Non-league
Blue Star Classic (Thomas Jefferson University)
UPPER DUBLIN 46, RUTGERS PREP 32
Another Sunday, another big win for the Flying Cardinals.
On the heels of last Sunday’s win over St. Frances, the Cardinals defeated a Rutgers Prep squad that last year competed for a state championship and this year is the fourth ranked team in New Jersey.
The Cards – behind three straight 3-pointers from freshman Ella Morris – opened up a 9-2 lead and led by two after one quarter, 15-13. They took a 24-21 lead into halftime. Tamia Clark – whose 19 points led UD – led the Cards with 11 first-half points.
UD took a 33-27 lead into the fourth quarter and added to that led in the final frame.
By the numbers: Tamia Clark (19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals), Emilia Coleman (11 points), Ella Morris (9 points – 3 3-pointers), Megan Ngo (5 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists), Bridget DiMartile (5 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 points).
Upper Dublin Morgan Funsten: “This was a really good win. I thought for us to be able to compete today we had to defensive rebound because of their size, we had to take care of the ball, and we needed to play tough again. We had to believe that we belonged on the same court as them, and we actually did.
“We had six turnovers for the game, which was great. We actually did not do a great job of defensive rebounding – we gave up 19 offensive rebounds, which is a huge number. Twelve of their 32 points were second chance points. We were battling – it was not for lack of effort.
“It was such a great game. So many girls helped out. The game was much closer than the score indicates. It was the most stressful 14-point win I’ve ever had in my life.”
–Morris jumpstarts Cards: “Ella Morris had the first nine points for us. She was 3-for-3 (from beyond the arc), and we got up 9-2 early. We weren’t playing well, but Ella happened to make three open shots on nice plays by her teammates, and we really weathered the storm in the first quarter. We gave up six offensive rebounds in the first quarter, but with Ella’s hot shooting – we found a way to win the first quarter (15-13).”
–Early foul trouble: “Emilia Coleman picked up her second foul less than two minutes into the game, and Tamia (Clark) picked up her second foul in the first half, but against a team like that, I just had to trust them. They never left the game. Emilia and Tamia both did a great job playing through foul trouble.”
–Locking down on defense: “As a team, we’ve gotten so much better defensively. We’re trying to have secondary players beat us. Their leading scorer today had 10 points, and it was their fifth leading scorer – the girl on their team that was fifth in points per game, so we held down the girls on their team that are used to scoring more.”
–Play of the game: “Maybe the play of the game was early in the fourth quarter. They scored the first point of the quarter. They got about three looks on offensive rebounds but didn’t convert. Tamia Clark got a rebound and passed ahead to Bridget DiMartile, and DiMartile made a great move to the basket where she kind of spun and finished. We went on a 13-2 run after that and strung some stops after scores together.”
— Props galore: “Tamia (Clark) was incredible. She finished with 19 points on 13 shots. She can make a highlight reel of all the different ways she scored today. The variety of ways she can score is really impressive.
“Emilia (Coleman) played their leading scorer, Ava LaMonica. She shared responsibilities with Megan (Ngo) and held her to five. Emilia also hit three second-half 3s.”
–An elite floor general: “It doesn’t show up in the points scored, but for the second consecutive Sunday, Megan Ngo played 32 minutes. In both games, the most important player on the other team got in foul trouble. I think these teams – they play national schedules, and they’re probably used to going against 6-foot guards. They see Megan, and at first, they’re licking their chops – ‘Okay, here we go. I can’t wait to steal the ball from this girl.’ If you try to steal the ball from her, you’re just going to get in foul trouble.
“It literally happened the last two weeks against these elite teams. It really throws the team off when your point guard is not on the floor. Today, their point guard had three first-half fouls and then fouled out early in the fourth quarter. I completely attribute that to Megan’s ability to control the game.
“Her toughness, her will to win – she was voted a captain as a junior, which is an impressive thing. You want your team to take on the persona of Megan Ngo, and they absolutely have. I knew – at the beginning of the year – we were really talented. I questioned a few games in if our ‘want’ could match our talent, and it’s starting to get to that spot. I’m really excited. It’s really fun to coach this team.”
–Meeting the challenge of a tough schedule: Making our schedule, I was afraid that I maybe was pushing my team too much to the limit. They played awesome against St. Frances last Sunday. Today was a similar type team. They have four 6-footers in their top seven. They have a freshman coming off the bench who’s in the top 20 in her class. These teams ooze with talent. It can only make our team better. The fight we showed last Sunday against St. Frances absolutely carried over to today.”
Up next: Upper Dublin (10-2, 3-0 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
Upper Dublin 15-9-9-13 46
Rutgers Prep 13-8-6-5 32
Upper Dublin (46) – Bridget DiMartile 1 0-0 2; Tamia Clark 8 3-4 19; Megan Ngo 2 1-2 5; Emilia Coleman 4 0-0 11; Ella Morris 3 0-0 9; TOTALS 18 4-6 46.
Rutgers Prep (32)- Ava LaMonica 2 1-2 5; Natalia Valdez 3 4-6 10; Hailey Benlow 2 0-0 4; Ava Frith 1 1-2 3; Sophia Georgiades 3 0-0 6; Hannah Fraser 1 2-2 4; TOTALS 12 8-12 32.
3-point goals: UD – Ella Morris 3, Emilia Coleman 3; RP –
WEST CATHOLIC 33, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 27
The Colonials took what appeared to be a comfortable 21-13 lead into halftime but then scored just six points in the second half, suffering a disappointing loss in Sunday’s Blue Star Classic contest at Thomas Jefferson University.
AJ Avery’s 13 points led the Colonials.
Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Dan Dougherty: “Leading the entire game, slow painful death in the second half.
“We decided with no prep or practice and a limited number of available varsity kids to play a halfcourt game today against an aggressive physical team. Started off well, but in the second half with our team playing defense at the other side of the floor, coupled with big mental mistakes, it allowed them back into the game and ultimately to take the lead. Offensively for us in the second half, we continually made mental mistakes against pressure and were unable to finish at the basket or knock down an open shot.
“Best player for us today was freshman Grace Harvey, despite only playing half the game she was a +11 with five steals.”
–Looking ahead: “The schedule continues to get tougher with a home game against Upper Dublin Tuesday and away at Lower Moreland Friday. It’s going to continue to test our team’s mental and emotional toughness. At Abington we fell apart from the top. Today at least, I complimented our team for coming out better, but (we) have to be able to compete for 32 minutes. We have to put some effort into preparing for good teams – film study, extra shooting practice, something.”
Up next: Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-2, 2-1 SOL) will host Upper Dublin Tuesday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 7-14-4-2 27
West Catholic 6-7-10-10 33
Plymouth Whitemarsh (27) – Olivia Patete 2 2-2 6; AJ Avery 5 2-3 13; McKenna Winland 2 0-0 4; Eliza Meersman 1 0-0 2; Grace Harvey 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 11 4-5 27.
West Catholic (33) – Coleman 3 2-2 8; Scott 1 6-6 8; Blake a 10-0 3; Trusty 3 1-2 8; Henry 1 2-2 4; Hayes 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 10 11-12 33.
3-point goals: PW – AJ Avery; WC – Blake, Trusty.
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