Souderton advanced to the second round of the District One 6A Tournament with a win over Neshaminy on Monday.
Class 6A
SOUDERTON 36, NESHAMINY 15
Points were hard to come by for both teams in Monday’s opening round game of the District One 6A tournament but especially for a short-handed Redskin squad. The game was pushed back to Monday to allow Neshaminy time to go through the proper protocols after a player tested positive for COVID 19.
“It has been a very stressful just over a week for Neshaminy,” Souderton coach Lynn Carroll said. “You want to play teams full strength, and I wish we had the opportunity to play them full strength, especially when you lose your point guard, and you don’t get many reps in without her before you have to play a game. It’s a tough position for them to be in.”
The first half was a struggle for both sides as evidenced by the 5-3 score after a first quarter that saw the two teams combine for three field goals. It looked as though the Indians had found their stride after opening the second quarter with a 6-0 run in just over two minutes to go on top 11-3. The mini run began with a drive by point guard Casey Harter and was followed by back-to-back baskets down low by Teya McConnaha – both with Harter assists.
That’s when the scoring stopped for the Indians, and the only points in the final 5:52 of the half came when Maya Lewis connected on a pair of foul shots to pull Neshaminy to within six at halftime, 11-5.
“In the first half, we struggled to finish,” Carroll said. “For the most part, our shot selection was okay. We were just rushing some stuff in the lane on offensive rebounds, hoping it would go in the basket rather than feeling like we knew it would go in.”
The Indians broke a scoring drought of close to eight minutes when Harter turned a Neshaminy miss into a fast break layup at the other end. McConnaha scored on a putback, and the Indians led 16-5 before Kacie Sienko broke a Redskin scoring drought of more than 10 minutes by burying a pair at the foul line.
Erin Bohmueller turned a drive into a three-point play and then scored on a fastbreak with a Harter assist after a Redskin turnover. The sophomore capped her personal 6-0 run when she connected on a pair at the foul line to put the Indians on top 25-7 less than a minute into the final quarter.
Bohmueller shared team scoring honors with 11 points – all in the second half.
“In the third quarter, Erin really stepped up,” Carroll said. “She struggled a little bit in the first half, and in the second half, she played with an intensity on offense that we’ve been waiting for and looking for.
“She has so much potential. She has it all – she can shoot, she can attack, she has the length, she has the athleticism, so to see her come out in the third quarter and try to make things happen, especially on the offensive end, was just great. We are so much harder to beat when she plays like that.”
McConnaha had another big day in the paint, posting a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
“This was Teya’s sixth game with double-digit rebounds,” Carroll said. “On the defensive boards, they are going to be hers. She is just set on going and getting them. She grabs them like no one under any circumstances is taking it from her.”
Harter added six points and numerous assists while also playing some lockdown defense.
“Casey played (Reese) Zemitis for 32 minutes and was great,” Carroll said of the standout Neshaminy freshman who had just two points. “You can’t defend her and stop her one-on-one for 32 minutes with her size and length – she tries to post up, and Casey’s teammates were there at the right time to help her.
“Obviously, you can focus more on Zemitis when (Taylor) Gurysh isn’t on the court, but Casey has been doing that all season to other teams.”
For the Redskins, Sienko’s nine points – which included a 7-for-9 effort at the foul line – led the team. Neshaminy managed just three field goals in the game.
Souderton (8-8, 6-4 SOL) will have one day to prepare for Wednesday’s second round game at #2 Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Souderton 5-6-12-13 36
Neshaminy 3-2-2-8 15
Souderton (36) – Jordan Zimmerman 0 1-2 1; Erin Bohmueller 3 5-5 11; Olivia Schneider 1 0-0 2; Casey Harter 3 0-0 6; Teya McConnaha 4 3-5 11; Hayley Fenchel 1 3-3 5; TOTALS 12 12-15 36.
Neshaminy (15) – Kacie Sienko 1 7-9 9; Maya Lewis 0 2-2 2; Skylar Lall 1 0-0 2;Reese Zemitis 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 3 9-11 15.
3-point goals: None
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