Check out the recaps for SOL boys/girls basketball teams in action Thursday. (50th anniversary photo provided by Pennsbury boys’ basketball)
Boys
SOL Patriot Division
PENNSBURY 61, HARRY S TRUMAN 41
It was a special night at the Falcons Nest as those in attendance celebrated the 50th anniversary of Pennsbury’s 1973 Lower Bucks County League championship team. The league later became the Suburban One League.
“Those are the stories I grew up with,” Pennsbury coach Wes Emme said. “My father (Wayne Emme) was on the ’73 team, and he was a great player. He was first team all-league, Lower Bucks County League Player of the Year.
“I was fortunate to grow up in it. Fifty years – anything that lasts 50 years, you want to remind people of how great it was.”
Emme – himself a Pennsbury alum – is initiating a new tradition in his first year at the helm.
“If you win a league title, you get to sign your name around a number in our team room,” the Falcons’ coach said. “We wanted to start that tradition with the first modern team that won.
“It was coach Ed Cochrane’s first championship after coming from Western Pennsylvania to Pennsbury, so there are a lot of factors. It was a great night.”
Emme chose Tuesday’s game since Pennsbury beat Woodrow Wilson – which is now Harry S Truman – to capture the league title.
In attendance were co-captains Wayne Emme and John Jones, Chris Dooley, Bob Bowden, Rick Baxter, Pat Tarrant and Bob Crouch as well as coach Ed Cochrane and assistant coach Carl Albrecht.
As for the game, the Falcons took care of business in a hurry, opening up a 17-9 lead after one quarter and extending that to 30-17 by halftime. A 23-point third quarter put the game completely out of reach.
Ten players contributed scoring for the Falcons. Mike Roccograndi (12 points) and Ty Kocak (10 points) led a balanced attack. Teddy Mangan and Connor Taddei both added seven points, and Ryan Zimmerman had six.
Pennsbury (12-6, 9-4 SOL) will travel to Bensalem on Tuesday, and Harry S Truman (1-16, 0-13) will be on the road at Morrisville for a non-league game Saturday at 1:30 pm
Harry S Truman 9-8-14-10 41
Pennsbury 17-13-23-8 61
Harry S Truman (41) – Kahalil King 1 0-1 2; Khavier Adams 2 0-0 6; Erik Nieves 2 1-3 5; Aaron Nathan 3 0-0 6; Tre Winton 5 2-2 14; Brian Banks 1 2-2 4; Shaq Chapman 1 0-0 2; Stephon Thomas 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 16 5-8 41.
Pennsbury (61) – Teddy Mangan 3 0-1 7; Mike Roccograndi 4 0-0 12; Danny Cohen 2 0-0 5; Sam Callahan 1 0-0 2; Connor Taddei 3 0-0 7; Eric David 1 1-2 4; Ty Kocak 4 1-2 10; Simon Dlugi 2 0-1 4; Sean Faust Jr 2 0-4 4; Ryan Zuckerman 1 4-4 6; TOTALS 24 6-14 61.
3-point field goals: HST – Khavier Adams 2, Tre Winton 2; Pennsbury – Mike Roccograndi 2, Teddy Mangan, Danny Cohen, Connor Taddei, Eric David, Ty Kocak.
Members of Pennsbury’s 1973 championship team were (l-r) Chris Dooley, Bob Bowden, Asst. Coach Carl Albrecht, Rick Baxter, Head Coach Ed Cochrane, Co-Captain Wayne Emme, Pat Tarrant, Co-Captain John Jones, Bob Crouch. (Not pictured: Steve Nielsen, Bill Carothers, Bob Miller, Bill Caimi, the late Jack Gillis and Dale Delise)
Girls
SOL Patriot Division
PENNSBURY 62, HARRY S TRUMAN 22
Three players scored in double figures to lead a balanced scoring attack for the Falcons, who were in control from the outset.
“It was an all-around great team effort,” assistant coach Kaitlin Kelly said. “Nine Falcons were in the scoring column. We had senior leadership starting for us with Izzy Ruta and Neve Davis.
“Neve had a hot hand, hitting three 3s. Presley Foote gave us tremendous minutes tonight. Presley is usually known for her outstanding defensive efforts, but tonight she got it done on offense too with a career high 11 points and three steals.”
Sofia Vitucci’s 13 points – which included three 3s – led the Falcons. She scored all of her points in a first half that saw the Falcons open up a 35-14 lead. Presley Foote added 11, and Daniella MacDonald had 10 points, including three 3-pointers. Neve Davis celebrated her birthday by burying three 3-pointers for nine points, and Nevaeh Dash had six points. Liv Gilchrist pulled down six rebounds.
The Tigers were led by the 10-point effort of Shylah McCleve.
“It was a great effort from the Truman Tigers as well, always playing tough when they’re on the court,” Kelly said. “(Coach) Ashida Cooper and I were on the same AAU team, she was my point guard. She was a fantastic player and teammate, and I love seeing that carry over into her coaching. She’s doing a great job with the girls.”
Pennsbury (15-4, 10-3 SOL) will host Bensalem on Tuesday, and Harry S Truman (0-16, 0-13) will travel to Archbishop Ryan Saturday for a non-league game at noon.
Pennsbury 15-20-16-11 62
Harry S Truman 5-9-6-2 22
Pennsbury (62) – Presley Foote 5 -0 11; Danielle Sherman 1 3-4 5; Maggie Burns 1 1-2 3; Sofia Vitucci 5 0-0 13; Oliveah Gilchrist 0 1-3 1; Daniella MacDonald 3 1-2 10; Nevaeh Dash 2 1-2 6; Neve Davis 3 0-2 9; Izzy Ruta 2 0-0 4; 22 7-15 62.
Harry S Truman (22) – Zakiyah McDuffie 1 2-2 4; Ya’mazijah Thomas 1 0-0 3; Shylah McCleve 4 2-2 10; Erynn Bond 2 0-0 5; TOTALS 8 4-4 22.
3-point goals: Pennsbury – Sofia Vitucci 3, Daniella MacDonald 3, Neve Davis 3, Presley Foote, Nevaeh Dash; HST – Ya’mazijah Thomas, Erynn Bond.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 58, SACRED HEART 54
Ava Culler was in some kind of groove.
The freshman forward erupted for a career-high 25 points – 18 in a torrid second-half showing – to lead the visiting Spartans to the impressive win.
Behind six points from Culler and five from Alana Decker, the Spartans led 18-13 after one quarter and took a 24-21 lead into halftime.
Sacred Heart rallied to go ahead 40-39 heading into a fourth quarter that featured a whole lot of Ava Culler. Culler scored 12 points as the Spartans outscored their hosts 19-14 to earn the hard-fought win.
In addition to Culler, Decker added 14 points, which included a pair of 3s and six points in the fourth quarter. Jayla Daniels had eight points, and Paige Robinson had six on a pair of 3-pointers.
Springfield Township 18-6-15-19 58
Sacred Heart 13-8-19-14 54
Springfield Twp (58) – Alana Decker 4 4-6 14; Hannah Brandon 1 0-0 2; Jayla Daniels 3 1-2 8; Paige Robinson 2 0-0 6; Delaney Lake 2 0-0 4; Ava Culler 11 2-2 25; TOTALS 23 7-10 58.
Sacred Heart (54) – M.Fisher 1 0-0 2; G.Brown 4 0-0 12; M.Walker 2 0-0 5; M.Donahue 6 0-0 14 MJ.Donohue 3 0-0 8; M.Campbell 1 0-0 2; K.McCaffrey 5 1-2 11; TOTALS 16 1-2 54.
3-point goals: Springfield – Alana Decker 2, Delaney Lake 2, Jayla Daniels; SH – G.Brown 4, MJ Donohue 2, M.Walker.
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