Check out the results for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Saturday.
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 67, PENNRIDGE 29
The Patriots’ offense was operating at full throttle in Saturday’s game at Pennridge. Three players – Bridget Birkhead (16 points), Sophia Mancuso (14 points) and Bri Talbot (14 points) – finished the game in double figures. Birkhead and Mancuso each had four three-pointers.
The Patriots raced out of the gate to a 25-7 lead after one quarter and took a commanding 41-10 lead into halftime. They outscored their hosts 26-19 in the second half, controlling play from wire to wire.
Talbot filled up a stat sheet for the Patriots. In addition to her 14 points, she had five rebounds, six steals, three blocked shots and seven assists. Grace Stewart added eight points.
For the Rams, Emilee Cramer led the way with nine points.
Central Bucks East (9-6, 4-4 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Tuesday at 5 p.m. Pennridge (5-12, 1-7) will be on the road at Souderton on Tuesday.
Central Bucks East 25-16-14-12 67
Pennridge 7-3-12-7 29
Central Bucks East (67) – Sophia Mancuso 14, Bridget Birkhead 16, Gina Russo 4, Megan Browne 2, Bailey McManus 5, Bri Talbot 14, Abby Charlton 4, Grace Stewart 8.
Pennridge (29) – Sam Muredda 2, Madison Pennie 2, Brooke Bachtle 3, Gillian Anderson 2, Olivia Pennie 4, Madison Stolarski 3, Rose McCormick 2, Claire Podraza 2, Emilee Cramer 9.
Non-league
NORTH PENN 45, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 40
With 7.3 seconds remaining in regulation, Jess Huber buried a three-pointer out of an injury timeout, breaking a 40-40 tie and propelling the Knights to the dramatic win at the Kobe Bryant Boosters Classic at Lower Merion High School.
“They played really well,” North Penn coach Maggie deMarteleire said of Rock North. “They played very aggressive defense, and they played very, very good defense. They got physical with my kids, and my kids didn’t handle it the best they could have.”
The Indians, who led 22-18 at halftime, managed just two points in the third quarter, connecting on just 1-of-11 shots and misfiring on all four free throw attempts.
“We tried to defend (Becca) Margolis a little bit more because we were kind of letting her control their offensive side of the court, and she’s very talented,” deMarteleire said of her team’s defensive strategy in the second half. “We tried to put a little bit more pressure on her, and offensively, Irisa (Ye) posted up her player, and that was kind of the difference.”
The Knights took a 31-24 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Indians used an 8-0 run late in the quarter to knot the score 40-40.
The Knights effectively ran time off the clock but didn’t manage a shot until after an injury timeout called by the officials for a North Penn player. Huber scored the go-ahead basket out of the timeout, and the Knights held on for the win.
Megan Haggerty and Dana Bandurick fueled the Indians’ fourth quarter comeback with Haggerty burying three three-pointers and Bandurick accounting for the other seven points. Bri Hewlett was key for the Knights in the final frame, sinking 7-of-8 from the foul line.
Hewlett led the Knights with 15 points while Ye added 13. Huber, named team MVP, scored 12, including the game winner.
Haggerty – the Indians’ MVP – led the way offensively for North with 14 points, which included four three-pointers. Bandurick added 13, and Margolis six.
North Penn (13-2, 6-2 SOL) will be on the road at Archbishop Carroll for a non-league game on Tuesday. Council Rock North (11-5, 8-0) will travel to Abington for a key conference battle Tuesday.
North Penn 14-4-13-14 45
Council Rock North 12-10-2-16 40
North Penn (45) – Irisa Ye 13, Jess Huber 12, Sam Carangi 5, Bri Hewlett 15.
Council Rock North (40) – Becca Margolis 6, Megan Haggerty 14, Emily Mackin 5, Dana Bandurick 13, Mackenzie Tinner 2.
ABINGTON 64, PERKIOMEN VALLEY 39
Dan Marsh admits if someone had told him that Lizzie O’Leary – who battled foul woes – would score two points and his team would score 64 points, he might have had a hard time buying into that theory, but that’s exactly what happened in Saturday’s game at Boyertown as part of the Athletes for Better Education Showcase.
Picking up some of the offensive slack was Sam Brusha, who turned in a glittering 22-point effort. She was one of four Ghosts to finish in double figures.
“Lizzie got two fouls early and then picked up her third in the second quarter, so we played pretty much the whole second quarter without her,” Marsh said.
The Ghosts trailed PV 27-26 at halftime but doubled their first half output in the third, outscoring the Vikings 26-6 and going on to outscore them 48-12 in the second half.
“It was a tight game, it was back and forth, back and forth,” Marsh said of the first half. “We knew if we got to the third quarter we would be all right, and our pressure really started bothering them in the third quarter.
“Obviously, we opened it up. We scored 26 points in the third quarter and held them to 12 in the whole second half. Our defense really turned it up a notch. We had to play a little bit of zone in the second and third quarters to protect O’Leary with her fouls. Kassondra Brown really stepped up, Sam Brusha obviously played really well, and Britney James had another phenomenal night running the point. They all did well, but I think it was our defense that really stepped up.”
Included in Brusha’s 22 points were four three-pointers. Brown added 13 points while James had 11 and Jordyn Allen, 10 points.
The win was the sixth in a row and ninth in 10 games for the Ghosts.
“We were 3-3 at one point, and we’re 12-4 now,” Marsh said. “I was concerned how this team was handling adversity. I didn’t think they were handling it all that well.
“Tonight they handled it tremendously. They were playing a very physical, great rebounding team, and you’re taking out one of our best rebounders, and we were able to handle it and not get frustrated. We kept going at them. I think it was a big step for them.”
Abington (12-4, 6-2 SOL) will host Council Rock North in a key conference battle Tuesday.
Abington 16-10-26-12 64
Perkiomen Valley 11-16-6-6 39
Abington (64) – Britney James 11, Lizzie O’Leary 2, Kassondra Brown 13, Sam Brusha 22, Camryn Lexow 2, Jordyn Allen 10, Tamia Wessels 2, Miranda Liebtag 2.
Perkiomen Valley (39) – Allison Cappelli 2, Inman Richmond 2, Hanan Richmond 7, Kelly Owens 2, Megan Jonassen 16, Taylor Hamm 10.
SOUDERTON 51, HARRITON 24
The Indians won their seventh in a row since a loss to Central Bucks West on Jan. 6, making easy business of the Rams.
In a contest that saw Megan Walbrandt play limited minutes, junior Kate Connolly had her second 16-point performance in as many games. This one included a pair of threes, and she added seven rebounds and six blocks in a standout effort. Megan Bealer continued to make important offensive contributions with 12 points, which included a pair of threes. Alana Cardona added 11 points and buried one three in a contest that saw the Indians connect on seven three-pointers. Curran O’Donnell and Megan O’Donnell each added a three-pointer.
Souderton led 16-6 after one quarter and took a commanding 26-9 lead into halftime. Connolly led the way with nine points in the half while Bealer had seven and Cardona added six. Connolly capped a big day with seven points in a third quarter that saw the Indians connect on four threes as they outscored Harriton 18-9 to go on top 44-18 on their way to the no-doubt-about-it win.
Souderton (13-3, 5-2 SOL) will host Pennridge on Tuesday night.
Souderton 16-10-18-7 51
Harriton 6-3-9-6 24
Souderton (51) – Tori Dowd 4, Megan Bealer 12, Alana Cardona 11, Curran O’Donnell 3, Megan O’Donnell 3, Kate Connolly 16, Cara Romaniello 2.
Harriton (24) – Christina Brown 7, Sophie Grady 12, Meg Wilcox 3, Paternoster 2.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 40, HAVERFORD 22
Less than 24 hours after her squad lost a heartbreaker to Central Bucks West, coach Beth Mattern opted to give several of her regulars some much-needed rest in Saturday’s non-league game at Haverford. The Titans, who held the Fords scoreless in the first, opened up a 21-8 halftime lead on their way to the decisive win.
Lindsay Scott and Lexi Edwards both connected on three three-pointers, and both finished with 11 points to lead the Titans. Haley Meinel added eight points and Maddie McShane, seven points.
Central Bucks South (14-3, 5-3 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Tuesday.
Central Bucks South 10-11-8-11 40
Haverford 0-8-4-10 22
Central Bucks South (40) – Lindsay Scott 11, Melissa Veal 1, Haley Meinel 8, Alexa Brodie 2, Maddie McShane 7, Lexi Edwards 11.
Haverford (22) – Arden Guilfoil 1, Blair 4, Erin Dougherty 7, Hope Coacher 2, Erin Kelly 2, Sarah Walsh 1, Lane 5.
GREAT VALLEY 27, WISSAHICKON 24
The Trojans hung with the Patriots in a non-league contest that featured more defense than offense. They trailed 11-10 at the end of one quarter and 14-13 heading into a final quarter that saw their hosts hold a 13-11 scoring edge.
“We got in early foul trouble,” coach Rodney Cline said. “We had Sydney Ott out early, and then Julianne Griffin got in foul trouble also.
“Jasmine Bishop stepped up defensively, and Helma Meiby stepped up. We played tough defense the entire time, but once again, we have to capitalize and take advantage of the opportunities we create for ourselves.”
Brianna Tilghman led the Trojans with 10 points while Victoria Selverian added seven.
The Trojans connected on 6-for-13 at the foul line.
“That makes a difference,” Cline said. “You miss two free throws, they come down and make a shot, and it’s a four-point swing.
“We just didn’t take advantage of the opportunities that were presented, creating offense with our defense, and that was the story of the ball game. I commend our girls for our defensive effort and how hard we played the entire time. We fight until the very end.
“This is the first game that we lost that was close. We’re usually on the other side this season. It hurts, but we just have to learn from this one, take it for what it is and move on to the next one. We have six ball games left, and they’re all winnable. Every one is going to be a battle. You just have to mentally be there. We have to move on, take care of business and play as good as we possibly can.”
Wissahickon (8-7, 4-5 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday.
Wissahickon 4-6-3-11 24
Great Valley 5-6-3-13 27
Wissahickon (24) – Brianna Tilghman 10, Jasmine Bishop 1, Sydney Ott 3, Hilma Meiby 1, Julianne Griffin 2, Victoria Selverian 7.
Great Valley (27) – Porecca 2, Katie Pevuto 6, Maggie Flynn 3, Sadie Buvan 11, Sarah Karwoski 1, D’Imperio 2, Allison West 2.
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