Check out the preview capsules for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action in the District One Tournament.
Class 4A
#4 NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY at #1 GWYNEDD MERCY (Tuesday, 5 p.m.)
New Hope-Solebury
- 11-10 overall
- 10-6 SOL Freedom Division second place
- Led by junior Reagan Chrencik, the SOL’s second leading scorer who surpassed the 1,000-point mark. Chrencik averages 17.8 points a game.
- Also making important contributions are senior Madi Fasti (10.1 ppg) as well as freshman Emily Wilson (9.9 ppg) and Izzy Elizondo (8.4 ppg)
- Regular season win over Class 6A #19 Hatboro-Horsham (75-53
Coach Steve Polinsky says: “We are very excited to play GMA. They are undefeated and coach (Tom) Lonergan is a great coach. We are a pretty young team, and this is a great opportunity and a big challenge, and we can grow from this experience.”
Gwynedd Mercy Academy
- 22-0 overall
- 10-0 Catholic Academies League regular season champion
- Defeated Villa Joseph Marie 44-25 in AACA Tournament title game
- Repeated as AACA tournament champion despite the absence of junior point guard Hannah Griffin (injury) from the lineup.
- Led by seniors Sofia Coleman (14.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.3 spg), Bridget Coleman (9.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.7 spg) and Maddie Newell (6.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.5 spg). Junior Hannah Griffin averages 8.9 points, 3.8 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals.
- Regular season wins over Class 5A #3 Upper Moreland (42-26), #4 Bishop Shanahan (50-48), #6 Radnor (45-19), #7 Villa Maria Academy (37-27 & 55-39), #8 Mount St. Joseph (43-21 & 55-37), #9 Merion Mercy (57-32 & 48-27) and Class 4A #2 Villa Joseph Marie (41-39 & 36-27)
Class 5A
#6 RADNOR at #3 UPPER MORELAND (Tuesday, 7 p.m.)
Upper Moreland
- 17-6 overall
- 13-3 SOL Freedom Division champions
- Second consecutive division championship after sharing title with New Hope-Solebury last year
- Led by junior guard EmmyFaith Wood (15.5 ppg) and sophomore forward Holly Gohl (15.3 ppg)
- Freshman Mikel Lancit and senior Kiera Coyle help balance out backcourt with hustle defense and shot-making ability while senior forwards Kylie Gaul and Emma Hurley do the dirty work in the post.
- Wins over Class 6A #19 Hatboro-Horsham (55-53), Class 4A #3 Collegium Charter (56-44) and #4 New Hope-Solebury (56-24 & 52-45).
How they got here: Opening round bye
Coach Matt Caroll says: “The Golden Bears are trying to repeat and improve their 2021 District One 5A appearance where they lost to Springfield (Delco) in the semis.”
Radnor
- 13-7 overall
- 10-7 Central League
- Led by seniors Ellie Davis & Ava Gummel
- Wins over Class 6A #9 Haverford (35-32) and Class 5A #11 Penncrest (55-54 & 57-45)
- Split season series with Class 5A #1 Springfield-Delco (35-43 & 31-30), #2 Marple Newtown (37-51 & 49-46), winning in the second go round after losing in the first.
How they got here: In an opening round game, Radnor defeated #11 Penncrest 44-31. Senior Ava Gummel scored 11 points and Ellie Davis had eight points and eight rebounds.
Class 6A
#16 GREAT VALLEY at #1 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH (Wednesday, 7 p.m.)
Plymouth Whitemarsh
- 25-0 overall
- 16-0 SOL Liberty Division champions
- Third straight SOL title with a 39-1 record in league play during that span
- Defeated Pennsbury 52-15 to capture the 2022 SOL Tournament title
- Outstanding starting five comprised of junior Abby Sharpe (14 ppg), senior Lainey Allen (12.5 ppg, 10 rpg), junior Erin Daley (9.5 ppg, 6 rpg), senior Jordyn Thomas (9 ppg, 8 rpg) and senior point guard Kaitlyn Flanagan (8 ppg, 5.5 apg).
- Wins over Class 6A #5 Abington (64-57 & 58-46), #13 Upper Dublin (52-21 & 47-28), #19 Hatboro-Horsham (56-15 & 64-24), Class 5A #3 Upper Moreland (50-24) as well as PCL powers Archbishop Carroll (38-29) & Cardinal O’Hara (42-30).
How they got here: Opening round bye
Coach Daniel Dougherty says: “Great Valley is a very disciplined well-coached team. We aren’t taking anything for granted.”
Great Valley
- 15-8 overall
- Senior Gracen Curley and junior point guard Laura Lum lead the Patriots
- Patriots were 3-5 after eight games and are 12-3 since then.
- Lost its only game against SOL, falling to #19 Hatboro-Horsham 49-42.
- Regular season wins over Class 6A #18 Coatesville (68-46), #24 Kennett (36-31 & 30-24) and Class 5A #12 Academy Park (45-26)
How they got here: In the opening round, Great Valley defeated #17 Conestoga 42-39. Gracen Curley’s 18 points led the Patriots.
#15 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH at #2 SOUDERTON (Wednesday, 7 p.m.)
Souderton
- 21-3 overall
- 15-1 SOL Colonial Division champions
- Fell to Pennsbury 48-34 in SOL Tournament semifinals, snapping a 17-game winning streak
- Program’s third league title in five years
- Led by junior point guard Casey Harter, who averages 14.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals. Junior forward Teya McConnaha averages a double-double (10.1 points & 10.1 rebounds).
- Rounding out a solid lineup are junior guard Erin Bohmueller (6.9 ppg, 2.8 apg, 1 bpg), sophomore guard Brooke Fenchel (5.3 ppg) and junior forward Mikayla McGillian (4.9 ppg)
- Regular season wins over Class 6A #4 Pennsbury (38-33), #7 Perkiomen Valley (55-37), #10 Neshaminy (38-33), #12 Central Bucks West (38-31 & 43-34), #15 Central Bucks South (55-23 & 38-27), #21 Council Rock South (50-35) and Class 5A #2 Villa Joseph Marie (45-36).
- Split season series with #22 Central Bucks East (27-30 & 44-33)
How they got here: Opening round bye
Central Bucks South
- 13-10 overall
- 8-8 SOL Colonial Division third place
- Senior Taylor Hinkle, a Holy Family commit, averages 14.6 points a game and became just the fifth player in program history to reach the 1,000-point milestone.
- Sophomore point guard Yoyo Sumayoa (9.00 ppg) and junior Allison Sauers are also key contributors.
- Wins over Class 6A #8 Downingtown East (48-31), #13 Upper Dublin (40-29), #14 Garnet Valley (60-42), #21 Council Rock South (52-41), #22 Central Bucks East (54-34 & 45-44) and Class 4A #4 New Hope-Solebury (55-28)
How they got here: In an opening round game, Central Bucks South defeated #18 Coatesville 57-44. Senior Taylor Hinkle’s 24 points led the Bucks. Sammy Schiesser added 12 points, and Yoyo Samayoa had 11.
#13 UPPER DUBLIN at #4 PENNSBURY (Wednesday, 7 p.m.)
Pennsbury
- 22-3 overall
- 14-2 SOL Patriot Division champion
- Lost to PW 52-15 in the SOL Tournament title game after defeating #2 Souderton (48-34) and #10 Neshaminy (45-35)
- Senior and University of Maryland signee Ava Sciolla is the heart and soul of the squad, averaging 17.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists while boasting a 3-1 assist-to-turnover ratio
- Senior Nicole Pompili averages nine points and four rebounds, and sophomore Sofia Vitucci averages 9 points (83 percent field goal percentage), 2.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds. Junior Nevaeh Dash averages seven points and 3.5 rebounds while sophomore Layla Matthias averages three points, six rebounds and two steals.
- Regular season wins over Class 6A #12 Central Bucks West (44-36), #15 Central Bucks South (45-41), #22 Central Bucks East (47-36) and #21 Council Rock South (64-36 & 41-37)
- Split regular season series with Class 6A #10 Neshaminy (45-30 & 27-36).
How they got here: Opening round bye
Coach Frank Sciolla says: “The playoffs are an exciting time of year, and it’s our hope to stay healthy and have a chance to compete. The last couple years have been tough with that and especially the last couple weeks. This is unchartered territory for some of our girls as four of the players that started in the playoffs last year have moved on and now this is an opportunity for new experiences. Playing an experienced and traditional district power like Upper Dublin is no easy task. Hopefully, everyone is cleared to play but no matter what we will go out and battle.”
Upper Dublin
- 16-8 overall
- 12-4 SOL Liberty Division third place
- Sophomore guard Amy Ngo (14.7 ppg, 37 3-pointers) leads a UD squad that is anchored by seniors Geena Sarnoski (9.8 ppg, 46 3-pointers), Bliss Brenner (4.5 ppg) and Colleen Klammer (4.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.3 bpg)
- Wins over Class 6A #10 Neshaminy (23-22), #15 Central Bucks South (12-10, 8-8), #19 Hatboro-Horsham (43-36 & 51-30), #22 Central Bucks East (28-23), Class 5A #3 Upper Moreland (37-28), #4 Bishop Shanahan (48-41) & Class 4A #4 New Hope-Solebury (57-35).
- Won 11 of 12 to close out regular season after a 3-7 start
How they got here: In an opening round game, Upper Dublin defeated #20 Downingtown West 37-25, rallying from an early 12-4 deficit to outscore the Whippets 33-13 the rest of the way. Aditi Foster led the way with 12 points while Amy Ngo and Geena Sarnoski both scored nine.
#12 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST at #5 ABINGTON (Wednesday, 7 p.m.)
Abington
- 19-5 overall
- 13-3 SOL Liberty Division second place
- Lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh 55-35 in the SOL Tournament semifinals
- Junior Cire Worley, who surpassed the 1,000-point mark this year, is the SOL’s top scorer, averaging 20.4 points a game.
- Also making key contributions are juniors Jaida Helm (13.5 ppg) and Abril Bowser (11.5 ppg). Freshman Dani Brusha averages 6.8 points a game, and freshman Maya Johnson is the point guard.
- Regular season wins over Class 6A #12 Central Bucks West (71-43), #13 Upper Dublin (73-42 & 54-44), Class 5A #3 Upper Moreland (70-49) and Class 4A #4 New Hope-Solebury (89-74).
- Split regular season series with #19 Hatboro-Horsham (80-50 & 62-68)
- Three of five losses this season to top-ranked Plymouth Whitemarsh
How they got here: Opening round bye
Coach Dan Marsh says: “Abington is looking forward to playing some quality opponents in districts.”
Central Bucks West
- 17-7 overall
- 11-5 SOL Colonial Division second place behind Souderton
- Senior guard Emily Spratt – who is committed to continue her basketball career at Jefferson University – surpassed the 1,000-point milestone this season. She averages 15 points and six rebounds.
- Junior guard Tai Henkels (8.0 ppg, 3 rpg) and junior guard Katie Finnan (5.5 ppg) are also key players at both ends of the court.
- Wins over Class 6A #15 Central Bucks South (38-36 & 43-41) and #21 Council Rock South (40-29)
- Split season series with Class 6A #22 Central Bucks East (33-43 & 34-27)
How they got here: In an opening round game, Central Bucks West notched a come-from-behind 52-50 win over #21 Council Rock South. Senior Emily Spratt led the Bucks with 16 points, which included a 10-for-15 effort at the foul line. Junior Tai Henkels added 12 points.
#10 NESHAMINY at #7 PERKIOMEN VALLEY (Wednesday, 7 p.m.)
Neshaminy
- 17-7 overall
- 13-3 SOL Patriot Division second place
- The Redskins are led by the trio of sophomore Reese Zemitis (12.3 ppg, 145 rebounds), sophomore point guard Lola Ibarrondo (10.7 ppg, 59 assists) and junior Taylor Gurysh (9.7ppg), the team’s leading offensive rebounder.
- Maya Lewis and Mimi Smith have returned from injuries to stabilize the team’s rotation. Lewis solidifies the Redskins’ defense, and Smith leads the team in 3-point field goal percentage.
- Wins over #6 West Chester Rustin (65-60), #12 Central Bucks West (45-30) and #22 Central Bucks East (40-39),
- Split season series with #4 Pennsbury (30-45 & 36-27) & #21 Council Rock South (51-37 & 42-45)
How they got here: In an opening round game, Neshaminy defeated #23 Owen J Roberts 51-41. Sophomore Reese Zemitis scored 22 points to lead the Redskins. Lola Ibarrondo added 12 points, and Mimi Smith had eight points.
Perkiomen Valley
- 19-4 overall
- 8-2 PAC Liberty Division second place
- Fell to Spring-Ford 43-36 in PAC title game
- Led by seniors and three-year starters Jen Beattie and Emma Miley. Beattie averages 13.3 points a game and has 59 3-pointers while Miley averages 9.8 points.
- Also making important contributions are 6-2 freshman center Quinn Boettinger (10.3 ppg) and freshman Grace Miley (7.4 ppg)
- Wins over Class 6A #14 Garnet Valley (56-43), #23 Owen J Roberts (61-53 &47-24), #24 Kennett (60-39) and Class 5A #10 Upper Perk (58-37)
- Split regular season series with Class 6A #3 Methacton (39-56 &41-38) and #11 Spring-Ford (39-54 & 55-48)
- Closed regular season 9-1 in last 10 games, avenging losses to both Methacton & Spring-Ford
How they got here: Opening round bye
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