Upper Dublin boys and girls basketball teams were winners in Saturday’s non-league games. UD/Neshaminy photos provided courtesy of Geanine Jamison Photography. Check back for a gallery of photos.
Boys
Non-league
UPPER DUBLIN 46, PENNRIDGE 43
The Flying Cardinals – sparked by the dominant play of Drew Stover in the paint – took what appeared to be a comfortable 35-23 lead into the fourth quarter of Saturday morning’s non-league game. Things turned uncomfortable rather quickly for the Cards in the fourth quarter as the Rams staged a gutsy rally to knot the score only to see UD regroup and win it in overtime.
“It would have been a tough one to lose,” UD coach Chris Monahan said. “We were in control of the game. It was the first game – we didn’t really know too much what to expect.”
Stover – the lone Cardinal with varsity experience – finished with a game high 26 points in another overpowering effort. He had 10 points in a first half that saw UD open up a 23-14 halftime lead.
“The first half was good for us, particularly the second quarter,” Monahan said. “The game was pretty tight, but we had a late flurry – the last two minutes we went on a nice run, and we were up nine at the half.”
Things only improved in the third quarter, but then came a fourth quarter that saw the Rams – less than 24 hours removed from a win over Quakertown Friday night – close out regulation with a 15-3 tear. Stover accounted for his team’s three points. For the Rams, Colin Monahan had five points, including a three, while Luke Yoder had four. Colin Post added an important 3-pointer, and Justin Nichols also had three points.
“They went to a zone, and we didn’t respond real well,” Monahan said. “They played man all game, and they went to a two-three to try to contain Drew. Basically, they had three-four guys around him.
“We played a little tentative. We were up by 13, and then we’re passing up shots, and we start holding the ball a little too early, and we lost our momentum offensively. They made a couple three’s, they made a couple of tough shots, and a 15-3 fourth quarter resulted in overtime.”
DJ Cersier and Yoder exchanged three’s early in OT, and it was Stover scoring a bucket that gave the Cardinals a 43-41 lead they would not lose.
Cersier’s three was his only basket of the game, but it was a big one.
“It was huge,” Monahan said. “It was towards the beginning of overtime. We had missed a lot of three’s –- he had a corner three, stepped right into it, all net. The bench went crazy.”
The Cardinals outscored their visitors 8-5 in OT.
“We settled down a little bit – we came into overtime and we took a breath,” Monahan said. “We talked about – let’s get a good shot every time, let’s get stops. We did change how we attacked the zone a little bit.
“We haven’t had any scrimmages. Pennridge was fortunate – they played Quakertown last night. We’ve only had 10 practices, and that includes tryouts, so we don’t have everything installed yet, but we made some adjustments on the fly and that helped us in overtime.”
Seaton Kukla also finished the game in double figures for UD with 11 points, which included a bucket in overtime.
Monahan had high praise for guards Cersier, Anthony Fatiga and Colin O’Sullivan.
“Our guards didn’t show up in the box score a lot – DJ had three, Anthony had two and Colin O’Sullivan had none, but they did a great job handling the ball,” Monahan said. “We had a lot of problems with turnovers last year, and we only had seven today.
“I tell the guys – ‘I’ll give you two per quarter, and we’re good.’ We got under that today. While those guys didn’t fill up the stat sheet as far as points go, they defended really well, they kept us organized and they took care of the ball. Colin and DJ were both at Hatboro-Horsham last year, so they’re in a brand new system, so we have a ton of new faces.”
For the Rams, Yoder led the way with 16 points, which included a pair of threes. Post added nine, Monahan had eight and Nichols finished with seven.
Upper Dublin (1-0) will host New Hope-Solebury in a non-league game on Tuesday. Pennridge (1-1) will host Central Bucks East in Tuesday’s SOL opener.
Pennridge 7-7-9-15-5 43
Upper Dublin 9-14-12-3-8 46
Pennridge (43) – Justin Nichols 3 1-4 7 Luke Yoder 7 2-2 16; Colin Post 4 0-0 9; TR Grenda 1 1-2 3 Colin Monahan 3 1-2 8; Totals 18 5-10 43.
Upper Dublin (46) – DK Cersier 1 0-0 3; Drew Stover 11 4-7 26; Anthony Fatiga 1 0-0 2; Seaton Kukla 4 2-2 11; Timothy Boutilier 2 0-0 4; Totals 19 6-9 46.
3-point goals: Pennridge – Luke Yoder 2, Colin Post, Colin Monahan, UD – DJ Cersier, Seaton Kukla.
HOLY GHOST PREP 54, BENSALEM 49
The visiting Owls fell behind 17-9 after one quarter and spent the rest of Saturday’s non-league opener playing catch-up.
In the middle two quarters, the Owls exchanged baskets with the Firebirds and still trailed by eight, 44-36, heading into the fourth quarter. They battled back and pulled to within one late in the fourth quarter but missed several shots. The Owls were left with no option but to foul, and the Firebirds connected on their foul shots.
Bensalem’s Aaron Sanders shared game scoring honors with 20 points, which included a pair of 3-pointers. James Ashford added 12 points while Jake DeLange chipped in six.
For the Firebirds, Ryan O’Hara led the way with 20 points, Jack McDermott added 10, and Ryan Coolahan had eight.
Bensalem (0-1) will host Pennsbury to open SOL play on Tuesday..
Bensalem 9-11-16-13 49
Holy Ghost 17-11-16-10 54
Bensalem (49) – Eric Gonzalez 1 0-0 3; Aaron Sanders 7 4-6 20; James Ashford 5 1-3 12; Jake DeLange 3 0-0 6; Allen Myers 1 0-1 2; Nikita Schafer 1 0-0 3; Luke Sidler 1 0-0 3; Totals 19 5-10 49.
Holy Ghost Prep (54) – Shane Reilly 1 1-2 4; Tyler Schmidt 1 2-3 4; Ryan O’Hara 7 5-6 20; Mike Davlerio 0 1-2 1; Dylan Shead 1 0-0 2; Liam Huy 1 3-4 5; Jack McDermott 4 1-2 10; Ryan Coolahan 3 0-0 8; Totals 18 13-19 54.
3-point goals: Bensalem – Aaron Sanders 2, James Ashford, Eric Gonzalez, Nikita Schafer, Holy Ghost Prep – Ryan Coolahan 2, Tyler Schmidt, Ryan O’Hara, Jack McDermott.
Girls
Non-league
UPPER DUBLIN 42, NESHAMINY 31
A preseason that included a two-week shutdown is finally in the rearview mirror for several SOL teams that were in action this weekend.
“It’s been really frustrating – we didn’t even know if we would be able to play today, so to be back out here, especially to get a win on our first game back – I know everyone is super excited, and we hope to keep playing,” UD senior Jess Polin said.
There were plenty of emotions heading into Saturday’s opener.
“For the seniors – me, Dayna (Balasa), Sarah (Eskew) and Rachel (Bilger), it was our last first game basically, and it could potentially be our last game, so we really came out with a lot of heart today and tried to stay aggressive the whole time,” Polin said. “We were all nervous as always, but we feel a lot better after that win.”
“It felt really good to get back out there and play again,” Neshaminy senior co-captain Kacie Sienko said. “Especially after being cooped up for two weeks. We still have a lot to work on obviously, but I think it was a pretty good effort for our first game and being such a young team.”
Both perennial SOL powers have a lot of new faces in their lineups. The Redskins lost four senior starters to graduation while the Flying Cardinals lost three regulars, including three-time all-state center Jackie Vargas.
Listening to Polin tell it, the Cards have had to change their style.
“It’s honestly been a lot of fun,” she said. “The game is more up tempo for us now without really a true big, so it’s a lot of fun.
“We get to press, we get to run off pick-and-rolls, and it’s just been a lot of fun.”
The Cardinals – despite opening up an early 7-2 lead – led by just a 12-11 score after one quarter. A scoring drought for both sides to open the second was broken when sophomore Taylor Gurysh sank a pair at the foul line, giving Neshaminy a 13-12 lead.
Then came a stretch that featured a whole lot of Polin, who followed her block on the defensive end with a 3-pointer. Moments later, Polin buried another three – this one set up by a Redskin turnover – that gave the Redskins an 18-13 lead.
“The score was close, and our whole team needed to pick it up, so I tried to spark the energy for the team,” Polin said. “If I’m open, I’m always looking to shoot. I know sometimes I’ve been considered a pass-first player as some say it, but I’m always looking to shoot if I’m open, and I’m getting more comfortable, especially from the outside.”
A bucket by Neshaminy’s Maya Lewis broke Polin’s six-point run, but on her team’s next possession, Polin was fouled on a drive to the hoop and sank both foul shots, sending the Cardinals into halftime with a 20-16 lead.
“The second quarter we were struggling shooting the ball, and we kind struggled shooting the ball all day, which is to be expected of everyone the first day of the season,” coach Morgan Funsten said. “Those back-to-back three’s – and she got to the line and made two foul shots – it felt like she scored eight points in a minute-and-a-half.
“That got us to settle down a little bit. I thought it kind of defensively woke us up, and from there on out defensively, we were awesome. I’m just hoping we shoot the ball a little better in the future.”
Neshaminy made it a two-point game when freshman Reese Zemitis buried a pair of foul shots, but again, Polin had an answer, connecting on two from the charity stripe and then scoring on yet another drive.
“One of my teammates, Rachel Bilger, is a starter this year, and she sets the best screens ever,” Polin said. “Props to her – I give her assists every time she sets a screen for me.”
After a Neshaminy turnover, it was Bilger’s turn to shine, and the senior turned a nifty post move into a three-point play and a 27-18 Upper Dublin lead. Dayna Balasa upped that advantage to 11 points when she scored on a drive of her own. It was a 31-22 game after three quarters,
The Redskins pulled to within four twice late in the fourth quarter – the first after a Zemitis bucket, but Bliss Brenner answered at the other end. Lewis connected on both ends of a one-and-one to make it a 35-31 game, but Sarah Eskew converted a long inbounds pass into a layup, and the Cardinals were in command.
“Everybody was very excited to come back today,” Funsten said. “We tried some things defensively in the first half and then kind of got back to what we’re a little more used to. I thought the girls settled in.
“I thought we rebounded the ball so much better in the second half. Instead of standing there waiting for one of your teammates to grab the rebound like we were in the first half, it was all five people helping rebound.”
Polin’s 12-point effort led the Cardinals. She also had five rebounds, five assists, eight deflections and two steals. Eskew added 11 points – five in the first quarter. She also had five rebounds and three steals. Brenner and Balasa added seven points each. Balasa also had three steals.
“I thought Bliss Brenner did a great job on their freshman, Zemitis,” Funsten said. “It’s tough for us. We didn’t have any film on them, and she’s a freshman – it’s kind of hard to get film on her, but she’s a player.
“You’re always at an advantage when you’re left handed, she’s got good size, and she can shoot the ball from outside. She’s going to be a force for four years, but being undersized, I thought Bliss did a great job on her.”
Lally is looking forward to watching Zemitis develop this season.
“She can do so much –it’s just a matter of getting her where she needs to be,” the Redskins’ coach said. “Her talent is through the roof.”
Balasa also had five rebounds, two assists, three deflections and two steals.
“Dayna did a great job rebounding,” Funsten said. “She and Bliss especially banged around down low and got some ugly rebounds, which is what we’re going to have to do this year.”
Zemitis led the Redskins with 11 points to go along with four rebounds. Gurysh added seven points, and Sienko had five points and nine boards.
“I feel good about the season coming up,” Sienko said. “I think we’ll be able to bring it together and play as a team.”
Despite the outcome, Lally was pleased with his team’s effort.
“We’ve got to work a little bit on our mental toughness when there’s runs or when the ball doesn’t bounce your way, but we’re young,” the Redskins’ coach said. “That’s something to be really optimistic.
“Morgan does a great job. His kids execute and run their stuff. Defensively, I think we gave up too many open shots that on a normal day they’ll probably hit more of, but we’ll take it for what it was, and we’ll have to work on it and improve. It’s going to be an every day type of thing for us. We’re just glad to be playing. It’s a bump and grind, and we’ll just make the best of it.”
Upper Dublin (1-0) will travel to New Hope-Solebury for a non-league game Tuesday, and Neshaminy (0-1) will host Council Rock South in the SOL opener for both squads on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Neshaminy 11-5-6-9 31
Upper Dublin 12-8-11-11 42
Neshaminy (31) – Kacie Sienko 1 2-4 5 Maya Lewis 1 2-2 4; Skylar Lall 2 0-0 4; Taylor Gurysh 1 5-7 7; Reese Zemitis 3 3-4 11; Totals 8 12-17 31.
Upper Dublin (42) – Bliss Brenner 3 1-1 7; Rachel Bilger 2 1-1 5; Jess Polin 3 4-4 12; Sarah Eskew 4 2-2 11; Dayna Balasa 3 0-0 7; Totals 15 8-8 42.
3-point goals: Neshaminy – Reese Zemitis 2, Kacie Sienko, UD – Jess Polin 2, Sarah Eskew, Dayna Balasa.
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