Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action on Sunday.
Non-league
UPPER DUBLIN 50, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 28
Defense has been the calling card of Upper Dublin under coach Morgan Funsten. That hasn’t changed, but what has changed is the team’s philosophy on offense.
Instead of a methodical half-court offense, the Cardinals are looking to play up-tempo. So far, so good.
“With us playing a little bit different style this year, I’ve always been a little bit skeptical as to if we could continue to defend the way we have in the past while also playing quickly on offense,” Funsten said. “And the girls are doing a great job of staying connected defensively and still defending teams the way we have in the past.
“That’s something that’s kind of a non-negotiable, so it was – hey, if we want to play faster and we want to be more up-tempo, we have to defend the way we have in the past.
“The girls are just doing a great job. I said to the girls after the game – I’ve had to coach this team less than any team I’ve ever coached in my career because the type of leadership and the type of guard play that we have. I almost feel as though I’m a fan half the time, just standing back and watching these girls go to work. It’s been a great start.”
Sunday’s game got off to a good start for the Cardinals, who opened up an 11-4 lead after one quarter and extended their advantage to 27-15 by halftime. Megan Ngo’s 12 points led the Cardinals in the first half. Tamia Clark added eight and Amy Ngo had six. The Cardinals added to their lead in the second half, outscoring the Golden Hawks 23-13.
While happy with his team’s offense, Funsten was even more pleased with its defense.
“Megan Ngo played (Kathryn) O’Kane – O’Kane makes them go at least to push the ball up the floor so quickly, something they’re so good at,” the UD coach said. “Megan did a great job of disrupting her and thinking about Meg instead of just pushing the ball up the floor and forced them into the half court where I thought we defended very well.
“They didn’t make any 3s, and that’s a strength of theirs. They did have some open ones, but at the same time, I thought we did a nice job of defending it as well.”
Amy Ngo, who was named team MVP, led the Flying Cardinals with 19 points.
“I thought it was the best decision-making game she’s had in her career, and she’s had some great games,” Funsten said. “She was 9-for-12 from the field, so she was super efficient, and she also had four rebounds and four assists.”
Clark finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, and Megan Ngo had 14 points, eight assists, five rebounds and five steals.
“Her game is just at a totally different level,” Funsten said of his point guard.
For the Golden Hawks, Lily Bross scored seven points, and Camryn Gregory added six points.
Upper Dublin (6-0, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Monday, and Council Rock South (4-3, 2-2) will host Harry S Truman on Tuesday.
Council Rock South 4-11-9-4 28
Upper Dublin 12-15-16-7 50
Council Rock South (28) – Sarah Freeman 1 0-0 2; Liliana Metrick 1 0-0 2; Lily Bross 3 1-2 7; Miranda Cantor 1 0-0 2; Gillian Martin 0 0-2 0; Katie Papura 2 1-2 5; Camryn Gregory 2 2-3 6; Fiona Reckner 1 2-2 4; TOTALS 11 6-11 28.
Upper Dublin (50) – Bridget DiMartile 0 1-2 1; Megan Ngo 6 2-4 14; Tamia Clark 7 1-4 16; Amy Ngo 9 0-0 19; TOTALS 22 4-10 50.
3-point goals: UD – Tamia Clark, Amy Ngo.
ABINGTON 60, WEST CATHOLIC 45
The Ghosts raced out of the gate to a 20-9 lead after one quarter, and although West Catholic rallied to make it a three-point game at halftime, the Ghosts used a 20-8
third quarter to put the game out of reach.
“We adjusted our defense in the third quarter, which stopped their penetration to the basket,” Abington coach Allison Lawson said.
In the Ghosts’ 20-point first quarter, Mikiaya Durham scored eight points, and Maya Johnson had six. West Catholic trimmed the Ghosts’ lead to 26-23 at halftime.
Durham had another big quarter in the third, scoring eight points while Piper McGinley had seven in Abington’s 20-point quarter.
Durham led the Ghosts with 18 points, which included three 3s, and Piper McGinley added 15. Johnson – named team MVP – added 14, and Jordyn Reynolds had six.
“Our points guard, Maya Johnson, played great today,” Lawson said. “She ran the point with poise and only had one turnover the whole game.
“Makiaya Durham also played great on both ends of the floor. She was hitting the 3, attacking the rim and rebounding on defense. Piper McGinley played great defense on the big girls and got to the basket anytime she wanted.”
Abington (5-2, 3-1 SOL) will travel to Quakertown on Tuesday.
West Catholic 9-14-8-15 45
Abington 20-6-20-14 60
West Catholic (45) – Ciana Blake 4 2-4 12; Sakinah Abdus-Salaam 4 2-6 10; Kiajah Henry 1 2-2 4; Ciani Scott 7 5-7 19; Nyla Coleman 1 0-2 2; TOTALS 17 11-21 45.
Abington (60) – Ava Teich 1 0-0 2; Maya Johnson 6 1-1 14; Mikiaya Durham 6 3-4 18; Jordyn Reynolds 3 0-2 6; Piper McGinley 6 2-2 15; Sarah Oleary 2 1-2 5; TOTALS 24 7-11 60
3-point goals: West Catholic – Ciana Blake 2; Abington – Mikiaya Durham 3, Maya Johnson, Pipe McGinley.
GERMANTOWN ACADEMY 44, PENNSBURY 37
The Patriots took a 13-4 lead after one quarter, and the Falcons spent the rest of the game trying to catch up.
“Germantown Academy is an athletic, intelligent, well coached team,” Pennsbury assistant coach Kaitlin Kelly said. “This was the third day in a row they’ve had a game, and you can see how mentally and physically tough they are to handle it that well.
“We spent the majority of the game playing catch up. They’d have these runs in the beginning of each quarter, we’d then proceed to rally, but it just wasn’t enough.”
GA took a 23-16 lead into halftime. Sofia Vitucci accounted for 11 of the Falcons’ points. The Patriots upped that lead to 35-23 after three quarters before the Falcons – behind a pair of Daniella MacDonald 3s – staged a run of their own in the fourth.
“We had some fight in us in the fourth quarter,” Kelly said. “We had some great defensive possessions and execution on offense. But that needs to be more consistent throughout the entire game. Not to mention a tough day from the free throw line again, which could have made a significant difference in the game.”
Vitucci – named team MVP – scored a game-high 16 points. MacDonald, who had three 3s, added 11 points for the Falcons.
Pennsbury (5-2, 3-1 SOL) will travel to Council Rock North on Sunday.
Pennsbury 4-12-7-14 37
Germantown Academy 13-10-12-9 44
Pennsbury (37) – Layla Matthias 0 1-2 1; Maggie Burns 1 2-2 4; Sofia Vitucci 7 1-2 16; Daniella MacDonald 4 0-0 11; Sammie Haws 2 0-0 5; TOTALS 14 4-6 37
Germantown Academy (44) – Jess Kolecki 5 0-0 11; Isabella Casey 4 2-2 12; Gabby Bowes 1 2-3 4; Jenna Aponik 2 2-4 7; Jessica Aponik 3 0-0 6; Sam Wade 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 17 6-9 44.
3-point goals: Pennsbury – Daniella MacDonald 3, Sammie Haws, Sofia Vitucci; GA – Isabella Casey 2, Jess Kolecki, Jenn Aponik.
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