To view photos of the Plymouth Whitemarsh/Upper Moreland game, visit the photo gallery at the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
National ConferenceCouncil Rock North 47, Abington 40 (OT)
The Ghosts – who were without senior point guard Chynna West (concussion) – may have been short a key player, but they were not short on heart, extending the undefeated Indians to the limit before falling in overtime.
“There’s something about this team – that’s why I like them,” Abington coach Dan Marsh said. “They’re resilient. It doesn’t matter what you do to them – they’re just going to come out, and they’re going to play.
“Obviously, they (the Indians) are very good, and they did what they did – I wish there was a shot clock, but what are you going to do.”
What the Indians did was hold for one shot with the score deadlocked 34-34 and three-and-a-half minutes remaining in regulation.
That came after Rock North’s Alyssa Dumont nailed a trey to put the Indians on top 34-32 after the Ghosts had gone on top 32-31.
“It wasn’t a drawn-up play, but she hit a deep three in the corner that put us up 34-32 with four-and-a-half minutes to go,” coach Lou Palkovics said of Dumont’s big shot.
The Ghosts came back to tie it, but neither team scored again in regulation.
“We played great defense the whole game – we held them to 34 points,” Marsh said. “I’m not blaming him for doing what he does because he has such great guards, and they can blow by anybody.
“I would do the same thing, but it is a little bit frustrating.”
Marsh elected to keep his team back and let the Indians run the time off the clock.
“Our fans were yelling, ‘Go out,’” Marsh said. “The game was tied. We didn’t need to be suckered into their game.
“We did that the last time – we were down five or six, and it turned into a 22-point game in a matter of minutes. I wasn’t going to do that. If we were down, I would go after them, but the game was tied, and I was hoping they would shoot a little bit earlier, and we would have an opportunity to win.
“Lauren Gold did the right thing – she waited until the right time, and they got a shot off. It was the only one they got off.”
“We got a great shot,” Palkovics said. “I felt with how stagnant our offense looked I’d rather have the last shot.”
Gold – who scored a game-high 16 points – may have missed the final shot for the win, but she lit up the net for seven points in OT, which included a perfect 5-for-5 effort at the foul line. Helena Gemmell, who added 11 points, was 2-for-2 from the charity stripe in overtime. For the game, Gold also had five assists and two steals while Gemmell had nine rebounds and three steals.
Although the Indians outscored the Ghosts 13-6 in OT, they struggled to put points on the board most of the night. They were 6-for-33 from the floor in the first half but still went into halftime with a 19-18 lead.
Things didn’t improve in the second half. In a third quarter that saw the Ghosts ‘outscore’ the Indians 7-3, the Indians connected on just 1-of-7 shots and 5-for-23 in the half.
“In the first half, we got good shots, but we couldn’t get any shots to fall,” Palkovics said. “In the second half, the offense all of a sudden became stagnant.
“We stood around and watched. We didn’t move the ball well, we didn’t play well. For the first time, I saw a little bit of nerves get to the girls. Every shot felt like it could be the game winner.”
Aiyannah Peal and Sarah Listenbee both scored 13 points to lead the Ghosts. Peal had six assists while Listenbee had 12 rebounds. Jess Schmidt had six points.
“Jess did a fantastic job on (Emily) Grundman,” Marsh said.
Grundman finished the game with six points while Devin Gold had five points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals for an Indian squad that improved to 9-0 in the league (14-0 overall).
“I could tell everybody I’m happy with the win, but it’s four games in a row now where we have not played well,” Palkovics said. “As a coach, I’m looking for answers.
“Since the Sanford (Del.) game, we have played 16 quarters – we have played maybe two quarters or three quarters. We haven’t played a basketball game.”
On the other side of the court, Marsh was especially pleased with the way his players responded to their loss to Cheltenham three days earlier.
“We took our time, we used the pass, we didn’t force anything,” the Ghosts’ coach said. “I think they might have pressured us a little bit more had Lauren Gold been healthy, but when they did pressure us, we handled it well.
“I told the girls afterwards that 10-6 doesn’t matter anymore. (Rock North) won the league, but if we finish strong, records start over in the playoffs. We need to keep working hard. Hopefully, we can get Chynna back.”
The Ghosts are 7-2 in league play (10-6 overall).
Pennsbury 52, Neshaminy 46
Freshman Sajanna Bethea scored a game-high 19 points – 17 in the second half – to lead the Falcons to the impressive win. Earlier this season, the Redskins defeated the Falcons 43-29.
“It was a big win for us,” coach Donna Nicholson said. “It was a physical game. We got a couple of their girls in foul trouble, and we did a very good job of boxing them out.”
The game didn’t start out on a promising note for the Falcons, who fell behind 13-4 in the first quarter. The Falcons trailed 13-6 at the end of one quarter but outscored the Redskins 15-6 in the second to go into halftime on top 21-19.
“Our girls just went in there and did their roles off the bench,” Nicolson said. “Our big girls got in foul trouble – Sajanna Bethea, Molly Phillips and Kelsey Moulton all had two fouls early in the second quarter.
“Carly Kovin went in and played really good defense. She played strong for us the whole game. She had three blocks and was a force inside.”
Moulton had a big game for the Falcons as well, contributing nine points and 11 rebounds.
“And she handled the ball real well,” Nicholson said of Moulton.
The Falcons were up by six in the fourth only to watch the Redskins come back to knot the score. This time, however, they would not be denied, rallying for the big win.
“I think this is a great confidence booster,” Nicholson said. “We’re down nine points in the first quarter, and the kids just battled back. They kept battling, and they did what they needed to do.
“It was a total team effort offensively and defensively. With two-and-a-half minutes left, they tied it, and our kids just stepped it up another notch and showed they could play with Neshaminy. It’s a big confidence builder for us – a young team going into the Redskins’ house and coming home with a win. It can only help our program.”
In addition to Bethea and Moulton, Lindsay Bolger scored nine points while Molly Phillips added eight points for the Falcons.
Lori Paulits led the Redskins with 10 points while Jen Slivka and Megan Schafer each added nine. Amanda Lally scored eight points.
“We just did not play well,” Neshaminy coach Joanne McVey said. “Give them credit – they played well.”
While the Redskins fell to 3-6 in league play (10-7 overall), the Falcons improved to 4-5 in the league (6-10 overall)
Council Rock South 55, William Tennent 48
The Golden Hawks found themselves staring at the short end of a 31-28 score at halftime but turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, outscoring the Panthers 27-17 for the important win.
“I kind of reamed the girls out at halftime because I thought we weren’t playing well,” coach Monica Stolic said. “Thirty-one points at halftime – we never let up that many points.
“I thought our intensity and sense of urgency was not there. They played much better in the second half.”
Tennent standout Ashley Alden, who had nine first-half points, did not score in the second half.
“We went to a little bit of a zone in the third quarter and then went back to man in the fourth quarter,” Stolic said.
Alex Wheatley and Caitlin Jackson were given the task of guarding Alden. Wheatley turned in yet another brilliant effort for the Golden Hawks, contributing 23 points and 16 rebounds. Alexis Hofstaedter added 12 points while Taylor Dillon added 10 points off the bench.
For the Panthers, Alison Malatesta, Liz Koval and Melissa Horn each scored eight points.
While the Panthers fell to 4-5 in league play (10-5 overall), the Golden Hawks improved to 7-2 (11-4 overall).
Bensalem 53, Harry S. Truman 33
Continental Conference
Central Bucks South 41, Souderton 27
The Titans used a balanced scoring attack and stifling defense to avenge a 41-40 loss to the Indians earlier this season.
“I think for our own morale – getting this win was important,” coach Beth Mattern said. “The first time we played them we blew a nine-point lead in the second half. To Souderton’s credit, they stepped up and made foul shots and did what they needed to do to win.
“This time defensively we really stepped up and played a solid game and wanted to show that we’ve grown as a team since the first time.”
The Titans led 9-8 at the end of one quarter and then outscored the Indians 13-2 in the second quarter to go into halftime with a 22-10 lead.
“We came out strong defensively,” Mattern said. “We didn’t shoot the ball great, but we did well enough to win.
“Defense is what kept us in the game. We struggled on the boards at times, but (Carley) Kendall is a great player, and they’re tough rebounders, so you’ve got to box them out. When we started to do that a little bit more, I thought things went our way, especially in the second quarter.”
Kendall torched the Titans for 24 points in the early-season meeting. She once again led the Indians but this time finished with eight points.
“The first time we played them she hit some big shots,” Mattern said. “She hit some shots fading out of the lane that you’re normally going to be okay with letting the opposing center take. Well, she drained them. She made the most of her opportunities the first time.
“This time we switched who was guarding her more so from the helping aspect. I thought we adjusted much better to playing her this time.”
Kate McMenamin led a balanced South attack with nine points while Shannon Senour and Brittany Kaewell each added eight points.
“Our team defense was our best asset,” Mattern said. “We were more patient on offense than we have been in a long time, and we really played to win all four quarters.
“Souderton played hard. There was not one moment of give-up in Souderton. I have a lot of respect for Lynn (Carroll) and her program and what she does. It was a good game all around.”
While the Indians fell to 4-4 in the league (7-7 overall), the Titans upped their record to 7-2 in league play (11-5 overall).
Central Bucks 68, Hatboro-Horsham 36
Captains Melissa Remmey and Courtney McManus led a balanced East attack with 11 points each while Margarette Anne Hubbell and Lindsey Kelly each added eight points.
The Patriots opened up a 17-4 lead at the end of one quarter and extended that lead to 35-12 by halftime on their way to the decisive win over the Hatters, who were led by the 13-point effort of Alicia Hayes.
The Patriots remain perfect in league play with an 8-0 record (12-2 overall) while the Hatters are 2-7 in the league (4-12 overall).
Central Bucks West 60, Quakertown 14
Jen Fabian turned in a superb 14-point, 12-rebound effort for the Bucks, who ended a three-game losing streak with the big win. Calypso Carly added 10 points while Caitlynn Mautz added 10 points, six steals and two assists in a solid all-around outing.
The Bucks are 5-3 in league play (7-7 overall) while the Panthers, who saw their three-game winning streak end, are 2-7 in the league (4-12 overall)
North Penn 47, Pennridge 28
Steph Knauer turned in a superb 21-point, 19-rebound effort to lead the Maidens to the decisive win. Included in her 21 points was a 9-for-11 effort from the foul line. Overall, the Maidens connected on just 12-of-25 shots from the charity stripe.
Sophomore Lauren Crisler added eight points and 12 rebounds for the Maidens while Alyssa Marchunsky led the Rams with 10 points.
The Maidens improved to 6-2 in the league (10-4 overall) while the Rams are 0-9 in the league (0-13 overall).
American Conference
Wissahickon 46, Norristown 45 (OT)
The Trojans won an overtime thriller, outscoring the Eagles 11-6 in the fourth quarter to knot the score 35-35 at the end of regulation. They held an 11-10 edge in overtime despite connecting on just 5-of-13 from the foul line in OT. Rachel Stone and Dominique Weiss connected on big treys in overtime.
In the Trojans’ big fourth quarter, Sierra Eskridge and Dominique Earland both connected on a pair of baskets.
Eskridge led the Trojans with 14 points while Earland added nine and Stone, eight. For the Eagles, Brianna Kennedy had 10 points and Precious Tempson added nine.
The win upped the Trojans record to 3-5 in the league (7-8 overall). The Eagles are 2-6 in league play (7-10 overall)
Upper Dublin 49, Upper Merion 32
The young Vikings hung tough, trailing by just a 23-18 count at halftime. The Flying Cardinals led 34-27 at the end of three quarters and then blew the game wide open with a 15-5 fourth-quarter scoring burst.
Taylor Bryant once again led the Flying Cardinals, scoring a game-high 16 points. Teammates Curtrena Goff (14 points) and Sarah Hallowell (12 points) also made important contributions.
For the Vikings, Cassidy Koenig led the way with 14 points while Kristina O’Sullivan had 12.
The Vikings saw their record drop to 3-5 in league play (7-9 overall) while the Flying Cardinals improved to 6-2 in the league (13-3 overall)
Plymouth Whitemarsh 65, Upper Moreland 15The Colonials extended their winning streak to seven with a convincing win over the Golden Bears. Eleven players contributed scoring for PW, led by Gabby Schumacher with 14 points. Kelly Hackenbrack added nine points and three steals while Erin Martin and Egypt Thomas both contributed eight points. Martin also had 10 rebounds.
Lex Borkowski added seven points and 15 boards while Rachel Konowal also scored seven points for the Colonials, who led 22-7 at the end of one quarter and stretched that lead to 33-9 by halftime.
While the Golden Bears fell to 0-7 in the league (3-12 overall), the Colonials improved to 6-2 in the league (10-5 overall)
- Log in to post comments
0
