Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Saturday.
Boardwalk Classic
(Lou Baselic Showcase)
BENSALEM 46, LOWER MORELAND 29
Less than 24 hours after turning in a 29-point performance in her team’s double overtime loss to Middle Township, Grace McShane was back at it again, this time scoring seven first-quarter points to propel the Lions to a 13-8 lead. They added to that lead in the second quarter and went into halftime with a 24-12 advantage on their way to the win.
“We had a tough, hard fought loss last night,” Bensalem coach Steve Johnson said. “To our girls’ credit, they responded well from the jump.
“This group has meshed really together since the start of the season, and I am very proud of how we are ending 2025.”
Key players: Grace McShane had another big game for the Owls, leading all scorers with 19 points – 11 in the first half. Sydney Daut added eight points.
For the Lions, Mady Rossiter had nine points, and Emma DiJoseph, eight.
Bensalem coach Steve Johnson:
–Props: “Grace McShane had herself a strong two games leading us on offense, but we had contributions today from up and down the roster. Sydney Daut played aggressive on the glass which led her to have confidence on the offensive side of the ball as well. Mischa Ellzy did a nice job setting the tone at the beginning of the game and throughout defensively. Kaleaya Wingate came off the bench and sparked us with a couple of threes. Gianna Creque checked in the game and got a handful of crucial steals at timely possessions when LM started to cut into our lead.”
–A bonding time: “Wildwood is always a nice trip for the team camaraderie aspect. Our girls did their annual Pollyanna, and they seemed to really enjoy their time. This is something we as a program look forward to each year. Great way to end 2025.”
Up next: Bensalem will travel to Council Rock South for a division contest next Friday (11:30am), and Lower Moreland will be on the road at Upper Moreland on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Bensalem 13-11-10-12 46
Lower Moreland 8-4-7-10 29
Bensalem (46) – Grace McShane 8 2-2 19; Mary Beck 1 0-0 2; Sydney Daut 4 0-0 8; Mischa Ellzy 3 0-0 6; Falyn Savage 1 0-0 2; Gianna Creque 0 1-2 1; Kaleaya Wingate 2 0-0 6; TOTALS 20 3-4 46.
Lower Moreland (29) – Mady Rossiter 3 3-4 9; Amma DiJoseph 2 4-4 8; Mollie Martin 3 0-1 6; Sydney Santora 3 0-2 6; totals 11 7-11 29.
3-point goals: B – Wingate 2, McShane.
(Tom Williams Showcase)
OCEAN CITY 38, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 36
It’s been a long time since South coach Beth Mattern has had her entire team in attendance. Illness has taken its toll on the Titans, just as it has just about every team, and Dec. 2 was the last day the South coach had her entire roster.
In Saturday’s contest, the Titans were without Jules Tropea.
Despite the absence of their top scorer, the Titans – behind a pair of Rylie DiCesare 3s – led 12-7 after one quarter. They took a 20-15 lead into halftime and still led 31-28 heading into the final quarter when they were outscored 10-5 and fell by two points.
Gabby Tropea’s 12 points led a balanced Titan attack while DiCesare had 11 points.
Up next: Central Bucks South will return to action Tuesday, Jan. 6, when the Titans will travel to Souderton.
Central Bucks South 12-8-11-5 36
Ocean City 7-8-13-10 38
Central Bucks South (36) – Riley Campbell 2 0-0 5; Anna Granito 2 0-0 4; Gabby Tropea 5 2-4 12; Alexandra Tropea 2 0-0 4; Rylie DiCesare 3 3-6 11; TOTALS 14 5-10 36.
Ocean City (38) – Marley Ostrander 6 2-2 15; Kaia Chew 1 0-0 3; Scarlett Fletcher 1 0-0 2; Gabrielle Henry 4 0-0 11; Allie Hudson 2 0-0 5; Cecelia Mirsky 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 15 2-2 38.
3-point goals: CBS – DiCesare 2, Campbell; OC – Henry 3, Ostrander, Chew, Hudson.
Notre Dame Tournament
BISHOP EUSTACE 40, PENNSBURY 38
In a game that came down to the wire, it was the Crusaders holding off the Falcons, who had several chances to knot the score or take the lead.
From the outset, it was a battle.
The Falcons – behind six points from Sammie Haws – led 10-9 after one quarter and took a 19-18 lead into halftime. It was a 31-31 game heading into the final quarter when the Crusaders held a 9-7 edge to earn the win.
Three players shared team scoring honors with eight points each – Hawes, Alyssa Thomas (all eight in the second half) and Joley Hohman.
Pennsbury coach Frank Sciolla:
–The Game: “Bishop Eustace is a very good program, and they are physical and they are athletic and they have really good length, and they caused some issues with that. They did a really good job, forcing us into things that some teams have been doing to us.
“At this point in the season, we are still a work in progress in regard to getting to balance, and playing with power against teams like that it is such an important piece in our development if we want to be able to have success.
“In the moments where we did get to balance, we were able to do a really good job of finding open people, and Keira Socha shot the ball really well tonight and made some big-time shots to bring us back into the game.”
–The finish: “We had the ball with about a minute and a half to go, and we had an uncharacteristic, unforced turnover, and they took over and scored.
“New Jersey has a really unique rule where you don’t have to have possession of the ball to call timeout. If the ball’s rolling around on the floor, you can just be the first one to call timeout, and you get it. They took advantage of that in a big spot – we had not been aware of that rule.
“We had several chances to tie the game up, and to be honest, we had a number of wide open looks that we are able to get in the fourth quarter, but we were not able to knock enough down. Much credit goes to Eustace for their physicality and how they handled it and also for how they made us play.
“These are the types of games that we need to play and the types of players that we need to play against so we can have a sense of what we need to do to get better as the season goes on and also to have a sense of what different levels of basketball are like. It’s a good experience to grow from and we will do that.”
Up next: Pennsbury will face Hunterdon Central at Notre Dame (NJ) on Monday (10am).
Pennsbury 10-9-12-7 38
Bishop Eustice 9-9-13-9 40
Pennsbury (38) – Grace Schaufler 1 0-0 2; Sammie Haws 3 1-2 8; Alyssa Thomas 2 2-4 8; Joley Hohman 4 0-1 8; Keira Socha 4 0-0 12; TOTALS 14 3-7 38.
Bishop Eustice (40) – Abna Hasan 2 0-0 4; Acadia Walters 2 1-1 6; Ang Pena 4 4-4 13; Alexa Racobaldo 5 0-2 11; Jill Guzzardo 2 0-0 6; 15 5-7 40.
3-point goals: P – Socha 4, Thomas 2, Haws; BE – Guzzardo 2, A.Racobaldo, Walters, Pena.
Marple Newtown Holiday Tournament
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 46, FRIERE CHARTER 31
The Bucks seized early control of Saturday’s contest, opening up a 17-6 lead after one quarter and never looking back. Scarlett Baumgardner’s eight points led the early charge. Marleigh Mallon added five points.
“This was a nice win to start the tournament,” CB West coach Sydney Ott said. “We’re looking forward to coming out and competing again tomorrow.”
Key players: Evelyn Moore, Audra Lawson and Marleigh Mallon led a balanced attack with nine points each. Scarlett Baumgardner added eight points.
Up now: Central Bucks West will return to action Sunday.
Central Bucks West 17-9-6-14 46
Friere Charter 6-7-10-8 31
Central Bucks West (46) – Amber Madden 1 0-0 2; Erinn McCusker 1 0-0 3; Ariday Cruz 1 0-0 2; Evelyn Moore 4 0-0 9; Marleigh Mallon 4 1-1 9; Leah Cipollo 0 3-4 3; Audra Lawson 4 1-2 9; Scarlett Baumgardner 3 0-0 8; Ava 0 1-2 1; TOTALS 18 6-9 46
3-point goals: Baumgardner 2, Moore, McCusker.
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