Class 6A
#16 HAVERFORD at #1 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH (Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.)
Plymouth Whitemarsh
- 20-3 overall
- 13-1 SOL American Conference champions
- Fell to #8 Upper Dublin 39-35 in SOL Tournament semifinals, the third meeting between the two teams.
- The Colonials split their regular season meetings with Upper Dublin, winning the first 47-25 and falling in the second 26-39.
- Balanced scoring is the name of the game for the Colonials, who are led by sophomore point guard Kaitlyn Flanagan (11.1 ppg) and junior forward Anna McTamney (11.0).
- Also making important contributions are freshman Erin Daley (9.2 ppg), junior Gabby Cooper (8 ppg) and junior Jordyn Thomas (7.6 ppg).
- Regular season wins over #9 Downingtown East (53-37), #19 Abington (84-52, 65-43), #20 Hatboro-Horsham (76-32, 65-36) and #24 Upper Darby (63-18) as well as Class 5A Upper Moreland (46-27, 46-35).
- All three PW losses came in final five games after opening the season 17-0.
How they got here: Opening round bye
Haverford
- 14-8 overall
- Regular season wins over Class 6A #17 Unionville (37-31) and #24 Upper Darby (57-31, 56-49) as well as Class 5A #10 Radnor (63-53)
- Split regular season series with Class 6A #6 Ridley (21-45, 52-42)
How they got here: In an opening round game, Haverford defeated #17 Unionville 42-30, outscoring the Indians 18-5 in the fourth quarter. Freshman Mollie Carpenter scored six points off the bench in the final quarter. Chiara MacGillivray led the Fords with 13 points.
#15 NESHAMINY at #2 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST (Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.)
Central Bucks West
- 20-4 overall
- 12-0 SOL Continental Conference regular season champions
- Defeated #8 Upper Dublin 38-33 to capture the SOL Tournament title, the program’s third in six years. The Bucks – who defeated #4 Pennsbury 30-23 in the semifinals – also won the first meeting between the two teams 35-32.
- Led by Penn State signee Maddie Burke (14 ppg, 4.4 rpg), a long-range sharpshooter who connects on 44 percent from beyond the arc.
- Also making important contributions are sophomore Emily Spratt (10 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.4 apg), senior point guard Olivia Irons (8 ppg), junior Paige Gilbert (6 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and senior Jess Broskey (6 ppg, 3.7 rpg).
- Regular season wins over #10 North Penn (57-45 & 56-46), #11 CB East (56-37 & 66-45), #12 Souderton (41-24 & 58-50), #13 West Chester Rustin (71-49), #18 Pennridge (58-32 & 74-52) and #19 Abington (41-33)
How they got here: Opening round bye
Neshaminy
- 15-8 overall
- 11-1 SOL National Conference co-champions
- Led by senior captains Kristin Curley (13.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.7 spg), Olivia Scotti (10.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 2.7 spg) and Emily Tantala (8.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.9 spg).
- Senior captain Kelli Kowalick, a major contributor, is battling a hand injury.
- Regular season wins over #11 Central Bucks East (52-44), #21 Bensalem (40-31, 46-41), #22 Council Rock South (56-20, 65-34) as well as Class 4A #3 Villa Joseph Marie (74-40)
- Split regular season series with #4 Pennsbury (44-42, 32-42)
How they got here: In an opening round contest, Neshaminy defeated #18 Pennridge 46-38. Kristin Curley had 16 points and Emily Tantala added 11.
#13 WEST CHESTER RUSTIN at #4 PENNSBURY (Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.)
Pennsbury
- 19-4 overall
- 11-1 SOL National Conference co-champions
- Fell to #2 Central Bucks West 30-23 in SOL Tournament semifinals, snapping a nine-game winning streak.
- Led by sophomore point guard Ava Sciolla, who averages 14.0 points and is the glue that keeps the Falcons together
- Senior Mary Miller (9.5 ppg), sophomore Nicole Pompili (9.5 ppg) as well are junior Bella Arcuri (6.7 ppg) are also important contributors
- Regular season wins over Class 6A #21 Bensalem (53-21 & 56-33) and #22 Council Rock South (51-26 & 59-35) as well as Class 3A #2 New Hope-Solebury (37-27 & 44-26).
- Split regular season series with National Conference co-champion #15 Neshaminy (42-44 & 44-32).
How they got here: Opening round bye.
West Chester Rustin
- 15-7 overall
- 10-2 Ches-Mont American Division second place
- Lost to #9 Downingtown East 60-43 in the Ches-Mont semifinals.
- Freshman Laine McGurk averages in double digits off the bench. Senior Sam Greer is the floor general, junior Gracy Shivers is dangerous from long range, and sophomore forward Laney Costin defends the opponent’s top offensive weapon.
- Regular season wins over Class 6A #17 Unionville (51-32, 57-31) as well as Class 5A #6 West Chester East (47-41) and #13 Academy Park (60-46)
- Won nine of 12 games heading into districts.
How they got here: In an opening round game, West Chester Rustin trailed by as many as 11 in the second half but rallied to earn a 50-47 win over #20 Hatboro-Horsham. Freshman Laine McGurk’s 12 points led a balanced attack.
#9 DOWNINGTOWN EAST at #8 UPPER DUBLIN (Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.)
Upper Dublin (Opening round bye)
- 17-7 overall
- 12-2 SOL American Conference second place
- Lost to #2 Central Bucks West 38-33 in SOL Tournament title game, a loss that broke a 10-game winning streak.
- Won two of three meetings against #1 Plymouth Whitemarsh, splitting the regular season series (25-47, 39-26) and winning in the SOL Tournament semifinals (39-35).
- Led by Lehigh University-bound senior Jackie Vargas, who averages 13.6 points and controls the paint.
- Senior Anajae Smith, a Millersville University signee, has averaged 7.8 points and been a welcome addition to the lineup after being sidelined most of the regular season with an injury.
- Dayna Balasa (8.5 ppg) is dangerous from long range, Kara Grebe (6.3 ppg) provides muscle in the paint, and point guard Jess Polin (5.4 ppg) distributes the ball.
- Regular season wins over #7 Garnet Valley (36-28), #19 Abington (59-50, 43-36) and #20 Hatboro-Horsham (63-23, 56-22).
- Split season series with Class 5A #9 Upper Moreland (37-40, 44-29).
- Since losing three games in a six-day span in early January, the Cardinals are 11-2. Both of those losses came at the hands of #2 CB West.
How they got here: Opening round bye.
Downingtown East
- 18-6 overall
- Led by 6-5 center Bella Smuda, who will continue her career at Liberty University
- Head coach Tom Schurtz had plenty of experience playing Upper Dublin while he was head coach at Upper Merion
- Regular season wins over Class 6A #14 Owen J Roberts (54-49) and Class 5A #2 Penn Wood (62-50), #6 West Chester East (66-57, 54-38), #7 Bishop Shanahan (51-34, 57-37) & #11 West Chester Anderson (58-35, 50-28).
- Fell to #1 Plymouth Whitemarsh 53-37
How they got here: In an opening round contest, Downingtown East defeated #24 Upper Darby 57-51. Bella Smuda scored 25 while Caroline Brennan and Lauren Kent both scored 13 points.
#11 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST at #6 RIDLEY (Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.)
Central Bucks East
- 16-7 overall
- 8-4 SOL Continental Conference tied for second place
- Junior center Emily Chmiel had a breakout season, averaging 18.8 points and close to 12 rebounds a game.
- The Patriots, who have no seniors on their roster, are led by co-captains Mia Salvati (12 ppg) and Gabby Wilga (5.7 ppg). Sophomore Aubrey DeAngelis (5.9 ppg) and junior Emily Barry (4.9 ppg) also make important contributions.
- Regular season wins over #12 Souderton (46-38, 54-43), #18 Pennridge (63-47, 67-54), #19 Abington (69-57), #21 Bensalem (54-35) as well as Class 4A #1 Gwynedd Mercy (44-36).
- Split with #10 North Penn (52-44, 62-68).
- Won five of six to close out regular season.
How they got here: In an opening round contest, the Patriots rolled to a 57-34 win over #22 Council Rock South. Junior center Emily Chmiel scored 18 to lead the Patriots while Mia Salvati and Aubrey DeAngelis both added 11.
Ridley
- 19-3 overall
- 16-2 Central League second to Springfield-Delco
- Won Central League Tournament with 52-40 win over Springfield-Delco. Dakota McCaughan had 24 points.
- Led by senior point guard Dakota McCaughan, a first team All-PCL player who transferred from Bonner-Prendergast for her final year.
- Regular season wins over Class 6A #24 Upper Darby (70-43, 67-49) and Class 5A #10 Radnor (45-35).
- Split regular season series with Class 6A #7 Garnet Valley (38-45, 47-45) and #16 Haverford (45-21, 42-51).
How they got here: Opening round bye.
#12 SOUDERTON at #5 METHACTON (Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.)
Souderton
- 17-6 overall
- 7-5 SOL Continental Conference
- Mikaela Reese is the lone senior on a squad that lost four starters to graduation. The senior captain scores 12.5 points a game and also leads the team in rebounds and assists.
- Also contributing to the Indians’ balanced attack are freshman Casey Harter (7.7 ppg) as well as juniors Olivia Schneider (7.2 ppg) and Jordan Zimmerman (6.5 ppg)
- Regular season wins over #18 Pennridge (58-51, 54-37), #19 Abington (56-49), #20 Hatboro-Horsham (51-33) Class 5A #12 Harriton (35-24) and #14 Pope John Paul II (39-24) as well as Class 4A #1 Gwynedd Mercy Academy (44-33).
- Indians won five of last six regular season games.
How they got here: In an opening round game, Souderton defeated #21 Bensalem 44-24. Senior Mikaela Reese led the Indians with 15 points, and freshman point guard Casey Harter added 11.
Methacton
- 20-3 overall
- 8-2 PAC Liberty Division second place
- Fell to #3 Spring-Ford 47-39 in the PAC Tournament final
- Led by sophomore Nicole Timko (15.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.2 spg), senior Sydney Tornetta (11.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.3 apg) and freshman Cassiday Kropp (7.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.0 spg)
- Regular season wins over #6 Ridley (54-40) and #23 Boyertown (46-43, 51-31)
- Split regular season series with #3 Spring-Ford (32-49, 42-39) and #14 Owen J Roberts (37-48, 41-39)
- Two of three losses to #3 Spring-Ford and third loss to #14 Owen J Roberts.
How they got here: Opening round bye
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