Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Thursday. CR North/Pennsbury photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos.
SOL National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 57, PENNSBURY 34
Don’t be fooled by the final score – a fact Rock North coach Lou Palkovics was quick to point out after the game.
“Seriously, that score does not reflect the game,” the Indians’ coach said. “Pennsbury played great.
“We were up by five points with six minutes to go in the third quarter, and we were only up nine at the end of the third quarter.”
The Indians, however, made a statement in the fourth quarter, outscoring their hosts 23-9. Sydney Blum – saddled with foul woes the entire night – made up for lost time in the final frame, connecting on a pair of 3-pointers and burying 5-of-6 from the foul line.
“Sydney Blum got three fouls in the first quarter,” Palkovics said. “I had someone sitting at the scorer’s table to go in for her, but she was called for a charge. The three fouls in the first quarter really hurt her. She can change a game.
“I’m not making any excuses. Pennsbury had a great game plan. They changed up their looks on defense – they gave us fits. I was really impressed with them, but I’m lucky to have four seniors that are all very close and very poised. As a coach I can always fall back on them.”
The Indians took an 8-7 lead into the second quarter, and despite the absence of Blum from their lineup, they outscored the Falcons 17-10 to go into halftime with a 25-17 lead. Senior Camryn Polinsky connected on a pair of threes in the quarter to lead the Indians. It was a 34-25 game heading into the final quarter. Sophomore Anna Cairone and senior Dana Bandurick each added five points in the final frame.
Bandurick was a force in the paint all night, finishing with 10 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Blum added five rebounds. Polinsky finished with eight points.
Palkovics credited his bench players, who outscored the Falcons’ bench 17-7. Cairone accounted for 12 of those points. Emma Benson had a three-pointer off the bench, and Jill Hopkins also had a basket.
“I’ve said depth was a problem this year, but tonight my three girls off the bench played great,” the Indians’ coach said. “Anna Cairone – wow, she came off the bench and played amazing. Emma Benson and Jill Hopkins – I needed them in the first half and they came in and played great. I was happy that we played better than I thought off the bench.”
Cami Wiegand’s 12-point effort led the Falcons, and Mary Miller added eight.
On a night that saw both teams employ fullcourt pressure for most of the game, the Indians were 18-for-35 (51 percent) from the floor, which included eight three-pointers. Pennsbury connected on 12-of-39 shots (31 percent). The Falcons were 3-for-13 from beyond the arc.
Rock North buried 13-of-17 from the foul line, 11-of-13 in the fourth quarter. Pennsbury made 7-of-13 from the charity stripe.
Council Rock North (3-0, 1-0 SOL) will face former conference rival Abington in a marquee game in Saturday’s SOL Challenge. The two SOL powers – who shared the SOL National Conference title with Neshaminy last year – will square off at Council Rock South at noon.
“That’s a huge game,” Palkovics said. “I don’t want to be one of those – we’re looking past a game, but we’re ready.
“I have tapes and I’m going tomorrow night to watch them play. They’re not in our league anymore, but I think it’s two of the better teams in the state. We know it’s a big game, and we want to represent well. We’re excited for it.”
Pennsbury (3-1, 0-1) will face Central Bucks South in Saturday’s SOL Challenge at Central Bucks West (11 a.m.).
Pennsbury 7-10-8-9 34
Council Rock North 8-17-9-23 57
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 54, HARRY S TRUMAN 42
Hannah Binder scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Golden Hawks to a big win in their SOL opener. It was the Hawks’ third win in four games.
“I was really pleased with several things tonight,” South coach Blair Klumpp said. “We got out in transition and didn’t take advantage of every opportunity, we left some points on the floor, but we did great with it late in the game.
“We have preached girls buying into roles and playing together and they are really buying in. Again, defense, effort, and sharing the ball were our calling cards tonight.”
The Golden Hawks had 18 assists on 24 field goals, and their game plan was to contain Truman’s high-scoring duo of Haniyyah Jones and Daisha Campbell. Both players scored 19 points, but their teammates combined for just four.
“They have a lot of firepower between Campbell and Jones,” Klumpp said. “As a team, they’ve scored over 70 and in the high 60s. Those two players have crossed 30 points in games.
“You realize you probably won’t shut them both down, but we really focused on them. My assistant – former player Alexis Hofstaedter – did a great job with film breakdown and preparing a scout for those two. The girls deserve a lot of credit for attention to detail and implementing what we practice. Their attention to detail has been an improvement this year.
“Alexis and Nick Heim really do a lot of film breakdown, and that helps because we all see things a little different, but we come away with the same tendencies. Our staff did a good job with breakdowns this week. We are trying to establish a culture here. The staff has been invested – Nick, Alexis, John Boyd and Taylor Dillon, and I challenged the girls to invest and buy in with us, and they have. We still need to work on some things, but if we focus on what we have been preaching, we will continue to see results.”
The Golden Hawks, who led 11-7 after one quarter, took a 27-19 lead into halftime. The Tigers trimmed three points off that lead in the third quarter, but the Hawks closed out the game by outscoring the Tigers 19-12.
“Our defense – especially up top (Nicole Blaustein, Carley Irvin, Madison Broaddus, Montanna Chambers and Jenna Culp) – really executed tonight,” Klump said.
Klump lauded the offensive effort of Binder, who scored on her 21 points on just 12 shot attempts. She also had a team-high 12 rebounds and three steals.
“She is someone who I challenged coming into this one from a matchup standpoint,” the Golden Hawks’ coach said. “Our bench was once again really good. After the game, one of the girls said, ‘New Year, new team, coach,’ and one thing that has been consistent with this group is contributions from the bench, not caring about who gets credit. Different girls are stepping up in different ways every game.
“Maddie Broaddus had her best all-around game. Chelsea Jameson gave us a spark off the bench early in the first half and has been the consummate teammate on the bench and in practice. She has the same approach whether she never gets in the game or plays some minutes for us.
“Montanna Chambers made some big plays as well. Jenna Culp is someone who deserves a lot of credit. She has really bought into what we have been preaching and is executing it in every aspect. She made some key plays down the stretch – skill plays and hustles plays. We need to keep focusing at practice and approaching every day with the same effort and energy.”
Chambers also finished the game in double figures with 14 points and two steals. Bailey Vetter had eight rebounds and three assists. Irvin had a team-high six assists to go along with seven points. Culp had five points and four assists. Broaddus had three assists.
Council Rock South (3-1, 1-0 SOL) will host Souderton in Saturday’s SOL Challenge at 1:30 p.m. Harry S Truman (2-3, 0-1) will host Council Rock North on Tuesday.
Harry S Truman 7-12-11-12 42
Council Rock South 11-16-8-19 54
Harry S Truman (42) – Haniyyah Jones 19, Daisha Campbell 19, Hannah Smith 2, Kayla Becker 2.
NESHAMINY 50, BENSALEM 28
The Redskins rolled to their fourth win in as many outings, opening up a 13-7 lead after one quarter and extending it to 29-15 by halftime. They outscored their hosts in each of the four quarters.
Brooke Mulllin’s 16 points – scored in just three quarters – led the Redskins. Olivia Scotti added 11 points.
“She played well all around,” coach Joe Lally said of Scotti.
Kristin Curley and Alexa McCoy both added seven points.
Sophomore Kim Kaile led the Owls with nine points. Haley Keenan added six.
Neshaminy (4-0, 1-0 SOL) will play its fifth game in nine days at Saturday’s SOL Challenge against rival Council Rock North. The game will be played at Council Rock South at noon. Bensalem (2-1, 0-1) will host Little Flower in a non-league game on Monday.
Neshaminy 13-16-10-11 50
Bensalem 7-8-7-6 28
Neshaminy (50) – Emily Tantala 1, Kacie Sienko 1, Olivia Scotti 11, Brooke Mullin 16, Kristin Curley 7, Alexa McCoy 7, Kelli Kowalick 3, Allison Harvey 4.
Bensalem (28) – Emily Wineburg 2, Kim Kaile 9, Michaela Sit 5, Haley Keenan 6, Samantha Daut 1, Chloe Munyon 5.
SOL Continental Conference
SOUDERTON 41, NORTH PENN 29
It’s a whole new world for Mikaela Reese this year.
The junior forward bided her time behind a pair of college-bound seniors – Kate Connolly and Alana Cardona – during the Indians’ ride to conference and district titles last year.
“I was on the varsity, but I played a lot of jayvee, so it was a big step up from last year,” Reese said. “It’s been amazing. I’ve played with the girls, so the environment has been really comforting, and playing with them has definitely helped me. It’s been cool to follow in the footsteps of the college girls now. Playing with them was a great opportunity.
“There are definitely teams coming after us this year. I just want to continue what they started and try and finish it. It’s been a cool experience so far.”
Reese has been a key player in the Indians’ 3-1 start, and on the heels of her 18-point effort in Tuesday’s win over Coatesville, Reese made her presence felt in the paint, finishing with nine points and seven rebounds to go along with three steals.
“Mikaela is playing great for us,” coach Lynn Carroll said. “She altered some shots. She played good help defense, and she has a ton of confidence on the offensive end. She had a couple of offensive rebounds and putbacks. She had another really nice night for us.”
The Indians led 11-9 after Olivia Schneider buried a pair from the foul line to close out the opening quarter, and they appeared to be seizing control of the game after back-to-back baskets on the low post by Erica Stephens and Reese gave them a 16-9 advantage.
The Knights – despite the absence of point guard Alli Lindsay, who was on the bench for two fouls the entire quarter – closed out the half with a 6-0 spurt. The mini-run included a Cayla Sharkey follow of her own missed trey and four points from senior Carley Adams, who connected on both ends of a one-and-one and banked home a shot in the closing minute to make it a 16-15 game at halftime.
“We struggle to score sometimes,” North Penn coach Jen Carangi said. “Looking at the shot chart after the game, we missed nine layups, wide open layups in the lane.
“You can’t do that and beat good teams. That’s 18 points right there. It’s that inexperience. We’ll make runs and cut it to two, but we just can’t get over the hump or we cut it to one and can’t get over the hump. Again, I think that’s going to come.
“I feel like Alli, at the point, is learning every single day – when to go, when not to go and just being patient. I was really impressed with our composure to start the game. I think the more they play together the better they’re going to get.”
Carroll had a simple message for her team at halftime.
“One of our keys to the game that we talked about in the locker room was boxing out and holding the box-outs,” the Indians’ coach said. “Especially, Cayla Sharkey – she had four offensive rebounds in the first half, and she really goes after it hard. If it’s not a perfect box-out, she’s probably not going to get it.
“The girls did a good job of adjusting in the second half. In the first half, if you take away their second-chance points, we have a better cushion going into a halftime.”
Megan Bealer picked up her second foul midway through the opening quarter and took a seat on the bench. The senior guard made her presence felt when she returned in the second half, pulling down eight of her team-high nine rebounds after the intermission.
“At this point, anyone that’s seen Megan Bealer play is not surprised to see her do that night after night,” Carroll said. “She just has a knack and finds a way to get those rebounds.
“We had a bunch of offensive ones in the second half that I thought continued to give us the momentum, but more than anything, I just thought we played great defensively. Had we finished defensive possessions in the first half with really good box-outs, there’s not much I would say we needed to change defensively.”
A putback by Reese and a Bealer three to open the second half put the Indians on top 21-15, but Sharkey completed a three-point play for the Knights. After a Souderton miss, Valerie McGriff scored from the low post to pull the Knights to within one.
Curran O’Donnell answered with a basket for the Indians, who led 26-22 after Megan Walbrandt found Stephens at the end of a fast break. Bealer twice capitalized at the foul line, burying both and then – after being fouled on a putback attempt – sinking one-of-two to put the Indians on top 29-22. They upped that lead to 31-22 when Megan O’Donnell scored on a drive to close out the quarter.
The Knights would get no closer than seven the rest of the way.
Sharkey – who battled foul trouble – led the Knights with 11 points.
“It’s tough because she’s one of the two really experienced players we have returning, and without her on the floor, offensively and defensively we struggle,” Carangi said. “We talked about it, and I thought she did a great job down the stretch not picking up her fifth foul.
“As I said to the kids tonight – we’re only going to get better. We just have to be patient and stay committed to what we’re doing and working hard. They’re doing all the right things.”
For the Indians, Bealer added 10 points while Walbrandt and Curran O’Donnell had seven each.
Souderton (3-1, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South for Saturday’s SOL Challenge. They will take on the host Golden Hawks at 1:30 p.m. North Penn (1-1, 0-1) will host Neshaminy in the SOL Challenge at 3 p.m.
Souderton 9-7-15-10 41
North Penn 5-10-7-7 29
Souderton (41) – Megan Bealer 10, Olivia Schneider 2, Megan Walbrandt 7, Erica Stephens 4, Curran O’Donnell 7, Megan O’Donnell 2, Mikaela Reese 9.
North Penn (29) – Cayla Sharkey 11, Alayna Faison 1, Laynie Duran 2, Alli Lindsay 4, Alaina Mullaly 2, Carley Adams 4, Valerie McGriff 5.
SOL American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 68, HATBORO-HORSHAM 17
The Flying Cardinals raced out of the gate to a 21-2 lead after one quarter and added to that lead in the second quarter on the way to a decisive win in their conference opener.
Jackie Vargas led the charge with 16 points – 12 in the first half. She also had eight rebounds. Anajae Smith added 14 points and seven rebounds, and Sarah Eskew had eight points and four assists. Kara Grebe and Jess Sobieski each had six points.
Kylie Halko’s six points led the Hatters.
Upper Dublin (3-0, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Archbishop Wood on Saturday for a non-league game at 3 p.m. The game will pit the defending PIAA 6A state champions against the PIAA 5A state runner-up Vikings.
Upper Dublin 21-19-16-12 68
Hatboro-Horsham 2-7-8-0 17
Upper Dublin (68) – Bliss Brenner 3, Jess Sobieski 6, Anajae Smith 14, Meg Barbera 2, Jess Polin 2, Kara Grebe 6, Jackie Gorman 6, Sarah Eskew 8, Dayna Balasa 5, Jackie Vargas 16.
Hatboro-Horsham (17) – Cam Ryan 2, Logan Cummings 4, Kylie Halkoo 6, Kara Kiminski 5.
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