Hatboro-Horsham & Council Rock South were winners in SOL girls’ basketball action Monday.
Non-league
HATBORO-HORSHAM 61, LOWER MORELAND 38
The Hatters took a 33-25 lead over the visiting Lions into halftime and then blew the game wide open with a 20-2 third-quarter tear to go on top 53-27 on their way to the lopsided non-league win. Alice Hall led the third-quarter charge, scoring 10 of her 15 in that quarter.
“We really picked up the intensity on defense and found our rhythm on offense,” coach Dennis Steinly said.
Early on, Emily Thomas jumpstarted the Hatters, scoring eight of her 10 points in the opening quarter to propel her team to a 14-9 lead.
“We received some nice contributions from girls off the bench,” Steinly said. “Ava McKinney hit two threes to finish with eight points, and Sam Hollish hit a couple baskets for five points.
“It was a nice way to finish out 2019 – we’ve won three in a row, and we’re starting to gel as a team.”
Point guard Cam Ryan added seven points for the Hatters.
Hatboro-Horsham (5-3, 2-1 SOL) is off until Jan. 3 when the Hatters will travel to Springfield Township.
Lower Moreland 9-16-2-11 38
Hatboro-Horsham 14-19-20-8 61
Lower Moreland (38) – Lynch 2 3-5 7; Malone 5 0-0 14; McGarry 0 0-2 0; Courduff 0 4-4 4; Dugo 1 3-3 5; Finnegan 1 0-2 2; Neeld 1 2-2 4; Shein 1 0-0 2; Totals 11 12-20 38.
Hatboro-Horsham (61) – Emily Thomas 5 0-0 10; Cam Ryan 3 1-2 7; Caroline Shegogue 2 0-1 5; Ava MKinney 2 2-4 8; Leah Harrington 0 1-2 1; Jess Howard 2 3-4 8; Graceanne Griffis 1 0-0 2; Alice Hall 4 7-10 15; Sam Hollish 2 0-1 5; Totals 21 14-29 61.
3-point goals: LM – Malone 4, HH – McKinney 2, Shegogue, Howard, Hollish.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 52, VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 37
The visiting Golden Hawks outscored the Jems in each of the four quarters, opening up an 11-10 lead after one quarter and extending that to 26-23 at halftime. They went on to outscore the Jems 26-15 in the second half, rolling to the non-league win.
“Overall, I thought our effort and intensity was really good, one of our tops in terms of 32 minutes on both ends of the floor,” Rock South coach Blair Klumpp said. “We got strong contributions from all eight who played the majority of minutes today. Some girls stepped up and picked up the slack for others, and it was a really good win for us.
“I was proud of how we played together on both ends of the floor and really stayed disciplined. When we stay structured defensively and play team defense, we are capable of this type of effort. Offensively, our execution, management of the clock, and decision making was really strong. We preached to them at practice and watched film about getting back to what we did well the first four games, and we did that today. The girls deserve a lot of credit for how they responded and gave attention to details today. I’m very proud of them.”
Nicole Blaustein led the Golden Hawks with 21 points to go along with three assists. Jenna Culp added eight points and Hannah Binder added seven points and led the Golden Hawks under the boards with nine rebounds. She also had two assists.
Ryann Szydlik added eight rebounds, and Montanna Chambers had six boards, three rebounds and two steals. Karissa Smedley led the defense with five steals. Carley Irvin also had three assists while Kim Speiser had two assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
“The decision making and time and score management from Carley, Nicole, Karissa, Montanna, and Kim was really solid,” Klumpp said. “Nicole had some good takes within the structure of using clock late that kept the game at a distance. She was under control and let the game come to her and was very effective and efficient.
“We have been working a lot on time and score stuff and shot selection, and when we execute it and work together as a group, our results have been really good. Montanna has found other ways to contribute and not just be a shooter, which shows growth. Carley and Jenna were solid all around and played smart while being in foul trouble.”
The Golden Hawks coach went on to laud the play of several underclassmen.
“Our two freshmen – Karissa Smedley and Kim Speiser – played outstanding defense and were very active,” Klumpp said. “I thought it was Kim’s best all around game.
“Ryann Szydlik deserves a lot of credit as well. That eighth girl in our rotation has not been set and has been a few different people, based on matchups, health, gut feel, whatever the case may be. Riana Szydlik had a game early on where she stepped up. Amy Loving has played that role in one game, and today Ryann really stepped up and gave valuable minutes with girls in foul trouble and a couple under the weather and she was all over the place.
“She could have felt sorry for herself since she hasn’t gotten consistent minutes up to this point, but she’s put the team first and was ready when her number was called. And if our bench can buy into that and just be prepared and ready because ‘you never know,’ then we will continue to be competitive. Coach Dingui has been pushing her to be more aggressive and assertive and go attack the ball, and she showed a lot of that today. She got us multiple extra possessions. As a group we won a lot of 50/50 balls – if that can be our calling card and we can take pride in it, we will be in games.”
Council Rock South (4-3, 1-1 SOL) will face Lansdale Catholic on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Conshohocken Fellowship House Tournament.
Council Rock South 11-15-11-15 52
Villa Joseph Marie 10-13-7-8 37
Council Rock South (52) – Jenna Culp 8, Nicole Blaustein 21, Hannah Binder 7, Carley Irvin 3, Montanna Chambers 3, Kim Speiser 4, Karissa Smedley 4, Ryann Szydlik 2.
Villa Joseph Marie (37) – Hagen 4, McLaughlin 5, Austin 4, Fiduccia 4, Kakoyah 2, Whalen 5, Zink 6, Skalaski 7.
About the Author
