CR North edged Neshaminy in a key SOL National Conference battle. Photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of action photos.
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 38, NESHAMINY 34
It had been an especially tough week for the Indians.
They not only suffered their first loss in conference play in a heartbreaker to Abington on Tuesday, but there was also the not-so-little matter that coach Lou Palkovics – who was forced to leave the Abington game at halftime – had been out sick the last several days.
The odds might not have been stacked in the Indians’ favor when they traveled to Neshaminy Thursday night, but with Palkovics back on the sidelines, the Indians – determined to maintain sole possession of the top spot in the SOL National Conference standings – prevailed.
“Coming off that loss against Abington on Tuesday, we really had to come out strong and clinch this win right here,” junior Mackenzie Tinner said. “Especially with our coach, it’s not an excuse, but we were all thrown for a loop. He’s been sick and hasn’t been at practice for a few days. We really had to come out strong here.
“That loss (to Abington) hurt us, but we knew we had to bounce back and we did.”
With the win, the Indians maintained their one-game lead over second place Abington and now lead the Redskins by two games. A Redskin win would have set up a three-way tie at the top of the standings. As it is, the Indians need just one win to clinch a tie and wins in their final two games to clinch sole possession of the conference crown.
“This was a huge step,” junior Becca Margolis said. “It’s very important to us, and we’re very determined to get that.”
Sparked by their inspired defense and the hot hand of Emily Mackin – who scored all eight of her points in the opening frame, the Indians opened up a 13-2 lead after one quarter. The Redskins returned the favor in the second quarter, outscoring the Indians 13-2 to go into halftime deadlocked. Allison Harvey buried a pair of three-pointers to lead the ‘Skins, and Brooke Mullin buried both ends of a one-and-one to knot the score with 10 seconds remaining in the half.
“We were dominating the first quarter, but towards the end of the first half we started getting a little shaky because they were making their threes,” Margolis said. “We were able to bounce back and keep a positive attitude and not let it discourage us.”
A bucket by Olivia Scotti off the dribble put the Redskins on top 21-19 midway through the third quarter, but Mackenzie Tinner, who had six of her team’s 10 points in the frame, answered with the equalizer. She was whistled for her fourth foul shortly thereafter and took a seat on the bench.
Baskets by Emily Alexis and Kristin Curley put the ‘Skins on top 25-21, but after a Redskins miss, Margolis took it coast to coast for a basket, and Camryn Polinsky’s basket knotted the score 25-25 heading into the final frame.
“We kind of let them up in the third quarter,” Margolis said. “We don’t play our best in the third quarter, but I think we’re starting to progress and get better at realizing that, and we’re working harder.”
Mullin and Alexis connected on back-to-back baskets to once again give the Redskins a four-point advantage, but Dana Bandurick connected on one-of-two from the line and then turned a Margolis feed into a basket. Margolis and Mullin exchanged three-pointers, but the Indians took a lead they would not lose when Margolis connected from just inside the arc. Bandurick scored on a putback to put the Indians on top 35-32 with 3:20 remaining.
Neither team scored again until – with 17 seconds remaining – Margolis connected on the front end of a one-and-one to make it a two-possession game.
“I was so determined,” said Margolis, who seconds earlier missed the front end of a one-and-one, but the Indians came up with the rebound. “I was like, ‘I need to get on that foul line,’ so I could redeem myself. I really wanted that, and I was glad that I was able to get that back.
“My legs were shaking, but I was really confident in myself. I’ve been working on my foul shots.”
Margolis led the Indians with 10 points – all in the second half with eight in the fourth quarter. She also had four assists. Three players – Bandurick, Tinner and Mackin – added eight points.
It was Tinner’s impact on the defensive end where she pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and blocked four shots that was the difference maker.
“My main focus was defense,” Tinner said. “I had to really help off the players driving in the lane.
“Also, my offense on the post – we had a really big height advantage.”
Bandurick added six rebounds and three blocks while Hannah Weiler had four rebounds and three blocks. All told, the Indians had 11 blocked shots.
“Our defense has progressed so much this year,” Margolis said. “After the Life Center Game at Philly University (a one-point loss), that was our starting point where we just wanted to keep going up.”
In a contest that saw four North players score between eight and 10 points, it was the Indians’ balanced attack that pleased Palkovics the most.
“I was really pleased that it wasn’t just one person,” the Indians’ coach said. “I know a lot of times I look at Bec, but Mackin stepped up, Dana, Mackenzie played great tonight.
“You might look at (Tinner’s) eight points, but you have to look at the contested shots, big rebounds at the end when we were playing such good defense, nobody was going to take the ball from them tonight.”
According to the Indians’ coach, the team has been playing well since the Life Center contest.
“We played great in the Council Rock South game and great in the North Penn game,” Palkovics said. “I was only there for one half of the Abington game, but that was one of the most dominating halves I’ve seen the girls play all year. They were just dominating, so that’s what we’re trying to build on. We’re peaking at the right time. Ever since the CB East game, we’re been playing really well.”
Council Rock North (12-6, 9-1 SOL) will face Merion Mercy in a non-league game on Saturday with conference games against Pennsbury and Truman remaining on its schedule. Neshaminy (12-5, 7-3) will host Perkiomen Valley in a non-league game on Monday.
Council Rock North 13-2-10-13 38
Neshaminy 2-13-10-9 34
Council Rock North (38) – Becca Margolis 10, Camryn Polinsky 2, Emily Mackin 8, Dana Bandurick 8, Kaelin Mealy 2, Mackenzie Tinner 8.
Neshaminy (34) – Emily Alexis 4, Olivia Scotti 5, Brooke Mullin 11, Kristin Curley 7, Allison Harvey 7.
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