PW, Neshaminy & CB East captured tournament titles on Friday. Check out the recaps.
Plymouth Whitemarsh Holiday Tournament
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 75, WEST CHESTER EAST 24
The Colonials concluded a perfect December with a performance that – for stretches – bordered on perfection. While it’s safe to say West Chester East would have struggled to stay with PW on most days, the Vikings never stood a chance on Friday. The Colonials put 28 points on the board in the opening quarter – rarely missing a shot, and they added to that lead in each of the next three quarters. PW took a 42-16 lead into halftime and coasted to the win.
“We were doing really well offensively and on the defensive end,” junior Taylor O’Brien said. “Shots were just falling, and we were just flowing throughout the whole game.
“Our shots were going in,” junior Lauren Fortescue added. “I think that just made us more confident throughout the game.
“(The Vikings) were rushing, and that made us want to play fast as well.”
Coach Dan Dougherty acknowledged that the first quarter was the best quarter of basketball his team has played.
“Last night against Bodine we had a tremendous first quarter, but tonight – 28 points and 42 at halftime, it was incredible,” the Colonials’ coach said. “It was an effort where we came in Tuesday and Wednesday of this week and had three-hour practices where the first hour was nothing but shooting, and it certainly paid off.”
Leading the charge was O’Brien, the tournament MVP, whose 31 points were a career high. The gifted junior connected on 14-of-18 shots from the field – 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and she did all of that damage in just three quarters.
Fortescue, who also earned a spot on the all-tournament team, added 15 points in just three quarters, and if the Colonials were dangerous before the junior transfer’s arrival, they became a whole lot more formidable with Fortescue in the lineup as the perfect complement to O’Brien.
The duo – teammates as youngsters on their Whitemarsh travel team – acknowledged they came into the season with high expectations.
“We knew from the very beginning that we want to make it as far as we can and go to states if we can,” O’Brien said. “That’s our goal right now and also to grow and bond as a team.”
“League champs as well,” Fortescue added.
The Colonials served notice that they would be a force in the American Conference when they knocked off four-time defending champion Upper Dublin in the initial meeting between the two rivals.
“That was very exciting for us because coach said he’s only beaten them once in his career,” Fortescue said.
While O’Brien and Fortescue were the headliners, the Colonials are hardly a two-woman show.
“Everyone on the team is athletic in their own way,” Dougherty said. “Lauren Coscia, who plays the five for us, is a volleyball player. She’s getting off her toes, so we’re able to use that athleticism.
“What makes this team so special right now is that typically in girls basketball you’re trying to shut down one player or two players, but we’ve had all five starters really, really step up at different times in the season.
“Obviously, it starts with Taylor O’Brien. She’s really developed her right hand and really developed her three-point shooting, so teams can’t just back off her and force her right anymore. The addition of Lauren Fortescue just adds to our team speed and playmaking ability.
“Two kids that don’t get a lot of notoriety are Ali Diamond and Laurel Suchsland. They’re both tremendous man defenders. Both of them were guarding kids tonight that were four or five inches taller than they are. It’s one of those things as coaches you notice all the time, but this year, their names do pop up because Laurel and Ali are hitting three’s, which just stretches the defense out.”
Diamond had nine points in Friday’s win while Suchsland added five – both connected on a three-pointer. Coscia and Gia Schweitzer both added four points.
Last year, the Colonials – the 19th seed in the District One 4A Tournament – got a taste of life in the postseason. In an opening round district game, they trailed 14th-seeded Spring-Ford by just two points heading into the fourth quarter before falling by eight.
“This team last year really competed with Spring-Ford in our playoff game,” Dougherty said. “We felt like we were right there. When we looked back at our season last year, we felt like one game here or there and we could have had a home game, and we’ve never had a home playoff game since I’ve been an assistant or head coach, so that’s one of our goals.
“Our first goal is to challenge Upper Dublin for the league and really try to advance in the playoffs as opposed to just making it to the playoffs. Honestly, we don’t talk about it too much. We try to show each team we play against a lot of respect and just focus on one game at a time.
“Taylor and Lauren Coscia had a tremendous experience with the volleyball team this fall with making it to a district championship and advancing in the state playoffs. That experience and the other girls seeing those girls have that experience, I think, has helped the team tremendously.”
Dougherty also credited assistant coach TJ DeLucia for playing a significant role.
“He does a good job of keeping the girls loose but then focused,” the Colonials’ coach said. “We don’t try to overwhelm the girls with too much game planning. One game at a time, enjoy each other’s company and enjoy the experience.”
The Colonials head into the New Year with a perfect 7-0 record.
Are they surprised?
“We had our ideas since we didn’t lose anyone and we got another addition to our team – we knew we were going to do well this year,” O’Brien said.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-0, 3-0 SOL) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday.
West Chester East 10-6-4-4 24
Plymouth Whitemarsh 28-14-22-11 75
Plymouth Whitemarsh (75) – Taylor O’Brien 31, Lauren Fortescue 15, Ali Diamond 9, Laurel Suchsland 5, Lauren Coscia 4, Gia Schweitzer 4, Victoria Betterly 2, Haley Zygmunt 2, Brooke Felgoise 2, Shallyn Dickson 1.
Boardwalk Classic (George Betz Memorial Bracket)
NESHAMINY 38, WINSLOW (N.J.) 29
The Redskins, according to their coach, didn’t have their ‘A’ game, but they still earned the win in Friday’s championship contest.
“You win some games that you’re not happy with the way you played, and you lose some games and you’re really happy with the way they played,” coach Joe Lally said. “That’s a tough one to explain to your players.
“Tonight’s one of those nights. I’m happy that we won. The girls found a way to persevere, and that what’s important, but we didn’t play our best basketball.”
The Redskins trailed 15-14 at halftime but won the game with a strong third quarter performance that saw them outscore the Eagles 12-2. The two teams exchanged baskets in the fourth quarter.
“We had a good third quarter and finally shut them down and played some defense,” Lally said. “As much as we tried to prepare them for today, I don’t think we played our best basketball.”
Freshman Kristin Curley led a balanced attack with 10 points, which included a 5-for-6 effort at the foul line.
“Kristin Curley’s been nice and steady,” Lally said. “She’s starting to become the floor general and a leader for us. Again, she was big at the free throw line.”
Brooke Mullin added eight points and a team high five rebounds. Devon Storms also had eight points to go along with four rebounds. Emily Alexis had seven points.
“Olivia Scotti gave us another seven minutes off the bench,” Lally said. “Not a ton of stats to show for it, but they were really good minutes.
“We’ve been trying to get some of our young kids to play a role, and (figuring out) what role they will play is the trick.”
Neshaminy (6-1, 3-0 SOL) will travel to Council Rock North on Tuesday for a battle of SOL National Conference unbeaten squads.
“We’re going to have to step up,” Lally said. “North is going to be tough on Tuesday, and you follow that up with Truman. It will be an interesting test for us.”
Neshaminy 9-5-12-12 38
Winslow 7-8-2-12 29
Neshaminy (38) – Emily Alexis 7, Brooke Mullin 8, Kristin Curley 10, Devon Storms 8, Allison Harvey 5.
Winslow (29) – Amiaya Melvins 7, Jania Pitts 1, Jaida Davis 17, Mikayla Cohen 2, Jalissa Pitts 2.
Boardwalk Classic (Bill Osborn Memorial Bracket)
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 60, NEW FOUNDATIONS CHARTER 12
New Foundations found itself overmatched in Friday’s championship game, and while her team’s opponent didn’t provide much of a challenge, coach Liz Potash used the opportunity to give everyone playing time with 10 of 11 players who took the court contributing points.
Bailey McManus had the hot hand, burying 7-of-12 shots from the floor and exceeding the output of the Patriots’ opponent with 15 points. Grace Stewart, who was 4-for-5 from the floor, and Abby Charlton, who connected on 3-of-5 shots, both added eight points. Melanie Wetzel made 3-of-4 shots and finished with seven points while Bridget Birkhead and Bri Talboth both had six.
Charlton led the Patriots under the boards with eight rebounds. Sophia Mancuso added four rebounds to go along with three assists. Birkhead also had three assists.
Defensively, the Patriots – who were credited with 22 steals – forced 37 turnovers. McManus and Talbot led the Patriots with four steals each while Birkhead and Wetzel both had three.
Central Bucks East (3-4, 1-2 SOL) will be on the road at William Tennent on Tuesday.
New Foundations 4-1-3-4 12
Central Bucks East 22-14-16-8 60
New Foundations (12) – Liz Nulty 5, Milia Johnson 4, K’Viah-Cynae Breazeale 3.
Central Bucks East (60) – Mackenzie Gregor 2, Bridget Birkhead 6, Gina Russo 2, Megan Browne 4, Audrey LaBouliere 2, Bailey McManus 15, Melanie Wetzel 7, Briana Talbot 6, Abby Charlton 8, Grace Stewart 8.
Boo Williams Christmas Classic (Hampton, Va.)
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 56, ST. MARY’S RYKEN (Md.) 29
After three straight overtime games and – prior to that – a pair of contests that came down to the wire, the Bucks and coach Terry Rakowsky had to breathe a sigh of relief to at long last find themselves in a game devoid of stress.
Maggie Rakowsky picked up where she left off in the preceding day’s overtime win, scoring eight points in the first quarter – including a pair of three’s – to propel the Bucks to a 16-3 lead. Abbey Spratt and Kaili Carey also each added a trey as the Bucks had four three-pointers in the frame.
In the second quarter, the Bucks buried three more shots from beyond the arc – two by Alex Burkauskas and the third from Molly Rodebaugh – to go into halftime with a commanding 33-7 lead. They never looked back.
Rakowsky and Burkauskas led a balanced attack with 10 points each. Tori Abelson had eight in a contest that saw 12 players contribute scoring.
Central Bucks West (6-2, 2-1 SOL) will travel to Pennridge on Tuesday.
Central Bucks West 16-17-17-6 56
St. Mary’s Ryken 3-4-14-8 29
Central Bucks West (56) – Alex Burkauskas 10, Abbey Spratt 4, Diane Nicholson 4, Erin McIlhenny 3, Bailey Tracy 2, Molly Rodebaugh 3, Maddie Burke 4, Kaili Carey 3, Mari Casale 2, Tori Abelson 8, Izzy Treon 3, Maggie Rakowsky 10.
St. Mary’s Ryken (29) – J. Brown 14, N. Smith 6, Selena 2, J. Hunt 1, Racchelle 5, Kathryn 1.
Boyertown Holiday Tournament
PENNRIDGE 42, DELONE CATHOLIC 33
The Rams brought a welcome end to a four-game losing streak with a gritty come-from-behind win in Friday’s consolation game.
Delone led 10-4 after one quarter, but the Rams answered with a 10-3 surge in the second quarter. Their offense continued to put points on the board in the second half, outscoring Delone 28-20.
Samantha Muredda led a balanced Ram attack with 11 points while Rose McCormick had nine. Brooke Bachtle and Gillian Anderson both added six points in a contest that saw eight players contribute scoring.
Pennridge (4-5, 0-3 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Tuesday.
Delone Catholic 10-3-12-8 33
Pennridge 4-10-15-13 42
Pennridge (42) – Samantha Muredda 11, Madison Pennie 1, Brooke Bachtle 6, Gillian Anderson 6, Madison Stolarski 2, Rose McCormick 9, Claire Podraza 2, Emilee Cramer 5.
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