Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Wednesday. PW/Cheltenham photos courtesy of Michael Rice. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f226313402
SOL Liberty/Freedom crossover
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 43, CHELTENHAM 39
The Colonials needed some late-game heroics to seal Wednesday’s win.
With PW on top by two and time winding down, the Colonials misfired on a foul shot, but sophomore AJ Avery somehow managed to come up with the offensive rebound.
“AJ Avery gets an offensive rebound against four Cheltenham defenders,” PW coach Dan Dougherty said. “She gets fouled on the putback and makes both to put us up four, seals the win.
“A lot of credit to Cheltenham for playing inspired without number 11 (Maya Simmons).”
Avery’s two foul shots gave the Colonials their final margin of victory, and the sophomore spent a major part of the game making trips to the foul line where she connected on 13 of 15 shots.
“It was not our best game,” Dougherty said. “However, our discipline on defense to not foul while on offense, continuing to attack through relentless physical play was a big difference.”
The Colonials led 10-4 after one quarter only to see the Lady Panthers respond with a 15-8 second quarter surge to go into halftime with a 19-18 advantage. Paige Powell’s 10 points led the Lady Panthers in the half.
PW outscored its visitors 11-7 in the third quarter to go into the final frame with a 29-26 advantage. They edged the Lady Panthers in the fourth quarter 14-13.
Avery – who had just three first-half points – scored 17 of her game-high 20 points after the break. She was 11-for-12 from the foul line in the second half – a perfect 4-for-4 with a 3-pointer and nine points in the pivotal fourth quarter.
McKenna Winland added nine points, but they weren’t the only players to contribute. Dougherty gave a shoutout to senior Marissa Perez, the team’s lone senior.
“She hasn’t played basketball since eighth grade,” Dougherty said. “She’s already committed (to East Stroudsburg) on a softball scholarship, but thanks to some begging from the coaches and her sister, Joslyn, she decided to play this season.
“I don’t think we’d win a game without her. She had six steals tonight, two of them late in the fourth quarter when the game was tied. Kids like Marissa – and Joslyn – are a dying breed. Too many kids give up playing multiple sports in high school and burn out when their D1 or bust dreams burst. Then they look back with regret over not playing other sports. This kid is the backbone of our team, gives max effort every night and is loving every minute.”
For the Lady Panthers, Jiah Price led the way with 19 points while Paige Powell added 11.
“We lost a heartbreaker,” Cheltenham coach Ben Bowman said. “We battled and played well as a team but came up short. To play that level without Maya Simmons (out with a knee injury) and a half without Paige (fouled out), it shows the team what we can be. A lot of players stepped up and we need that energy and play for the rest of the season.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-3, 4-2 SOL) will travel to New Hope-Solebury on Thursday for a crossover game. Cheltenham (5-6, 2-4) will host Abington on Friday.
Cheltenham 4-15-7-13 39
Plymouth Whitemarsh 10-8-11-14 43
Cheltenham (39) – Jiah Price 7 3-5 19; Paige Powell 5 1-4 11; Arianna Davis 3 1-2 5; Cassie Bugg 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 16 5-11 39.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (43) – Joslyn Perez 2 0-0 5; Taylor Williams 1 1-4 4; AJ Avery 3 13-15 20; McKenna Winland 2 4-6 9; Bailey Riley 1 0-2 2; Marissa Perez 1 0-0 2; Brooke Peduzzi 0 1-2 1; TOTALS 10 19-29 43
3-point goals: Cheltenham – Jiah Price 2; PW – McKenna Winland, Joslyn Perez, Taylor Williams, AJ Avery
SOL Patriot/Colonial crossover
BENSALEM 48, SOUDERTON 36
The visiting Indians battled the Owls to a 16-16 halftime tie, but Bensalem used an 18-7 third quarter tear to open up a lead it would not lose.
“We’re happy to start 2024 with a win,” Bensalem coach Steve Johnson said. “Souderton never stopped fighting. Those girls play with a ton of heart.”
The Owls – behind four points from three players – opened up a 15-7 lead after one quarter but saw that slip away when the Indians answered with a 9-1 second quarter to knot the score at halftime. Jacquelyn Bermel’s eight points, which included two 3s, led the Indians in the half.
“We’re happy with the way we started the game and our first quarter,” Johnson said. “We had great defensive pressure and ball movement. We got into passing lanes and forced a few turnovers.
“In the second quarter, we settled for too many outside shots off of one pass, and it just wasn’t our night from there.”
Amber Howard and Talia DiMichele ignited the Owls’ third-quarter surge with Howard scoring eight points and DiMichele added six.
“In the second half, we started playing inside out, and it worked in our favor,” Johnson said. “Amber attacked the rim and played off two feet nicely. Talia has been playing really tough defense for us all year and did just that all game but particularly in the third quarter, which I thought gave us energy.
“We have to understand that defensive stops give us energy and that will feed into our offense. It’s hard to create energy from the offensive end without getting stops.”
Howard led all scorers with 20 points – 15 in the second half. DiMichele added 13 – nine in the second half.
For the Indians, Bermel’s 14 points, which included four 3-pointers, led the way. Kiera Fadden added eight points, and Emily Dick had six.
Bensalem (5-4, 3-3 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East on Friday for a crossover game, and Souderton (1-9, 0-6) will be on the road at Harry S Truman Friday.
Souderton 7-9-7-13 36
Bensalem 15-1-18-14 48
Souderton (36) – Jacquelyn Bermel 5 0-2 14; Julia Purvy 2 0-0 4; Brooke Fenchel 1 0-0 2; Liz Word 1 0-0 2; Kiera Fadden 3 2-4 8; Emily Dick 3 0-0 6; TOTALS 15 2-6 36.
Bensalem (48) – Grace McShane 2 1-3 5; Talia DiMichele 4 4-8 13; Devon Bell 2 0-0 4; Amber Howard 9 2-7 20; Ariana Jenkins 1 0-0 2; Peyton Miller 2 0-2 4; TOTALS 20 7-20 48.
3-point goals: Souderton – Jacquelyln Bermel 4; Bensalem – Talia DiMichele.
Non-league
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 61, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 51
In a contest that was a roller coaster of emotions for both sides, it was the visiting Indians using a strong fourth quarter to earn the non-league win.
The Indians appeared poised to coast to the finish line when they opened up a 41-22 lead early in the second half, but the Lions responded with a 21-4 tear to trim Rock North’s lead to two heading into the final quarter, 45-43.
The Indians outscored their hosts 16-8 in the fourth quarter to earn the hard-fought win.
“Tonight was a good team win,” Rock North coach Jack Kelly said. “Throughout the season, we have preached getting better one day at a time, and we have preached the power of resilience.
“I thought we showed some improvement in many areas tonight, and after New Hope made their run, we are very proud of the resolve we showed in the fourth quarter.”
Rock North opened the game with a 15-3 first quarter that featured a whole lot of Delaney McCaffery, who scored nine of those points. Ruth O’Keeffe accounted for the other six.
The two teams exchanged baskets in the second quarter, and the Indians went into halftime with a 33-20 lead.
That set the stage for the Lions’ 23-12 offensive burst in the third quarter. Izzy Elizondo accounted for 10 of those points while Emily Wilson added seven as the Lions erupted for 40 points in the middle two quarters combined.
The Indians regained control in the fourth quarter. Julia Koval came up with a huge offensive rebound early in the quarter and buried a baseline trey off a kickout from McCaffery.
Elizondo responded by hitting a step-back jumper to cut it to 47-45, but the Indians answered with a 6-0 run. Kelly recounts the game’s key sequence.
“Amara Arroyo hit a jumper off a fast break pass from Megan Reichenbach,” the Indians’ coach said. “Delaney McCaffery followed it with a breakaway steal that resulted in a foul, and she hit both free throws to make it 51-45.
“Then Ruth O’Keeffe scored on a drop-step to make it 53-45. Nina Melxler hit a 3 to cut the lead to 53-48 but Delaney and Amara both hit key free throws down the stretch to seal the deal.”
McCaffery’s 22 points – which included a 6-for-8 effort at the foul line and two 3s – led the Indians. O’Keeffe also finished in double figures with 14, and Arroyo added eight points.
“I thought we got key contributions from really everyone that played,” Kelly said. “Julia Koval was especially tremendous rebounding the basketball, Frannie Boyle gave us great minutes off the bench and also was effective rebounding the basketball.
“Amara Arroyo took a big charge in the fourth and made some plays down the stretch. Delaney was not only effective scoring the basketball, but more importantly, I thought she made some great decisions sharing the basketball that led to some really big shots by her teammates. And Ruth O’Keeffe worked really hard in the middle offensively and defensively.”
Kelly tipped his hat to his opponent.
“Credit to Steve Polinsky and his team- we got up early, but he made some great adjustments defensively, and they just proved to be incredibly resilient,” Kelly said. “His players do a great job of playing together, and they are especially tough offensively.
“Izzy Elizondo and her ability to get into the lane but play on balance is really impressive, and Emily Wilson does a great job of finding her shot while playing within their offense. We knew tonight would be a battle – it was a great game, and now we have to re-focus our attention on how we can continue to improve.”
Elizondo’s 23 points led all scorers and included two 3s and a 9-for-11 effort at the foul line. Wilson added 18 points, which included four 3-pointers. Kayla Fennel had seven points.
“CR North came out the first quarter and played really well,” Polinsky said. “A credit to Jack and his squad. Delaney McCaffery had a great game, and she hit some big shots at the end. Ruth O’Keeffe played really well as well.
“I thought we fought back in the third and fourth quarter, but we had to foul and they hit their foul shots. Izzy Elizondo had a fantastic game with 23 points and Emily Wilson chipped in 18 points.”
Council Rock North (4-6, 1-5 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South Friday for a crossover game, and New Hope-Solebury (5-4, 2-3) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday.
Council Rock North 15-18-12-16 61
New Hope-Solebury 3-17-23-8 51
Council Rock North (61) – Skylar Wright 1 0-0 2; Julia Koval 2 0-0 5; Amara Arroyo 2 4-4 8; Delaney McCaffery 7 6-8 22; Sasha Galarza 1 0-0 2; Megan Reichenbach 1 1-2 4; Ruth O’Keeffe 7 0-1 14; Frannie Boyle 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 23 11-14 61.
New Hope-Solebury (51) – Kayla Fennel 2 3-4 7; Izzy Elizondo 6 9-11 23; Emily Wilson 6 2-2 18; Nina Meixler 1 0-0 3; TOTALS 15 14-17 51.
3-point goals: CRN – Delaney McCaffery 2, Julia Koval, Megan Reichenbach; NH-S – Emily Wilson 4, Izzy Elizondo 2 Nina Meixler.
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