Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Saturday. PW/Scranton Prep photos courtesy of Larry Small. Neshaminy/LC photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for galleries of both games. All SOS photo galleries for girls’ basketball can be viewed by clicking HERE.
Non-league
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 57, SCRANTON PREP 42
Jordyn Thomas scored 10 points in the first quarter and 14 in the first half, propelling the Colonials to a 32-15 halftime lead on their way to the impressive non-league win.
A pair of 3-pointers were included in Thomas’ first quarter tear, and she had three in the first half on the way to a game-high 18 points.
“Jordyn scored inside and outside,” PW coach Dan Dougherty said. “She had two 3s, putbacks, power dribble post moves. She came out really fired up today, and 10 points out of her in the first quarter really set the tone of – all five kids on the team can score.
“That was really big, and in the second quarter, our press was wearing them out a little bit. Scranton Prep is similar to Archbishop Carroll and O’Hara. They run a fantastic man offense – five kids constantly moving, cutting screening, back screening. In the second quarter, our length really altered their shots.”
On the other side of the ball, the Colonials’ defense stymied the Cavaliers’ offense.
“They’re not a one-person team, but they have a really special shooter on their team, and (Kaitlyn) Flanagan was guarding her and chasing her all over the court,” Dougherty said of senior Maria Balardi. “I thought that disrupted their offense.
“At halftime, they made adjustments, and they started having their post players – instead of screen and rolls, screen and pop, and they started making 3s, which we weren’t ready for, so we had to adjust.”
Balardi did not score in the first half and finished with six points, which included a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter in transition.
The Colonials scored just six points in the third quarter and took a 38-27 lead into the fourth quarter.
“In the fourth quarter, they cut it to eight twice, and Fiona Gooneratne hits a three from maybe six feet behind the line,” Dougherty said. “We talked about it after the game – that was one of those shots – ‘Oh my god, what are you doing?’ Then it goes in and it’s ‘Oh god, what a great shot.’ It was right in front of our bench.
“The bench goes crazy. She’s shooting it from almost the PW logo on the floor. She was in rhythm, but it was so deep. Then it went back up to 11. We turned them over on the next possession, and now the game is under five minutes. Lainey Allen hits two free throws to put us up 15, and then it was kind of over.”
In addition to Thomas, Abby Sharpe had 15 points, which included a perfect 6-for-6 effort at the foul line. Lainey Allen had an impressive double-double, finishing with 11 points and 16 rebounds. Erin Daley added eight points and eight rebounds.
“All game Abby Sharpe was special,” Dougherty said. “She scored 15 points today without shooting a three. She showed her all-around game.
“Lainey Allen had 11 points and 16 rebounds. The starting five was special and having Fiona Gooneratne coming off the bench and hitting that three was a big lift because it was getting tight. They play aggressive man defense and halfcourt trap. Their physicality was starting to cause some problems, and balls were bouncing off our feet out of bounds. We were getting a little tight.
“It was great competition. Scranton Prep is a perennial 4A powerhouse in District 2. It was a game we tried to put together last year but just couldn’t put it in with the shortened schedule, but it’s a really great program and a great test for us because we have not been tested very often. It was a fun afternoon game and a lot for us to learn from it too. Our heads were spinning a few times defensively out there today.”
Last year Scranton Prep advanced to the PIAA 4A semifinals where they fell to eventual state champion Archbishop Wood 56-39.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (11-0, 7-0 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Monday.
Scranton Prep 13-2-12-15 42
Plymouth Whitemarsh 18-14-6-19 57
Scranton Prep (42) – Rita Collins 6 0-0 12; Lizzie Neville 2 2-3 7; Avery McNulty 5 0-2 12; Maria Balardi 2 1-2 6; Gianna Carfurell 2 0-0 5; TOTALS 17 3-7 42.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (57) – Kaitlyn Flanagan 1 0-0 2; Fiona Gooneratne 1 0-0 3; Erin Daley 3 1-2 8; Abby Sharpe 5 5-5 15; Lainey Allen 4 3-4 11; Jordyn Thomas 6 4-5 18; TOTALS 20 13-17 57.
3-point goals: Scranton Prep – Avery McNulty 2, Maria Balardi, Gianna Carfurell, Lizzie Neville; PW – Jordyn Thomas 2, Erin Daley, Fiona Gooneratne.
ABINGTON 71, GOVERNOR MIFFLIN 67
Less than 24 hours after putting up 89 points in a win over New Hope-Solebury, the Ghosts scored 71 in a non-league road win. This despite falling behind 29-16 after one quarter.
“We came in flat, and I think it was the quick turnover,” Abington coach Dan Marsh said. “They had a good first quarter. We were able to calm down and regain the lead in the second quarter, but then it was just a battle the whole way through.
“I think we got up 10 at one point, but they battled back. They had a nice crowd. Last year, we would have qualified for states but weren’t able to play in it because they shortened it because of COVID.
“This is a state playoff type game. Governor Mifflin usually makes the state playoffs, and to go there and play under a different kind of refs and different kind of rules – it was a good experience for us. We really had to fight, we really had to battle. We weren’t perfect. We made some mistakes defensively and offensively. Our youth showed at times, but we were able to persevere and get through it. The quick turnover and playing in District 3 where it’s a little more physical – it was a very challenging atmosphere, but we persevered”
Abril Bowser had 20 points with four 3s in Friday’s win, and she did even better than that on Saturday, scoring a game high 22 and burying six 3-pointers. Three of those came in the second quarter when the Ghosts outscored the Mustangs 23-10 to go into halftime deadlocked 39-39.
“Abril kept us in the game,” Marsh said. “They played us in a zone like we’re going to see a lot this year, and Abril was getting open in our zone offense and hitting some 3s.”
Jaida Helm also had a huge first half, scoring eight in the pivotal second quarter. Her seven first-quarter points helped keep the Ghosts afloat.
The Ghosts continued their offensive onslaught in the third quarter, outscoring the Mustangs 21-18. Bowser had eight points, including a pair of 3s, and freshman Dani Brusha added six points on a pair of 3-pointers.
The Mustangs kept it close to the end, but the Ghosts had too much firepower. Once again, they were led by the dangerous trio of Bowser, Cire Worley and Helm. One night after combining for 70 points (led by Worley’s 30), they combined for 61 with Bowser’s 22 the high. Helm added 21 points – 15 in the first half, and she also had a huge game on the backboards, pulling down 13 rebounds to complete her impressive double-double. Worley finished with 18 points, and Maya Johnson had 10 assists.
“We shot nine free throws and that’s including the end of the game where they’re putting us on the free throw line, and they shot 25,” Marsh said. “It was challenging but it was a good challenge and well worth it to come up here for this.”
Abington (11-1, 7-0 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township on Tuesday.
Abington 16-23-21-11 71
Governor Mifflin 29-10-18-10 67
Abington (71) – Cire Worley 8 0-1 18; Abril Bowser 8 0-0 22; Jaida Helm 9 2-2 21; Maya Johnson 0 0-3 0; Dani Brusha 2 2-3 8; Krysten Brown 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 28 4-9 71.
Governor Mifflin (67) – Elise Fior 8 2-3 19; Shakyla Mayo 5 3-4 13; Shyanna Mayo 1 1-7 3; Taylor Koenig 6 0-0 15; Anyah Ortiz 6 5-11 17; TOTALS 26 11-25 67.
3-point goals: Abington – Abril Bowser 6, Cire Worley 2, Dani Brusha 2, Jaida Helm; GM – Taylor Koenig 3, Elise Fiore.
LANSDALE CATHOLIC 52, NESHAMINY 35
The game started out on a promising enough note for the Redskins, who led 21-16 at halftime. The second half was another story entirely as the Crusaders took the lead with a 16-9 third quarter and then blew the game wide open with a 20-point third quarter.
“They picked up their defense in the second half, and that led to some fast breaks,” Neshaminy coach John Gallagher said.
Gabby Casey was a one-woman wrecking crew for the Crusaders, scoring 20 of her game high 30 points after the intermission.
“We gave up zero offensive rebounds in the first half and eight in the second half,” Gallagher said. “The offensive rebounds were due to us running a second person at Casey.”
Leading the Redskins was Reese Zemitis with 12 points – nine of those came in the first half. She also had a team high eight rebounds to go along with three assists, two steals and five blocks. Taylor Gurysh and Lola Ibarrondo both added 10 points. Gurysh was credited with four rebounds, and Maya Lewis had five rebounds.
“I was happy to be able to schedule a game against a strong team like Lansdale Catholic for our non-league schedule,” Gallagher said. “I am hopeful we can learn from this as players and coaches.”
Neshaminy (8-2, 6-1 SOL) will host Souderton on Tuesday.
Lansdale Catholic 8-8-16-20 52
Neshaminy 11-10-9-5 35
Lansdale Catholic (52) – Olivia Boccella 1 0-0 2; Gabby Casey 13 3-4 30; Lauren Edwards 3 0-0 6; Erin Clark 1 0-0 2; Ali Johns 1 0-0 2; Sanyiah Littlejohn 1 2-3 4; Sam McHugh 1 0-0 2; Nadiea Yemola 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 23 5-7 52.
Neshaminy (35) – Taylor Gurysh 3 2-2 10; Maya Lewis 1 0-0 3; Lola Ibarrondo 3 3-4 10; Reese Zemitis 5 0-0 12; TOTALS 12 5-6 35
3-point goals: LC – Gabby Casey; Neshaminy – Taylor Gurysh 2, Reese Zemitis 2, Lola Ibarrondo, Maya Lewis.
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