Pennsbury and CB South picked up important wins in SOL girls’ basketball action on Thursday. Pennsbury/CR South photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. Check back for a gallery.
SOL National Conference
PENNSBURY 47, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 32
It’s easy to point to what promises to be a bright future for a young Falcon squad, but the present isn’t too bad either. With two games remaining on their schedule, the Falcons – 26th in the latest District One 6A power rankings – still find themselves in the hunt for a postseason berth.
“It has been a tremendous learning experience,” Sciolla said. “Obviously, we feel devastated for Kate Mix (sidelined with a torn ACL), and we’ve also had some very interesting injuries or sickness before some big games.
“I think one of the best parts ever in coaching – if you coach all of your kids the same way and they all get opportunities through practice and you see them develop – when they get their chance, they’re able to make plays. CB East (a 33-29 loss) was a great example because we went down to the wire, and we had a shot to take the lead in the final minute. We looked up and we had four freshmen on the floor.
“The fact that we’re heading into this final week with a chance to make the playoffs has made it for me – outside of the first year at Bristol – one of the most gratifying and surprising years, and all the credit goes to the incredible resiliency of these kids.”
Senior Nicole Baionno returned Thursday from a torn ACL, but before then, Sydney Buell was the only senior receiving playing time.
“Syd has to hang out with the two freshmen and two sophomores that are starting, and there’s a gap there, no matter what you say, in terms of personality and the social dynamic,” Sciolla said. “Syd has done such a good job off the court of being a leader to these kids and making them feel comfortable.”
Buell – who was plagued with foul trouble – played just nine minutes in Thursday’s win, 11 seconds in the second half.
“I really think Syd’s leadership in practice and the way she has pushed us in practice really helped these girls that are getting their feet wet, so tonight when they had to play massive minutes in a game we needed to win to stay alive in this thing, they were able to do it,” Sciolla said.
With Buell hampered by fouls, Cami Wiegand (11 points), Bella Arcuri (11 points) and Mary Miller (10 points) picked up the slack.
“The biggest difference in our team this year has been the play of Bella Arcuri, who I think is going to start more games as a freshman than any girl in Pennsbury basketball has,” Sciolla said. “She is really confident both at a mental and physical level.
“I’ve known her since fifth grade watching her play with my daughter in CYO, and I’ve always looked forward to coaching her. I think her level of toughness and her no-excuse approach really raises the level.”
Another player who has been a surprise contributor is freshman Abbi Nassivera.
“We thought we’d have a ninth grade team, but we couldn’t get enough girls, so we brought all the ninth graders up,” Sciolla said. “Nine of our 19 girls are ninth graders, so Abbi went from a girl we thought would be a nice player on our ninth grade team to starting on varsity since before Christmas.
“I have to give her credit. She has become more and more poised, she’s very tough, she’s made some big plays for us, and she’s very demanding of herself.”
Behind a pair of 3-pointers by Wiegand and a third by Nassivera, the Falcons led 14-6 after one quarter and then outscored their visitors 9-4 to go into halftime with a 23-10 lead. They took a 34-20 lead into the final quarter and then buried 9-of-11 from the foul line to ice the win. Arcuri was a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in the frame (7-for-7 in the game), and Miller sank 5-of-6 in the quarter.
“Mary Miller played last year, and she’s another girl that really wants to win, and she’s very competitive,” Sciolla said. “She made some big plays going to the basket for us tonight.”
For the Golden Hawks, freshman Nicole Blaustein led the way with 11 points, and Hannah Binder added nine.
“Blair (Klumpp) is doing a good job,” Sciolla said of the Hawks’ first-year coach. “He also is playing a lot of girls without varsity experience, including his leading scorer (Blaustein).
“We’ve been able to defend her really well in both games.”
Thursday’s game was Penn Valley Elementary’s turn to be part of the action, one day after the girls’ basketball team led an assembly underscoring the importance of literacy and teacher-student relationships.
“Every girl speaks to the student body about what they liked to read when they were in elementary school, and they talk to them about who their favorite teacher was and why,” Sciolla said. “I talk to them about reading and having the opportunity to thank people who allowed you to get where you are.
“I love bringing these girls here – they’re tremendous role models, and they articulate themselves really well. Every week they’re going in front of 300-400 kids. Especially all the ninth graders, it has to be petrifying, and they’re getting a great response.”
Prior to the game, the Penn Valley choir sang the National Anthem.
“We get so many young girls at our games to see (the players), and I’m telling them – these girls have never had that,” said Sciolla, who invites the young girls who tell him about a book they've read into the locker room prior to the game. “There’s too much been written and said about what we’re going to be down the road, but what we are right now is a really good group of girls who has overcome so many obstacles, and on the basketball side has themselves in position to make a run at (districts).”
Pennsbury (10-10, 5-6 SOL) will travel to Council Rock North on Tuesday, and Council Rock South (6-12, 2-7) will be on the road at Jenkintown for a non-league game on Saturday.
Council Rock South 6-4-10-12 32
Pennsbury 14-9-11-13 47
Council Rock South (32) – Carley Irvin 2, Claudia Steinmetz 2, Karly Wunder 3, Nicole Blaustein 11, Allison McGowan 5, Hannah Binder 9.
Pennsbury (47) – Abbi Nassivera 3, Maddie Donovan 2, Bella Arcuri 11, Mary Miller 10, Sydney Buell 5, Cami Wiegand 11, Emily Friel 2, Skyler Sulby 2, Lily Hochhausler 1.
Non-league
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 59, PERKIOMEN VALLEY 47
The Titans trailed 13-10 after one quarter but turned things around in a hurry with a 19-5 second quarter that saw Haley Meinel – who did not score in the first quarter – lead the way with eight points, propelling the Titans to a 29-18 halftime lead. That proved to be the difference in the contest as the two teams exchanged baskets in the second half.
“We just really executed and took control of the game in the second quarter,” coach Beth Mattern said.“When we executed on the defensive end and really were able to pressure the basketball, we were able to get turnovers and create transition. I thought defensively we played a great game for the most part.
“I was really proud of the effort on the boards and defensively and offensively finishing and creating for ourselves.”
Meinel led the Titans with 21 points while Alexa Brodie – who was a perfect 12-for-12 at the foul line – added 18. Mackenzie Ehreseman and Caroline McSorley each had seven points, and Maddie McShane contributed six.
“In the post, Mackenzie Ehresman and Maddie McShane did a great job of playing post defense,” Mattern said. “They created turnovers and pushed the ball, and we were really able to create transition.”
Central Bucks South (18-2, 8-2 SOL) will travel to North Penn on Tuesday.
Perkiomen Valley 13-5-10-19 47
Central Bucks South 10-19-12-18 59
Perk Valley (47) – Naiya Daisey 5, Sara Nijsse 4, Alex Blomstrom 3, Kelly Owens 3, Megan Jonassen 21, Taylor Hamm 11.
Central Bucks South (59) – Caroline McSorley 7, Haley Meinel 21, Alexa Brodie 18, Maddie McShane 6, Mackenzie Ehresman 7.
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