Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Saturday. Abington/Great Valley photos courtesy of Greg Lindsay. Check back for a gallery of photos. (Ella Brown graphic courtesy of Pennridge girls’ BB). CLICK HERE to view Suburban One Sports’ GIRLS’ BASKETBALL GALLERIES.
Non-league
PENNRIDGE 40, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 29
Ella Brown stole the spotlight in Saturday’s non-league road win, surpassing the 1,000-point milestone and scoring a game-high 23 points to lead the Lady Rams.
The Rams – behind six points from Brown and four from Layla Verbit – led 12-7 after one quarter and extended their lead to 24-12 by halftime on their way to the win.
Key players: Ella Brown’s 23 points included a 7-for-7 effort at the foul line. She scored 12 in each half. Layla Verbit added nine points – seven in the first half.
Sasha Galarza led the Indians with 10 points.
Pennridge coach Jason Rapp: “It was great for the girls to come out on the road and take a 24-12 lead at the half because we knew CR North would compete for 32 minutes.
“As a coach, you never know how the team will respond after a big Friday win and then an early Saturday road game, but they answered the bell.”
–Major kudos: “To Jack Kelly, his coaching staff , the entire CR North gameday staff and the referees for being so classy, allowing Ella Brown to celebrate her 1000th point milestone.”
Council Rock North coach Jack Kelly: “On behalf of our entire program, we would like to extend our congratulations to Ella Brown and the entire Pennridge program on her 1,000th point.
“There is no doubt this accomplishment is a testament to her hard work – she has gotten better each year we have played her.”
The game: “We are proud of our players for their incredible effort today – we definitely showed some improvement we want to build on.”
Up next: Pennridge (8-4, 2-3 SOL) will travel to William Tennent for a non-league game Tuesday, and Council Rock North (3-11, 1-4) will host Cheltenham for a non-league game next Friday.
Pennridge 12-12-6-10 40
Council Rock North 7-5-5-12 29
Pennridge (40) – Ella Brown 8 7-7 23; Emily DeHaven 1 0-0 3; Samantha Murphy 0 1-2 1; Madison Lapp 2 0-0 4; Layla Verbit 2 5-6 9; TOTALS 13 13-15 40.
Council Rock North (29) – Amara Arroyo 2 0-0 5; Addie Martin 0 0-2 0; Sasha Galarza 5 0-1 10; Brynn Rodgers 2 1-4 5; Alexa Bondra 1 0-0 2; Megan Reichenbach 3 1-2 7; TOTALS 13 2-9 29.
3-point goals: P – Emily DeHaven; CRN – Amara Arroyo.
Ella Brown reaches 1,000-point milestone
Ella Brown put her name in the program record books late in Saturday’s road game at Council Rock North when the senior standout scored on a fast break layup at the end of the Indians’ press.
With that basket, Brown joined some elite company as only the fifth girls’ basketball player at Pennridge to reach the coveted 1,000-point milestone.
“It was super exciting,” Brown said. “This was always something I wanted to do, but winning always comes first.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my coaches, my teammates and my trainers.”
Brown entered the game needing 21 points to reach the milestone. She scored the historic basket on an and-one.
“She scored it on the bucket – it was her signature shot,” Pennridge coach Jason Rapp said.
“I made the shot, and the rest was everybody celebrating,” Brown said. “There was a little bit of pressure today because my whole family was there, but once I got in the game – I got my rhythm, and I focused on the game.
”I can’t thank the girls enough for allowing me to have this moment with my family.”
Brown also sank the foul shot to complete the 3-point play and finished with 23 points.
“She has worked so hard,” Rapp said. “She’s an old school basketball junkie. She just plays and plays, shoots and works on her game.
“The way she scores – you don’t see a lot of players scoring the way she does. Mid-range, in the lane, Euro steps, just great footwork, different release points – it’s really fun to watch. It’s not just kicking and shooting 3s. She can score in different ways.
“She’s a fantastic 3-point shooter, but she doesn’t settle. She didn’t make a 3 today. Everything was a two or from the free-throw line.”
Brown – a fixture in the varsity lineup for three seasons – entered her senior season needing 270 points.
“I’m not going to lie- there was a little bit of pressure, but it’s been super fun to be a part of this,” Brown said.
Rapp, who took over the helm at Pennridge two years ago, has had a front row seat to Brown’s high school career.
“The way her game has evolved – when I got her two years ago, she wasn’t on the scouting report,” Rapp said. “Katie (Yoder) was, Anna Croyle was. She got the benefit of a lot of open looks, and she made the most of it.
“Obviously, the past two seasons she’s at the top of that scouting report, and you see what teams try to do to her defensively – they face guard her, they try everything, and she has been ultra consistent. She’s been really good, really good.”
Brown – who will take her talents to Holy Family University next year – was quick to credit her teammates for their role in her success.
“I can’t thank my teammates enough for putting me in this position and being there on the journey with me,” she said. “It’s been fun.”
And listening to Rapp tell it, this was an honor the entire team celebrated.
“I told the girls in the locker room – ‘A lot of people have been around basketball a long time, and you don’t get to see this that often,’” Rapp said. “People don’t realize how difficult it is to score a thousand points.
“Ella was able to witness Katie (Yoder) do it, and now she’s done it. I told her teammates – ‘You’re a part of this. When Ella’s name goes on the banner. You’re one of her teammates, and at some point, you have something to do with this. Whether it was practice or whatever it was.’
“They genuinely care. There’s a lot of high school kids that aren’t happy when other people have success. That was not the case today on the court or in the locker room. It was really cool. It was nice to see.”
ABINGTON 62, GREAT VALLEY 36
Aniyah Williams had herself a day.
The junior sharpshooter torched the Patriots for 13 first-half points, propelling the Ghosts to a 29-15 lead over
their visitors. She added 17 more in the second half in a glittering 30-point performance that included four 3-pointers.
Throw in the dazzling double-double effort of point guard Maya Johnson (19 points, 12 assists), and the Patriots didn’t stand a chance.
Key stretch: The Ghosts owned this one from the outset.
Key players: Aniyah Williams (30 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists), Maya. Johnson (19 points, 12 assists) and Shya Crafton (4 points, 9 rebounds).
Abington coach Allison Lawson on the win: “We are playing great basketball right now. Maya and Aniyah are playing well together, and Shya is making a big impact inside on both ends of the floor. Great Valley was a good scrappy team. We moved the ball and found the open girl on offense in the zone.”
Up next: Abington (7-4, 3-1 SOL) will host Neshaminy in a non-league game Tuesday.
Great Valley 3-12-15-6 36
Abington 13-16-13-20 62
Great Valley (36) – Catie Borger 4 2-3 10; Charlie Person 0 1-2 1; Lauren Chain 1 0-0 2; Kate Weikert 6 3-6 16; Abby Diamond 1. 0-0 2; Reilly Lackman 0 5-12 5; TOTALS 12 11-23 36.
Abington (62) – Maya Johnson 9 1-1 19; Mikiaya Durham 2 1-4 6; Shy Crafton 2 0-0 4; Hailey Hernandez 1 1-4 3; Aniyah Williams 11 4-5 30; TOTALS 25 7-14 62.
3-point goals: GV – Kate Weikert; A – Aniyah Williams 4, Mikiaya Durham.
BENSALEM 50, WISSAHICKON 21
The visiting Owls led Saturday’s non-league contest wire to wire.
Key stretch: Bensalem took a 22-13 lead into halftime and blew the game wide open with a 26-5 third quarter burst that included three 3-pointers from Devon Bell and six points from Grace McShane.
Key players: The 12-point efforts of Talia DiMichele and Devon Bell led the Owls. Bell buried four 3-pointers.
Kai Potter led the Trojans with eight points and seven rebounds.
Bensalem coach Steve Johnson: “Our girls showed the ability to bounce back with a really nice win today after a tough game last night against Pennridge. Hats off to Pennridge as they 110 percent deserved and earned that win, but I think we could have given them a more respectable game. Regardless of yesterday’s outcome, our team put our best foot forward and executed today.”
–Props: “Offensively, today we were led by Devon (Bell) and Talia (DiMichele) We went into halftime with a nine-point lead. Devon’s three 3s (four total) in the third quarter help spark us offensively and gave us a ton of energy.
“Our bench has done a fabulous job of cheering us on through our ups and downs this year which I couldn’t be more proud of. Talia is a great shooter but does such a great job of moving without the ball by reading the defense and taking what they are giving her. Grace (McShane) had a nice first half but really brought the energy in the second half by having her defense create easy offense for her and our team.”
A team effort: “Our top seven did not play a single second in the fourth quarter but did a stellar job of cheering the entire team on. That’s what a team is all about. At this time of year, everyone has to grow up.”
–Looking ahead: “We have 25-plus practices and 11 games under our belts. The more we are able to learn from our mistakes and put them past us, the better off we will be. We have a ton of basketball ahead of us and I am excited to see what we show moving forward.”
Wissahickon coach Kathie Sims: “I was extremely proud of our defense in the first half, as we executed our game plan with focus and intensity. However, we struggled offensively and did not shoot as well as we had hoped, which impacted our overall performance.”
Up next: Bensalem (5-6, 2-3 SOL) will travel to New Hope-Solebury for a non-league contest Monday. Wissahickon (2-9, 0-4) will host Harry S Truman on in a non-league contest Tuesday.
Bensalem 13-9-26-2 50
Wissahickon 7-6-5-3 21
Bensalem (50) – Talia DiMichele 6 0-0 12; Kamiya Alexander 1 0-0 2; Mary Beck 2 0-0 5; Mischa Ellzy 0 2-2 2; Grace McShane 3 2-3 8; Gianna Creque 1 0-0 2; Jordyn Bell 1 1-2 4; Devon Bell 4 0-0 12; Sydney Daut 0 1-2 1; Anna Marks 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 19 6-9 50.
Wissahickon (21) – Maura Jacob 1 0-0 2; Julia Lettieri 0 1-2 1; Kristen DiGiovanni 1 0-0 2; Katelyn Thomson 2 1-2 5; Kai Potter 4 0-0 8; Ava Stout 1 0-0 3; TOTALS 9 2-4 21
3-point goals: B – Devon Bell 4, Mary Beck; Jordyn Bell; W – Ava Stout.
NORTH PENN 55, METHACTON 51
Lily Brown and Cam Crowley combined for 37 points to lead the visiting Knights to the big non-league win Saturday.
The Knights – sparked by 11 points from Brown – opened up an 18-11 lead after one quarter, but the Warriors answered with a big second quarter to go into halftime with a 27-25 advantage.
Key stretch: In the third quarter, the Knights capitalized on 12 trips to the foul line, burying all 12 and outscoring the Warriors 16-7 to go into the final quarter with a 41-34 advantage on their way to the win. Crowley led the way at the foul line, burying 7 of 7 from the charity stripe in the quarter.
Key players: Lily Brown (21 points), Cam Crowley (16 points, 9-for-9 at foul line), Meyha Godhania (10 points) & Leah Mikulski (8 points)
North Penn coach Bri Cullen on the game: “It was a really hard fought win. There were a ton of runs on both ends, but the biggest piece was finding a way to finish.
“Methacton does great job moving the ball to the open shooter. We were able to get to the foul line today and that really kept us in the game.
–Props: “Lily Brown and Cam Crowley led our scoring again. But Mehya Godhania really has been stepping up and working hard.
“Overall, it was a great team effort against a scrappy, hardworking Methacton team.”
Up next: North Penn (6-8, 4-1 SOL) will travel to Upper Moreland for a non-league game Tuesday.
North Penn 18-7-16-14 55
Methacton 11-16-7-17 51
North Penn (55) – Cam Crowley 3 9-9 16; Lily Brown 7 6-8 21; Leah Mikulski 2 4-4 8; Mehya Godhania 4 2-3 10; Tallie Smink 0 0-2 0; TOTALS 16 21-26 55.
3-point goals: NP – Lily Brown, Cam Crowley.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 61, DOCK MENNONITE 19
Ten players contributed scoring in the Bucks’ rout of Dock Mennonite in Saturday’s non-league contest. Senior Emily Ladley led the way with a 20-point effort.
Key stretch: The Bucks, who led 16-8 after one quarter, took a 30-10 lead into halftime and never looked back.
Key players: Senior Emily Ladley’s 20-point effort included six 3-pointers – five in the third quarter. Scarlett Baumgardner also finished in double figures with 10.
Central Bucks West coach Zach Sibel: “After a great Senior Night, it was right back to work versus Dock, and the girls picked up right where they left off.
“Overall, it was a great day to build off last night’s win. We need to continue this connected play as we roll into next week and turn the corner towards the home stretch of the season.”
–Props: “Emily Ladley had a career high 20 points and really got rolling from deep. Scarlett Baumgardner was all over the stat sheet with 10 points, 10-plus rebounds as well deflections and steals to add. Freshman Marleigh Mallon tallied nine points, the varsity high for her young career.”
Up next: Central Bucks West (4-10, 0-5 SOL) will travel to Springfield Twp for a non-league game Tuesday.
Dock Mennonite 8-2-7-2 19
Central Bucks West 16-14-17-14 61
Dock Mennonite (19) – Isabella Price 1 0-0 2; Mary-Ellen Picariello 1 0-0 3; Dana Delamater 0 1-2 1; Lola Mariner 3 3-4 9; Osifechirt 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 7 4-6 19.
Central Bucks West (61) – Erica Madden 0 1-3 1; Peyton Cramer 1 2-4 5; Addy Fay 0 2-2 2; Marleigh Mallon 4 1-1 9; Ava Rihl 1 0-0 3; Audra Lawson 3 1-2 7; Emily Ladley 7 0-0 20; Scarlett Baumgardner 4 0-0 10; Adelaide Stromburg 1 0-0 2; Sofie Fitzmartin 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 22 7 12 61.
3-point goals: Dock – Mary-Ellen Picariello. CBW – Peyton Cramer, Ava Rihl, Emily Ladley 6, Scarlett Baumgardner 2.
BOYERTOWN 51, HATBORO-HORSHAM 42
Maddy Patel scored 24 points in a standout offensive effort, keeping the Hatters in Saturday’s non-league contest.
Sparked by a pair of Patel 3-pointers, the Hatters – who were once again without Angelica Visceglia – played the Bears even in the first quarter, and it was an 8-8 game. The Hatters took a tenuous 18-17 lead into halftime but trailed by two heading into the final quarter when the Bears outscored their visitors 18-11.
Hatboro-Horsham assistant coach Nicole Miletto: “We came out with more energy and intensity this afternoon against a tough, good shooting Boyertown team. We were tied at the end of the first and held a slight lead at the half. The second half it looked like we ran out of steam.
“Once again, our defensive rebounding and going after loose balls hurt us. We had a lot of missed shots and didn’t capitalize on second and third offensive chances.
“Senior Maddy Patel had a great afternoon. She led all scorers with 24 and tried to do it all for us with our point guard still nursing an injury.
“Sophomore Gabby Fisher had some nice finishes down low and started looking more like herself. Freshman Olivia Grant keeps getting better, so those are some positives to work with. This has been a season of lots of injuries and some tough losses. but we get three more chances next week, and we’ll just keep working on getting better and getting everyone healthy.”
Hatboro-Horsham (3-9, 1-3 SOL) will host Bensalem Tuesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 8-10-13-11 42
Boyertown 8-9-16-18 51
Hatboro-Horsham (42) – Madison Duggan 1 0-0 2; Mia Fisher 1 0-0 2; Maddy Patel 9 1-2 24; Gabby Fisher 2 1-2 5; Cora Saxer 1 0-0 2; Madison Siegfried 0 2-3 2; Olivia Grant 2 1-2 5; TOTALS 16 5-9 42.
Boyertown (51) – Madelyn Weaver 4 1-2 12; Khian Harper 5 3-3 13; Callie Wieber 4 1-2 11; Jordyn So 3 0-0 7; TOTALS 17 10-13 51.
3-point goals: HH – Maddy Patel 5; B – Madelyn Weaver 3, Callie Wieber 2, Chloe Engler, Jordyn So
CHESTER 56, CHELTENHAM 52
POPE JOHN PAUL II 68, HARRY S TRUMAN 31
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