Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Friday.
SOL Continental
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 66, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 45
“Maddie Burke for 3”
In literally no time at all, the public address announcer began to sound repetitive in the first half of Friday’s battle between neighboring rivals CB West and CB East. After missing her first shot of the game, Burke hit nothing but net on seven of her next eight shots – all from beyond the arc. By halftime, the Penn State-bound senior had 24 points in a jaw-dropping offensive display that included a dazzling 7-for-9 effort from deep and a perfect 3-for-3 showing at the foul line.
Coming as no surprise, her West squad was in command and took a 40-21 lead into the halftime locker room.
“She’s an incredible player, and she’s bought into what we want to do,” West coach Zach Sibel said. “We talk about team basketball, and she gets everybody involved.
“It’s fun to watch. She had eight 3s herself, but she got everybody else going too. Her confidence level brings everybody else’s confidence level up. I said it before – the high tide rises all boats. When she’s got it going, the other girls get it going too. She’s a once-in-a-lifetime player, and I couldn’t be more thankful to be here with her.”
Burke finished with 27 points, which included an 8-for-11 effort from long range, but it’s safe to say her favorite moment might well have been when – after drawing a crowd – she found Olivia Irons, who buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer ending the third quarter that put West on top 54-34.
When it was over, Burke was far more interested in talking about her team’s defensive effort than her own offensive performance.
“Our defense leads to our offense,” she said. “When we get turnovers, we get layups, we get open shots, we get good looks from it. That’s when we get on a roll.
“We played our style tonight. I think it starts on defense as a team – communicating, talking, just the energy. We get turnovers and it leads to more things.”
With Burke leading the charge, points came easily for the Bucks. The senior standout opened the game with a personal 12-0 run that included four threes in just over three minutes, spotting the Bucks a 12-6 lead. Jess Broskey broke Burke’s personal run with a three that was followed by Lilly Evans, after pulling down an offensive rebound, finding Paige Gilbert for a bucket in close. Burke capped the first quarter by burying 3-of-3 at the foul line, and the Bucks led 20-12.
“It’s the rivalry game – coming to East, knowing the last time we beat them and we knew they were going to come out hard,” Burke said. “We just had a good energy going into it.”
Burke buried back-to-back threes to open the second quarter, putting West on top 26-14. The Patriots pulled to within nine after Emily Chmiel buried a pair at the foul line, but Irons answered with a three.
“The atmosphere is insane – everybody is stepping up to do their part,” Irons said. “Maddie obviously had an amazing game, but everyone made sure she was the one that got open and she had those shots.
“Everyone knew this was the biggest game of the year. We knew we all had to step up and fill our roles, and everyone did. Basically, it’s all coming together, and playing as one, executing and doing the little things.”
An Emily Spratt three gave the Bucks a 32-17 lead. Late in the half, Gilbert saved a long defensive rebound from going out of bounds, heaving it to a teammate in a hustle play that defined the play of the Bucks in the opening half.
“We talk about all rowing in the right direction and everyone playing their role and doing their part, and Paige just brings energy non-stop,” Sibel said. “Her ability to get on the backboard and have seven rebounds tonight over bigger girls – that’s never going to matter. Her heart’s so big, and she just keeps getting after it.
“That energy and that effort is contagious, and everybody else steps it up when she does.”
By halftime, the Bucks had a 19-point lead, and they weren’t about to relinquish it.
“We’re a really tough defensive team, and we’re really good offensively as well, but it starts on the defensive end,” Sibel said. “Our pressure on the ball as well – everyone was active and made every pass tough. This is a really athletic team. We want to make everybody work. They buy into the scouting report, they buy into playing together, and they’re so smart. It helps in games like this when you need defensive stops.”
Defense was a recurring theme for the Bucks after the game.
“The past couple of practices we’ve been working a lot on communication, and I think during this game, we really communicated,” Irons said. “We played the scout and we just really came together.”
The Bucks held Chmiel, who averages close to 20 points a game, to nine points and just three field goals.
“Give a lot of credit to Jess (Broskey) and Lilly (Evans) to really front that person and make it tough for them to get the ball in,” Sibel said.
“I give all the credit in the world to Emily (Chmiel),” Broskey said. “She’s a great player, and we knew going into this if we wanted to win this game it starts on defense, so we wanted to shut her down.
“A big emphasis in our practices is defense. We’re always communicating. I think that’s where the biggest jump came with the communication. If I can front her, then I know I have somebody behind my back, and that’s how the entire game went – teammates have teammate’s backs.”
For the Patriots, Mia Salvati led the way with 15 points, which included a 6-for-9 effort at the foul line. Gabby Wilga added 11 – eight in the first half. Aubrey DeAngelis contributed eight.
In addition to scoring 27 points, Burke also had seven rebounds, six assists, three steals (all in the first quarter), and one block. Spratt had nine points, including 6-of-8 at the foul line. Broskey added eight points, and Gilbert had seven points and seven rebounds. Irons chipped in six points. Six different players contributed 3s on a night that saw the Bucks connect on 15-of-23 from long range.
The Bucks – undefeated in conference play – now hold a two-game lead over the second place Patriots in the conference standings with five games remaining.
“We made our goals at the beginning of the season before game one, and every single game we go back to them,” Broskey said. “We always look at our team goals, and we just play it game by game, one game at a time.”
“Their goals and expectations are the same as my goals and expectations,” Sibel said. “We want to go all the way. They deserve it, they work so hard, play so hard and play so together. I want everything for them.”
Central Bucks West (11-3, 7-0 SOL) will travel to Souderton on Tuesday, and Central Bucks East (10-4, 5-2) will host Central Bucks South Tuesday.
Central Bucks West 20-20-14-12 66
Central Bucks East 13-8-13-11 45
Central Bucks West (66) – Paige Gilbert 33 0-2 7; Olivia Irons 2 0-0 6; Anna Blue 1 0-0 3; Emily Spratt 1 6-8 9; Jess Broskey 3 0-0 8; Maddie Burke 8 3-3 27; Maddy McGarry 0 2-2 2; Lilly Evans 2 0-0 4; Totals 20 11-15 66.
Central Bucks East (45) – Gabby Wilga 4 3-4 11; Mia Salvati 4 6-9 15; Elise Duffy 1 0-0 2; Emily Chmiel 3 3-4 9; Aubrey DeAngelis 2 3-3 8; Totals 14 15-20 45.
3-point goals: CBW – Maddie Burke 8, Jess Broskey 2, Olivia Irons 2, Paige Gilbert, Anna Blue, Emily Spratt, CBE – Mia Savati, Aubrey DeAngelis.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 35, QUAKERTOWN 31
The Titans had an 18-14 lead at halftime and took control of the game with an 11-5 third quarter. Sophomore Taylor Hinkle’s eight third-quarter points ignited the Titans.
Hinkle led all scorers with 12 points, and Caroline McSorley added eight.
For the visiting Panthers, Carolyn Sipprell led the way with eight points, and Katie Catalano added seven – including two 3s. Kayla Horning chipped in with six points.
Central Bucks South (5-9, 2-5 SOL) will be on the road at Central Bucks East on Tuesday, and Quakertown (3-10, 0-7) will host Pennridge on Tuesday.
Quakertown 3-11-5-12 31
Central Bucks South 6-12-11-6 35
Quakertown (31) – Carolyn Sipprell 3 2-4 8; Abigail Dickson 2 1-3 5; Katie Catalano 2 1-2 7; Alexis Micucci 0 1-2 1; Kayla Horning 2 2-2 6; Katie Offner 2 0-0 4; Totals 11, 7-13 31.
Central Bucks South (35) – Maddie White 0 3-5 3; Mary Kate McShane 1 0-0 2; Taylor Hinkle 5 1-3 12; Alyssa D’Orazio 1 1-2 3; Kirsten Schaller 1 2-2 5; Samantha Schiesser 0 2-2 2; Caroline McSorley 2 3-6 8; Totals 10 12-20 35.
3-point goals: Quakertown – Katie Catalano 2, CBS – Taylor Hinkle, Kirsten Schaller, Caroline McSorley.
SOL American
ABINGTON 74, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 40
A pair of freshmen stole the spotlight in the Ghosts’ win Friday. Cire Worley led all scorers with 24 points, which included a pair of 3s as well as a 6-for-6 effort at the foul line. Jaida Helm added 16 points and was a dominant force under the backboards, completing her double-double with 16 rebounds.
Worley jump-started the Ghosts with 11 first-quarter points, propelling Abington to a 16-8 lead. By halftime, Worley had 16 points, and the Ghosts led 33-19. Helm had the hot hand in a 20-point third quarter, scoring 10 points.
Also for the Ghosts, a third freshman, Abril Bowser, scored 11 points, which included three 3-pointers. Sophomore point guard Khalis Whiting added nine points.
For the Spartans, Rileigh Serroni had a big game, scoring 18 points, which included two 3-pointers and a 10-for-13 effort at the foul line. Emily Smith added 12 points.
The two teams combined for 52 foul shots. They converted 35 of those.
Abington (8-7, 6-2 SOL) will travel to Upper Moreland on Tuesday, and Springfield Township (1-11, 0-8) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh Tuesday.
Springfield Township 8-11-9-12 40
Abington 16-17-20-21 74
Springfield Township (40) – Annie Coll 1 0-0 2; Rileigh Serroni 3 10-13 18; Maddie Yoder 0 1-3 1; Emily Smith 4 4-6 12; Emily Guicheteau 1 0-2 2; 1 0-0 3; Ashley Jenkins 1 0-0 2; Totals 11 15-24 40.
Abington (74) – Cire Worley 8 6-6 24; Krysten Brown 0 1-3 1; Abril Bowser 3 2-2 11; Allison Holden 0 3-4 3; Isabella Kronfeld 1 1-2 4; Jaida Helm 6 4-7 16; Maura Day 1 0-0 3; Amanda Jackson 1 0-0 3; Khalis Whiting 3 3-4 9; Totals 23 20-28 74.
3-point goals: Springfield Township – Rileigh Serroni 2, Emma Cawley, Abington – Abril Bowser 3, Cire Worley 2, Isabella Kronfeld, Maura Day, Amanda Jackson.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 67, WISSAHICKON 23
The Colonials took care of business in a hurry, opening up a 26-5 lead over the visiting Trojans after one quarter and stretching that to 38-9 by halftime on their way to the win.
Point guard Kaitlyn Flanagan led a balanced PW attack with 17 points, and Anna McTamney added 14. Jordyn Thomas also finished in double figures with 10, Gabby Cooper had nine and Erin Daley finished with seven points.
Leah Dubin’s six points led the Trojans.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (15-0, 8-0 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township on Tuesday, and Wissahickon (5-8, 2-6) is scheduled to host West Chester East in a non-league game Saturday at 10 a.m.
Wissahickon 5-4-9-5 23
Plymouth Whitemarsh 26-12-19-10 67
Wissahickon (23) – Anna Schools 2 1-4 5; Leah Dubin 3 0-0 6; Kylie Friedman 1 0-0 2; Lauren Fadel 3 1-4 7; Rebecca Selverian 1 0-0 2; Kaitlyn McGeary 0 1-2 1; Totals 10 3-10 23.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (67) – Kaitlyn Flanagan 7 2-4 17; Fiona Gooneratne 1 0-0 2; Leah Kaye 0 1-2 1; Erin Daley 2 2-2 7; Gabby Cooper 3 2-6 9; Haley Felgoise 1 1-2 3; Anna McTamney 6 1-2 14; Lainey Allen 1 0-3 2; Jordyn Thomas 4 2-3 10; Deja Evans 1 0-0 2; Totals 26 11-24 67.
3-point goals: PW – Kaitlyn Flanagan, Erin Daley, Gabby Cooper, Anna McTamney
Non-league
NEW FOUNDATIONS CHARTER 36, WILLIAM TENNENT 32
The Panthers fell behind early, scoring just 10 points in the opening half. They spent the rest of the game playing catch-up.
“It was an extremely disappointing effort tonight,” Tennent coach Laura Whitney said. “We came out flat, with no intensity, and just weren’t ready to play. Part of it has to do with the fact that we have girls out with injuries, and other girls playing sick. It’s still not an excuse and we have to be better than that.”
The Panthers trailed 16-10 at halftime. Erin Hart – who led all scorers with 19 points – accounted for all of Tennent’s points in the half. In the second half, the Panthers outscored their visitors 22-20 but never could make up the ground they lost.
“We finally got something going and made a nice run the middle of the third quarter,” Whitney said. “We managed to cut the game to one, then let them answer with their own run to go back up five.
“It seemed like every time we made a push they came back down and made a big play. They also hit some big free throws late. Unfortunately, our last three possessions we ended up turning the ball over and never got any good looks.”
William Tennent (4-9, 1-5 SOL) will host Bensalem on Tuesday.
New Foundations Charter 9-7-11-9 36
William Tennent 4-6-9-13 32
New Foundations Charter (36) – Valez 4 0-1 9; Dashel 1 0-0 2; Cahill 1 2-4 4; Gilchrist 2 4-4 8; Grumm 2 0-0 4; Knight 2 0-0 5; Morns 1 0-3 2; Jones 1 0-0 2; Totals 14 6-13 36.
William Tennent (32) – Direidy Serrano 0 0-4 0; Hannah Reimel 1 2-2 4; Chase Dubzak 0 2-4 2; Courtney Bragen 2 1-4 5; Erin hart 7 5-9 19; Kailyn Hansen 1 0-1 2; Totals 11 10-24 32.
3-point goals: New Foundations – Valez, Morns.
Wednesday, Jan. 15
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 63, PHIL-MONT CHRISTIAN 12
The Spartans raced out of the gate to a 21-2 lead after one quarter and took a 40-6 advantage into halftime, rolling to their first win of the season.
“Our girls have not given up on what we’re trying to do as a team even though we’ve had some rough patches in our first 12 games,” coach David Giordano said. “They have been sticking with it, staying positive and working as a team.
“Finally we had everything line up, and I couldn’t be happier for them.”
Rileigh Serroni singlehandedly outscored Phil-Mont. She finished with 22 points – all in the first half. Annie Coll added eight points while Raya Davis and Maddie Yoder both had eight. Emily Smith and Falon George each had six points.
“It was a complete team effort,” Giordano. “They played relaxed, they executed the offense, they played really good defense, and they earned it.”
Springfield Twp 21-19-16-7 63
Phil-Mont 2-4-4-2 12
Springfield Twp (63) – Annie Coll 8, Raya Davis 7, Rileigh Serroni 22, Maddie Yoder 7, Emily Smith 6, Meghan O’Hara 3, Emily Guicheteau 3, Emma Cawley 1, Falon George 6.
Phil-Mont (12) – Delogo 2, Shaw 2, Chi 4, Suggs 4.
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