Eight SOL girls’ basketball teams will be in action Tuesday – six in Class 6A and two in Class 5A. Check back for recaps of all the games.
#15 PENNSBURY at #2 NESHAMINY (Wednesday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m.)
Neshaminy
- 21-3 overall
- 12-0 SOL National Conference champions
- Fell to #3 Abington 51-44 in SOL title game after defeating #6 Souderton 51-47 in the semifinals
- Let by a pair of 1,000-point scorers in Bucknell signee Brooke Mullin, who averages a double-double, and Allison Harvey, a long-range sniper.
- Junior point guard Kristin Curley directs the offense
- Regular season wins over #3 Abington (59-57 OT), #7 Council Rock North (56-34 & 49-32), #15 Pennsbury (33-30 & 46-25), #17 Central Bucks East (58-47), #18 Central Bucks South (51-39) and #21 Bensalem (50-28 & 53-23)
How they got here: First round bye.
Pennsbury
- 18-5 overall
- 8-4 SOL National Conference third place
- Pennsbury’s first home playoff game since 2006.
- Freshman point guard Ava Sciolla (11.9 ppg) leads a balanced attack that includes junior Cami Wiegand (10.0 ppg) and senior Kate Mix (7.0 ppg)
- Falcons are three years removed from a four-win season.
- Young team includes two freshmen and two sophomores in top seven players.
- Regular season wins over #20 North Penn (44-38) and #21 Bensalem (36-22 & 62-29).
How they got here: In Friday’s opening round, Pennsbury defeated #18 Central Bucks South 48-45 in an overtime thriller. Kate Mix and Ava Sciolla led the Falcons with 13 points each. Mary Miller added 12 points in a contest that saw coach Frank Sciolla earn win number 400 of a stellar coaching career.
#14 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST at #3 ABINGTON (Tuesday, Feb. 19, 6 p.m.)
Abington
- 21-3 overall
- 13-1 SOL American Conference co-champions with Upper Dublin
- Defeated #3 Neshaminy 51-44 in SOL title game after downing #5 Upper Dublin 56-44 in the semifinals.
- Led by University of Rhode Island-bound Kassondra Brown, who averages a double-double with 17.5 points and 13.2 rebounds.
- Senior Tamia Wessels (11.8 ppg), freshman point guard Khalis Whiting (11.2 ppg) and senior Cam Lexow (11.1 ppg) are all capable of putting up big numbers. Miranda Liebtag (5.2 ppg) is a defensive catalyst.
- Won 13 of 14 games heading into districts.
- Regular season wins over #7 Council Rock North (69-64), #12 Plymouth Whitemarsh (52-46 & 63-40), Class 5A #10 Upper Moreland (59-28 & 57-18) and #16 Wissahickon (67-43 & 75-25).
- Split regular season meetings with #5 Upper Dublin (61-66 OT & 37-33)
How they got here: First round bye
Central Bucks West
- 15-8 overall
- 9-3 SOL Continental Conference second place
- Led by junior Maddie Burke and senior Izzy Treon as well as senior Tori Abelson, who was sidelined the entire season last year with a torn ACL.
- Regular season wins over #18 Central Bucks South (46-38 & 51-19), #20 North Penn (47-30 &45-42), #22 Coatesville (73-30) and #23 Pennridge (43-34 & 67-45) as well as Class 5A #1 Springfield-Delco (39-34).
- Handed a Trinity team ranked fifth in the state in the Class 3A one of only two losses this season (51-40).
- Split regular season series with #17 Central Bucks East (62-55 & 49-51)
How they got here: In Friday’s opening round, Central Bucks West rolled to a 75-38 win over #19 Upper Darby. The Bucks were led by the double-digit scoring efforts of Izzy Treon (15 points), Jess Broskey (14 points) and Maddie Burke (11 points).
#12 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH at #5 UPPER DUBLIN (Tuesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.)
Upper Dublin
- 20-4 overall
- 13-1 SOL American Conference co-champions with Abington
- Lost to #3 Abington 56-44 in the SOL semifinals
- Led by junior center Jackie Vargas (13.1 ppg), sophomore sharpshooter Dayna Balasa (9.7 ppg) and sophomore Sarah Eskey (7.2 ppg).
- Swept season series with #12 Plymouth Whitemarsh (43-22 & 40-22)
- Regular season wins over #17, Central Bucks East (50-38), #14 Central Bucks West (45-39), #18 Central Bucks South (47-24), Class 5A #10 Upper Moreland (51-12 & 45-28) and #16 Wissahickon (60-10 & 62-17).
- Split regular season games with Abington (66-61 OT & 33-37)
How they got here: Opening round bye
Plymouth Whitemarsh
- 19-4 overall
- 10-4 SOL American Conference third place
- Starting lineup features three freshmen and two sophomores
- Led offensively by sophomore Anna McTamney (12.1 ppg), freshmen Lainey Allen (9.8 ppg), Kaitlyn Flanagan (7.5 ppg), and Jordyn Thomas (6.5 ppg)
- Regular season wins over #8 Downingtown East (51-37), #18 Central Bucks South (50-47), Class 5A #10 Upper Moreland (33-29 & 44-33) and #16 Wissahickon (57-25 & 49-24).
How they got here: In Friday’s opening round, Plymouth Whitemarsh earned a 45-32 win over #21 Bensalem. Freshman Lainey Allen’s 15-point effort led the Colonials.
#11 OWEN J ROBERTS at #6 SOUDERTON (Tuesday, Feb. 19, 6 p.m.)
- 20-3 overall
- 11-1 SOL Continental Conference champions
- Fell to #3 Neshaminy 51-47 in SOL semifinals
- Lost three starters from last year’s SOL and District One 6A title team.
- Balanced scoring attack features Mikaela Reese (10.3 ppg), Megan Bealer (8.1 ppg), Megan Walbrandt (8.0 ppg), Curran O’Donnell (7.0 ppg) and Megan O’Donnell (6.3 ppg).
- Defense is the Indians’ calling card with Walbrandt the catalyst.
- Regular season wins over #2 Abington (67-57), #3 Neshaminy (44-39), #14 Central Bucks West (48-33 & 49-40), #17 Central Bucks East (54-35, 45-29), #20 North Penn (41-29 & 50-29) and #23 Pennridge (50-34, 55-41).
- Split regular season games with #18 Central Bucks South (41-18 & 30-28 OT)
How they got here: Opening round bye
Owen J Roberts
- 19-5 overall
- 7-3 Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division tied for second with Methacton
- Fell to Pope John Paul II 42-34 in the Pioneer Athletic Conference quarterfinals
- Wildcats average 50 points a game and allow 36
- Led by Olivia LeClaire (14.6 ppg), Diana Rantz (9.2 ppg), Avery White (8.0 ppg) and Hannah Clay (6.5 ppg). Rantz had 41 threes in the regular season and Clay had 31.
- Regular season wins over District 1 6A No. 8 Downingtown East (58-54), No. 9 Methacton (46-35), No. 24 Unionville (42-37) and 5A No. 11 Pope John Paul II (48-42) and No. 15 Phoenixville (55-35).
How they got here: In Friday’s opening round, Owen J Roberts defeated #22 Coatesville 50-40 to earn the program’s first district win since 2006. Olivia LeClaire’s double-double (22 points/13 rebounds) led the Wildcats. Diana Rantz added 13 points.
#23 PENNRIDGE at #7 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH (Wednesday, Feb. 20, 6 p.m.)
- 17-4 overall
- 10-2 SOL National Conference
- Led by the team’s four seniors – Dana Bandurick (17.3 ppg), Sydney Blum (10.3 ppg), Olivia Boyle (9.3 ppg) and floor general Camryn Polinsky (6.2 ppg)
- Bandurick, who averages 8.3 rebounds, is a force at both ends of the court and has 51 blocks and 57 steals.
- Regular season wins over #9 Methacton (51-45), #10 West Chester Rustin (56-30), #15 Pennsbury (57-34 & 46-43), #18 Central Bucks South (44-33) and #21 Bensalem (55-29 & 60-23).
- Will face winner of #10 West Chester Rustin/#23 Pennridge.
How they got here: First round bye.
Coach Lou Palkovics says: “We’re looking forward to a long District and State run. It will be difficult to do with so many great teams coming out of District One. Starting four seniors with significant District and State tournament experience should help.”
Pennridge
- 11-12 overall
- 2-10 SOL Continental Conference
- Junior Julia Kreider (9.7 ppg), a transfer from Central Bucks West, leads the Rams offensively. Emilee Cramer (9.0 ppg), Sam Muredda (6.6) and Evelyn Loughery (6.6 ppg) also contribute to a balanced attack.
- Regular season win over Class 5A #16 Wissahickon (72-45).
How they got here: Pennridge pulled off the upset of the Friday’s opening round, sending #10 West Chester Rustin home for the season with a 51-48 win. Sam Muredda (13 points), Sophie Cweiber (12 points) and Emilee Cramer (10 points) led a balanced Ram attack.
#17 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST at #1 GARNET VALLEY (Tuesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.)
Central Bucks East
- 14-9 overall
- 7-5 SOL Continental Conference third place tie with Central Bucks South
- Lost Jefferson University commit Elyse Shine to a torn ACL in the third game of season.
- Patriots – 3-7 after 10 games – won 10 of 13 games to close out season.
- Balanced attack led by senior guard Caroline Pla (10.9 ppg), Skylar Krause (7.8), Emily Chmiel (7.5 ppg) and Gabby Wilga (7.1).
- Regular season wins over #21 Bensalem (60-33) and #23 Pennridge (46-40 & 49-45).
- Split season series with #14 Central Bucks West (55-62 & 51-49), #18 Central Bucks South (46-44 & 40-45) and #20 North Penn (46-48 & 52-44).
How they got here: In Friday’s opening round, Central Bucks East earned a 66-57 win over #16 Kennett. The Patriots received double-figure scoring efforts from Caroline Pla (18 points), Skylar Krause (15 points), Mia Salvati (13 points) and Gabby Wilga (12 points).
Garnet Valley
- 21-1 overall
- 17-0 Central League regular season champion
- Seniors Emily McAteer and Brianna Borcky, a Drexel commit, both surpassed the 1,000-point milestone.
- McAteer, a Loyola (Md.) commit, is the school’s all-time leading scorer.
- Defeated Central Bucks East 57-23 on Dec. 28.
- Regular season wins over No. 10 West Chester Rustin (61-50), No. 13 Haverford (55-51 & 44-40), No. 19 Upper Darby (50-37 & 66-39), Class 5A No. 1 Springfield Delco (51-42), No. 4 Radnor (62-30), No. 6 Great Valley (52-18), No. 7 Harriton (53-42), No. 8 Strath Haven (58-37)
- Only loss of season to District 1 5A No. 2 Villa Maria Academy (58-46) on Jan. 26.
How they got here: First round bye
Class 5A
#10 UPPER MORELAND at #7 HARRITON (Tuesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.)
Upper Moreland
- 14-8 overall
- 8-6 SOL American Conference fourth place
- Golden Bears are two years removed from a 0-22 season under third-year coach Matt Carroll.
- Led by junior Bean Hughes (14.2 ppg) and senior Phoebe Longstreth (8.1 ppg)
- Regular season wins over Class 5A #16 Wissahickon (53-26 & 42-26).
Harriton
- 14-8 overall
- 10-6 Central League fifth place
- Average 45.7 points a game
- Regular season win over Class 6A #19 Upper Darby (53-29). Split regular season series with #4 Radnor (57-60 & 59-49) and #8 Strath Haven (45-65 & 44-41)
#16 WISSAHICKON at #1 SPRINGFIELD DELCO (Tuesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.)
Wissahickon
- 8-14 overall
- 4-10 SOL American sixth place
- Led by junior Anna Schools, who averages 12.3 points a game.
- Lost the team’s top offensive weapon Brianna Tilghman for the season.
Springfield Delco
- 20-2 overall
- 14-2 Central League second place behind Garnet Valley
- Average 53-5 points a game while allowing 32.9.
- Jordan D’Ambrosio became just the fifth player in program history to surpass the 1,000-point milestone. The senior forward averages 13.0 points a game to lead the Cougars.
- Alexa Abbonizio (12.7 ppg) and Bell Mastropietro (10.1) also are major contributors. Abbonizio has 40 three-pointers.
- Regular season wins over #3 West Chester Henderson (46-37), #4 Radnor (61-37 & 43-32), #7 Harriton (51-48 & 53-21), #8 Strath Haven (59-27 & 76-36) and Class 6A #13 Haverford (43-41) and #19 Upper Darby (60-42).
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