Check out the results for the 14 SOL girls’ basketball teams that were in action in Saturday’s SOL Challenge. A pair of games scheduled for Plymouth Whitemarsh – Neshaminy/Pennridge and PW/Abington – were postponed due to a water main break.
CHELTENHAM 40, BENSALEM 37
The Lady Panthers led by four with less than a minute remaining, but closing out the game was anything but easy. Haley Keenan had something to do with that, burying a three from the corner to pull the Owls to within one.
“They called a timeout, we inbounded the ball – they tried to trap us for a few seconds, and we got the ball to Taylor Johnson,” coach Brendan Nolan said. “They fouled her immediately, and she went down and made both free throws.”
Johnson’s free throws with 12.4 seconds remaining put the Lady Panthers on top 40-37. Bensalem still had one last chance to knot the score but came up short.
“They didn’t have a timeout left, so I called a timeout after she made the second free throws and said, ‘Let them go in and make a layup because they can’t stop the clock, but contest the 3-point line. Don’t let the 3-point shots off,’” Nolan said. “They got a 25-footer up in desperation that didn’t even get close.
“It was a nice way to win. I was happy for Taylor. Taylor played really well in the fourth quarter. We had the ball in her hands more than normal. Courtney Murray kind of tweaked her ankle midway through the third quarter, so we tried to limit her a little but keep her out there. Taylor Johnson did a great job handling the ball. She got in the lane, had a nice assist to Kai Williams at a crucial point in the fourth quarter, and Kai laid it in. Her two free throws were huge.”
The two teams battled to a 15-15 halftime tie, but behind five points from Savannah Roberts, the Lady Panthers outscored the Owls 12-8 in the third quarter to go on top 27-23. That turned out to be their final margin of victory.
“It was a very good game – it was close most of the way,” Bensalem coach Don Bogan said. “Cheltenham took control in the third quarter and held on for a nice win.
“(We) solved our team’s major problem of turning the ball over with less than 12, but we missed numerous layups and open shots. I was pleased with the way we limited the turnovers, but we just had an off afternoon shooting. The girls are working hard, but we must limit the mistakes we make from the lack of experience we have in close games.”
Haley Keenan (15 points) and Emily Wineburg (14 points) both had big games for the Owls. Alayna McSeed added six.
“The girls are working hard, and to be honest, I look at this game as part of the growing process that started a year ago,” Bogan said. “I just have to be patient and handle the growing pains of a group of girls who are just going through a period of growing and (gaining) experience.”
For the Lady Panthers, the win snapped a tough week that included losses to Wissahickon and Plymouth Whitemarsh.
“It was huge,” Nolan said of the win. “The tough loss was Wissahickon. Even last night (in a loss to PW), we played better than we did against Wissahickon.
“We knew what we were running into at PW, but I felt we took steps forward. We did some things well. We benefitted from that today. They kind of tried to defend us the same way that PW did last night. We did turn he ball over a little bit today, but we got it in the right spots more often, made some better passes, we were a little tougher with the ball, and we attacked through the pressure, which got them to back off of it a little bit.”
Williams posted an impressive double-double with 11 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Lady Panthers.
“She was a force defensively,” Nolan said. “She ended up with four fouls – she kept herself out of foul trouble for the most part, but she got two quick ones down the stretch.
“To get 18 rebounds and be a presence down there – she played the whole game. That was big for us.”
Also for the Lady Panthers, Roberts added 10 points and Murray had eight.
Cheltenham (6-5, 1-3 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday, and Bensalem (3-7, 0-4) will be on the road at Abington.
Cheltenham 5-10-12-13 40
Bensalem 8-7-8-14 37
Cheltenham (40) – Savannah Roberts 10, Taylor Johnson 4, Courtney Murray 8, Madison Rorer 2, Kelia Holmes 4, Kai Williams 11.
Bensalem (37) – Emily Wineberg 14, Halley Keenan 15, Alayna McSeed 6, Chloe Munyon 2.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 48, QUAKERTOWN 27
Nicole Blaustein scored 17 of her game-high 19 points in the first quarter, propelling the Golden Hawks to a 23-1 lead. The freshman guard buried three 3-pointers in the opening quarter. The Hawks took a 33-11 lead into halftime on their way to the win.
“I was really proud of the defensive energy from the tip tonight,” Rock South coach Blair Klumpp said. “It was a tough atmosphere. The gym was almost empty at the start because of the Eagles game, I assume.
“I told the girls we needed to create our own pressure and energy. They executed and did a good job building off the Bensalem win. Bailey Vetter and Claudia Steinmetz did a great job using their length and athleticism to pressure their guards.”
Emma Jones led the Hawks’ defense with five steals while Nicole Blaustein, Steinmetz and Allison McGowan each had two steals.
“That led to transition opportunities and open looks,” Klumpp said. “We didn’t shoot a great percentage today, especially in the second quarter, but we let our defense carry us, which was a positive that the struggles on offense didn’t affect our focus on defense.”
In addition to Blaustein, Karly Wunder and Allison McGowan both added six points for the Golden Hawks.
“A few of the things I’m proud of the girls for is we didn’t take them lightly,” Klumpp said. “Their best player (Maggie Garlick) is out, and we didn’t take them for granted.
“We were also very stingy defensively, allowing one point – the first point of the game – in the first quarter, and they broke double digits on the last play of the half.
“Lastly, we shared the ball well and had nine assists on 13 first-half field goals. Some girls won’t show up in the scoring column but really impacted the game (like) Claudia Steinmetz and Emma Jones.”
“Claudia is improving defensively game by game. She is someone who – working with her last year and this year – I’ve been trying to get her to believe in herself and the impact she can have on the game. She can be disruptive in positive ways on both ends of the floor. She wasn’t happy with her offensive output tonight, but she didn’t allow it to affect her defensive effort and energy, and that was great to see. She’s showing a lot of growth and maturity. When it all clicks, she can be very good, and I have been trying to get her self-confidence to match my confidence in her.”
Jones led the Golden Hawks under the backboards with eight rebounds – seven offensive. McGowan and Hannah Binder each had five rebounds.
“Emma Jones just did what she’s been doing all year for us,” Klumpp said. “It sounds simple, but it’s made her effective and productive. A role was laid out for her at the beginning of the year, and she bought into it, and she deserves credit for that. She doesn’t try to do too much, she’s been consistent and playing with some confidence.”
Klumpp also credited Karly Wunder for her performance.
“I gave her a run in the first half and extended her a bit in the second half,” the Golden Hawks’ coach said. “She is someone who – as an athlete – has shown tremendous glimpses, so I have been trying to work with her and keep her confidence up.
“She provided a lot of defensive energy tonight, and she was aggressive on offense. It was a good night for her. Hopefully, she’s starting to understand a little more what we are trying to do offensively and defensively and the role I envisioned for her.”
Kimmy Best led the Panthers with nine points.
Council Rock South (5-6, 1-3 SOL) will host Neshaminy on Tuesday, Quakertown (1-12, 0-5) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
“(Today) was a great overall effort,” Klumpp said. “I hope we can continue to work hard and execute. It was good to close the week for us – building trust and confidence is important.
“We have a nice stretch of games coming up that will be good for us.”
Council Rock South 23-10-9-6 48
Quakertown 1-10-9-7 27
Council Rock South (48) – Carley Irvin 2, Alex Szydik 2, Mendes 4, Bailey Vetter 5, Karly Wunder 6,Nicole Blaustein 19, Allison McGowan 6, Hannah Ginder 4.
Quakertown (27) – Abigail Dickson 2, Kimmy Best 9, Samantha Howard 3, Brianna Leftkoski 4, Hannah LaBonge 5, Abigail McClaskey 2, Rachael Taylor 2.
WILLIAM TENNENT 42, UPPER MORELAND 23
Haley Crossley (22 points) and Emma Stanfield (16 points) combined for 38 points as the Panthers rebounded from a disappointing loss at Pennridge to defeat the Golden Bears. They opened up an 8-5 lead after one quarter and took an 18-9 advantage into halftime.
“Both teams started off slow,” Tennent coach Laura Whitney said. “The increased defensive pressure helped extend our lead at halftime.
“Fatigue from last night played a factor in our first-half struggles. We just looked very flat at both ends of the floor and played with no sense of urgency. It was a quick turnaround after playing last night and getting home late. Our starters have been playing major minutes, and it caught up to us.”
The Panthers seized complete control of the game with a 14-5 third quarter, but this contest was about much more than just a game. Both teams wore gold shoelaces in support of the Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer initiative. Money raised from the event will be donated to help children battling cancer.
“Tonight was bigger than a game of basketball,” Whitney said. “As a society, we take things for granted at times, and to be able to do something meaningful for someone else less fortunate, it is powerful.”
Earlier on Saturday, the Panthers held a clothing drive and collected 200 bags that will be donated locally and globally to help those in need.
“We believe strongly in involving our girls in the community and teaching them the importance of giving back,” Whitney said.
William Tennent (7-5, 1-4 SOL) will host Souderton on Tuesday, and Upper Moreland (3-7, 1-4) will be on the road at Upper Dublin.
William Tennent 8-10-14-10 42
Upper Moreland 5-4-5-9 23
William Tennent (42) – Emma Stanfield 16, Haley Crossley 22, Jess Rutkowsky 2, Bryn Evans 2.
Upper Moreland (23) – Emma Meakim 3, Phoebe Longstreth 8, Kaiya Herb 3, Abby Ellen Wood 2, Brianna Hughes 2, Kathryn Morrow 2, Kayla Meakim 3.
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 64, WISSAHICKON 26
Mackenzie Tinner erupted for 11 first-quarter points, propelling the Indians to a 15-8 lead after one frame. Olivia Boyle’s six points highlighted a 24-point second quarter that sent the Indians into halftime with a commanding 39-14 lead.
Tinner led all scorers with 20 points, and Dana Bandurick added 15 to go along with seven rebounds, four steals and four assists. Sydney Blum also finished the game in double figures with 10 points, and Juliana Shields and Boyle both had six.
Becca Margolis(eight steals, eight assists) and Camryn Polinsky (six steals) sparked the defense, combining for 14 steals. As a team, the Indians had 30 rebounds, 24 steals and 20 assists.
The Trojans were led by Anna Schools and Sydney Ott with six points each.
“(We) started out strong and took a lead in the first quarter, but unfortunately, we could not sustain that through four quarters,” Wissahickon coach Rodney Cline said. “This was our fourth game in five days.
“(We) concluded the week with a 3-1 record, so it was a successful week, and we look to carry some of this momentum into Tuesday night’s home conference game against the Springfield Spartans.”
Council Rock North (7-5, 4-1 SOL) will face Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Sunday’s Play by Play Classic at Jefferson University at 2:15 p.m. Wissahickon (4-6, 4-2) will host Springfield Township on Tuesday.
Wissahickon 8-6-6-6 26
Council Rock North 15-24-14-11 64
Wissahickon (26) – Anna Schools 6, Brianna Tilghman 5, Lauren Fadel 2, Sydney Ott 6, Victoria Selverian 3, Victoria Williams 2, Carly Fadel 2.
Council Rock North (64) – Becca Margolis 2, Juliana Shields 6, Camryn Polinsky 2, Dana Bandurick 15, Sydney Blum 10, Olivia Boyle 6, Kaelin Mealey 3, Mackenzie Tinner 20.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 58, HATBORO-HORSHAM 15
Maddie Burke was kept off the scoreboard in Thursday’s loss to Souderton, but she was back in business on Saturday. The sophomore sharpshooter ignited the Bucks with 12 points in the first quarter, propelling West to a 25-4 lead.
By halftime, Burke had all of her game-high 16 points. Sophomore forward Julia Kreider had a big second half, scoring all 13 of her points to lead the Bucks, who were without Diane Nicholson. No other West player scored more than five.
Kylie Halko was a bright spot for the Hatters, scoring 11 points.
Central Bucks West (7-6, 4-2 SOL) will face Garnet Valley, the top-seeded squad in the District One 6A power rankings, in the Play by Play Classic at Thomas Jefferson University on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Hatboro-Horsham (4-10, 3-3) will be on the road at Cheltenham on Tuesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 4-0-5-6 15
Central Bucks West 25-13-9-11 58
Hatboro-Horsham (15) – Kylie Halko 11, Lexie Brett 2, Sarah Sciubba 2.
Central Bucks West (58) – Abbey Spratt 2, Olivia Irons 5, Anna Blue 5, Jess Broskey 4, Maddie Burke 16, Kaili Carey 5, Izzy Treon 5, Lilly Evans 3, Julia Kreider.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 33, PENNSBURY 29
The points didn’t come easily for an East squad that averaged 51 points in its five preceding outings, but the Patriots still found a way to win for the ninth time in 13 games.
The Falcons led 11-8 after one quarter, but the Patriots rallied to take a 22-18 halftime lead. Both teams scored just 11 points in the second half as the Patriots held on for the win.
Caroine Pla’s seven points led the Patriots. Gina Russo added six.
Cami Wiegand scored a game-high 13 points to lead the Falcons. Mary Miller added nine points.
Pennsbury 11-7-3-8 29
Central Bucks East 8-14-4-7 33
Pennsbury (29) – Abbi Nassivera 3, Bella Arcuri 2, Mary Miller 9, Lily Hochhausler 2, Cami Wiegand 13.
Central Bucks East (33) – Sophia Mancuso 5, Skylar Krause 4, Gina Russo 6, Caroline Pla 7, Audrey LaBouliere 5, Bailey McManus 2, Elyse Shine 4.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 54, HARRY S TRUMAN 38
Sparked by 12 points from Haley Meinel, the Titans raced out of the gate to a 21-6 lead after one quarter and led from wire to wire. Meinel led the Titans with 18 points.
Sofia Sonnet added nine points off the bench, and Maddie McShane had six points.
For the Tigers, Daisha Campbell scored a game-high 21 points. Briana Cliney added seven points.
Central Bucks South (13-0, 5-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East on Tuesday, and Harry S Truman (2-9, 0-3) will host Pennsbury on Tuesday.
Central Bucks South 21-14-14-4 54
Harry S Truman 6-8-13-11 38
Central Bucks South (54) – Caroline McSorley 4, Lindsay Scott 5, Haley Meinel 18, Natalie DiSandro 2, Maddie McShane 6, Sofia Sonnet 9, Mackenzie Ehresman 4.
Harry S Truman (38) – Haniyyah Jones 4, Zuri Clarke 2, Daisha Campbell 21, Roneshia James 4, Briana Cliney 7.
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