Check out all of the girls’ basketball action on Friday night, which included some big wins by SOL squads.. To view photos of the Abington/Ridley and North Penn/Perkiomen Valley games, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Ben Reese
TOWAMENCIN – This isn't the 2011-12 version of the North Penn girls’ basketball team.
Some of the names are the same, but the team isn't the same as the one that finished as the District One runner-up and advanced into the PIAA state playoffs. Nor is it the one that knocked off Cheltenham, then the No. 1 girls’ basketball team in Pennsylvania.
Gone are Steph Knauer and her 1,000-plus points and Brenda McDermott, the heady point guard. Knauer is playing ball at Shippensburg (and playing well) and McDermott is playing lacrosse at Temple.
However, still on the scene are Lauren Crisler, Erin Maher and Vicky Tumasz, all vital contributors to the run toward the state playoffs. Two of the three got to exhibit their skills Friday night in the opening round of the Lady Knights Tip-Off Tournament at North Penn High School.
Crisler scored 22 points and grabbed a bunch of rebounds, and Tumasz scored only two points but ran the offense effectively. Maher didn't play in the 58-46 win over Perkiomen Valley due to a knee injury suffered earlier in the week.
But it was Crisler who carried the team and who will be counted on to shoulder the load throughout the season.
Will that increase the pressure she feels?
“I would say yes,” Crisler said. “There definitely is more pressure not having Steph under there.
“Some teams will come out and double-team, triple-team me and that's something we have to deal with. I definitely feel there's more pressure but I'm willing to take that on.”
Surprisingly, NP coach Maggie deMarteleire feels just the opposite is true.
“Because she signed with American (Crisler accepted a full scholarship to play for American University in Washington, D.C.), I think she's playing with a lot less pressure,” the Maidens’ coach said. “She knows it's her team and she wants to do well.
“I feel that (signing with American) lifted a big weight off her shoulders. I feel she's playing more freely than she did last year.”
And Crisler knows that the 2012-13 version of the North Penn team is definitely different.
“We are a very much a more fast-paced team this year on offense and defense,” she said. “Our offense isn't so revolved around the post as it was last year with me and Steph down there.
“We're definitely more guard oriented, and I think one of our weaknesses right now is just handling pressure but I think we'll get better at that as the season goes on. We have a lot more motion in our offense and our defense is a lot more high pressure, in-their-face type of defense.”
“We're actually not looking to dump the ball into the post a lot,” deMarteleire added. “We're trying to stay a little more spread out and look to run.”
However, because Knauer and McDermott have graduated, Crisler also knows that she will be the one everyone is looking to for points.
“I think that's going to happen a lot,” Crisler said when asked about her shouldering the offensive load. “I think we have a very well-balanced team this year and different people who can step up at different times.
“Our team is very smart and I think people know that and they know if I'm not having a great night, they're going to have to contribute as well.”
If the first game of the season is any indication, Crisler is well prepared to help the Maidens make another run toward states. The Maidens also received a big performance from 6-0 freshman Mikaela Jiuliani, who scored 16 points in a memorable varsity debut with 11 of those points coming in the second half.
As for the game, North Penn controlled the contest from the beginning. Neither team hit a field goal in the first period and NP led 6-1.
The Maidens outscored Perk Valley 16-12 in the second and held a 22-13 margin at halftime. North Penn again scored 16 points in the third to the Vikings' 11 to increase their lead to 38-24.
Crisler took over in the final quarter. She scored 10 of North Penn's 20 points to get the Maidens' season off to a winning start. North Penn will face Lansdale Catholic in Saturday’s tital game at 3 p.m.
ABINGTON 59, RIDLEY 45
Defense, according to coach Dan Marsh, will be a trademark of this year’s Ghost squad.
The Ghosts, who found themselves trailing 19-18 at halftime, put on a defensive clinic in the third quarter, outscoring the Green Raiders 22-10 on their way to the convincing win.
“We’re young, and we have a lot to work on, and that’s what we need to do,” Marsh said. “We’re not going to have any pretty wins. We have to come out and force the other team to be uncomfortable.
“Our slogan is ‘Bring the Fear.’ We want teams to be afraid to play us because we play so hard. That’s what we want to do, and we did that. We built a big lead, and like a young team, we relaxed and made some crucial mistakes to let them back in the game. It’s Dec. 7, and that happens Dec. 7, but as long as you learn from it, I’m okay with it.”
Leading the charge at both ends of the court for the Ghosts was sophomore point guard Deja Rawls, who led all scorers with 22 points to go along with five steals. It was a three-point play by Rawls early in the second half that gave the Ghosts a lead they would not lose, 23-21. A bucket by Cate Hughes put the Ghosts on top by four, and then Michael Harris buried a pair of foul shots. A Harris putback at the 5:12 mark capped a 9-0 run in a deadly 90-second span that gave Abington a 29-21 lead.
The Ghosts weren’t finished yet. A Harris steal set the stage for a pair of Rawls’ foul shots, and when Rawls scored on a drive to complete the 13-0 tear, the Ghosts led 33-21.
“We were pressuring the ball, getting turnovers and attacking the basket more and finishing,” Rawls said. “We didn’t do so good on the boxouts, but it’s our first game. That’s something we need to do better, but we really turned up the defense in the third quarter.”
As for the first half, the Ghosts – according to Rawls – just couldn’t buy a basket.
“We were getting frustrated because we couldn’t make a basket,” the sophomore point guard said. “Wide open layups – we couldn’t make them.
“Everybody got focused in the second half and said, ‘We have to win.’ It was our first game, our home game. We had to pressure the ball and make them turn the ball over.”
Harris finished the night with 10 points, eight rebounds, two steals and one blocked shot. Gabby Nolan added 11 points.
“The future is bright,” Marsh said. “I think we can compete this year.
“Ridley always comes to play. They’re not going to quit, that’s for sure, and they didn’t. They came after us, came after us, and fortunately, we were able to create enough turnovers and get buckets with our defense. We have to create turnovers with our defense, and Deja is the leader of that. She starts it up and gets it going. With our freshman Sammy Lochner and our sophomore Gabby Nolan – between the three of them, we’re as quick as anyone.”
The Ghosts, who are without regulars Bre Bermel and Joslin Poole, will face Central Bucks West in Saturday’s title game at 6:15 p.m.
UPPER MERION 59, QUAKERTOWN 38
Sophomore Regie Robinson had a big night in the opener of the Upper Merion Tip-Off Tournament, contributing 15 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and five steals.
“Regie played great,” coach Tom Schurtz said. “It was a very physical game. It was just one of those games.”
Kristina O’Sullivan added 12 points on a night that saw eight Vikings put their names in the scoring column. The Vikings took a 29-18 lead into halftime and never looked back.
Schurtz lauded the performance of junior guard Katherine Bailey, who contributed seven points, eight rebounds and three assists.
“She had an outstanding day,” he said. “She had a very loud seven points and had a couple of really nice plays that kept us going.”
Freshman guard Anna Davis also stepped up in her varsity debut.
“Given the physical play of the game, she really responded well,” Schurtz said. “For a freshman to come into that environment in her first game ever and to keep her wits about her impressed me.”
Upper Merion will play the winner of the Upper Perkiomen/Conestoga game in Saturday’s championship contest.
PENNSBURY 61, WEST CHESTER RUSTIN 47
The Falcons had four players in double figures in Friday’s impressive opening round win at the Haverford Tournament. Sophomore Sajanna Bethea led the balanced attack with 16 points while Jae Jackson added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Kaitlin Kelly had 12 points and six boards, and Carly Kovin added 11 points.
“It was a very physical game, and I was pleased that we showed some composure and poise,” coach Donna Nicholson said. “We started off real well and then we got in foul trouble. We were only up by six at halftime (29-23) and were only up two in the third quarter (42-40), but in the fourth quarter, we got back to doing what we were doing well at the beginning.
“We ran some time off the clock and showed patience. That’s what most impressed me. We got a couple of stops on defense, controlled the ball and kept possession. We put it away, but it was a very physical game.”
Nicholson lauded the performances of several players down the stretch.
“In the fourth quarter, Emily Edwards came in and scored four big points for us, and she did a good job on the defensive end for us,” the Falcons’ coach said. “Carly Kovin played really good defense on their big girl. Their big girl scored 11 points, but Carly offset that by scoring 11 herself and did a very good job of shutting her down.”
The Falcons will face Merion Mercy in Saturday’s title game at 3:30 p.m.
BENSALEM 61, MASTERY CHARTER NORTH 50
The Owls got big performances from Ashida Cooper and Tyra Banks in Friday’s season opener at the Pennridge Tip-Off Tournament. Both players finished the day with 21 points while Stephanie Unger added seven. The Owls will face Christopher Dock in Saturday’s title game.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 69, DOWNINGTOWN WEST 59
Alexis Hofstaedter has spent most of her high school career setting up teammates with her precision passing. In Friday night’s season opener against the Whippets in the Methacton Tip-Off Tournament, the Golden Hawks’ senior point guard opted to take her shot when she had it, and she buried one shot after another, finishing with 27 points. She still found time to dish out 12 assists in a brilliant performance.
“She totally controlled the tempo of the game,” coach Monica Stolic said. “It was unbelievable. We talked to her about how she always looked to pass the ball. I was so happy. She really took charge out there. This was as offensive as I ever saw her play. She probably took as many shots tonight as she did in three games last year. She was driving to the basket, she had two three’s, and she got the ball to Taylor Dillon.”
Dillon finished the night with 20 points in a standout effort of her own.
“Taylor hit one jump shot, and the rest were on layups,” Stolic said.
Dillon also had six assists while teammate Courtney Brown added 13 points.
The Golden Hawks will face Methacton in Saturday’s title game.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 49, NORRISTOWN 36
Sophomore Mackenzie Carroll scored a game-high 20 points – which included a three-for-five showing from beyond the arc - to lead the Bucks in their season opener at the Ghost Tip-Off Tournament. Sophomore Corrinne Godshall added 10 points and 10 rebounds while sophomore point guard Nicole Munger had eight points and six assists for the Bucks, who were without three regulars in Friday’s opener. West will face Abington in Saturday’s title game at 6:15 p.m.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 70, UNIONVILLE 35
The Titans sprinted to a 39-10 halftime lead over the Indians and never looked back in Friday’s opening round game of the Springfield (Delco) Tournament). Alysha Lofton scored 15 points to lead a balanced attack and Rachel Falkowski had 12 points. Both pulled down eight rebounds.
“It was a great team effort,” coach Beth Mattern said. “We came out playing at a high intensity level.”
The Titans will face Springfield in Saturday’s title game.
CENTRAL DAUPHIN EAST 62, UPPER DUBLIN 56 (OT)
Curtrena Goff connected on a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining in regulation to give the Flying Cardinals a two-point lead, and it looked as though Upper Dublin was going to escape with the big win, but Central Dauphin’s Calee Gelbaugh had other ideas, connecting on a runner in the paint to send the game into overtime. Gelbaugh led all scorers with 24 points.
The Flying Cardinals were led by Regan Gallagher, who finished with a double-double – 15 points and 11 rebounds. Goff added 14 points while Lauren Rothfeld had 13 points.
Upper Dublin will face Upper Darby in Saturday’s consolation game at 11:30 a.m.
VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 42, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 36
Sophomore Jessica Gerber scored 15 points to lead the Indians while Michaela Finneyfrock added nine and Madison Attanasio had six points. Krista Campbell chipped in with four points and Kelly Burns, two points, to close out the scoring for the Indians.
“Jess Gerber played well,” coach Lou Palkovics said. “She had two three’s that were big.
“I really liked the way Michaela Finneyfrock played.”
Friday’s opener in the Phoenixville Tip-Off Tournament marked the debut of Rock North’s all-sophomore starting lineup. The team’s inexperience showed, especially early on when the Indians committed 10 turnovers in the first quarter.
“It was frustrating, but in the second half, we played better,” said Palkovics, whose team trailed by 10 at the intermission.
The Indians will face Phoenixville in Saturday’s consolation game while Villa Joseph Marie will take on Southern Lehigh in the title game.
METHACTON 62, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 50
The Colonials fell behind 20-3 at the end of one quarter but gamely battled their way back into the game, trailing 32-21 at halftime and cutting the Warriors’ lead to 50-45 early in the fourth quarter. Methacton’s Jenna Carroll, who dominated play in the opening half, led all scorers with 26 points.
The Colonials were led by the 13-point efforts of senior captain Simone Jacques and sophomore Alynna Williams. Jacques was a perfect 8-for-8 from the foul line for the Colonials, who will face Downingtown West in Saturday’s consolation game of the Methacton Tip-Off Tournament.
POPE JOHN PAUL II 61, HATBORO-HORSHAM 40
The Golden Panthers sprinted to an 11-0 lead over the Hatters and still led 17-7 at the end of one quarter on their way to the decisive win. Heather Lutz led the Hatters with 14 points while Lauren Jester added seven and Tori Waddington, five points.
“Our main problem is going to be where do we get the points,” coach Steve Flynn said. “We played three post players and got five points between the three of them. They (the Golden Panthers) have a nice team.”
A telling stat is the one that showed that the Hatters, who buried six three-pointers, managed just four two-point field goals.
“We missed a lot of easy shots,” Flynn said. “We shoot about 20 foul shots a day, and it hasn’t translated because we were 14-of-32, but we’ll get better.”
The Hatters will face New Hope-Solebury in Saturday’s consolation game while Pope John Paul will take on Nazareth in the title game.
WISSAHICKON 62, POTTSTOWN 39
The Trojans used a strong team effort to defeat the Trojans in an opening round game of the William Tennent Tournament. Senior Kian Wright contributed 14 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots in a standout all-around performance while junior Donyea Tate also came up huge, adding 18 points, six rebounds, two steals and two assists.
"We're getting really disciplined in our offense," coach Rodney Cline said. "Our girls know the options, they know the offense, they found the cutters, and we were finishing. We created a lot of steals on our defense as well, so we scored in transition, which is good."
Cline also lauded the performances of several players in supporting roles.
"Sierra Eskridge's hustle, her rebounding, her assists and her all-around play - she was a leader out there offensively and defensively," the Trojans' coach said. "She saw the floor and put people in the right spots on defense, and that also was a big thing.
"Rachel Stone did a well too. She's usually a starter, and she came off the bench, and she put in nine points. She also had three or four assists, and she changed the tempo of the game. She pushed the ball up the floor, which we like to do to try and wear out teams late in the third and fourth quarters."
The Trojans will face William Tennent in Saturday's title game at 7 p.m.
WILLIAM TENNENT 45, KENNETT 31
HAZLETON 43, CHELTENHAM 25
SPRINGFIELD 47, UPPER MORELAND 28
CHRISTOPHER DOCK 35, PENNRIDGE 29
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