This is the time of year when only winners are still playing basketball. Everyone else has long since gone home for the season.
Of the 16 teams still standing in the PIAA Class AAAA bracket, five are members of the SOL. Springfield is still alive and well in Class AA play.
Quite an impressive showing for the SOL, to be sure, but things won’t get any easier for the six schools still alive when they take the court tonight.
The most intriguing SOL matchup is the Abington/Central Bucks East rematch at Norristown High School. The two teams met in the district quarterfinals, and it was the Ghosts – who went on to capture the district crown - earning 48-35 win.
Council Rock South will look to keep its historic season alive when the Golden Hawks face Red Lion at Governor Mifflin Intermediate School in Shillington. Cheltenham will face Nazareth in the opening game of a double header at Spring-Ford, and Council Rock North will take on Northampton in the second game.
In Class AA action, Springfield will face District 3 champion York Catholic at Coatesville High School.
It should be a very interesting night.
(1-1) Abington vs. (1-6) Central Bucks East
When Abington and Central Bucks East met just over two weeks ago, the Ghosts – the district’s sixth seed - found themselves in the role of underdog against the third-seeded Patriots.
Things are a lot different this time around.
Abington comes into Tuesday’s game wearing the mantle of district champion, and the Ghosts are no longer reveling in their underdog role. Both players and coaches will readily admit they were definitely feeling the pressure of being the top dog in Friday night’s harder-than-expected 42-38 win over the Hershey, District 3’s fifth-seeded team.
“Like Emily (Leer) said – it’s better being the underdog because everyone expected us not to win, but we proved we could,” Abington junior Jessica Schmidt said. “Now, there’s a lot of pressure, but if everyone keeps their heads, we should be good.
“We’re definitely excited and nervous all at the same time for every game we go into. We just have to take a deep breath.”
It might be hard for the Ghosts to duplicate their performance of their district win of the Patriots when sophomore Aiyannah Peal sank all five shots she took in the first quarter to propel the Ghosts to a 19-14 lead.
While Peal – who scored a game-high 16 points - was having herself a day, Emily Leer was held to 12 points, and her East counterpart – Liz Martin – scored just nine points, eight below her season average. Junior sharpshooter Courtney McManus scored only four points with her only field goal – a three – coming in the first quarter.
The Ghosts know it will be a lot tougher this time around.
“I’m definitely excited, but it’s challenging too because they know what we do,” Schmidt said. “They know how to guard us, they know the key things about us, and it definitely will be harder, especially since they’re going to come out wanting to win as much as we do.”
Abington coach Dan Marsh knew this rematch could be coming.
“I was looking at the brackets and saying to myself, ‘If we win, we could very easily end of playing Council Rock South or Central Bucks East in the second round,’” he said. “It’s just one of those deals where you know they’re going to be looking for revenge.”
A key to the Ghosts’ success has been the fact that they have received contributions from everyone.
“During our practices, everyone on the bench works us hard and keeps us focused on what we really want,” Schmidt said. “Everyone is key, and everyone knows it’s playoff time, and if we lose, we’re done.
“They have so much energy and heart, and they really want us to win. It’s everyone.”
No matter the outcome on Tuesday, it’s already been quite a ride for an Abington squad few had penciled in to win a district crown.
“It’s great,” Schmidt said. “It’s probably been one of the best years I have ever had playing basketball. It’s so much fun. All the girls and the experience – we’re honestly just going out there and having fun, and the fact that we’ve made it this far just makes it even better.”
(1-1) Abington (24-4) vs. (1-6) Central Bucks East (23-5)
Tuesday, March 16, 7:30 p.m. at Norristown High School
Last game: Abington 42, Hershey 38 (Chynna West – 13 points; Aiyannah Peal – 13 points; Emily Leer – 9 points)
Central Bucks East 59, Central 36 (Liz Martin – 17 points; Kristina Pogue – 15 points; Courtney McManus 12 points)
Coach Dan Marsh: “They’re playing well, and when you have a great coach like (Tom) Lonergan, you know they’re going to make adjustments. It’s going to be a war. There’s no doubt about it.
“When we played them the last time, both teams had qualified for states, and now if you lose, you’re done. From reading what their girls have said, I know they don’t want to end their season, and I know our girls don’t want to end our season. It’s two trains going full speed at each other and seeing who survives.
“It’s a shame we’re running into them in the second round, but I told them – this is what happens. There are 16 teams left in the state, and they’re all good teams.
“We have to slow their transition down, and we have to contain Liz Martin and their point guard (Courtney McManus). We have a few wrinkles we’re going to throw in there – things we saw on film, but pretty much it’s the same thing.
“I don’t know what they’ll come up with, but there’s nothing we haven’t seen this year. We were down 15 to Council Rock North and came back and won. We were losing with less than a minute against Hershey. We’ve faced all kinds of defenses. We’ve seen it all and survived it. Hopefully we can survive whatever they throw at us.”
(1-2) Cheltenham vs. (11-2) Nazareth
Shayla Felder would be the first to admit that the week between Cheltenham’s loss to Abington in the district title game and the Lady Panthers’ state opener against Central Dauphin East was a rough week.
“Practices were really dry,” the Lady Panthers’ senior captain said. “No one was really talking. It was very dull, and the coaches were frustrated.
“We’re usually talking, hyped, laughing, and it was the total opposite after the loss to Abington. He (coach Bob Schaefer) would try and give us pep talks – we can’t dwell on what happened. We have to keep moving.”
Felder acknowledged the players knew they had to get back on track after their disappointing district outing.
“It was like, ‘That game is over. We can’t dwell on what already happened. We have to keep moving and play the next game,’” the senior captain said. “It’s one and done, so we couldn’t slack.”
The Lady Panthers took a 25-20 lead into halftime of Friday’s game, thanks in no small part to the 10-point contribution of sophomore Ciara Andrews. They blew the game wide open in the second half, rolling to a 65-49 win.
Andrews, who averages 11.1 PPG, led all scorers with 18 points while Felder added 15 – which included three three’s. Senior Monet Constant gave the Lady Panthers a big lift, scoring 11 second-half points, which included a pair of three’s.
“That was humungous,” coach Bob Schaefer said of Constant’s effort. “We’ve seen in big games – when Monet comes out and drills a shot early in the game, the whole team relaxes. It’s real big for her to have a big game.
“Ciara Andrews is now coming off the bench and doing what Monet did last year. If Monet hits double figures and CC hits double figures, it gives us a real bump.”
No one is happier to see the scoring load spread out than Felder, who has been averaging 17.6 points a game and carried the Lady Panthers in several playoff wins.
“That was really good,” said Felder of her team’s balanced scoring effort. “Everybody was scoring, and that opens up a lot of things for us.”
The Lady Panthers will take on a Nazareth squad that won its first ever state playoff game on Friday, downing Frankford 45-26. Erika Livermore contributed 18 points and 12 rebounds.
While winning in the state playoffs is new to Nazareth, it’s old hat for the Lady Panthers who advanced to the state semis last season and captured the state crown in 2007. They are hoping that Friday’s win is an omen of good things to come.
“It’s a fresh start coming into the playoffs,” Felder said. “We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing like we did in the regular season.
“We’re going to keep working hard.”
(1-2) Cheltenham (26-2) vs. (11-2) Nazareth (20-7)
Tuesday, March 16, 6 p.m., at Spring-Ford High School
Last game: Cheltenham 65, Central Dauphin East 49 (Ciara Andrews – 18 points; Shayla Felder – 15 points; Monet Constant – 11 points)
Nazareth 45, Central 26 (Erika Livermore – 18 points, 12 rebounds; Caitlyn Gary – 12 points)
Coach Bob Schaefer said: “They have a big six-foot forward (Erika Livermore), and she posts up real well and is a good rebounder. We’re certainly going to have to control her underneath. That characteristically gives us trouble when the best player on the opposing team is a big girl. We prefer that the best player would be a guard, but they’re not without a good guard too.
“Their next best player is a guard named Caitlyn Gary. She moves a lot, and she likes to shoot three’s. They like to shoot three’s and have a lot of three-point shooters on their team. They crank them up like they expect them to go in every time.
“We’re not going to change our game plan because it’s been successful. Our game plan is to pressure up top, so their forwards have to come to a different place than they’re used to. We’re going to try not to let them get set in a continuity offense where they’re running time off the clock and settling into catching us not alert and getting an easy basket. That strategy should also make it hard for them to get their three’s up in a comfortable situation.”
“If we can play our game, get our share of rebounds, we should be okay.”
(1-3) Council Rock North vs. (11-1) Northampton
Megan Cunningham – then a freshman - was pulled up for Council Rock North’s playoff run last season. She hasn’t forgotten the Indians four straight losses to close out the season after a second round district win over Methacton.
“That was very upsetting,” she said. “I was pulled up for the playoffs, and even though I didn’t play, I was still very upset with the way the season ended. I wish I could have played, but I wasn’t on the (varsity) team.
“It was fun traveling with them, but it’s not as much fun as actually being out there and being able to play.”
These days Cunningham is having fun coming off the bench for the National Conference champions. While it can be daunting to be a sophomore playing in pressure-packed games, Cunningham says she has benefitted from the support of her teammates.
“I get nervous sometimes, but Lauren Gold and Devin Gold have really helped me with my nerves, especially since the beginning of the season and the two games I started when we were missing two starters,” she said. “They helped me a lot with that.
“They tell me I have to relax, and the excitement takes over the nerves.”
Coach Lou Palkovics has complete faith in Cunningham, and on Tuesday, the 5-9 forward may find herself defending Northampton star Kara Bonenberger, who is 6-1 and leads the Konrete Kids with a 12 PPG average.
“Megan Cunningham is going to be important for us tomorrow,” the Indians’ coach said. “A lot of times when she’s in the game, she’s going to end up on the younger Bonenberger.
“I’ve seen her on tape, and she’s very good. I was very impressed with them when I saw them on tape.”
Cunningham, who has 28 steals off the bench, is looking forward to the challenge and admits it’s already been quite a ride.
“It’s definitely been really exciting and something I will never forget in my entire basketball career,” she said. “Yes, this is my first time playing in states on the varsity, and I love it.
“It’s just so much fun. There’s so much energy, and we have so much excitement for every game and every practice that you just don’t want to lose your next game because it would end your season, and it’s just a blast. We know we’re going to have a great time doing it, and it’s so exciting.”
(1-3) Council Rock North (23-5) vs. (12-1) Northampton (25-3)
Tuesday, March 16, 7:30 p.m., at Spring-Ford High School
Last game: Council Rock North 51, Mechanicsburg 35 (Kelly Scull – 16 points; Devin Gold – 16 points)
Northampton 45, Downingtown West 35 (Kara Bonenberger – 16 points; Ali Braithwaite – 14 points)
Coach Lou Palkovics said: “They’re a very big team. They start three six footers, and that presents some matchup problems for us. Both Bonenbergers are very good, but the youngest one (Kara) presents a huge matchup problem. She’s 6-1, and she can shoot the three, go to the basket from outside the three-point line, and she can post up too. It does present some matchup problems for us because I don’t want Sarah (Kiely) on someone who likes to be away from the basket so much.
“The three big girls (Alyssa and Kara Bonnenberger and Ali Braithwaite) are very good. I think the two Gold girls (Devin and Lauren) are going to be the difference. I think we can create some pressure outside, and that’s what we’re going to try and do and just hope that a lot of times we turn it into a 90-foot game.”
(1-5) Council Rock South vs. (3-6) Red Lion
Lea Britton, who has accepted a lacrosse scholarship to Temple, is coming down the home stretch of her high school basketball career.
The Council Rock South senior is enjoying every minute of what has been a magical ride.
“I can’t even describe how exciting it is,” Britton said. “Even walking the hallways at school and having teachers and students saying good luck and supporting us – that would have never happened in my sophomore year.”
With every win, the Golden Hawks are rewriting the history books. They not only advanced to the state tournament for the first time in school history, they already have a state tournament win under their belts.
On Friday night, the Golden Hawks – the fifth place team out of District One – upset third-seeded Reading out of District 3 by a 58-51 score. Not bad for a team that won all of five games two years ago.
“It’s a complete 180,” Britton said. “When coach Young came in, the coaching staff completely changed everything, and they have such good strategies.
“She’s just so knowledgeable about the game, and she knows how to communicate with her players. Playing for someone who cares so much about you – you just want to give that back and play your best for her and your teammates.”
Britton hasn’t forgotten what life was like her sophomore year and acknowledges there’s a whole different mindset these days.
“When you’re winning five games a season and you’re on an 11-game losing streak, you give up,” she said. “You look around and say, ‘What do we have left?’
“This year we’re playing for each other. We put out everything on the court every night for each other, so that’s a big difference.”
In the past, Rock South has lived in the shadows of neighboring Council Rock North, which has been a perennial district and state powerhouse.
“At Council Rock North, the expectation is there for them every year to get to states,” Britton said. “We didn’t have any expectations. Really, we didn’t have any pressure.
“We weren’t in the limelight. We were the underdogs, and we completely surprised people, especially with our wins over Abington and Methacton and coming within five points of Cheltenham.
“We knew we could do this all along, and the coaches knew, and now we’re proving to everyone that we were capable of this all along. I’m glad we did it my senior year.”
Britton will join her lacrosse teammates as soon as her final basketball season ends, but for now, she’s enjoying being part of a team that is making history.
“I know I’m going to always look back on this and remember this,” she said. “I’m enjoying the moment now, but I don’t think I’ll feel the impact until later on down the road when I look back and realize, ‘Wow, I was on the team that made states for the first time in the history of South.’
“It’s unbelievable, it’s surreal.”
(1-5) Council Rock South (21-7) vs. (3-6) Red Lion (25-4)
Tuesday, March 16, 6 p.m.
Last game: Council Rock South 58, Reading 51 (Alex Wheatley 27 points, 18 rebounds; Emily Nowicke – 13 points; Alexis Hofstaedter – 11 points)
Red Lion 44, Hazleton 35 (Sarah Innerst – 17 points)
Coach Monica Young said: “Our ability to handle their pressure will be key. They’re not a big team, and hopefully, we can get the ball inside to Alex (Wheatley) and Chelsea (Allen), and we can dominate the inside. If we can control the tempo, that would be key.
“The kids are really excited. We faced so much tough, tough competition in District One, and I think they’re prepared. We played Cheltenham twice, we played Abington twice, we played Central Bucks East twice, and we played Council Rock North twice. Hopefully our league and non-league schedule prepared us.
“Hopefully, the girls have one more good road trip in them on Tuesday.”
CLASS AA
(1-1) Springfield (16-9) vs. (3-1) York Catholic (25-3)
Tuesday, March 16, 6 p.m., at Coatesville High School
Last game: Springfield 54, Lake Lehman 48 (2 OT) (Briana Scafidi – 16 points; Annie Crudele – 14 points)
York Catholic 59, Bodine 22
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