Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Monday.
Non-league
BENSALEM 38, ST. HUBERT’S 36
Amber Howard – who scored a game-high 17 points – capped a standout effort with a basket that broke a 36-36 tie with 30 seconds remaining in Monday’s non-league contest.
The game, however, was far from over.
“We were playing from behind in the fourth quarter,” Bensalem coach Steve Johnson said. “We tied it with about a minute and 15 seconds left.
“We got a defensive stop, we brought it down. We were running our offense. They did a really good job in their half-court defense – they went back and forth between man-to-man and zone. They had a loose ball, Talia DiMichele dove on it, and we used out last timeout.
“That got us a baseline out of bounds with 30 seconds left. We ran one of our plays for Amber, who screen and sealed, and the girl kind of fell over. They were arguing that it was a push off. I think it was a good no call. We got her the ball, and she made an easy layup, essentially an uncontested layup.”
The game’s final seconds were not without drama.
“They got the ball to half court with about 20 seconds left,” Johnson said. “They were running their offense, they threw it in the paint. There was 14 seconds left, and the horn went off. The girls stopped for a second – both coaches yelled, ‘Just keep playing.’
“They passed the ball to the post, they’re trying to drive and attack, they go within one second, and the horn blows again. It went out of bounds. They got the ball with a second left. We didn’t have any timeouts, we just played good defense, they tried to get a three, it tipped their girls’ hands and went out of bounds. It was a very stressful ending.”
Earlier, the Owls, who led 10-6, after one quarter, took a 16-13 lead into halftime. Howard led the way with eight points.
St. Hubert’s used a 13-8 third quarter to go on top 26-24 heading into the final quarter.
“In the third quarter, at one point, we were down by six,” Johnson said. “We kept clawing and kept fighting back.
“Talia DiMichele had a big three to pull us within two. From there, it was one possession at a time, one defensive stop at a time.”
The stage was set for the dramatic finish and Howard’s big shot as time was winding down.
“She’s at her best when she gets downhill and plays off two feet,” Johnson said of Howard. “She’s really been working hard on playing on two feet, being more controlled in the post.
“When she goes off two feet, I have a feeling the shot’s going to go in just because when she’s in control of her body – she’s 6-foot, she’s strong, so when she plays off two feet, plays off a jump stop, I think she’s really effective, and she did that tonight. She got to the paint, she got paint touches, and she played off two (feet), so that’s definitely what made her have a good game.”
The Owls’ coach went on to credit the play of several players in the win.
“You won’t see it on the scoreboard, but MacKenzie Kramer had huge rebounds,” Johnson said. “She had a very timely offensive rebound putback for two. She ripped it off two girls. She’s real strong.
“Talia DiMichele is one of our shooters. She hadn’t been shooting the ball too well the first couple of games, but she had three big ones tonight, so I think she’s getting out of her shooting slump. We’re ready to see what happens the rest of the week with Talia.”
DiMichele had three 3s and finished with nine points for the Owls, who won their second two-point game in their last three.
“It’s always a game with us,” Johnson said. “We lose to Pennsbury by five, beat Hubert’s by two. You never know. I already have gray hair, I’m getting more.”
Bensalem (2-3, 1-2 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Tuesday.
Bensalem 10-6-8-14 38
St. Hubert’s 6-7-13-10 36
Bensalem (38) – Talia DiMichele 3 0-0 9; Mikayla Donahue 1 0-0 3; Mackenzie Kramer 2 0-2 4; Sydney McCoy 2 0-0 4; Kylie Smith 0 1-2 1; Amber Howard 7 3-4 17; TOTALS 15 4-8 38.
St. Hubert’s (36) – Alyssa Browning 1 2-4 4; Mia Tobin 5 0-0 11; Ally Coleman 1 0-0 2; Alexa Price 1 2-4 4; Luka D’Andrea 4 0-0 8; Kate Patterson 3 0-0 7; TOTALS 15 4-8 36.
3-point goals: Bensalem – Talia DiMichele 3, Mikayla Donahue; St. Hubert’s – Mia Tobin, Kate Patterson.
WILLIAM TENNENT 56, MaST CHARTER 49
Halie Staub scored a game high 16 points and was one of three Tennent players in double figures in Monday’s non-league win.
“It was another good win tonight and we had great scoring balance, which has been the biggest difference this year compared to past years,” Tennent coach Laura Whitney said. “On any given night we have multiple girls that can give us double figures, and they can do it in a variety of ways.
“The other thing that has been so impressive this early in the season is how our girls have been able to finish games, especially with having a young team. In three of our four wins, we have had double-digit leads late in the game that got cut to a two-possession game and instead of panicking and folding in the tent we have been able to respond and go on our own run to close out the game. They continue to show resiliency and keep grinding.”
Staub’s eight points – which included a pair of 3s – jumpstarted the Panthers, who opened up a 14-7 lead after one quarter. They took a 24-18 lead into halftime. Ella Mednick had six points in the second quarter, eight points in the half.
The two teams exchanged baskets in the second half.
In addition to Staub, Mednick had 12 points, Alyssa Lewicki contributed 10 points, and Avery Kocur added eight points.”
Whitney had plenty of praise to go around.
“I thought Halie Staub was huge the first quarter giving us a big lift early,” the Panthers’ coach said. “She really came out strong and played with a ton of confidence, knocking down her outside shots as well as being aggressive getting to the basket. It was definitely her best all-around game so far this season.
“Alyssa Lewicki continues to be impressive at both ends of the floor. We have asked her to take on a different role/position this year, and she has really embraced the challenge. Alyssa’s not the most vocal leader but does a great job of leading by example. She has been so consistent for us the last two weeks and has really stepped up.
“We have a short turnaround with a tough matchup against New Hope tomorrow. Hopefully, we can build on this momentum and continue to improve.”
William Tennent (4-2, 2-1 SOL) will host New Hope-Solebury on Tuesday.
William Tennent 16-10-18-12 56
MaST Charter 7-11-16-15 49
William Tennent (56) – Ella Mednick 5 2-2 12; Avery Kocur 3 2-2 8; Halie Staub 5 3-4 16; Alyssa Lewicki 4 2-2 10; Haley Dickson 1 1-2 3; Jess Whisler 1 0-0 2; Morgan Volz 2 1-1 5; TOTALS 21-11-13 56.
MaST Charter (49) – Kiley Fitzsimmons 6 1-3 13; Saniyah Washington 1 3-4 6; Kyleigh Murphy 2 0-0 5; Anya Washington 7 6-9 23; Lauren Sweeney 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 17 10-16 49.
PENNRIDGE 56, UPPER PERKIOMEN 15
The Lady Rams raced out of the gate to a 25-4 lead after one quarter and took a 41-10 lead into halftime on their way to a rout of the visiting Tribe in Monday’s non-league contest.
Ella Brown’s 15 points on five 3-pointers led the Rams. All told, the Rams had 10 3-pointers. Katie Yoder added 13 points, including a pair of 3s. Anna Croyle contributed nine points while Grace Rosica and Emily DeHaven – who had a pair of 3s – both had six points.
Pennridge (4-2, 1-2 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Tuesday.
Upper Perkiomen 4-6-2-3 15
Pennridge 25-16-10-5 56
Upper Perkiomen (15) – Carley Heiser 1 0-0 2; Jo Benemsky 1 0-0 2; Abby Davidheiser 0 0-2 0; Erin States 4 0-0 8; Elena Fabian 1 0-0 2; Dana Cahill 0 1-2 1; TOTALS 7 1-4 15.
Pennridge (56) – Ella Brown 5 0-0 15; Grace Rosica 3 0-0 6; Anna Croyle 3 2-3 9; Katie Yoder 5 1-1 13; Emily DeHaven 2 0-0 6; Olivia Poole 1-1 1 3; Samantha Murphy 1 0-0 2; Layla Verbit 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 21 4-5 56.
3-poing goals: Pennridge – Ella Brown 5, Katie Yoder 2, Emily DeHaven 2, Anna Croyle.
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