Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Saturday. Neshaminy/Cardinal O’Hara photos courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos.
Non-league
UPPER DUBLIN 40, MULLEN 28
Upper Dublin wrapped up its trip to the Nike Tournament of Champions with a big win over the defending Colorado 4A state champions, and after back-to-back nailbiters, this one looked like a walk in the park.
The Cardinals – behind nine points from Jackie Vargas – led 21-8 at halftime and took a 30-18 lead into the fourth quarter. But the score, according to Morgan Funsten, is deceiving.
“They scored the first seven points in the fourth quarter in less than a minute, so the game went from somewhat controlled to a five-point lead very quickly,” the UD coach said. “With about three minutes to go, they made a three to cut it to four.
“So we were definitely on our toes. We just needed to find enough energy to close it out. We expended a lot of energy this week – physical and mental energy. I could go on and on about every player on the team, what they brought to the table this week, what we asked them to do.”
The Cardinals were a perfect 8-for-8 at the foul line in the fourth quarter, which included a 4-for-4 effort by Vargas who had six points in the quarter. Kara Grebe and Jess Polin were both 2-for-2 in the frame. The Cardinals buried 13-of-15 shots at the foul line.
Vargas led the Cardinals with 17 points, which included a 9-for-11 effort at the foul line.
“The other team today had a 6-3 sophomore – kind of reminds me of Jackie a little bit in terms of very athletic, can use both hands, great footwork,” Funsten said of Imani Perez. “Jackie scored 17 of our 40, and this is against a 6-3 girl with a very high ceiling. I was talking to the coach before the game – Arizona State was there scouting her today. He said every PAC-12 school – she’s on their radar. Jackie doesn’t usually have to look eye to eye with people on the court.
“This week is an exception. Everybody has a big – everybody has what we have, and I think that’s part of what the girls discovered this week – ‘Hey, we’re pretty good, and we have something special going on.’ The one game we lost was a really tough loss.”
Also for the Cardinals, Dayna Balasa added eight points, which included two threes. She also had four rebounds. Grebe added seven points and seven rebounds.
“Dayna Balasa played their leading scorer, Megan Pohs,” Funsten said. “Dayna we don’t always ask to play the leading scorer on the other team. We thought she had a good matchup. The other girl was a shooter just like Dayna, so we thought Dayna could know when she wanted to raise up. Dayna held her to zero. Dayna did a great job on her.
“Jess Polin had eight assists and zero turnovers. She’s always our unsung hero. She delivers the ball where girls can catch and finish. Kara Grebe had a great week as well.
The Flying Cardinals wrapped up tournament play with an impressive 3-1 record.
“We kind of knew what we were getting into when we came out here, but wow, it’s a big-time grind,” Funsten said. “I feel like we were unable to breathe until this game ended. It wasn’t a vacation. This was a business trip, which is honestly what it ended up being. We spent just about every minute of every day focusing on the games.
“We played this morning at 8:30, and where we are in the country, the sun doesn’t come up until 7:30. We’ve been having a walk-through every day before the game but on an outdoor court because we don’t have access to a gym.
“We had a walk-through when it was not pitch black, but it was still dark out. This is the type of commitment these girls showed this week. It’s one thing to show up, it’s another to be engaged and asking questions. I’m so proud of the effort that the girls put in this week. They were very professional in the way that they treated this week.
“They were responsible at night going to bed at good times, so they could be ready for the next day. Regardless of the success that we had – and we’re very happy with the success that we had, I was very proud of how the girls conducted themselves out here.”
Friday’s game was the third against a defending state championship. Mullen returned its entire starting lineup from last year’s state championship squad.
“It was fun to spend time with the girls, and it was fun to have the success that we had,” Funsten said. “I’m very proud. I was afraid we were going to come out here – last year Wood was 0-4 when they came out here, and we know how good they are.
“I can’t say enough about the girls’ effort and concentration this week. It didn’t ruin our district ranking. It probably helped it a bunch because all these teams are going to win a lot of games this year.”
Upper Dublin (5-2, 2-0 SOL) is off until Monday, Jan. 30, when the Flying Cardinals will travel to Cheltenham for a 7 p.m. game.
Upper Dublin 9-12-9-10 40
Mullen 6-2-10-10 28
Upper Dublin (40) – Bliss Brenner 2 0-0 4; Jess Polin 0 2-2 2; Kara Grebe 2 2-2 7; Sarah Eskew 1 0-0 2; Dayna Balasa 3 0-0 8; Jackie Vargas 4 9-11 17; Totals 12 13-15 40.
Mullen (28) – Elaina Martinez 2 0-0 5; Alexa Dominguez 1 0-0 2; Haley Van Horn 1 0-0 2; Imani Perez 4 0-0 8; Gracie Gallegos 2 2-3 7; Kilah Freelon 1 2-2 4; Totals 11 4-5 28.
3-point goals: UD – Dayna Balasa 2, Kara Grebe, Mullen – Elaina Martinez, Gracie Gallegos.
SOUDERTON 60, LOWER MERION 31
Mikaela Reese did it all for the visiting Indians in Saturday’s rout of the Aces. The team’s lone senior scored a game-high 17 points to go along with five rebounds, three steals, five assists and six blocks.
The Indians had assists on 17 of their 28 field goals. Freshman point guard Casey Harter led the Indians with six assists. She also had seven points.
Nine players put their names in the scoring column for the Indians. In addition to Reese, Olivia Schneider and Hayley Fenchel both finished in double figures with 10 points. Jordan Zimmerman added seven.
Souderton led 14-4 after one quarter and took a commanding 36-9 lead into halftime. Reese accounted for 10 of those first-half points. Schneider added eight. Zimmerman and Harter each had seven points each in the first half.
Souderton (4-3, 1-2 SOL) is off until Monday, Dec. 30, when the Indians will travel to Pope John Paul II in a non-league game at 6:30 p.m.
Souderton 14-22-12-12 60
Lower Merion 4-5-14-8 31
Souderton (60) – Jordan Zimmerman 3 1-2 7; Olivia Shneider 5 0-1 10; Casey Harter 3 1-2 7; Hannah Alderfer 1 0-0 2; Hayley Fenchel 5 0-0 10; Mikaela Reese 8 1-1 17; Mikayla McGillian 2 0-0 4; Julia Shaughnessy 1 1-2 3; Totals 28 4-8 60.
Lower Merion (31) – Hunter 2 3-5 7; O’Keefe 2 0-0 5; Dowdall 2 0-0 5; McCann 4 0-0 8; Leach 1 0-0 3; Cloud 1 0-0 3; Totals 12 3-5 31.
3-point goals: LM – O’Keefe, Dowdall, Leach, Cloud.
CARDINAL O’HARA 53, NESHAMINY 41
The Redskins hung tough against one of the PCL’s top teams before falling in a game that was much closer than the final score suggests. They led 15-14 after one quarter and trailed by one at halftime, 22-21. They still trailed by just five heading into the final quarter.
The Lions stretched their lead when – with the score 47-41 – the Redskins began fouling to get the ball back. The Lions buried 11-of-12 at the foul line in the quarter, led by the 6-for-6 effort of Amaris Baker. While the Lions converted 17-of-20 from the foul line, the Redskins were sank 7-of-16.
“It was a great game for us to grow from,” coach Joe Lally said.
Kristin Curley’s 14-point effort – which included nine fourth-quarter points – led the Redskins. Making her performance even more impressive is the fact that the senior point guard was under the weather and missed the morning shoot around to sleep in.
“She got to the gym 35-40 minutes before the game,” Lally said. “It was a big-time effort.
“(She) played with a fever and body aches that we believe is the flu. It was a testament to the kind of leader she is. It was a tremendous effort. I am so proud of her.”
Olivia Scotti had 10 points, and Kelli Kowalick added nine points
Neshaminy (5-2, 3-0 SOL) will face Archbishop Carroll in the Cardinal O’Hara Tournament on Friday at 12:30 p.m.
Cardinal O’Hara 14-8-10-21 53
Neshaminy 15-6-6-14 41
Cardinal O’Hara (53) – Amaris Baker 2 6-6 12; Julia Stellabotte 1 0-0 2; Sydni Scott 6 4-4 19; Siobhan Boylan 23 5-6 12; Annie Welde 2 1-2 5; Maggie Doogan 1 1-2 3; Totals 15 17-20 53.
Neshaminy (41) – Sydney Tryon 2 0-0 5; Emily Tantala 1 0-0 3; Kacie Sienko 0 0-2 0; Olivia Scotti 5 0-3 10; Kristin Curley 4 4-5 14; Kelli Kowalick 3 3-6 9; Totals 15 7-16 41.
3-point goals: O’Hara – Sydni Scott 3, Amaris Baker 2, Siobhan Boylan.
ABINGTON FRIENDS 29, PENNSBURY 28
Take away an early 3-0 Abington Friends advantage, and the Falcons led the rest of the way. Until, that is, Kendall Hodges connected on a basket with 17 seconds remaining.
“We had a couple chances to win after that, but it just didn’t work out,” coach Frank Sciolla said. “It was a game we’ve come to expect when we go there in many facets. I think it’s helpful to have adversity in a variety of different ways. This will be a good thing for us.”
The Falcons – led by six points from Mary Miller – took an 18-14 lead into halftime. They still led 25-21 heading into the final quarter when the Kangaroos outscored the Falcons 8-4.
Miller, who scored a team-high 10 points, was game MVP for the Falcons. Ava Sciolla added seven points and a team-high seven rebounds. Bella Arcuri had five rebounds, and Nicole Pompili had four boards.
“It was a really physical game,” Sciolla said. “We definitely dealt with some foul trouble and a couple of injuries, but everyone is seemingly okay.
“We lost some really key girls for periods of the game, but they’re okay now, and that’s important.”
Hodges led the Kangaroos with 14 points, which included three three-pointers. No other player had more than five.
“Their girl – Paige Mott – who just signed with Northwestern went over a thousand points,” Sciolla said. “Her fourth and fifth point were big and got her over a thousand.”
Pennsbury (4-1, 2-0 SOL) will take on Eleanor Roosevelt (Md.) on Friday at the Title IX Tournament in Washington, D.C.
Pennsbury 9-9-6-4 28
Abington Friends 7-7-7-8 29
Pennsbury (28) – Ava Sciolla 3 1-1 7; Kiley Haws 1 0-0 2; Bella Arcuri 0 1-2 1; Mary Miller 2 6-6 10; Mia Spinelli 2 1-5 5; Nicole Pompili 1 1-2 3; Totals 9 10-16 28.
Abington Friends (29) – Zaniyyah Ross-Barnes 2 0-3 4; Aby Camarou 0 2-2 2; Kendall Hodges 5 1-4 14; Ty’Lah Washington 1 1-2 4; Paige Mott 2 1-1 5; Totals 10 5-12 29.
3-point goals: AF – Kendall Hodges 3, Ty’Lah Washington.
HARRITON 40, UPPER MORELAND 19
The Golden Hawks – still without leading scorer Bean Hughes (injury) – never could find their offense, managing just six points in the first half and falling behind 19-6.
Kiera Coyle’s seven points led the Golden Bears.
Upper Moreland (3-5, 1-2 SOL) is off until Friday, Jan. 3, when the Golden Bears will host Upper Dublin.
Upper Moreland 3-3-5-8 19
Harriton 11-8-13-8 40
Upper Moreland (19) – Kaiya Herb 1 0-0 3; EmmyFaith Wood 0 2-2 2; Kaitie Opferman 1 1-3 4; Emma Meakim 0 0-2 0; Hannah Finn 1 0-0 2; Kiera Coyle 3 0-0 7; Emma Hurley 0 1-2 1; Totals 7 4-9 19.
Harriton (40) – Alexia Louca 1 2-2 4; Maretta Smith 2 1-2 5; Lexy Calhoun 1 0-0 2; Annie Aspesi 2 6-6 12; Sydney Kasmer 1 0-0 2; Mady Calhoun 2 2-2 8; Kira Farmer 1 0-0 2; Ava Paternoster 2 2-4 6; Totals 12 13-16 40.
3-point goals: UM – Kaiya Herb, Kaitie Opferman, Kiera Coyle, Harriton – Mady Calhoun 2, Annie Aspesi.
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