks South 4-18-13-13 48
Souderton (39) – Tori Dowd 2 1-2 5; Alana Cardona 4 2-2 11; Megan Walbrandt 2 0-0 6; Sami Falencki 1 0-0 2; Kate Connolly 5 4-6 15; Totals 14 7-10 39.
Souderton (39) – Natalie DiSandro 0 2-2 2; Melissa Veal 4 0-0 8; Meghan Kuypers 1 0-0 2; Haley Meinel 3 3-4 9; Alexa Brodie 5 7-9 17 Maddie McShane 2 2-2 6; Lexi Edwards 1 1-2 4; Totals 16 15-19 48.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 72, WILLIAM TENNENT 32
SOL National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 66, HARRY S TRUMAN 42
The Indians clinched sole possession of their first conference title since 2011 with a convincing win over the visiting Tigers.
“Personally, this championship means a lot,” coach Lou Palkovics said. “When you win 12 of your first 14 years of coaching, you take it for granted.
“This team bought in and is playing at a high level right now. I’m so happy for my four seniors.”
The Indians’ coach pointed to the leadership of those seniors – captains Megan Haggerty and Emily Mackin as well as Abby Jett and Hannah Weiler – as the key to his team’s title run.
Mackin led the Indians with 12 points and also handed out four assists. Weiler and Dana Bandurick added 11 each. Bandurick filled a stat sheet with three steals, two blocked shots and seven assists while Weiler added a pair of blocks. Mackenzie Tinner was the fourth North player in double digits with 10 points. She also blocked a pair of shots. Haggerty added nine points on three 3-pointers, and point guard Becca Margolis had six assists in limited playing time to go along with five points.
The Indians seized early control of the game, exploding for 29 points and opening up a 23-point lead after one frame. Mackin and Bandurick led a balanced attack with six points each while Weiler and Margolis both had five in the frame. The Indians took a commanding 42-16 lead into halftime on their way to the decisive win.
For the Tigers, Jayda Campbell led the way with 13 points. Sabria Lytes and Daisha Campbell both added eight points while Daeja Moore had seven and Alexis McCoy, six points.
Council Rock North (15-6, 11-1 SOL), the 13th seed in the latest District One 6 power rankings, will face North Penn on Saturday at Bensalem in the SOL Tournament at 2 p.m. Harry S Truman (13-9, 4-8) is the 21st seed in this week’s power rankings.
Harry S Truman 6-10-13-13 42
Council Rock North 29-13-18-6 66
Harry S Truman (42) – Daeja Moore 7, Daisha Campbell 8, Jayda Campbell 13, Alexis McCoy 6, Sabria Lytes 8.
Council Rock North (66) – Becca Margolis 5, Camryn Polinsky 2, Megan Haggerty 9, Sydney Blum 2, Emily Mackin 12, Dana Bandurick 11, Kaelin Maely 2, Hannah Weiler 11, Mackenzie Tinner 10, Sarah Khantzian 2.
ABINGTON 46, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 45
The Golden Hawks gave the visiting Ghosts all they could handle before falling by just one.
The Ghosts, who led 19-17 after one quarter, took a 27-21 lead into halftime and still led by a 36-34 score heading into the final quarter when they held off the surging Golden Hawks.
Tamia Wessels led the Ghosts with 12 points – five in the pivotal fourth quarter. Lizzie O’Leary added 11 – eight in the first half. Sam Brusha had nine.
Rock South senior Kasey Shlupp led all scorers with 17 points, which included three 3-pointers and a 4-for-4 showing at the foul line. After scoring seven first-half points, Schlupp scored all 10 of her team’s points in the third quarter. Payton Spadaccino added 11 points, and Faith Turner contributed seven – all in the fourth quarter. Allison McGowan scored six points.
Abington, the 10th seed in this week’s District One 6A power rankings, closed out its regular season with a 17-5 record (10-2 SOL). Council Rock South, the 22nd seed in the latest rankings, closed out its regular season with a 10-12 record (5-7 SOL).
Abington 19-8-9-10 46
Council Rock South 14-7-10-14 45
Abington (46) – Britney James 1 0-0 2; Camryn Lexow 2 1-1 5; Lizzie O’Leary 5 1-2 11; Kassondra Brown 2 0-1 4; Tamia Wessels 4 2-2 12; Michaela Coyle 1 0-0 2; Jordyn Allen 1 0-0 2; Sam Brusha 2 3-4 8; Totals 18 7-10 46.
Council Rock South (45) – Kasey Schlupp 5 4-4 17; Payton Spadaccino 4 2-4 11; Allison McGowan 2 0-0 6; Faith Turner 3 0-2 7; Hannah Binder 2 0-0 4; Totals 16 6-10 45.
PENNSBURY 46, BENSALEM 27
Kate Mix had just two points in a first half that saw the visiting Falcons open up a 16-9 lead. Things changed in a hurry in the second half as the sophomore point guard erupted for 10 third-quarter points, which included a pair of threes. Senior Meredith Webber also hat a hot hand, connecting on a pair of 3-pointers and adding eight points in a 21-point quarter.
Mix led all scorers with 19 points – 17 in a torrid second-half showing. Webber added 10 points, and Sydney Buell, nine. Danielle Cady had seven points.
For the Owls, Chloe Munyon led the way with eight points, and Haley Keenan added seven.
Pennsbury closed out the season with a 9-12 record overall (3-9 SOL). Bensalem – with a lineup loaded with freshman – closed out its season with a 2-20 record (0-12 SOL).
Pennsbury 13-3-21-9 46
Bensalem 6-4-7-11 27
Pennsbury (46) – Sydney Buell 9, Danielle Cady 7, Kate Mix 19, Mary Miller 1, Meredith Webber 10.
Bensalem (27) – Sydney Bawuah 5, Sit 1, Haley Keenan 7, Chloe Munyon 8, Emily Wineburg 4, Alayna McSeed 2.
About the Author
