Check out the results for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action on Wednesday. To view photos of the CB South/CR North game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Council Rock North 35, Central Bucks South 31
Fifteen seconds.
That’s how long it took for Rock North to erase CB South’s first lead since the opening moments of the game.
A three-point play by freshman Haley Meinel gave the Titans – who trailed by as many as eight early in the fourth quarter – a 27-26 lead with 1:36 remaining in regulation.
With the Titans double teaming the ball on the defensive end, senior Michaela Finneyfrock found teammate Hailey Burns open on the opposite side of the basket. The senior forward – despite being fouled – made the shot and converted the three-point play to give the Indians a 29-27 lead.
“Obviously, we were a little nervous about it,” Burns said of falling behind late. “But we remained calm throughout and just were able to play our game. It turned out well.”
The Titans pulled to within one with 31 seconds remaining after another Meinel bucket (30-29), but senior captain Jess Gerber buried a pair from the foul line at the other end. The Titans cut the Indians’ lead to 32-31 after freshman Mackenzie Ehresman connected on both ends of a one-and-one, but they would get no closer as the Indians closed it out by burying three-of-four from the foul line.
“I was real impressed with how my girls stayed under control,” coach Lou Palkovics said. “You lead the whole game and you go down one – it’s good to have that senior leadership out on the court.”
Madison Attanasio –wearing a neck brace – watched Wednesday’s opener from the sidelines after sustaining injuries in an automobile accident two days earlier.
“Especially without Madison, we all knew we had to step it up just for her and play our hardest and push it even more,” Burns said.
Attanasio, according to Palkovics, was penciled in to play a key role.
“We wanted to play her on Jordan (Vitelli), so it changed our matchups right away,” the Indians’ coach said. “I thought (Emily) Mackin did a great job on Jordan.”
For three quarters, neither team could generate all that much offense. The Indians – sparked by six points from Finneyfrock – led 16-12 at halftime.
“I don’t think it was so much opening game jitters as it was – that’s a very good defensive team,” Palkovics said. “They did it against Notre Dame. They had some players, but (South) took them out of everything.”
The Indians appeared to have the game well in hand when they opened up a 22-14 lead early in the fourth quarter after a three-point play by Burns, but the Titans began chipping away, sparked by the inspired play of Meinel, who made it a 23-21 game with a basket that capped a personal 7-0 run.
Meinel led all scorers with 13 points – 11 in the fourth quarter to spark the Titans’ comeback.
“I’m only working on two scouts, and my scout was – we can kind of play off of her,” Palkovics said of Meinel. “I had seen them at Springfield-Delco, and being a freshman, she looked a little scared, so I wasn’t as worried about her.
“She played really well. I was really impressed with her, finishing with her left hand. She made a couple of great moves around the basket.”
Gerber led the Indians with 10 points while Burns, Finneyfrock and Mackin each had seven. For the Titans, Kaley Smith scored six points on a pair of treys.
Rock North (1-0) will travel to William Tennent for Friday night’s SOL opener while the Titans (2-1) will travel to North Penn.
Council Rock North 11-5-3-16 35
Central Bucks South 3-9-2-17 31
Upper Moreland 52, Academy of New Church 14
The Golden Bears sprinted to a 20-3 lead at the end of one quarter of Wednesday’s opener and added to that in the second frame to go on top 30-6 by halftime. They continued their dominance in the second half.
Jenna Getz led a balanced attack with 12 points while Timyla Martin added seven. Julia Gatto and Elizabeth Magaha both had six points for the Golden Bears, who will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh for Friday’s SOL opener.
Academy of New Church 3-3-4-4 14
Upper Moreland 20-10-11-11 52
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