Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Tuesday. Tennent/Upper Moreland photos provided courtesy of Jon Sklut. CR South/Neshaminy photos courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for galleries of both games. CLICK HERE to view Suburban One Sports’ GIRLS’ BASKETBALL GALLERIES.
SOL Patriot Division
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 48, NESHAMINY 42
Rock South and Neshaminy entered Tuesday’s game sharing the top spot in the division standings with Pennsbury as all three teams had identical 4-1 records.
The Golden Hawks maintained a share of the division’s top spot with a hard-fought win over the Redskins, rallying with a big third quarter and then holding on for the win.
Key stretch: The Golden Hawks trailed by one heading into the third quarter when they outscored their hosts 20-13 to go on top 41-35 heading into the final quarter. Kathryn O’Kane had a pair of 3s and eight points to lead the Hawks in the pivotal quarter.
Key players: Bella Hettler’s double-double led the Golden Hawks and included 12 points and 10 rebounds. Kathryn O’Kane added 13 points, and Fiona Recker had 11.
For the Redskins, Haley Kolk led the way with 16 points, which included four 3-pointers. Alena Cofield added 15 points.
Council Rock South coach Steve Polinsky on the game: “It was a really well-played game. I thought they played well, and I thought we played well, so kudos to them as well.
“Our girls stepped it up. Kathryn O’Kane and Fiona Reckner really stepped it up at the end of the game, which really helped – their leadership and being a senior helps as well. I thought that really was the difference in the game. It could have gone either way.
“ It was both teams just getting after it and playing some tough basketball. They are a handful and Alena (Cofield) and Hayley (Kolk) shot the ball so well, I thought Kat and Fiona played really well on them. Fiona and Kat both had great games, both scoring double figures and leading the way for us.
“It was a total team effort for us tonight. We are a better team when we talk on defense, and we did that more in the second half and that helped us at the end of the game.”
–Props: “Lil Metrick and Maria Freeman both hit timely 3s that helped us stop their tide. Their 3s were just so big at the time and helped us change the momentum of the game because Neshaminy was making such a run, and those 3s just stopped it.
“Bella Hettler has played great for us this whole year. Bella had yet another big game with 12 points and 10 rebounds. She has had a tremendous impact on our team.”
Up next: Council Rock South (12-3, 5-1 SOL) will be on the road at Harry S Truman Friday, and Neshaminy (12-5, 4-2) will travel to Council Rock North Friday.
Council Rock South 11-10-20-7 48
Neshaminy 12-10-13-7 42
Council Rock South (48) – Bella Hettler 6 0-0 12; Sarah Freeman 1 0-0 3; Lil Metrick 2 0-0 6; Kathryn O’Kane 3 5-9 13; Fiona Reckner 4 3-4 11; Maria Freeman 1 0-0 3; TOTALS 17 8-13 48.
Neshaminy (42) – Grace Weyler 1 0-2 2; Alena Cofield 6 1-2 15; Ashlyn Duffy 3 0-0 9; Hayley Kolk 6 0-0 16; TOTALS 16 1-2 42.
3-point goals: CRS – Lil Metrick 2, Kathryn O’Kane 2, Sarah Freeman, Maria Freeman; N – Hayley Kolk 4, Ashlyn Duffy 3, Alena Cofield 2.
PENNSBURY 65, HARRY S TRUMAN 21
Sammie Haws and Ava Jordan combined for 25 first-half points, and behind their hot hands, the visiting Falcons took a 33-13 lead into halftime on their way to the big win.
Key players: Ava Jordan led the Falcons with 19 points – 11 in the first half. Sammie Haws added 18 points – – 14 in the first half. Emily Panero led the Falcons under the backboards with eight rebounds.
Pennsbury assistant coach Kaitlin Kelly on the game: “Things started off a little slow in the first half. We were playing a little sloppy and Truman was being tough on the backboards. In the second half, we did a much better job on the backboards. Emily Panaro pulled down eight rebounds for us, and overall, we did a better job boxing out as a team. Ava Jordan and Sammie Haws did a great job being aggressive on offense, and their teammates did an even better job looking for them with Keira Socha leading our assist column with four. Milan Reaves also scored her first varsity points which is always a fun milestone. Now it’s time to really lock in on this challenging stretch we have coming up, starting with Friday night.”
Up next: Pennsbury (12-6, 5-1 SOL) will travel to Bensalem Friday, and Harry S Truman (2-12, 0-6) will host Council Rock South Friday.
Pennsbury 15-18-16-16 65
Harry S Truman 6-7-8-0 21
Pennsbury (65) – Marley Davis 1 0-0 3; Emily Panero 2 0-0 4; Grace Schaufler 1 1-2 3; Bridget McGonigle 2 0-0 4; Bella Stewart 1 0-0 2; Maggie Burns 2 1-3 5; Sammie Haws 6 3-4 18; Adrianna Oberto 1 0-0 2; Ava Jordan 7 5-6 19; Keira Socha 1 0-0 2; Milan Reaves 2 1-2 3; TOTALS 25 11-17 65.
Harry S Truman (21) – Julianna Romer 3 0-0 6; Shylah McCleve 2 1-4 5; Natane Smith 0 1-2 1; Camille Monroe 1 0-0 3; Mikasia Jones 1 0-0 2 Brie Philemond 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 9 2-6 21.
3-point goals: P – Sammie Haws 3, Marley Davis; HST – Camille Monroe.
SOL Colonial Division
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 53, NORTH PENN 50
In a tightly contested battle, it was the Bucks eking out a win over the Knights.
Sparked by seven points from Jadyn Sperling, the Knights led 15-12 after one period, but the visiting Bucks rallied with a 14-8 second quarter to go into halftime with a 26-23 lead.
Key stretch: Cam Crowley erupted for 14 third-quarter points, which included four 3s, but the Bucks refused to go away. Ermily Ladley buried a pair of 3s, and Scarlett Baumgardner also had six points to help the Bucks hold a 17-16 edge in the quarter. They took a 43-39 lead into the fourth quarter and held on for the win.
Key players: Scarlett Baumgardner’s 21 points, which included two 3s, led the Bucks. Emily Ladley had three 3-pointers and 11 points while Peyton Cramer had nine and a pair of 3s.
For the Knights – who were once again without Lily Brown, senior Cam Crowley turned in a brilliant outing, burying seven 3-pointers and scoring a game-high 28 points. She had four 3-pointers and 14 points in the third quarter, and her 20 second-half points kept the Knights in it to the end.
Central Bucks West coach Zach Sibel: “It was a good game, it was another complete game. I think the girls are really playing together, and when they play together, they can be a tough cover. North Penn came out with a half-court pressure zone, but I thought our girls did a really nice job moving it.
“The ball was just moving. There was definitely an energy in the ball, and I think when that happens, the girls shoot the ball more confidently. I think they’ve shown in practice and games what they’re capable of, and tonight was a night where it all clicked.”
–Crowley on fire: “There was a stretch in the second and third quarters where CB West and Camryn Crowley were going shot for shot. The Crowley kid was awesome. She had 28 and maybe the toughest 28 I’ve ever seen coaching a game. She hit tough shots, and I thought we actually played really good defense on her, and she just made shot after shot to make it a dog fight.”
–Props: “Peyton Cramer was awesome at the one tonight. She was able to control the game, get in the gaps, get into space and make some plays. I thought Peyton did a nice job controlling the pace, handling pressure.
“Scarlett Baumgardner had 21 (points) and hit some really big shots. Emily Ladley has been super consistent. She had another 13 points tonight, hit some really big shots.
“We went 12-for-14 from the free throw line. Addy Fay had 10 rebounds, which was huge for us. It limited their second possessions and ended some possessions. Miya McDaniel and Janelle Blokker came in and played some awesome defense. The beauty of basketball is – you have really good players. You have players that can go off on any night, but it really is a team sport. It really is a team game where you need to be able to lean on each other in different moments. I thought our willingness to do that, and our ability to execute and really lock in to the focus and mental side of the game – I think that really showed with this team. The ability to lean on each other and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got the next one.’ I’m incredibly proud of this group. They fight every game and every practice, so it’s nice to get a good road win.”
Up next: Central Bucks West (6-11, 1-5 SOL) will travel to Souderton Friday. North Penn (8-10, 4-2 SOL) will be on the road at Central Bucks South Friday.
Central Bucks West 12-14-17-10 53
North Penn 15-8-16-11 50
Central Bucks West (53) – Peyton Cramer 3 1-2 9; Addy Fay 2 2-2 6; Audra Lawson 1 2-2 4 Emily Ladley 3 4-4 13; Scarlett Baumgardner 8 3-4 21; TOTALS 17 12-14 53.
North Penn (50) – Saniah Hammond 1 0-0 3; Cam Crowley 9 3-4 28; Leah Mikulski 1 0-0 2; Jadyn Sperling 3 0-0 7; Mehya Godhania 2 0-1 4; Lailani Williams 2 0-0 4; Tallie Smink 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 19 3-5 50.
3-point goals: CBW – Emily Ladley 3, Scarlett Baumbardner 2, Peyton Cramer 2; NP – Cam Crowley 7, Saniah Hammond, Jadyn Sperling.
PENNRIDGE 55, SOUDERTON 32
The Lady Rams put on a dazzling long-range shooting display, burying eight 3-pointers in the first half and 13 for the game. They took a 35-14 lead into halftime and never looked back.
Key stretch: In the first quarter, Ella Brown and Madison Lapp both connected on a pair of 3s and Layla Verbit also had a triple, propelling the Lady Rams to a 20-4 lead.
Key players: Ella Brown’s 19 points led the Rams and included three 3-pointers. She scored 13 points in the first half. Madison Lapp had five 3s and added 17 points. Layla Verbit added seven points with one triple, Emily DeHaven had two 3s and six points while Erin McCormick and Samantha Murphy each had one 3.
For the Indians, Madison Bealer’s 10 points led the way.
Pennridge coach Jason Rapp on the game: “Tonight we got off to a hot start shooting the ball. We had five 3s in the first quarter and three more in the second quarter. We were able to get a 20-4 lead. Madison Lapp had eight points in the first quarter and Ella Brown added nine. Both had a pair of 3s in the first quarter. We came out in the third quarter and buried four more. It’s always nice to get a road win. I really like how our girls are playing.”
–Props: “Madison Lapp was great tonight. It was really cool to see her hit some 3s early and shoot the ball with confidence. She has played so well for us in the last 12 games. I’m really happy for her.
“The thing that really impressed me tonight was the way we shared the ball and made extra passes for our teammate to get great shots.”
Up next: Pennridge (12-4, 3-3 SOL) will be on the road at Central Bucks East Thursday, and Souderton (8-9, 1-5) will host Central Bucks West Friday.
Pennridge 20-15-14-6 55
Souderton 4-10-10-8 32
Pennridge (55) – Ella Brown 7 2-3 19; Emily Haven 2 0-0 6; Samantha Murphy 1 0-0 3; Madison Lapp 6 0-0 17; Erin McCormick 1 0-0 3; Layla Verbit 3 0-0 7; TOTALS 20 2-5 55.
Souderton (32) – Julia Purvy 1 0-0 2; Olivia Herron 2 0-0 5; Madison Bealer 4 0-0 10; Liz Word 1 0-0 3; Kiera Fadden 1 0-0 2; Avie Sackor 1 0-0 2; Emily Dick 4 0-0 8; TOTALS 14 0-0 32.
3-point goals: P – Madison Lapp 5, Ella Brown 3, Emily DeHaven 2, Samantha Murphy, Erin McCormick, Layla Verbit; S – Madison Bealer 2, Liz Word, Olivia Herron.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 61, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 29
The Patriots, who trailed by four after one quarter, took a 20-14 lead into halftime and then put the game out of reach with a 27-point third quarter.
Key stretch: The pivotal third quarter featured a whole lot of Sydney Ralph and Jess Lockwood. Ralph’s 12 points led the Patriots and included a pair of 3s and a perfect 6-for-6 effort at the foul line. Lockwood added nine points in the quarter.
Key players: Jess Lockwood, Haley Moran and Sydney Ralph combined for 51 of East’s points. Lockwood finished with a double-double that included 18 points and 10 rebounds. Haley Moran came close to one with 17 points and eight assists, and Sydney Ralph added 16 points – all in the second half.
Central Bucks East coach Liz Potash on the win: “It was a great team win tonight with big contributions on offense from Jess Lockwood, Haley Moran and Sydney Ralph.
“After getting off to a slow start in the first half, Haley was able to get us going offensively in the second quarter and Syd really helped to open up the game with 12 points in the third quarter. Haley Moran had eight assists and Savannah Hayes had three assists as well, including an unbelievable pass under South’s basket from the floor to Delaney Long for a transition layup.
“After allowing 10 points in the first quarter, we were proud of the defense the rest of the way, only allowing 19 more points. We loved the team basketball we played tonight with 19 total assists.”
Up next: Central Bucks East (12-3, 6-0 SOL) will host Pennridge Thursday, and Central Bucks South (8-9, 3-3) will host North Penn Friday.
Central Bucks South 10-4-10-5 29
Central Bucks East 6-14-27-14 61
Central Bucks South (29) – Ella Wheeler 2 0-2 6; Jules Tropea 5 2-6 12; Gabby Tropea 3 0-0 6; Anna Granito 1 0-0 2; Morgan McKeever 1 0-0 2; Megan Schmidt 0 1-2 1; TOTALS 12 3-10 29.
Central Bucks East (61) – Sydney Ralph 4 6-6 16; Haley Moran 8 0-0 17; Emma Penecale 1 0-0 2; Natalie Berndt 1 0-0 2; Savannah Hayes 1 0-0 2; Delaney Long 2 0-0 4; Jess Lockwood 8 0-0 18; TOTALS 25 6-6 61.
3-point goals: CBS – Ella Wheeler 2; CBE – Sydney Ralph 2, Jess Lockwood 2, Haley Moran.
SOL Liberty Division
ABINGTON 60, HATBORO-HORSHAM 34
The visiting Ghosts raced out of the gate to a 20-10 lead after one quarter and then seized complete control of the game with a 29-point second quarter on their way to the win.
Key players: Aniyah Williams scored 11 of her game-high 20 points in the first quarter and by halftime had 17 points, which included a pair of 3s and a 7-for-8 effort at the foul line. She finished with a double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds) and also had four steals. Point guard Maya Johnson had a double-double with 16 points – all in the first half – and 10 assists as well as three steals. Mikaiya Durham added 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals, and Vanessa Griffin had four rebounds, five steals and three blocks.
For the Hatters, Angelica Visceglia’s 13 points, which included a pair of 3s, led the way.
Abington coach Allison Lawson on the win: “It was an all-around team effort. We had a little break off Sunday and Monday since we played four games in six days last week, and I think that helped us get back into rhythm today.
“We were sharing the ball, communicating, and getting back into playing our game.”
Up next: Abington (10-5, 4-1 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin Friday, and Hatboro-Horsham (3-13, 1-4) will host Wissahickon Monday.
Abington 20-29-4-7 60
Hatboro-Horsham 10-6-8-10 34
Abington (60) – Maya Johnson 6 2-3 16; Mikaiya Durham 4 3-4 11; Shya Crafton 2 0-0 4; Vanessa Griffin 1 0-0 2; Haley Hernandez 2 2-2 7; Aniyah Williams 5 7-8 20; TOTALS 20 14-17 60.
Hatboro-Horsham (34) – Angelica Visceglia 4 3-5 13; Mia Fisher 1 0-0 2; Maddy Patel 2 0-0 5; Cora Saxer 1 0-0 2; Gabby Fisher 1 1-2 3; Madison Siegfried 2 0-0 5; Olivia Grant 1 0-1 2; Marley Soloff 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 13 4-8 34.
3-point goals: A – Aniyah Williams 3, Maya Johnson 2, Haley Hernandez; HH – Angelica Visceglia 2, Maddy Patel, Madison Siegfried.
UPPER DUBLIN 55, WISSAHICKON 27
Jordan Siegel celebrated Senior Night by burying four 3-pointers and scoring a game-high 12 points in UD’s win in Tuesday’s doubleheader with the boys’ team.
The Cardinals led 12-10 after one quarter and then blew the game wide open with a 21-2 second quarter that include three 3-pointers and scoring from seven different players.
Key players: Each of the seniors has had a unique journey, and all four – Siegle, Anna DiMartile, Srija Chaudhuri and Kaitlyn Zacharia were honored on Tuesday night.
Upper Dublin coach Morgan Funsten:
–Senior Night: “We had a big night at home tonight because we were playing a doubleheader with the boys. We were honoring the 1985 district championship teams, and we were celebrating senior night.
“We have another really special senior class and they all contributed in a big way tonight. Anna DiMartile is going to the university of Florida for lacrosse and decided to play basketball for the first time since second grade. She has worked hard and improved big time since the beginning of the season, and it’s been a lot of fun to watch her grow as a basketball player. Her leadership has been great as well, and it was really cool watching her make her first career 3-pointer tonight.
“Srija Chaudhuri hasn’t played since freshman year and decided to play this year after focusing more on academics the two previous years. She’s one of the top students in the school and is most likely going to save the world one day. She brings a great work ethic and attitude every day.
“Jordan Siegel is a four-year basketball player who has been very unselfish and a great teammate. She is a great shooter and showcased it tonight by making four 3-pointers and was our leading scorer.
“Kaitlyn Zacharia is also a four-year member of the program and was voted as a team captain this year. Kaitlyn is committed to play college softball. She has a quiet demeanor but has been a great teammate and can shoot the ball as good as anyone.
“These four girls deserved to be celebrated tonight, and I am very proud of all they have accomplished and they are going to continue to do great things.”
Wissahickon coach Kathie Sims on the game: “We made some mistakes in the second quarter that ultimately hurt us in the long run, but I was proud of the girls for staying resilient and rallying together until the end of the game.
“Despite the challenges, they never gave up and showed incredible teamwork and determination. Their effort and heart were evident on the court, and I know this experience will help us grow stronger as a team moving forward.”
Up next: Upper Dublin (15-3, 5-0 SOL) will be on the road at Abington Friday, and Wissahickon (3-12, 0-5) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh Thursday.
Wissahickon 10-2-3-12 27
Upper Dublin 12-21-13-9 55
Wissahickon (27) – Katelyn Thomson 4 -0 8; Kai Potter 1 1-1 3; Julia Lettieri 1 0-0 2; Maura Jacob 2 0-0 5; Casey Burden 1 0-0 2; Lydia Schultz 1 1-2 3; Ava Stout 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 12 2-3 27.
Upper Dublin (55) – Bridget DiMartile 2 1-1 5; Megan Ngo 1 2-2 4; Anna DiMartile 1 1-2 4; Lexi Ngo 4 0-0 9; Jordan Siegel 4 0-0 12; Emilia Coleman 4 2-2 10; Kaitlyn Zacharia 1 0-0 3; Ella Morris 3 0-0 8; TOTALS 20 6-7 55.
3-point goals: W – Maura Jacob; UD – Jordan Siegel 4, Anna DiMartile, Lexi Ngo, Kaitlyn Zacharia, Ella Morris 2.
SOL Freedom Division
WILLIAM TENNENT 42, UPPER MORELAND 40
The Panthers trailed by seven late but staged a gutsy comeback to eke out the heart-stopping road win when – in the game-closing seconds – Avery Kocur connected on a fadeway that stood as the game-winner.
Key stretch: The 90-second span to close out the fourth quarter when – trailing by seven – the Panthers staged a 9-0 run to earn the improbable win.
Key players: Avery Kocur’s 23 points – including the game-winner – led the Panthers. Megan Volz added nine, and Halie Staub had seven.
For UM, Mike Lancit had 22 points, and Lianna Adames added 10 points.
William Tennent coach Laura Whitney on the game: “Unbelievable win tonight. I’m super proud of the grit our girls showed. Respect to Josh (Adelman) and his team, they played a great game. It was everything you’d expect from a divisional game. Two teams competing and going back and forth with each other all game.
“Upper Moreland made a run to go up 40-33 with 1:30 left in the game and it seemed like they had all the momentum, but our girls did what they’ve done all season, which is fight till the end. We ended up going on a 9-0 run to close out the game and get the hard-fought win.”
–The game-winning run: “Avery (Kocur) hits a three to cut it to 40-36 with 1:19 left. We call a timeout to set up our press and end up getting a steal and a layup to cut the score to 40-38. The next possession we force a turnover and get the ball back with 53 seconds.
“On our next offensive possession, (Halie) Staub draws a foul on a hard drive to the basket. She steps up and knocks down two huge free throws to tie up the game.
“Next possession, Staub makes a great defensive play to block the shot and steals the loose ball.
“We call a timeout with 28 seconds to draw up a final play. Avery (Kocur) makes a difficult fadeaway to put us up two with six seconds left. Upper Moreland gets a great final look, but fortunately for us, it falls off the rim, and we secured the rebound to end the game.”
–Props: “I couldn’t be prouder of this group of girls. They have been such a joy to coach this season. Every time I think that they may run away
from the pressure or adversity they respond in a big way.
“Hopefully, we can carry this momentum for the final five games. We still have a lot to play for and the road ahead isn’t going to be easy, but I wouldn’t want to do it with another group of girls.”
Upper Moreland coach Josh Adelman on the game: “It was another great effort. Both team’s stars Mikel Lancit (22 points) and Avery Kocur (23 points) battled on both ends. It was crazy, one would score, then the other would score. Back and forth.
“I thought we were in control in the fourth quarter, we made a few costly turnovers, and they scored on a jumper from Avery with about seven seconds.
“We call a timeout, finally gets registered with 5.6 seconds left. We get a runner in the lane by Mikel that doesn’t fall. It’s really tough to see these kids battle back after a lot of close games recently – overtime to LM, double overtime to North Penn, other close games earlier to New Hope and William Tennent. The girls deserve better than what the record indicates, but that is sports.
“Avery’s shot was contested, it fell. She is a very good player, but both teams know it could have gone the other way also. I try to tell the girls – tough times don’t last, tough people do and that hard work pays off. It does sound cliche, but honestly, it shows resiliency from our girls to get knocked down and get back up, lace ‘em up again and battle the next opponent.
“No one better take us lightly, because better days are ahead. I thought we did a nice job on (Halie) Staub tonight. She seems to always hurt us. And (Megan) Volz played well for them. Coach Whitney does a nice job over there and runs some nice backdoor cuts for layups.
–Props: “Lianna Adames is starting to play much better offensively for us. And Marie (Meyer), Charlie (Clements), and Hailey (Kramer) defended well and rebounded all night long for our team. Hopefully, we keep taking bits and pieces from each game and learn from them. Losing hurts, but we are improving as a team in many facets of the game. We just have to finish games when we have a lead. And I believe we will.”
Up next: William Tennent (10-7, 3-3 SOL) will be on the road at Cheltenham Friday, and Upper Moreland (7-9, 1-5) will host New Hope-Solebury Thursday.
William Tennent 10-15-5-12 42
Upper Moreland 10-13-9-8 40
William Tennent (42) – Lindsey Catoni 1 0-0 3; Avery Kocur 9 1-2 23; Halie Staub 2 3-4 7; Megan Volz 4 0-1 9; TOTALS 16 4-7 42.
Upper Moreland (40) – Lianna Adames 4 1-1 10; Mikel Lancit 8 4-4 22; Marie Meyer 1 2-2 5; Hailey Kramer 0 1-2 1; Charlie Clements 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 14 8-8-9 40.
3-point goals: WT – Avery Kocur 4, Lindsey Catoni, Megan Volz; UM – Mikel Lancit 2, Lianna Adames, Marie Meyer.
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 56, SPRINGFIELD TWP 43
The visiting Lions opened up a 13-5 lead after one quarter, and although the Spartans found their offense in the second quarter, the Lions took a 29-18 lead into halftime. Izzy Elizondo had the hot hand from beyond the arc, burying four 3-pointers in the half. New Hope took a 44-28 lead into the final quarter on their way to the win.
Key stretch: The Lions took a 13-5 lead in the first quarter, effectively setting the tone for the win.
Key players: Izzy Elizondo and Emily Wilson both had four 3-pointers, and they combined for 36 of their team’s points with Elizondo’s 20 points leading the way while Wilson had 16. Ella Dudick added eight points and Kayla Fennell, seven.
For the Spartans, Ava Kuller led the way with 17 points while Caitlin Lewis also was in double figures with 11. Keira Brandon added nine points.
New Hope-Solebury coach Andy Krasna on the Spartans: “Springfield played hard and kept within striking distance with the help of Caitlin Lewis and Ava Culler. Ava was dominant inside the paint and was difficult to contain in transition. She is relentless on the boards and altered many of our shots. Caitlin was very productive as she showed her ability to make perimeter shots and attack defenders while making contact. Springfield is an improved team going into the final stretch of the season, especially on the offensive end.”
–Props: “Our offense was efficient tonight, and we were moving the ball and finding open shooters. Izzy Elizondo and Emily Wilson were in a groove and played off of each other like two experienced high-level veterans. They were hard for Springfield to contain.
“After Springfield adjusted, Izzy and Emily took advantage of being double teamed and found Kayla Fennell and Ella Dudick for easy layups. Freshman Danielle Wilson got into the mix tonight and took advantage of extended court time nailing two important second quarter shots.
“Mary Tresler has been contributing in so many ways. After a 20-rebound performance last Saturday against Pennridge, she once again tonight hit the boards hard and made a significant contribution playing her role.”
Springfield coach Aileen Wetton: “We struggled a little bit in the first half, but we had a good second half. My girls never gave up.”
Up next: New Hope-Solebury (10-6, 5-1 SOL) will be on the road at Upper Moreland Thursday, and Springfield Twp (6-11, 0-6) will be on the road at Upper Moreland Friday.
New Hope-Solebury 13-16-15-12 56
Springfield Twp 5-13-10-15 43
New Hope-Solebury (56) – Danielle Wilson 2 0-0 5; Kayla Fennell 3 1-2 7; Izzy Elizondo 6 4-6 20; Emily Wilson 5 2-2 16; Ella Dudick 4 0-0 8; TOTALS 20 7-10 56.
Springfield Twp (43) – Caitlin Lewis 3 4-4 11; Keira Brandon 4 1-1 9; Julia Guicheteau 2 1-2 6; Ava Culler 7 3-6 17; Karly Hartman 0 0-2 0; TOTALS 16 9-15 43.
3-point goals: NH-S – Izzy Elizondo 4, Emily Wilson 4, Danielle Wilson; S- Caitlin Lewis, Julia Guicheteau.
CHELTENHAM 66, LOWER MORELAND 35
Both teams got off to a sluggish start, and it was the Lions ‘outscoring’ their visitors 8-5 in the opening frame. The Lady Panthers came to life in the second quarter, outscoring their hosts 21-2 to take control of the game.
Key stretch: In the second quarter, Paige Powell scored eight points, Maya Simmons buried a pair of 3s for six points, and Jiah Price had five. The Panthers took a 26-10 lead into halftime and never looked back.
Key players: Paige Powell’s 20 points led the Lady Panthes. She also had eight rebounds and five assists. Jiah Price added 18 points – which included four 3 pointers. She also had five assists, four rebounds and three steals. Maya Simmons finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and five steals. Zoe Thompson owned the backboards, finishing with 14 rebounds and five blocked shots. Cassie Bugg added eight points and seven rebounds.
For the Lions, Briana McFerran and Dani Brusher both had 14 points.
Lower Moreland coach Rich Becker on the game: “The better team won tonight. Going back to last season, I’ve always thought that they have the most complete roster in our conference, and that is showing this season. You have to give credit to Coach Mo and her staff. Their girls are buying in to what she’s saying, and the results are showing up on the court. Top to bottom, they are very well balanced.
“Unfortunately for us, tonight we played as a group of individuals. Offensively, we were flat, and defensively, our rotations were non-existent. We told the girls after the game that we were not connected on either end of the floor, and we cannot beat a team like Cheltenham playing as five individuals.
–Looking ahead: “On Friday, we play a Springfield team that is playing well, and we cannot play like we did tonight. Tonight’s the first game this season where we’ve been disappointed with our effort and by our body language after the game. I think the girls would say the same thing. I’m confident that in tomorrow’s practice the girls will be competitive and focused, and we’ll get back on track.”
Up next: Cheltenham (13-2, 6-0 SOL) will host William Tennent Friday, and Lower Moreland (9-7, 3-3) will host Springfield Twp Friday.
Cheltenham 5-21-22-18 66
Lower Moreland 8-2-19-6 35
Cheltenham (66) – Jiah Price 18, Paige Powell 20, Maya Simmons 15, Cassie Bugg 8, Ali Charles 5, Zoe Thompson 2.
Lower Moreland (35) – Briana McFerran 14, Dani Brusha 14, Emma DiJoseph 2, Mollie Martin 2, Maddie Broderick.
3-point goals: C – Jiah Price 4, Maya Simmons 2, Ali Charles: LM – Briana McFerran 2, Dani Brusa, Maddie Broderick.
Non-league
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 48, ACADEMY at PALUMBO 43
It was the story of two halves.
The visiting Colonials found themselves on the short end of a 28-18 score at halftime, and things didn’t look all that promising.
The second half – that was another story entirely. Sparked by six points from Eliza Meersman, the Colonials trimmed three points off that lead in the third quarter.
Key stretch: It was in a 21-point fourth quarter that the Colonials really showed their heart and determination. AJ Avery had seven points in the quarter, Kenna Winland hit a big 3, but it was the inspired play of freshman Grace Havey -who had eight points in the frame – that was the difference.
Key players: Kenna Winland led a balanced PW attack with 14 points. She also had four steals. AJ Avery added 13 points, three assists and six steals. Grace Harvey finished with 10 points and five steals. Eliza Meersman added eight points and a team-high nine rebounds – eight on the offensive end.
Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Dan Dougherty: “The girls got a ‘character win’ today over a good Palumbo team. Annually, we take the girls to play a public league team in their home gym. It is never easy, and today was no different. Nothing went our way in the first half, but we made a couple adjustments at halftime and playing offense in front of our own bench played big role in second half.
“Keeping the tradition alive, we took the girls for some authentic Philly cheesesteaks afterwards; our ordering skills really need some work.”
–Props: “Kenna Winland hit an important three at end of third quarter to cut into their lead, and then Grace Harvey was a game-changer in the fourth quarter. She had 8 of her 10 points and three crucial steals to tie the game, take the lead, and then put us up two possessions. Incredibly impressive by a freshman.”
Up next: Plymouth Whitemarsh (11-6, 2-2 SOL) will travel to Wissahickon Thursday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 10-8-9-21 48
Academy at Palumbo 15-13-6-9 43
Plymouth Whitemarsh (49) – Liv Patete 0 1-2 1; AJ Avery 4 5-6 13; Kenna Winland 5 1-3 14; Riley 1 0-0 2; Eliza Meersman 3 2-2 8; Grace Harvey 3 4-6 10; TOTALS 16 13-19.48.
Academy of Palumbo (43) – Muibi 6 1-4 13; Xavier 1 0-0 2; Kaeli 5 2-2 15 ;Mays 1 1-2 3; Hargrove 3 0-0 6; McKee 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 18 4-8 43.
3-point goals: PW – Kenna Winland 3; Palumbo – Kaeli 3.
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