Check out the results for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action on Monday. CR South/Neshaminy photos provided courtesy of Jesse Garber (http://jsgarber.zenfolio.com/p365104056)
National Conference
HARRY S TRUMAN 57, PENNSBURY 52
The Tigers found themselves on the short end of a 26-23 score to an improved Falcon squad that brought a two-game winning streak into Monday’s game. Sparked by an 18-9 third quarter burst, the Tigers rallied for the come-from-behind win.
“Those girls don’t give up,” Truman coach Collette Munford said of the Falcons. “I had several girls sick. I was sick all last week with the flu, and now I have several girls barking – I told them, ‘Block it out, sweat it out.’”
The key, according to the Tigers’ coach, was her team’s composure, even after two of her players were whistled for technical fouls.
“They didn’t let too much get into their head, but (Pennsbury) probably scored four points on each tech because they got the two foul shots and kept the ball,” Munford said. “Usually, that would get in our girls’ heads.
“They said at halftime, ‘Coach, we’re not losing,’ and I said, ‘We have to keep our heads in this game,’ and they did. They’re still learning. I’ve got to applaud them. They’re tough. I’m playing literally eight girls, and that’s it. Lately, it’s been seven.”
Kate Mix had a huge first half for the Falcons, scoring 13 points, while Sydney Buell had seven. Keeping the Tigers close were Alexis McCoy and Sabria Lytes as both players had seven first-half points.
In the third quarter, Briana Cliney led the Tigers were six points while Jayda Campbell added five, and Truman took a 41-36 into a final quarter that included a combined 27 trips to the foul line for the two teams. The Tigers converted 8-of-14, and the Falcons were 7-of-13.
“We needed a win,” Munford said. “I told my girls, ‘Look, that team has nothing to lose, but you do,’ and I think that puts pressure on them that they don’t know how to handle because they’ve never been here before.
“They have a lot of the old Truman ways, which you would think they would not have with a winning record, but they do. It’s new to them. They don’t want to mess up, they want to do well, but at the same time, they don’t know how to handle the pressure.
“When I say one game at a time, it is literally one game at a time, and I have to teach. I’m still teaching. It’s a process.”
Munford recently was asked by a newspaper reporter when Truman had last been vying for a playoff spot this late in the season.
“I told him I think it was the late 80s, and I wasn’t coaching then,” the Tigers’ coach said. “The girls have worked hard, my staff has worked hard, and I’ve worked hard.”
Four Tigers – Daeja Moore, Cliney, McCoy and Lytes – finished the game with 11 points each. Jayda Campbell added nine.
Buell led all scorers with 21 points, which included a pair of 3-pointers. Mix finished with 14, and Mary Miller added 11. Cami Wiegand contributed six points.
Harry S Truman (12-7, 3-6 SOL) will host Neshaminy on Tuesday, and Pennsbury (7-10, 2-7) will host Council Rock North on Tuesday.
Harry S Truman 11-12-18-16 57
Pennsbury 12-14-9-17 52
Harry S Truman (57) – Daeja Moore 5 1-2 11; Daisha Campbel 1 1-4 3; Jayda Campbell 2 4-4 9; Roneisha James 0 1-2 1; Briana Cliney 5 1-2 11; Alexis McCoy 3 5-8 11; Sabria Lytes 4 3-4 11; Totals 20 16-26 57.
Pennsbury (52) – Kate Mix 4 6-9 14; Mary Miller 3 5-8 11; Sydney Buell 7 5-8 21; Cami Wiegand 2 2-2 6; Totals 16 17-27 52.
Non-league
NESHAMINY 47, PERKIOMEN VALLEY 20
The Redskins controlled play from start to finish in Monday’s non-league game against the visiting Vikings, opening up a 10-2 lead after one quarter and adding to that lead in each of the four quarters.
“It was good to see us come out and play a full 32 minutes,” coach Joe Lally said. “We’ve been in every game, but we’ve had quarters or moments where we don’t play well.”
The Redskins took a 24-11 lead into halftime, and if there were any doubts about the outcome, those doubts were put to rest in a third quarter that saw the ‘Skins connect on four three-pointers and outscore their visitors 16-9.
“We definitely found our range,” Lally said. “The girls really came out in the third quarter and did what they had to do to put the game out of reach.
“Ali (Harvey) hit the first three, and then Devon (Storms) hit a three. We got a three from Olivia Scotti, and Brooke Mullin hit a three. Probably four of our first five buckets (in the third quarter) were threes.”
Most impressive was the fact that the Redskins limited a tall and physical Viking squad that averages 47 points a game to just 20 points. Megan Jonassen and Taylor Hamm combined for 16. The rest of the team had just four. Alex Blomstrom – who averages over eight points a game – did not score.
“We did our best to stay out of a half court game,” Lally said. “A lot of full court pressure, pushing the tempo – everything we could to not get engaged with them using their size in the half court.”
Harvey was feeling it from beyond the arc, connecting on four threes and leading a balanced Redskin attack with 12 points. Brooke Mullin added nine while Emily Alexis, Scotti and Storms each had seven. Freshman Kelli Kowalick had five rebounds.
Lally – like most coaches – admits he can be difficult to please, always seeing room for improvement.
“Tonight I told them in the locker room I was absolutely proud,” the Redskins’ coach said. “They played a full 32 minutes.
“They stuck with the game plan. We played the entire fourth quarter with four freshmen and a sophomore on the floor. It was our best all-around team effort from top to bottom, for sure.
“It’s a great time to have it. We have a tough game tomorrow against Truman, and then we wrap up league play with Council Rock South on Thursday. Records go out the window when you play in your league. Anything can happen. We’ll take the win and try and regroup tomorrow to play a tough Truman team.”
Neshaminy (13-5, 7-3 SOL) will travel to Harry S Truman on Tuesday.
Perkiomen Valley 2-9-3-6 20
Neshaminy 10-14-16-7 47
Perkiomen Valley (20) – Hanan Richmond 1 0-0 2 Bridgette Bono 1 0-0 2; Megan Jonassen 3 4-5 10; Taylor Hamm 1 4-6 6; Totals 6 8-11 20.
Neshaminy (47) – Emily Tantala 1 1-3 3; Emily Alexis 1 5-6 7; Olivia Scotti 3 0-0 7; Brooke Mullin 4 0-2 9; Meghan Ansel 1 0-0 2; Devon Storms 3 0-0 7; Allison Harvey 4 0-0 12; Totals 17 6-11 47.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 39, WISSAHICKON 35
The Golden Hawks found themselves staring at a 15-8 deficit after one quarter, but they turned the tables on the Trojans in the second quarter, outscoring their hosts 12-3 to go into halftime with a 20-18 advantage. The two teams exchanged baskets in the third quarter, and the Hawks closed it out with an 8-6 final frame to earn the non-league win.
Payton Spadaccino, Kasey Schlupp and Faith Turner each scored 10 points to lead a balanced Golden Hawk attack. Schlupp played a key role in South’s second quarter surge, scoring seven of her team’s 12 points.
For the Trojans, Brianna Tilghman’s 11-point effort led the way. Victoria Selverian added nine and Sydney Ott, seven points.
For the Golden Hawks, the win avenged a 27-25 loss to the Trojans in the Upper Merion Holiday Tournament on Dec. 27. The Trojans went on to win seven straight after their win over Rock South. Since then, they have lost seven in a row.
“We beat ourselves,” Wissahickon coach Rodney Cline said. “Twenty-seven turnovers. You don’t deserve to win the ball game if you turn the ball over 27 times. You shouldn’t even be in the ball game. It’s frustrating.”
Council Rock South (9-10, 4-5 SOL) will be on the road at Bensalem on Tuesday, and Wissahickon (8-11, 4-7) will travel to Upper Moreland Tuesday.
Council Rock South 8-12-11-8 39
Wissahickon 15-3-11-6 35
Council Rock South (39) – Payton Spadaccino 2 6-12 10; Bailey Vetter 2 0-0 4; Kasey Schlupp 4 1-5 10; Faith Turner 5 0-0 10; Allison McGowan 2 0-0 5; Totals 15 7-17 39.
Wissahickon (35) – Brianna Tilghman 5 1-2 11; Sydney Ott 2 1-2 7; Helma Meiby 0 1-2 1; Julianne Griffin 2 0-2 5; Victoria Selverian 4 0-0 9; Carly Fadel 1 0-0 2; Totals 14 3-8 35.
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