CB South was a winner in Saturday’s opening round of the District One 6A Tournament.
#19 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 43, #14 WEST CHESTER HENDERSON 26
There’s no denying the significance of a strong start.
“Every game our goal is to come out strong in the first quarter and come out strong in the third quarter after halftime,” Taylor Hinkle said.
The Titans’ junior captain certainly did her part to make sure Saturday’s road game at Henderson started on a good note, scoring six first-quarter points and adding 11 more in the second quarter in a glittering offensive display. By halftime, Hinkle had 17 points, and the Titans had a commanding 24-14 lead over their hosts on their way to the convincing win.
“I was just hungry,” Hinkle said. “My freshman year we lost the first round of playoffs against Pennsbury, and last year we didn’t make it at all. This year obviously we had the opportunity, and I was so eager and so excited to actually play, and I think that showed.
“We knew we had to keep our foot on the pedal and just keep scoring.”
Making the win even sweeter was the fact that the Titans looked as though they could be well on the outside looking in when the district tournament got underway.
“Obviously, it was so exciting because last year we came up short and we didn’t make the playoffs,” Hinkle said. “We were working hard all season. We’ve all been putting in our effort every day at practice, so it’s so exciting.
“We kept getting bumped down out of the (field of) 20, and then we were at 19 for a while. When we finally found out we were at 19 and stayed there, we were so excited.”
The win is an upset only in terms of the team’s seedings.
“I knew going in we had a chance,” Mattern said. “I also knew we were going to have to play for 32 minutes, control the boards, play smart basketball for 32 minutes, and I thought we did.
“I’m really, really proud of the effort the girls put forth today. They played some great basketball, and for 32 minutes, they played hard.”
Hinkle led all scorers with 21 points.
“When Taylor Hinkle can take over a game like that, it definitely makes life easier as far as not having to wonder where the points are going to come from,” Mattern said. “That’s not to take anything away from the others. We have a lot of players capable of scoring, but it opens it up a little bit more on the offensive end for people. I was just happy all around with the performance we had from Taylor.”
One of the game’s unsung heroes, according to Mattern, was Maddy Tantum.
“Maddy T played the best game of basketball she’s ever played and what a day for it to be,” Mattern said. “She was huge on the boards. She controlled and dominated the boards. She had a putback, she had a couple of offensive boards. Defensively, she was always in the help line. She just all around had a great game and played incredible. I don’t want that to get lost in the excitement of the game.
“So many of them did nice things, but it all starts with Taylor scoring. It allows us to be successful.”
According to Hinkle, playing a tough SOL schedule helped prepare the Titans for the postseason.
“And it definitely motivated us,” Hinkle said. “We played some of the top four teams and it’s insane. They’re great teams, but those games were close when we played them, so our energy was there.”
Almost as significant as the win was the chance to compete in the postseason.
“I’m so grateful they’re getting this opportunity,” Mattern said. “Whether it be the young ones who are getting a taste of what it’s like to play playoff basketball and are understanding what it means to have an opportunity and make the most of it versus the seniors, who haven’t had this taste since they were freshmen of what it means to win a playoff game. All of them have different experiences.
“For my junior class, it’s their first district playoff win, and I think the confidence, the excitement – hopefully, that is something they’re all going to be excited about and have a better understanding about coming into next season regardless of what happens the rest of the way.”
Central Bucks South (9-8, 4-6 SOL) will take on a familiar opponent in Wednesday’s second round when the Titans travel to third-seeded Central Bucks East. The Patriots won the two regular season meetings between the two schools.
Central Bucks South 11-13-9-10 43
West Chester Henderson 5-9-10-2 26
Central Bucks South (43) – Maddie White 0 2-2 2; Taylor Hinkle 9 2-2 21; Mackenzie Erb 2 0-0 4; Maddy Tantum 1 0-0 2; Allison Sauers 2 0-0 4; YoYo Samayoa 0 1 1-2 4; Caroline McSorley 2 2-2 6; TOTALS 17 7-8 43.
WC Henderson (26) – Jackie Shea 0 1-2 1; Grace DePrisco 1 0-0 3; Whitney Evans 2 4-4 10; Brittney Porcine 1 0-0 2; Gabrielle Nanni 1 0-0 2; Molly Manion 4 0-0 8; TOTALS 9 5-6 26.
3-point goals: CBS – Taylor Hinkle, YoYo Samayoa, WCH – Whitney Evans 2, Grace DePrisco.
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