Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Saturday. Bensalem/Wissahickon photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f913170668
SOL Patriot/Colonial crossover
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 58, HARRY S TRUMAN 33
The visiting Bucks received contributions up and down their lineup, opening up 20-2 lead after one quarter and never looking back on their way to the crossover win.
“Gabi Senior started the game with the first nine points and did a great job setting the tone,” West coach Zach Sibel said. “Emily Ladley came off the bench hot, hitting four 3s in the game to score a team high 14 points. It was as great to see her get it going. Addy Fay did a great job on their athletic forwards and scored eight of her own, a career high for her. Scarlett Baumgardner kept her hot week going with eight points tonight.
“It was a great team effort. Our ball movement was the best it’s been all year and we got really good shots. Truman battled, making a second half run and #21 (Shylah McCleve) was a handful on the backboards.”
Senior finished with nine points, which included one 3-pointer. Eve Damsker added six points on a pair of 3s.
Truman’s McCleve led all scorers with 16 points. Yamazjiah Thomas added seven points.
“Overall, I thought it was a great team win and a nice week for us as a team,” Sibel said. “Getting girls like Ladley and Fay rolling is big for us as we hit the homestretch and prep for the future.
“Maura Duffy scored her first varsity points and did a nice job defensively for us.”
Central Bucks West (5-8, 3-5 SOL) will host Pennsbury in a crossover game Tuesday, and Harry S Truman (1-12, 0-9) will travel to Central Bucks South on Tuesday.
Central Bucks West 20-11-17-10 58
Harry S Truman 2-14-7-10 33
Central Bucks West (58) – Gabi Senior 4 0-0 9; Eve Damsker 2 0-0 6; Maura Duffy 1 0-0 2; Aniya McDaniel 2 0-0 5; Addy Fay 3 2-3 8; Emily Ladley 4 2-2 14; Gabby Reichner 1 1-2 3; Scarlett Baumgardner 3 0-0 8; Janelle Blokker 1 0-0 3; TOTALS 21 5-7 58.
Harry S Truman (33) – Brianna Philemond 2 0-0 5; Terrion Hurt 1 0-0 2; Shyylah McCleve 6 7-10 19; Yamazjiah Thomas 3 1-1 7; Niya Lynch 0 0-4 0; TOTALS 12 8-15 33.
3-point goals: CBW – Emily Ladley 4, Scarlett Baumgardner 2, Eve Damsker 2, Aniya McDaniel, Gabi Senior, Janelle Blokker; HST – Brianna Philemond.
Non-league
PENNRIDGE 71, METHACTON 54
Sparked by the standout 24-point effort of Ella Brown, the Rams rebounded from a pair of disappointing losses with a no-doubt-about-it road win.
“Our girls needed to see a positive result because it has been a while since we got a win,” Pennridge coach Jason Rapp said. “A lot of practices after some tough losses – I’m really happy for them. They have practiced really hard and have had a great attitude.”
Brown set the tone for Saturday’s game, torching the Warriors for 12 first-quarter points and leading the visiting Lady Rams to a 29-7 lead after one quarter. Layla Verbit added seven points.
It was more of the same in the second quarter. Brown scored six points and Madison Lapp added six on a pair of 3s to spearhead a 21-point quarter. Pennridge went into halftime with a 50-21 halftime lead.
“We played our best half of the year in the first half,” Rapp said. “We hit some 3s and did a really nice job defensively.”
Methacton outscored its visitors 33-21 in the second half but could not make up the ground it lost in the first half.
“A ton of credit to Methacton for cutting a big deficit into a single-digit game in the second half,” Rapp said. Their girls never quit. (Abby) Arnold is really good, and (Abby) Massato made some big buckets for them.
“I’m really proud that our girls were able to get this road win.”
Brown was one of three Rams in double figures. Verbit added 16 points, and Madison Lapp had 12. Ava Fantaskey had nine points, and Abby Huskin had six.
“We got contributions from a variety of players today,” Rapp said. “Freshman Madison Lapp did a great job with 12, and Ava Fantaskey chipped in with nine.
“Abby Huskin hit two big 3s and did a nice job defensively. Nikki Rindone was great defensively and helped control the glass.”
Methacton was led by Abby Arnold’s 23-point effort.
Pennridge (8-5, 3-5 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South for a crossover game on Tuesday.
Pennridge 29-21-7-14 71
Methacton 7-14-19-14 54
Pennridge (71) – Ella Brown 9 5-7 24; Julia Reavy 1 0-0 2; Ava Fantaskey 3 2-3 9; Madison Lapp 4 2-7 12; Abby Huskin 2 0-0 6; Nikki Rindone 0 2-4 2; Layla Verbit 4 7-13 16; TOTALS 23 18-34 71.
Methacton (54) – Avery Kenney 2 0-0 4; Lila Cingiser 1 0-0 2; Abby Masotta 4 0-2 10; Abby Arnold 7 8-10 23; Jenna Kaufman 4 0-2 8; Olivia Organtini 2 0-0 5 Sydney Hockenbrock 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 21 8-14 54.
3-point field goals: Pennridge – Abby Huskin 2, M Lapp 2, Layla Verbit, Ella Brown, Ava Fantaskey;
Methacton – Abby Masotta 2, Olivia Organtini, Abby Arnold.
BENSALEM 59, WISSAHICKON 34
Devon Bell had herself a day, burying five 3-pointers and scoring a game-high 17 points to lead the Trojans to the non-league win.
“I’m really proud of the way our team played today,” Bensalem coach Steve Johnson said. “We have been clicking on all cylinders. Hopefully, this can continue moving forward.
“Devon Bell had a career day for herself and shot the ball extremely well today.”
In a preview of things to come, Bell connected on a pair of 3s and scored eight points, propelling the Owls to a 17-7 lead after one quarter.
By halftime, the Owls led 31-16 on their way to the big win.
In addition to Bell, Amber Howard had 14 points – seven in a 16-point fourth quarter. Grace McShane and Talia DiMichele both had eight points.
“It was nice to get everyone in the game,” Johnson said. “Our younger girls on our bench do a fantastic job of keeping our energy up and come to practice each and every day. They make our team better.”
For the Trojans, Julia Lettieri had 10 points, five rebounds and three steals, and Maura Jacob had eight points and five steals. Ashley Klein added six points and eight rebounds.
Bensalem (8-4, 5-3 SOL) will travel to North Penn for a crossover game on Tuesday, and Wissahickon (2-11, 1-7 SOL) will be on the road at Lower Moreland Tuesday.
Wissahickon 7-9-13-5 34
Bensalem 17-14-16-12 59
Wissahickon (34) – Maura Jacob 4 0-0 8; Julia Lettieri 3 4-6 10; Lydia Schultz 1 0-0 2; Casey Burden 1 0-0 2; Kai Potter 1 1-2 3; Ava Stout 1 0-0 3; Ashley Klein 3 0-1 6; TOTALS 14 5-9 34.
Bensalem (59) – Grace McShane 2 3-4 8; Talia DiMichele 3 0-2 8; Mary Beck 1 0-0 3; Mikayla Donahue 1 0-0 2; Devon Bell 6 0-2 17; Amber Howard 5 4-6 14; Sydney Daut 1 1-4 3; Ariana Jenkins 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 21 8-18 59.
3-point goals: Wissahickon – Ava Stout; Bensalem – Devon Bell 5, Talia DiMichele 2, Grace McShane, Mikayla Beck.
ABINGTON 64, GEORGE SCHOOL 49
Jordyn Reynolds erupted for 12 first-half points, propelling the visiting Ghosts to a 30-21 halftime lead on their way to the impressive non-league win.
“I am very proud of the girls and the way we played today,” Abington coach Allison Lawson said. “George School has a 6-5 girl (Gianna Johnson), and Sarah (Oleary) did a great job defending her.
“Our guards did a great job on defense, making it hard for their guards to get the ball up the floor, which turned into steals and a lot of fast break points.”
Reynolds scored 18 points – including a pair of 3s – to lead the Ghosts.
“Jordyn Reynolds stepped up in a big way offensively and defensively,” Lawson said.
The Ghosts added to their lead with a 16-11 third quarter. Mikiaya Durham was the catalyst with eight points and a pair of 3s.
Durham also finished in double figures with 13. Piper McGinley and Oleary both added eight points, and Maya Johnson had seven.
Saturday’s win was the seventh in a row for the Ghosts, who notched their 10th win of the season. The key, according to Lawson, is working together.
“They know their roles, and they are starting to thrive in them,” Lawson said. “We have been moving the ball extremely well, and (point guard) Maya Johnson does a great job creating open opportunities for every player on the court.
“We are so unselfish. The girls don’t care who scores, and if one player is on during that particular game, then we try and get that person the ball. This makes it hard to defend us because any one of them can be high scorer each night. It also helps that the girls are each other’s biggest cheerleaders.”
Abington (10-2, 7-1 SOL) will travel to Springfield Twp on Tuesday.
Abington 20-10-16-18 64
George School 6-15-11-17 49
Abington (64) – Maya Johnson 3 1-1 7; Harper McGinley 2 0-0 4; Kyla Day 1 0-0 2; Mikiaya Durham 4 2-2 13; Jordyn Reynolds 4 4-5 13; Piper McGinley 4 0-0 8; Sarah Oleary 4 4-6 8; Zyn McClain 0 0-2 0; Kaylia Rice 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 24 11-16 64.
George School (49) – Zamiya Lowe 1 0-0 2; Sophia Martinez 2 1-2 5; Sylvie Harrington 1 3-4 6; Angie Dawson 1 0-0 2; Gianna Johnson 11 1-1 23; Maya Ravindranathan 5 0-0 11; TOTALS 21 5-7 49.
3-point field goals: Abington – Mikiaya Durham 3, Jordyn Reynolds 2; George School – Sylvie Harrington, Maya Ravindranathan.
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 52, AVON GROVE 33
Skyler Wright was on fire from beyond the arc, connecting on five 3-pointers and scoring a game-high 15 points.
We are thrilled for Skyler Wright – she works really hard day in and day out,” Rock North coach Jack Kelly said. “She shot the ball with confidence, and she hit some really big shots for us.”
The Indians rebounded from a slow start to take control of the game, turning a 7-3 deficit after one quarter into a 19-16 halftime lead. They went on to outscore the visiting Red Devils 33-17 in the second half on their way to the non-league win.
“I thought we really demonstrated great resilience today,” Kelly said. “We knew going in Avon Grove’s size, length, and overall style presented a tremendous challenge.
“I think in the first quarter we were in too much of a hurry, particularly in the halfcourt offensively. Starting in the second quarter, we did a better job of playing in transition, and we did a great job of hitting the offensive glass. Credit to Avon Grove, they did a good job of mixing and matching defenses, and we struggled to get comfortable in the first half.”
In a 17-8 third quarter, Amara Arroyo led the way with seven points, and in the fourth quarter, Wright scored eight as the Indians closed out the game strong.
“In the second half, we really did a much better job of getting reversals, involving the posts, and playing inside out,” Kelly said. “Our ball movement was much better, and we shot the ball with confidence. Ruth O’Keeffe and Julia Koval did a great job of creating some second chance opportunities for us.”
In addition to Wright, Arroyo had 10 points, Delaney McCaffery scored eight and Ruth O’Keeffe had seven.
“I thought Delaney McCaffery did a great job of pushing the tempo and finding people in the open floor in transition, particularly Amara Arroyo who also was a catalyst for us in the third quarter,” Kelly said. “Overall, we are pleased with how our team is progressing. All of our players are finding ways to make key contributions, but the key now is not to fall into a trap of complacency. We have to keep working to get better day by day.”
Council Rock North (6-7, 2-6 SOL) will host Souderton on Tuesday in a crossover game.
Avon Grove 7-9-8-9 33
Council Rock North 3-16-17-16 52
Avon Grove (33) – Naiya Murphy 4 1-1 9; Brooke Huver 0 1-2 1; Anna Heisler 1 2-3 4 Noelle Robinson 1 3-4 5; Addison Stenz 3 4-5 10; Nora Okonowicz 1 2-2 4; TOTALS 10 13-17 33.
Council Rock North (52) – Skyler Wright 6 0-0 17; Julia Koval 0 1-2 1; Amelia Furman 0 2-2 2; Amara Arroyo 3 3-3 10; Delaney McCaffery 3 0-0 8; Megan Reichenback 2 0-0 5; Ruth O’Keeffe 3 1-2 7; Frannie Boyle 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 18 7-9 52.
3-point goals: CRN – Skyler Wright 5,Delaney McCaffery 2, Amara Arroyo, Megan Reichenbach.
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