Check out the recaps for SOL boys/girls basketball teams in action Wednessday.
Boys
Non-league
EXECUTIVE CHARTER 61, CHELTENHAM 54
Executive Charter – the top-ranked team in the Lehigh Valley – was riding a 13-game winning streak entering Wednesday’s non-league game against the visiting Panthers. There was no mistaking the magnitude of the contest for a Panthers squad hoping to find its way into the 24-team District 1 6A field.
The Panthers – 29th in the latest District 1 6A power rankings – hung tough. They were deadlocked 7-7 after one period but then outscored in the second and trailed 19-14 at halftime. The second half was all but even.
“I’ve seen teams get into (districts) 12-10, so we have to win our last three, and we’ll need some help,” Cheltenham coach Patrick Fleury said. “There’s no other formula at this point.
“I’m proud of the kids. I told them – they can be upset, but at the end of the day, life rewards what you put into it. I have to get better and prepare them better.”
Kamani Healey’s 14-point effort – 8 in a 25-point fourth quarter – led the Panthers. Nile Tinsley finished with 11 points, and Josiah Hutson had 10. Malik Hughes and Kevin Addison-Anderson each had six points.
“They fought the two 6-7, 6-8 kids – one of them is going to Rider, and they played well,” Fleury said. “The shooter they have – (Rylan) Muniz – had five 3s, so that was the difference. Not being able to get back out to him off the rotation – they made us pay. They’re 16-2, so they’re doing well.
“We won’t run from the challenge. We’ll definitely take our defeat and learn from it, be better for it later. We just have to value possessions. We have three more regular season games. Those are the opportunities we have, and that’s what we’re going to focus in on.”
Cheltenham (9-10, 8-6 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Friday.
Cheltenham 7-7-15-25 54
Executive Charter 7-12-21-21 61
Cheltenham (54) – Josiah Hutson 2 5-7 10; Yakeen Respes 1 0-0 2; Kevin Addison-Anderson 2 1-4 6; Kamani Healey 4 4-5 14; Osei Johnson 1 0-0 3; Malik Hughes 3 0-0 6; Nile Tinsley 3 4-6 11; Xavier Thompson 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 17 14-22 54.
Executive Charter (61) – Gabe Hornberger 2 7-11 12; Rylan Muniz 6 5-8 22; M.Sanoh 4 3-5 11; Lamin Sanoh 1 0-0 2; J.Shipley 0 1-2 1; J.Gonzalez 0 2-2 2; TOTALS 17 21-34 61.
3-point goals: Cheltenham – Josiah Hutson, Kevin Addison-Anderson, Kamani Healey 2, Osei Johnson, Nile Kinsley; ECHS – Rylan Muniz 5, Gabe Hornberger.
Girls
Non-league
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 50, WISSAHICKON 32
The Golden Hawks picked up their second win in as many days. They trailed 12-8 after one quarter but went into halftime with a 17-13 lead and then blew the game wide open with a 24-point third quarter.
“We picked up a road win a night after beating CRN at home – that was a long night for us,” Rock South coach Blair Klumpp said. “Wissahickon came out ready to play on their Senior Night and jumped on us a bit early. I had to use a timeout about halfway into the first quarter. I just did not like the flow of game and lack of intensity.
“We ended the first half playing better basketball, but I still thought the defense could elevate and help us generate some offense.”
Karissa Smedley’s 14 points led the Golden Hawks, and Fiona Reckner added 13.
“Smed and Fiona were very efficient offensively, getting their points on nine field goals attempted and five field goals attempted respectively,” Klumpp said. “And we did a good job finding each other and had 14 assists on 19 field goals.
“I thought we did a great job crowding and doubling (Kaitlyn) McGeary – Fi was the primary defender but others who wound up matched with her more than held their own for the most part and the support was loaded up. Our overall pressure and ball pressure after halftime was good.”
Katie Purpura led the Golden Hawks with six rebounds and four steals. She also had three assists. Smedley had five rebounds, three steals and two assists. Liliana Metrick added six points, four rebounds and two assists. Kat O’Kane led the Hawks with five assists to go along with two steals while Lily Bross had two assists and two steals. Darcy Leight contributed a pair of blocks.
“KP was very active on the glass, made extra passes and got us extra possessions,” Klumpp said of Purpura. “I thought Cam (Gregory) had some really good shots in transition and a few of them were halfway down.
“We always talk about finding ways to impact a game when you’re not scoring. Metrick did a good job checking other boxes on a night her shot didn’t fall. Kat (O’Kane) had a great floor game in the second half and back-to-back games with five-plus assists for her. Bross was good defensively in the second half, pressuring the ball as well.
“I thought Smed was fantastic today all around. She was very active defensively, even more so with deflections than steals, but her intensity and effort really stood out tonight, and she was a little more assertive offensively. I keep trying to build her confidence daily in that mindset, but she’s selfless, so it continues to be a lot of reminding from me to stay with that mentality, and she was really good tonight. We know Friday is a big game, and it’ll be important for us to be locked into practice and learn from our last couple games and apply the positives more consistently. The girls did a tremendous job responding in the second half. Tonight I was very happy with those 16 mins of effort and proud of them.
For the Trojans, McGeary added another double-double to her resume, finishing with 16 points and 15 rebounds to go along with three assists. Claira Baldasano added eight points and four rebounds, and Kylie Friedman contributed six points, two rebounds and two steals. Eva Schools added three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Council Rock South (13-6, 8-6 SOL) will travel to Pennsbury on Friday, and Wissahickon (5-15, 3-11) will be on the road at Abington.
Council Rock South 8-9-24-9 50
Wissahickon 12-1-10-9 32
Council Rock South (50) – Liliana Metrick 2 0-0 6; Lily Bross 1 0-0 2; Katie Purpura 2 0-0 4; Cam Gregory 3 0-0 9; Fiona Reckner 4 1-2 13; Karissa Smedley 6 2-3 14; Jess Mangoni 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 19 3-5 50.
Wissahickon (32) – Kylie Friedman 3 0-0 6; Skye Sydney 1 0-2 2; Claira Baldasano 4 0-0 8; Kaitlyn McGeary 5 6-11 16; TOTALS 13 6-13 32
3-point goals: CRS – Fiona Reckner 4, Cam Gregory 3, Liliana Metrick 2.
MaST CHARTER 61, CHELTENHAM 47
The Lady Panthers were deadlocked with MaST Charter 10-10 after one quarter, but they found themselves on the short end of a 28-16 halftime score and never could make up the ground they lost.
Freshman Maya Simmons kept the Lady Panthers in the game, scoring 12 of her game-high 29 points in the first half. She had 11 of her team’s 15 third-quarter points and closed out a glittering performance with six more points in the fourth quarter.
Also finishing in double figures for the Panthers was Paige Powell with 10 points.
“Different night, same issues,” Cheltenham coach Ben Bowman said. “Too many turnovers and way too many missed layups. We’re not going to win many games with that kind of play.
“With two games left, we need to dig deep and finish the season on a high note.”
Cheltenham (6-14, 2-12 SOL) will travel to Upper Moreland on Friday.
Cheltenham 10-6-15-16 47
MaST Charter 10-18-11-22 61
Cheltenham (47) – Paige Powell 5 0-4 10; Maya Simmons 12 4-6 29; Arianna Davis 1 2-2 4; Cassie Bugg 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 20 6-12 47.
MaST Charter (61) – Anye Washington 7 8-8 27; Saniyah Washington 9 6-6 24; Kyleigh Murphy 2 0-0 4; Rylie Fitzsimmons 2 2-5 6; TOTALS 20 16-19 61.
3-point goals: Cheltenham- Maya Simmons; MaST Charter – Anye Washington 5.
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