North Penn, Pennsbury & Neshaminy were winners in SOL action Thursday. (Photos provided courtesy of CB East basketball)
SOL Continental Conference
NORTH PENN 68, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 62
In a battle of two teams jockeying for position in the District 1 6A rankings, it was the Knights avenging a 52-44 loss at the hands of the Patriots on Dec. 20 with the hard fought win.
“This was huge for us,” North Penn coach Jen Carangi said. “It’s almost like the games were flipped.
“The last time we played them we had the lead and then fell apart in the fourth quarter. We were trading baskets back and forth, they made foul shots down the stretch, and this time we did.”
In the early season meeting between the two teams, the Knights took a four-point lead into a fourth quarter that saw the Patriots bury 11-of-13 foul shots. This time around the Knights returned the favor, connecting on 14-of-15 in the fourth quarter.
“That’s been a huge thing for us,” Carangi said. “We struggle from the foul line so much, and we talked about it at practice – we have got to be better with it because it wins games, and I think today was a perfect example of them seeing that in action.”
Alli Lindsay missed the front end of a one-and-one with 2:15 remaining and the Knights leading 56-52. She more than made up for that, connecting on the next 10-of-10 in the final 1:49.
“She came up huge for us,” Carangi said. “Even in terms of taking care of the ball. We’ve just gotten rattled lately, which is so unlike us.”
The Patriots didn’t go down quietly, pulling to within 60-58 with 49 seconds remaining after Mia Salvati converted a conventional three-point play. Lindsay found Val McGriff for a layup at the end of the press that gave the Knights a four-point lead.
“It was bouncing, and I was like, ‘Okay, calm down ball. You can’t be doing all that,’” McGriff said of her clutch basket that took its time falling through the net. “I was looking at my coach like – ‘Please don’t yell at me’ because the physics were just not on my side.”
Lindsay came up with a huge steal near midcourt and calmly buried a pair at the foul line to put the Knights on top 64-58. The Patriots twice pulled to within four but got no closer.
“(This) is very big for us,” McGriff said. “Coach has been telling us that we need to beat the teams we are able to beat. We can’t come into any game intimidated. We need to beat the teams we think we are capable of beating.
“We all went into this game knowing how important it was. I think we all came out pretty prepared mentally to do our best and play like the team that we are.”
The Knights – behind seven points from Carley Adams – led 22-20 after a high-scoring first quarter. They took a 31-27 lead into halftime. Emily Barry led the Patriots with nine points in the half. Emily Chmiel had seven.
The Knights took a 47-40 lead into the final quarter only to watch the Patriots battle their way back into the game, but they sealed the Patriots’ fate with an impressive display of foul shooting.
According to McGriff, that wasn’t the only difference in Thursday’s rematch.
“We definitely had more help defense, more aggressiveness, out-hustling them and rebounding – those were four important things we came into the game talking about,” McGriff said.
McGriff led the Knights with 17 points, which included a 3-pointer and a 6-for-8 effort at the foul line.
“She tries so hard and she works so hard, and when you try so hard, sometimes it’s counter intuitive to what you’re trying to do,” Carangi said. “She’s had a couple of games like that, and tonight I think she really felt the challenge with (Emily) Chmiel putting up the numbers she’s been putting up – not even just offensively but defensively, and for Val, it just spilled over into the offensive end.”
Lindsay finished with 17 points, and Adams had nine. Alaina Mullaly had eight points, Kate Early had seven and Rachel Dunn contributed six points.
The Knights and Patriots both have three losses in conference play, trailing only first place Central Bucks West.
“East has been so great this year – they just have done such a tremendous job,” Carangi said. “West can determine their own destiny if they continue winning, but we’re looking for that at-large spot for the SOL playoffs. Our feeling is you get in the playoffs and anything can happen.”
Chmiel led the Patriots with 20 points – 13 in the second half.
“She was a big threat, so even if she was hitting some tough shots, our main priority was to make sure she didn’t get any and-ones or inside easy layups,” McGriff said.
Also for the Paatriots, Barry added 15 points, Salvati had 10, Gabby Wilga contributed nine, and Aubrey DeAngelis had eight points.
North Penn (11-4, 5-3 SOL) will be on the road at Gwynedd Mercy for a non-league game Saturday at 2:30 p.m., and Central Bucks East (11-5, 6-3) will host Perkiomen Valley in a non-league game on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Central Bucks East 20-7-13-22 62
North Penn 22-9-16-21 68
Central Bucks East (62) –Wilga 4 0-0 9; Salvati 3 3-3 10; Chimel 8 4-7 20; Barry 5 5-7 15; DeAngelis 4 0-0 8; Totals 24 12-17 62.
North Penn (68) – Laynie Doran 1 0-0 3; Ali Johns 1 0-0 2; Alli Lindsay 2 10-11 14; Rachel Dunn 3 0-0 6; Imani Plaza 1 0-0 2; Alaina Mullaly 2 3-3 8; Kate Early 3 0-0 7; Carley Adams 3 2-2 9; Val McGriff 5 6-8 17; Totals 21 21-24 68.
3-point goals: CBE – Gabby Wilga, Mia Salvati, NP – Laynie Doran, Alaina Mullaly, Kate Early, Carley Adams, Val McGriff.
SOL National Conference
PENNSBURY 56, BENSALEM 33
The visiting Falcons continued to roll in conference play, opening up a 23-12 halftime lead and then blowing the game open with a 21-point third quarter.
“It was a nice road win because Bensalem’s seniors have been starting varsity for four years, and they are such good athletes and really good kids,” Pennsbury coach Frank Sciolla said. “It’s also special to go against coach (Sheldon) Per.
“From my time watching his great teams while I was in high school to being able to coach against him in the boys world and now the girls, it’s always a great experience because he has given so much to the game and has been one of the great teachers in our county.”
Ava Sciolla led a balanced Falcon attack with 13 points, which included three 3-pointers. The sophomore point guard scored 10 in the second half. She also had eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.
“Bensalem came out with a defense designed to limit Ava and hung tough in the first half,” Sciolla said. “She was extremely patient and facilitated, and after a halftime discussion in which we expressed that we would be okay with her shooting the ball, she did so in the third quarter.”
Abbi Nassivera had a pair of 3s and added 10 points and three steals.
“Abbi Nassivera played with great energy and knocked down some big shots for us, stepping in for Nicole Pompili who is out with a broken wrist,” Sciolla said.
Mary Miller had nine points and four assists, and Bella Arcuri added eight points, three assists and four steals. Mia Spinelli contributed seven points.
“Bella showed great leadership, and our centers Mia Spinelli and Lauren Dignan gave us great minutes,” Sciolla said.
Haley Keenan’s 10 points led the Owls. Emily Wineburg and Chloe Munyon both added seven points.
Pennsbury (12-3, 7-1 SOL) will take on Springside-Chestnut Hill as part of the Maggie Lucas Classic at Jefferson University on Sunday at 10 a.m.
“We will be in the orange jerseys yet again this Sunday,” said Sciolla, whose team has had only three home games this season.
Bensalem (7-9, 4-5) – in the hunt for a district berth – will host Council Rock South in a key game on Tuesday.
Pennsbury 12-11-21-12 56
Bensalem 4-8-10-11 33
Pennsbury (56) – Ava Sciolla 5 0-0 13; Abbi Nassivera 4 0-1 10; Kiley Haws 0 2-2 2; Bella Arcuri 4 0-0 8; Lauren Dignan 1 0-0 2; Emily Friel 1 0-0 3; Mary Miller 4 0-0 9; Jill Haley 0 2-2 2; Mia Spinelli 3 1-2 7; Totals 22 5-7 57.
Bensalem (33) – Averi McCoy 1 0-0 2; Pooja Singameni 1 0-0 2; Emily Wineburg 3 1-1 7; Mia Parker 1 0-0 2; Haley Keenan 4 1-2 10; Chloe Munyon 3 0-2 7; Maddie MacDougall 1 0-0 3; Totals 14 2-5 33.
3-point goals: Ava Sciolla 3, Abbi Nassivera 2, Mary Miller, Emily Friel, Bensalem – Haley Keenan, Chloe Munyon, Maddie McDougall.
NESHAMINY 64, HARRY S TRUMAN 32
The Redskins celebrated Senior Night with a big win and remain undefeated in conference play.
“It has been a great group led by Kristin Curley, a four-year starter,” coach Joe Lally said. “They are a special group of young ladies.”
The Redskins led by just two after one quarter but seized control of the game with a 22-4 second quarter on their way to the win.
Curley and Kelli Kowalick shared game scoring honors with 15 points each. Both buried a 3-pointer, and Kowalick connected on 4-of-4 at the foul line. Emily Tantala added 12 points and also was 4-of-4 at the line. Olivia Scotti contributed nine points with a 3-for-3 showing at the charity stripe.
For the Tigers, who have lost Daisha Campbell to an injury, Nai Nai Keys led the way with 11 points. Hannah Smith had 10 points, and Secret McCleve had seven points.
Neshaminy (12-4, 9-0 SOL) will travel to Lansdale Catholic for a non-league game Friday at 5:30 p.m. Harry S Truman (4-13, 0-9) is on the road at Chester Charter School for a non-league game Friday.
Harry S Truman 10-4-12-6 32
Neshaminy 12-22-22-8 64
Harry S Truman (32) – Nai Nai Keys 4 3-7 11; Hannah Smith 5 0-0 10; Saniya Blount 1 0-0 2; Secret McCleve 3 1-7 7; Dahlia Gumaa 1 0-1 2; Totals 14 4-15 32.
Neshaminy (69) – Sydney Tryon 1 0-0 2; Emily Tantala 4 4-4 12; Kacie Sienko 2 0-0 4; Olivia Scotti 3 3-3 9; Kristin Curley 7 0-0 15; Alex Ziegler 1 0-0 2; Kelli Kowalick 5 4-4 15; Maya Lewis 1 0-0 2; Skylar Lall 0 1-4 1; Taylor Gurysh 1 0-0 2; Totals 25 12-13 64.
3-point goals: Neshaminy – Kristin Curley, Kelli Kowalick.
Non-league
INTERBORO 51, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 43
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