Check out Tuesday’s SOL girls basketball results.
National Conference
NESHAMINY 42, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 33
The Redskins rode their man-to-man defense to a big win over the Indians on Tuesday night, limiting the Indians to just eight first-half points while opening up a 19-8 lead.
“We focused on not letting Jess Gerber get any easy shots, making sure everything was contested,” coach Joe Lally said. “Making sure the other players beat us was pretty much our goal.”
Gerber, who finished with seven points, did not score a point in the first half.
“Megan (Schafer) did a phenomenal job defensively on her,” Lally said.
The Indians’ came out of halftime and outscored the Redskins 20-11 in the third quarter to make it a 30-28 game before the Redskins regrouped and took control of the game in the fourth quarter.
“We slipped in the third quarter, and we kind of lost our focus,” Lally said. “I think we’re showing signs of maturity because they were able to gather it back and play a solid fourth quarter.”
Schafer had just two points but was credited with nine assists and six steals. Sarah Oliveira had a team-high 13 points while McKenna Mullin had 12 and Lori Paulits contributed 11 points and eight rebounds.
The win guaranteed the Redskins at least a share of the National Conference crown. They hold a one-game lead over Abington in the standings with only a game against Pennsbury on Friday remaining on their schedule.
“The girls are aware that we’re at least going to share the National Conference title, but they want more,” Lally said. “I think they want to finish it.
“It means a lot to the kids. It’s been a roller coaster the last couple of years, and I think this year the kids got it right. Their attitude is really good. They really want to come to the gym, they really want to play for each other, and they’re very close. This means a lot, but we’re not done.”
The Indians were led by the 11-point effort of Krista Campbell while Michaela Finneyfrock added eight points.
The Redskins upped their record to 11-2 in the SOL (16-3 overall) while the Indians fell to 7-6 in league play (11-10 overall).
ABINGTON 59, PENNSBURY 54 (OT)
In a classic SOL battle, the Ghosts rode the torrid shooting of Deja Rawls to earn the hard-fought win. The sophomore point guard exploded for 33 points – 21 in a first half that saw the Ghosts rally from a 14-4 deficit to make it an 18-12 game at the end of one quarter and a 30-30 game at halftime.
“They came ready to play tonight,” Abington coach Dan Marsh said of the Falcons. “They looked as good tonight as I have seen them play.
“We were a little shell-shocked. I thought we were ready to play, but we certainly didn’t come out ready to play. We got a technical foul because one of the numbers was wrong in the book.
“At that point, I called a timeout and literally brought our team out into the middle of the court and just gave it to them. I said, ‘You’re playing flat, you’re not going after it.’ We responded defensively, started creating some turnovers, and Deja woke up. She literally carried us in the first half.”
The second half was a back and forth affair, but the Ghosts led 50-47 with time winding down when Kaitlin Kelly buried a three to send the game into overtime. The Ghosts won it at the foul line in OT, connecting on 9-of-12 shots. Rawls was 4-of-6 from the line, and Sammy Lochner was 4-for-4.
Sajanna Bethea had a monster game for the Falcons, scoring 25 points. Courtney Kruscavage had 16 points while Kelly added nine.
“Bethea and Deja were just going at it,” Marsh said. “Bethea was phenomenal, and Deja was phenomenal.
“We tried everything, we threw all kinds of people at her, and she just kept scoring.”
While the Falcons fell to 8-5 in league play (12-9 overall), the Ghosts improved to 10-3 in the league (14-7 overall).
“This is huge because hopefully we’ll get a home game (in districts),” Marsh said. “The way we started out, I think we should have been better off, but we’re a young team, and we’ve learned, and we closed this one out. It was a fun game.”
BENSALEM 56, HARRY S TRUMAN 38
The Owls jumped out to an 18-9 lead at the end of one quarter and took a 30-15 lead into halftime on their way to the win.
“Our halfcourt defense controlled the game and kick started the offense,” Owls coach Don Bogan said. “Truman is a team that is improving and getting better each game.”
Tyra Roberts led the Owls with 18 points while Stephanie Unger added 14. Ashida Cooper had 10 points to go along with seven assists and four steals. Janessa Winder added 11 points.
While the Tigers fell to 0-13 in the league (5-16 overall), the Owls improved to 4-9 in the league (9-12 overall).
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 34, WILLIAM TENNENT 24
The Panthers led 12-11 at the end of one quarter and took a 20-16 lead into halftime but scored just four points in the second half as the Golden Hawks rallied for the win.
“Nobody could buy a basket,” Rock South coach Monica Stolic said. “It was just a slow-paced game.”
Alexis Hofstaedter led the Golden Hawks with 11 points while Courtney Brown had nine. Angie Pomponio led the Panthers with eight points.
While the Panthers fell to 4-9 in league play (12-9 overall), the Golden Hawks improved to 8-5 in the league (12-8 overall).
Continental Conference
NORTH PENN 69, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 62
TOWAMENCIN - Stopping Jenn Halcovage and Mikaela Giuliani might not have been part of West’s game plan on Tuesday night.
It should have been.
On a night when Lauren Crisler was playing on a bad ankle and limited to just one point, the senior guard and freshman forward came out of nowhere to deliver career performances. Halcovage torched the Bucks for 19 points, which included five three-pointers, while Giuliani contributed 16 points and eight rebounds. Her relentless defense on West point guard Nicole Munger – who did not score in the second half – was also key.
While Halcovage and Giuliani came up big, it was Vicky Tumasz, the Maidens’ deadly long-range sniper, who set the tone for the Maidens’ offensive explosion. The junior guard scored 16 first-half points in a dazzling offensive performance and finished with a game-high 24 on a night that saw the Maidens connect on 22-of-40 shots from the field. They were 10-for-16 from three-point range and 15-of-18 from the foul line.
With the Maidens staring at a 31-23 deficit after Maggie Gratz (15 points) buried a three-pointer from the top of the circle, Tumasz went to work, burying back-to-back three’s to make it a 31-29 game.
Gratz answered with a bucket for the Bucks, but Halcovage hit nothing but net on her second three-pointer of the night. An Erin Maher three-pointer sent the Maidens into halftime with a 35-33 lead.
“Jenn and Vicky were just unbelievable,” coach Maggie deMarteleire said. “The run at the end of the second quarter - Vicky was in a zone. They’re overplaying Vicky and Jenn is wide open, and she started knocking them down.”
For his part, West coach Terry Rakowsky was happy to be trailing by just two after the Maidens’ offensive explosion.
“We were playing well, but they were shooting the lights out,” he said.
A telling sequence occurred on the Maidens’ first possession of the second half. They misfired on their first two shots, but Maher, who had a team-high 10 boards, pulled down both rebounds and dished off the second one to Tumasz. The junior guard buried a short baseline jumper.
“Erin did a great job,” deMarteleire said. “She got a lot of offensive rebounds, and that set the tone. She played really well tonight.”
Halcovage buried back-to-back treys to cap a 22-7 run, putting the Maidens on top 43-33.
“In the second quarter, I kind of figured out I had my shot going for me, so I just kept taking shots,” Halcovage said.
The Bucks broke a four-and-a-half minute scoring drought to open the second half when Cait Mautz scored at the 3:30 mark, and it was a 44-37 game after a bucket by Corrinne Godshall. That’s when Giuliani stepped to the fore, connecting after an offensive rebound and converting a three-point play to make it a 50-39 game.
“I just know one thing I really have to do is get the offensive rebounds,” said Giuliani, who had seven points in the final minutes of the quarter.
A bucket by Halcovage on a drive sent the Maidens into the fourth quarter with a 52-39 lead. The Bucks would get no closer than seven the rest of the way.
“I think we really stepped up our defense in the second half, especially in the third quarter,” Halcovage said. “We went on a (run). Our defense really buckled down, and at the end, we just had to hold on to the lead, which is a lot easier than coming from behind.”
The win avenged a 58-47 loss to the Bucks in the initial meeting between the two teams.
“After our loss against them, each practice we have been preparing for this game,” Tumasz said. “We worked so hard.
“The last time we played them we had a lot of trouble communicating and a lot of trouble getting back on transition defense. The last time we played them they hit every shot because we didn’t communicate and get out on their three-pointers.”
A defensive adjustment may have been the difference in Tuesday’s game that ultimately was decided in a third quarter that saw the Maidens limit the Bucks to just six points.
“We were pressing a little bit in the first half, and we just took it off completely in the second half,” deMarteleire said. “That gave Mikaela a chance to stay in front of (Munger).
“With her length, I just thought she did an outstanding job. I think Nicole was a little bit frustrated, which is not something you usually see.”
“I’m so proud of Mikaela,” Tumasz said. “She stepped up. This whole season she has really improved. She played tremendous defense on Nicole.”
For her part, Giuliani relished the challenge of guarding the Bucks’ gifted guard.
“I’ve just started guarding guards, and I was excited,” the 6-0 freshman said. “She’s a really good player, so I knew I had to buckle down on her.”
deMarteleire credited Crisler for gutting it out on a bad ankle.
“I’m so grateful Lauren played because we needed her leadership and her rebounding,” the Maidens’ coach said. “Obviously, her ankle did affect her offensive game, but everybody stepped up.
“We talked about it yesterday at practice. Lauren got hurt at the beginning of practice and came out of the trainer’s room on crutches. All the kids kind of got deflated. I said, ‘If Lauren can’t play tomorrow, people need to step up. It’s that simple.’ She toughed it out tonight.”
With one league game remaining, the Bucks (15-5) and Maidens (18-3) boast identical 12-1 records in conference play.
To view video highlights of Tuesday’s game by PhillyBurbs.com video journalist Jen Wielgus, please click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldw9Yy_ulAw&feature=youtu.be
SOUDERTON 44, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 39
The Titans were without senior center Lauren Mosher in Tuesday’s game at Souderton, but they still managed to give the Indians a serious run for their money.
“It was a very interesting game,” Souderton coach Lynn Carroll said. “You would think without Mosher there it would make things a lot easier for us, but they did a really nice job spreading it out, attacking the basket, forcing us to play great on-the-ball defense, and in the first half, we didn’t.”
The Titans sprinted to a 15-5 lead late in the first quarter and took a 15-8 lead into the second quarter. The Indians – sparked by eight points from Allison Gallagher - outscored the Titans 15-10 in the frame but still trailed 25-23 at the intermission.
“They played really well the first half, the first quarter especially,” Carroll said. “We played better in the second quarter. Courtney Day stepped in and gave us four points in the second quarter. She gave us some great minutes.
“Defensively, we played much, much better in the second half. Everybody stepped up defensively.”
The two teams battled to an 8-8 draw in the third quarter, and the Indians still trailed by two (33-31) heading into the final frame when they outscored the Titans 13-6.
“Offensively, our guards were 2-for-17 from two’s and most of them were drives to the basket,” Carroll said. “Luckily, we made some three’s – we were 4-for-9.
“Libby (Wetzler) and Sarah (Derstein) really stepped up. Libby played great. She had nine points, but it seemed like they were all tough shots, and she was making them when it felt like we needed them the most. Libby played great.
“Sarah dominated down low.”
Derstein finished the game with 14 rebounds, five blocked shots and three assists to go along with eight points. Gallagher and Wetzler led the Indians with nine points each. Katie O’Connor and Bianca Picard both added seven.
Jordan Vitelli led the Titans with nine points while Rachel Falkowski and Amanda Schneider both added eight points.
“As South always does, they are disruptive against us,” Carroll said. “We didn’t do a great job of handling it in the first half.
“It was a one-point game with less than two minutes to go. It was not a six-point win. Katie (OConnor) made three-of-four foul shots to close out the game, but South played hard.
“At this point, everyone is fighting for playoff points. There’s so much at stake, so much on the line, and both teams felt that a little bit. I was really, really pleased that our girls were able to get it done.”
The Indians are 10-3 in league play (14-6 overall) while the Titans fell to 6-7 (12-9 overall).
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 52, PENNRIDGE 25
Junior Courtney Webster exploded for 22 points to lead the Patriots to Tuesday’s win. The Patriots led 9-4 at the end of one quarter and took a 20-11 lead into halftime. They stretched their lead to 32-17 at the end of three quarters and iced the win with a 20-8 fourth quarter that included 12 points from Webster.
Lindsey Nier and Katelyn Miller each added eight points. Jordan Rimmer led the Rams with seven points while Jessica Tennett and Shelby Schoonover both added six points.
While the Rams fell to 2-11 in league (3-17 overall), the Patriots improved to 8-5 in the league (15-6 overall).
QUAKERTOWN 57, HATBORO-HORSHAM 42
It was the combination of youth and veteran experience that propelled the Panthers to Tuesday’s big win. Freshman Taylor Herd scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Panthers while senior Kathryne Vetter added 16 points.
"Both Taylor Herd and Kathryne Vetter stepped up tonight and provided leadersip and composure against an aggressive Hatboro team," coach Greg Swavely said. "The fourth quarter was very physical with Hatboro's fullcourt press, but both our guards made big shots and sank crucial free throws down the stretch.
"I thought Taylor especially showed great composure and calm for being so young, and she dominated on both ends of the court."
Ashlee Ruzicka added nine points for the Panthers, who trailed 12-10 at the end of one quarter but led 27-19 at the intermission. It was a 34-27 game heading into the final quarter when the Panthers exploded for 23 points to seal the Hatters’ fate. Lauren Jester led the Hatters with 10 points while teammates Heather Lutz and Emilee Fox each added eight points.
While the Hatters fell to 1-12 in league play (3-17 overall), the Panthers improved to 3-10 in the league (6-15 overall).
American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 52, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 34
The Cardinals celebrated Senior Night by clinching sole possession of the American Conference title. All five of the team’s seniors – Curtrena Goff, Lauren Rothfield, Brianna Spector, Ellie Silverman and Eileene McKee – were in the starting lineup.
“Nobody on the team has ever done it before,” coach Morgan Funsten said of capturing the conference crown. “We set certain goals at the beginning of the season, and that – if not number one our list – was certainly close to number one on our list.
“The girls have a confidence about them. I was new to all this, and I was hoping to win the conference. It seemed they had the confidence and were expecting to win the conference. I felt like it was my job to say, ‘Hey, it’s not going to be easy,’ but the whole time they had a quiet confidence. As excited as we are as a team – and it is a great accomplishment, but we also have goals moving forward. There was not a crazy celebration tonight. The girls are excited, but they’re certainly not satisfied.”
The Flying Cardinals led 9-6 at the end of one quarter and – thanks to a Lauren Rothfeld three-pointer as time was winding down - stretched that lead to 27-16 at halftime, The Colonials scored the opening basket of the second half, but the Flying Cardinals answered with a 19-2 run to put the game out of reach.
Regan Gallagher led the scoring with 10 points. Spector added nine points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots. Goff had nine points eight rebounds and six assists, and Rothfeld added nine points on three three-pointers, five steals and three assists for the Cardinals, who buried eight three-pointers.
“It was a total team effort,” Funsten said. “I’m excited for all the seniors. They’ve been playing together since they were very young, and they all played really well. They all five played a significant portion of the game.
“I’m very proud that our girls have accomplished our first goal of the season – winning the league.”
Kayla Wisniewski and Maya Thomas led the Colonials with nine points each.
While the Colonials fell to 6-7 in league play (10-11 overall), the Flying Cardinals improved to 13-0 in the SOL (21-1 overall).
CHELTENHAM 52, UPPER MERION 42
The Lady Panthers earned their biggest win of the season on Tuesday night, downing a Viking squad that defeated them 58-52 earlier in the season.
"It was a great way to end our seniors' home careers," coach Brendan Nolan said. "As a team, it was the most complete game we played all year."
Defense was the story of this one as senior Seraiah Robinson limited Upper Merion’s Regie Robinson to just six points. Robinson also contributed a double-double, scoring 14 points and pulling down 14 rebounds.
"We defended Regie Robinson very well, forcing her to shoot 1-of-11 from the floor," Nolan said.
Sophomore point guard Amarri Truehart had 15 points, which included a dazzling 9-of-10 effort from the foul line in the fourth quarter. Sabrina Casseus scored 12 points, which included three three-pointers.
"We hit some big shots at key points in the game and handled their pressure while protecting the lead," Nolan said. "Amarri Trueheart showed that she has the ability to possess the ball while we were running clock at the end and then made crucial free throws.
"We have shown glimpses of the team that we can be this year, but we have not been able to sustain it for four quarters. I think tonight was the first time we did that.
"I am so happy for the girls. They have carried a heavy burden this year. It's not easy to cut your teeth playing under those (state, district and league) title banners, but they have shown a level of resiliency that will only help us going forward."
Both teams boast identical 6-7 records in league play. The Vikings are 14-7 overall, and the Lady Panthers are 7-14.
WISSAHICKON 38, NORRISTOWN 35
The Trojans pulled off the upset of the day, downing the Eagles in front of a large Senior Night crowd.
“The game plan for this special evening was executed almost perfectly from beginning until the end against a very tough league opponent,” coach Rodney Cline said.
On Jan. 11, the Trojans had taken a 63-37 beating at the hands of the Eagles.
“We were not going to let that happen again on Senior Night in our house,” Cline said. “It was a game where everyone made their contribution in so many different ways, from Meredith Byrne, Dominique Earland and Sierra Eskridge playing tough interior defense by holding Millersville-bound Sydney Morse to one field goal the entire game.”
Morse had 21 points in the initial meeting between the two schools.
The Trojans led 10-7 at the end of one quarter and took a 21-20 lead into halftime. They outscored the Eagles 11-7 in the third quarter and then held on for the win.
“Alex Comonitski, Kian Wright and Rachel Stone played tough perimeter defense by creating numerous turnovers which accounted for 10 points off turnovers,” Cline said. “Big shots were made in key moments by all the players.
“It came down to players making plays when they had to and who wanted it more.”
Rachel Stone led a balanced attack with 11 points while Kian Wright and Meredith Byrne each added 10 points. Briana Hedgepeth led the Eagles with 10 points while Keifonna Ferguson added eight.
While the Eagles saw their record drop to 10-3 in league play (15-6 overall), the Trojans upped their record to 9-4 in the league (12-8 overall).
SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 38, UPPER MORELAND 27
The Spartans rallied from a 16-9 halftime deficit to earn the dramatic Senior Night win, outscoring the Golden Bears 27-11 in the second half. Juniors Meghan Wheatley (14 points) and Veronica Asman (nine points) led the Spartans while sophomore Bailey Krewson added seven points.
“This was an exciting game,” assistant coach Laurie Kristiniak said. “This was the fourth time we played Upper Moreland this season.”
After defeating the Golden Bears twice in tournament play this season, the Spartans came out on the short end of a 56-35 score when the two teams met in league play on Jan. 11.
“It’s always tough to play someone so many times,” Kristiniak said. “We were pleased to see the girls put some things together.
“They stayed consistent and focused and got some points on the board. With tough defense, we were able to win this one at home, which was a nice salute to our seniors.”
The win was the first in league play for the Spartans, who are 1-12 in the SOL (3-17 overall). The Golden Bears fell to 1-12 in the league (2-19 overall).
UPPER MERION 68, MOTIVATION HIGH SCHOOL 13 (Monday, Feb. 4)
The Vikings were scheduled to play in a showcase game in New Jersey, but when the team cancelled, Motivation – whose coach lives in the Upper Merion School District – was added to the schedule.
“He wanted his girls to come out and get a different experience because they were from inner city Philadephia,” coach Tom Schurtz said. “The team came out early, and we took them around the high school. It was an enriching experience.
“The girls were really thankful and had a really good time, and they want to play us again next year.”
A highlight of the night was senior Kristina O’Sullivan reaching the 1,000-point milestone late in the first half.
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