She’s Got Game Classic
CHELTENHAM 42, PATERSON EASTSIDE 34
The Lady Panthers led by just one after the opening quarter of Sunday’s non-league game but outscored Eastside 8-2 in the second to go into halftime with a 23-16 advantage. They led 34-25 heading into the final frame on their way to the non-league win.
Jiah Price led a balanced Lady Panther attack with 13 points. She also added eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Paige Powell and Maya Simmons both added 10 points. Simmons also had eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Dominating the backboards for the Lady Panthers were Zoe Thompson and Cassie Bugg. Thompson had a team-high 15 rebounds to go along with eight points, two blocks and two steals. Bugg also had double-digit rebounds with 10 to go along with three blocked shots.
Up next: Cheltenham (5-1, 3-0 SOL) is off until Friday, Jan. 3, when the Lady Panthers will host New Hope-Solebury in a key division battle.
Cheltenham 15-8-11-8 42
Eastside 14-2-9-9 34
Cheltenham (42) – Jiah Price 13, Paige Powell 10, Maya Simmons 10, Cassie Bugg 1, Zoe Thompson 8.
Paterson Eastside (34) – Jianni Dickson 1, Keyrie Rodriguez 3, Khori Muckle 1, Aubrey Newell 13, Nevaeh Banks 11, Alexis Chambers 5.
Boardwalk Classic
WILDWOOD 50, LOWER MORELAND 46
Dani Brusha and Briana McFerran combined for 32 points in strong outings.
But despite a heroic second-half comeback, the Lions – who are still without several starters – came up short.
Brusha led the Lions with 20 points, which included three 3-pointers, while McFerran had 18.
Lower Moreland coach Rich Becker: “This was another close game where you say ‘What if…’ We played a Wildwood team that entered the night averaging 68.5 ppg and has a senior who started the season with 1772 points, a junior who hit 101 threes and scored 364 points as a sophomore and a sophomore who scores 332 points her freshman year, and we held them to 50 points while still missing three starters.
“After the game, the coaches were all in agreement that our girls deserved to win this one. We were down 11 in the third quarter and battled back to take the lead late in the fourth only to see Wildwood get it back a possession later on another long 3 by Rebecca Benichou, her sixth of the game. On the following possession Nikki Sahl had an open 3 rim – out. It was a good look, and the ball just didn’t fall. Unfortunately for us, that the was the offensive story line for us. We had stretches where we had the looks, the shots just didn’t fall.”
–Props: “Regardless of the outcome, I just appreciate how tough the girls are playing. Nikki Sahl is growing from an athlete who plays basketball to a legitimate basketball player. Keira Huber is stepping up and is making great decisions and playing strong defense, and our two main players continue to lead the way for the other girls.
“Dani Brusha did not come out of the game and finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals 6 assists and 4 deflections.
“Briana McFerran played a gritty game. She was hobbled with an injury but still gave us 14 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals while being at about 70 percent.
“The girls are playing well together we’re excited to see what we can do when we finally get healthy.”
Up next: Lower Moreland (3-5, 1-2 SOL) will play Wildwood Catholic on Monday (4:15 pm).
Wildwood 11-15-10-14 50
Lower Moreland 12-6-15-13 46
Wildwood (50) – Macie McCracken 10, Angela Wilber 11, Rebecca Benichou 20, Tampianno 3, Djekal 4, Atkinson 2.
Lower Moreland (46) – Briana McFerran 14, Dani Brusha 18, Nikki Sahl 9, Maddie Broderick 3, Keira Huber 2.
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