Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Tuesday. CR South/PW photos provided courtesy of Larry Small, and North Penn/Upper Moreland photos courtesy of Troy Leatherbury. Check back for galleries of both games. CLICK HERE to view Suburban One Sports' GIRLS' BASKETBALL GALLERIES.
Non-league
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 48, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 45
Behind 11 points from Lil Metrick, the visiting Golden Hawks took a 27-19 lead into halftime and extended that led to 39-28 heading into the fourth quarter when the Colonials battled their way back into the game. Eliza Meersman led the offense in PW’s fourth quarter surge, scoring 13 of her team’s 17 points.
PW trimmed the lead to two, but the Golden Hawks withstood the comeback and held on for the win.
Key players: Fiona Reckner’s 16 points led the Golden Hawks. Lil Metrick added 13 points, which included three 3-pointers.
For the Colonials, Eliza Meersman led the way with 19 points, and AJ Avery added 10 points.
Council Rock South assistant coach Blair Klumpp on the game: “This was a good game with a lot of runs from both teams. I was impressed that PW kept up with our pace in the first quarter - their girls were playing really hard and going possession for possession with us. We opened a bit of a lead in the second quarter and went up by as much as 10 or so. They got it back to single digits by half. We came out strong in the third, but to PW’s credit, they battled back in the fourth and made it a one possession game. They did a really good job of adjusting to our defense and made us pay for a couple late rotations/lack of communication in the fourth, but to our girls’ credit, they showed a ton of poise in a tough road environment and came out with a win.
“The game overall had a physicality to it, and I thought our girls matched PW’s energy, effort and physicality. Both teams hit some big shots and made plays throughout. We have had some games earlier this year that when things got closer in the fourth (Egan, Bensalem) we kinda let the game speed us up. Tonight, we handled all the end of game stuff offensively great and showed tremendous poise and composure. Coach P told them after Bensalem - it’s on us (as coaches) to coach better in those spots and put them in better spots. The girls followed his lead in staying composed as PW made their last push. When you have a senior laden team, you hope their leadership, poise, and composure helps settle the group on the floor, and they did tonight. Our consistent rotation is eight upperclassmen (7 tonight), and they all have grown individually and as a group and that showed tonight.”
--A team win: “A lot of people talk about total team wins - this truly was one tonight. All seven girls who played contributed, and the girls on bench were locked in on the game. Offensively, Fi (Reckner) and Lil (Metrick) did a lot of the scoring with 21 first-half points and 29 combined, but numerous girls contributed. Emerson (Gunther) hit a big 3 in first half. Sarah (Freeman) had one in the second half to extend the lead in the third. Maria hit one in each half in the midst of PW runs. She’s been really good for us off the bench and has embraced that role. Bella (Hettler) had a big baseline jumper to get our lead
back to around seven. Kat O’Kane was very good in closing time. She took care of the ball and went 3-for-4 down the stretch from the free throw line to keep us in front. Lil is known as a shooter, but she was really good with the ball in her hands tonight as well as hunting scoring opportunities and really looked good on mid-range opportunities. She also held (Kenna) Winland to two points, and she’s had multiple games with multiple 3s. Fiona has just been really good on both ends of the court all year long, and sometimes when you play both sides that consistently, it can get lost in things and we don’t take it for granted, but she was really good and had a tough matchup with AJ (Avery) tonight. AJ made some tough drives and finishes tonight over multiple defenders.”
--Credit to PW: “PW did a nice job getting AJ downhill with multiple actions, and she was really good on those drives. (Taylor) Williams also had two tough drives and finishes. I thought Eliza (Meersman) played very well. She tried to go inside if we went small on her, and she brought Bella (Hettler) out and hit some 3s in fourth. She has played well in every game we have seen this year, but she played very mature tonight I thought. Sarah did a nice job matching up on her last couple possessions of game.
“Overall, we knew PW has played well in stretches of games (start of UD, Abington and LM in particular), and we emphasized that eventually it’s going to all come together in a single game. They played well tonight and never went away.
“It was a good environment for our girls to play in. They are on a little of a skid, but we knew they would play hard and compete and our girls matched it. We didn’t play our most complete game of the year, but to our girls’ credit, they stayed together and connected and secured a win. We need to keep focusing on the process of getting better collectively and in all areas and focus on the next opponent, one game at a time. Important practice tomorrow to get ready for Villa Maria.”
Up next: Council Rock South (10-3, 4-1 SOL) will be on the road at Villa Maria Academy for a non-league game Thursday (5 pm), and Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-6, 2-2) will travel to Souderton for a non-league game Friday.
Council Rock South 12-15-12-9 48
Plymouth Whitemarsh 9-10-9-17 45
Council Rock South (48) – Bella Hettler 2 0-0 4; Sarah Freeman 1 0-0 3; Lil Metrick 5 0-0 13; Kathryn O’Kane 0 3-4 3; Fiona Reckner 8 0-0 16; Emerson Gunther 1 0-0 3; Maria Freeman 2 0-0 6; TOTALS 19 3-4 48.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (45) – Grace Kerns 1 0-0 2; Taylor Williams 3 0-0 6; Olivia Patete 2 0-0 4; AJ Avery 4 2-3 10; Kenna Winland 1 0-0 2; Eliza Meersman 6 4-4 19; Grace Harvey 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 18 6-7 45.
3-point goals: CRS - Lil Metrick 3, Maria Freeman 2, Sarah Freeman, Emerson Gunther; PW – Eliza Meersman 3.
ABINGTON 44, NESHAMINY 41
The Ghosts upped their winning streak to seven games, and they needed a gutsy comeback after falling behind 14-2 at the end of one quarter. They rebounded with a 19-9 second quarter and then took the lead with an 11-3 third quarter to go into the final frame with a 32-26 lead. The Redskins battled gamely but came up short.
Key stretch: Abington outscored its visitors 30-12 in the middle two quarters to turn a 14-2 deficit into a six-point advantage. Maya Johnson and Mikaiya Durham each had 13 points in that span.
Key players: Mikaiya Durham’s 18 points – all in the final three quarters – led the Ghosts. She also had three steals. Maya Johnson added 17 points – also in the final three quarters - and seven assists. Aniyah Williams had six points and seven rebounds.
For the Redskins, Ashlyn Duffy and Hayley Kolk both had 14 points to lead the attack. The duo combined for seven 3-pointers with Kolk burying four.
Abington coach Allison Lawson on the game: “We started off slow today, only scoring two points in the first quarter. I told the girls we just have to keep up our pressure defense, our shots will fall, and we will climb back into the game.
“That’s what we did in the second quarter, and we were only down two at halftime. We adjusted our defense in the third quarter and held them to three points. Our guards did a great job pressuring and denying (Alena) Cofield the ball. She is super quick, and we knew we had to get the ball out of her hands.
“I think our biggest strengths showed today which is our chemistry on the court, everyone is willing to pass the ball and play for each other. Our defense has been particularly strong as well with great rotations and pressure on the ball handler.”
--Props: “Shya (Crafton) and Vanessa (Griffin) did a great job crashing the boards and limiting their second shots. Maya (Johnson) did a great job penetrating, finding the open girl or finishing the layup, and Kiaya (Durham) hit a big 3 down the stretch to seal the game.”
Up next: Abington (6-4, 3-1 SOL) will host North Penn in a non-league game on Thursday, and Neshaminy (10-4, 4-1) will host Upper Moreland in a non-league game Friday.
Neshaminy 14-9-3-15 41
Abington 2-19-11-12 44
Neshaminy (41) – Alena Cofield 2 0-0 5; Ashlyn Duffy 5 1-2 14; Mia Raivitch 1 0-0 2; Auslyn Wilkins 3 0-0 6; Hayley Kolk 4 2-2 14; TOTALS 15 3-4 41.
Maya Johnson 4 5-8 16; Mikiaya Durham 7 3-3 18; Shya Crafton 1 0-0 2; Vanessa Griffin 1 0-0 2; Aniyah Williams 2 2-4 6; TOTALS 15 10-15 44.
3-point field goals: N – Hayley Kolk 4, Ashlyn Duffy 3, Alena Cofield, A – Maya Johnson 3, Mikiaya Durham.
CHELTENHAM 49, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 36
The Panthers took a 24-22 lead into halftime and upped their lead with a 14-3 third quarter on their way to the non-league win.
Key players: Maya Simmons (18 points), Cassie Bugg (15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals), Zoe Thompson (4 points, 16 rebounds, 8 blocks), Paige Powell (8 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals) led the Lady Panthers.
The Tropea sisters led the Titans, combining for 24 points. Jules led the way with 13 points while Gabby had 11.
Cheltenham assistant coach Chris Manser on the game: “(We) opened up a close game with a 13-4 third quarter led by a balanced scoring attack that included buckets by Maya Simmons, Zoe Thompson, Ali Charles and Cassie Bugg while Paige Powell dished out four assists.
“In the third quarter, we switched to a 3-2 zone, anchored at the top by Marguerite Reimer, that disrupted the Titans’ offense and made it difficult for South to move the ball.”
Up next: Cheltenham (9-2, 5-0 SOL) will be on the road at Executive Charter on Wednesday for a non-league game, and Central Bucks South (7-8, 3-2) will host Wissahickon in a non-league game Saturday (12:30 pm).
Cheltenham 13-11-14-11 49
Central Bucks South 9-12-3-12 36
Cheltenham (49) – Paige Powell 8, Maya Simmons 18, Cassie Bugg 15, Ali Charles 2, Marguerite Reimer 2, Zoe Thompson 4.
Central Bucks South (36) – Ella Wheeler 6, Jules Tropea 13, Rylie DiCesare 2, Gabby Tropea 11, Anna Granito 3, Megan Schmidt 1.
3-point goals: C – Maya Simmons 3; CBS – Ella Wheeler 2, Anna Granito.
NORTH PENN 48, UPPER MORELAND 42 (2 OT)
The Knights took an 18-11 lead into halftime, but the Golden Bears scored 16 third-quarter points to go into the final quarter with a 27-24 lead. The Knights rallied to even the score., sending the game to overtime.
The Knights capitalized on their opportunities at the foul line, connecting on 14 of 18.
Key stretch: The Knights won the game in the second OT, scoring 11 points. Included in the frame was a clutch 3-pointer by Lily Brown. North Penn was 6-for-6 at the foul line in the second overtime. Cam Crowley buried 4 of 4 from the line in OT, and Mehya Godhania connected on a pair at the line.
Key players: North Penn’s Lily Brown led all scorers with 24 points, and Leah Mikulski added 12 points.
For the Golden Bears, Mikel Lancit led the way with 21 points, and Lianna Adames had 10 points.
North Penn coach Bri Cullen on the game: “We were up seven at halftime, and we ended up going into double overtime. It was an exciting one. Upper Moreland hit some big shots, and we had a hard time scoring. I think our inexperience definitely showed a little bit in the fourth quarter.
“I think the biggest thing was – shots weren’t fall for us at all, but we kept playing through it. We gained a ton of experience. I said to a few of the girls – ‘You’re never going to be able to simulate a double overtime scenario in a practice.’ We made a lot of mistakes down the stretch, but we learned a lot. I’m super pleased with how we ended the game. Obviously, who doesn’t want to win, but the biggest thing is that I think we took a step forward in our knowledge of the game, which is good.
“Lily Brown had 24 points, which I think is a career high. She played great.”
--Overtime x 2: “The first overtime was pretty back and forth, and then we broke away a little bit halfway through the second overtime. We changed our defense up just a little bit for a different look, and that caused a turnover. Leah Mikulski hit a big 3 with about two minutes left, and that put us up five at that point. It got into a fouling situation. I would say our foul shots definitely kept us in the game and essentially won us the game. We shot pretty well from the foul line.”
Upper Moreland coach Josh Adelman: “It was another really evenly matched high school basketball game between two teams that needed two overtimes to decide the ball game. It is tough to keep coming up short in these close games, but I am proud of my team. They never quit, they work hard, and they gave themselves a chance to win. We challenge the girls to play an entire 32-minute game every time we step out on the floor.
“In the games we have lost this season, we have come up a little short with some lapses here and there. But to the girls’ credit, they continue to work hard at practice, and continue to work on executing offensively, defensively, and in special situations. I have thrown a lot at them, and they
have stayed engaged. Losing close games is tough, hard to bounce back from, but the girls try so hard. I just want them to be rewarded for their efforts.”
--Props: “Mikel Lancit, Lianna Adames, and Hailey Kramer played every minute of the game, including two overtimes. Marie Meyer, Charlie Clements, and Parker Kurtz also played almost the entire game. I can’t say enough about Hailey and Marie on the boards tonight. They started boxing out and grabbing anything close to their reach. They need to be commended for playing out of position, banging on the boards in an attempt to fill the shoes of Lilly Hansen.
“Lilly hasn’t been discussed, but she tore her ACL in the preseason. Even though it has to be killing her not to be playing, she attends games, attends practices, and even serves as a Captain and Honorary Assistant Coach. Her teammates love her, and she is just a super kid.
“Mikel (Lancit) was stellar once again, and Lianna (Adames) found her shot tonight. It just came down to foul shots and to North Penn’s credit they hit their foul shots in the second overtime. I thought Brown was excellent for them tonight, and Milkulski hit a crucial 3 in the second OT to increase their lead. We can take lot from this game and continue to improve.”
Up next: North Penn (7-8, 4-1 SOL) will be on the road at Abington Thursday for a non-league game, and Upper Moreland (7-7, 1-4) will be on the road at Neshaminy for a non-league game Friday.
North Penn 6-12-6-7-6-11 48
Upper Moreland 9-2-16-4-6-5 42
North Penn (48) – Cam Crowley 1 5-6 7; Lily Brown 8 6-8 24; Leah Mikulski 5 0-0 12; Mehya Godhania 1 2-2 4; Tallie Smink 0 1-2 1; TOTALS 15 14-18 48
Upper Moreland (42) – Lianna Adames 4 1-3 10; Mikel Lancit 9 2-4 21; Marie Meyer 2 2-4 7; Hailey Kramer 1 2-6 4; TOTALS 16 7-17 42.
3-point goals: NP -Lily Brown 2, Leah Mikulski 2. UM - Lianna Adames, Mikel Lancit, Marie Meyer.
UPPER DUBLIN 47, PENNSBURY 27
In a battle of two teams whose calling card is their defense, it was the Cardinals throwing some stifling defense at the visiting Falcons, forcing turnovers and opening up an 18-4 first-quarter lead on their way to the win.
Key stretch: The Cardinals set the tone for the win with an 18-4 first quarter that included eight points (2 3-pointers) from Emilia Coleman.
Key players: Emilia Coleman (16 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals), Megan Ngo (10 points, 3 assists, 2 steals), Tamia Clark (10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists)
For the Falcons, Alyssa Thomas had eight points and Ava Jordan, seven points.
Upper Dublin coach Morgan Funsten on the game: “Going into the game – we’re in a really tough stretch of our schedule just physically and mentally. We know they like to control 
tempo, and they’re really good at it, so we thought it was important for us to get out to a fast start.
“Honestly, the last three games – the O’Hara game, the New Hope game and the PW game – we really didn’t get off to fast starts, so we thought it was really important, and we played an awesome first quarter. It was 18-4 at the end of the first quarter. All five of our starters scored. We turned them over nine times with our pressure. It was really the ideal start to the game.
“We had 11 more field goal attempts than they did, which was great. With taking care of the ball offensively and turning them over defensively, we got more shot attempts.
“The second half was a little bit of a grind with just seeing the game out. Any time you beat a Pennsbury team – it’s a good win. They were coming off their big win over CB East. They would have had our attention regardless because they’re always well prepared. They have a plan to win, so we wanted to make sure that we got off to a hot start, and we definitely did.”
--Keys to the win: “In the first half, Emilia (Coleman) had 15 points. She was hot. We were moving the ball, and a lot of our offense was being created by our defense. We turned them over 13 times in the first half, and that was really the story.
“I thought Lexi Ngo gave us great minutes off the bench. She gave us four steals. She played a little over half the game and was a plus-18 in the plus/minus.
Pennsbury coach Frank Sciolla on the game: “It’s always a tall task to play Upper Dublin, and tonight was no exception. You have to pick your poison with who you guard, and tonight we got a stop on the first possession, but we turned over the rebound and they hit an opportunistic three, and at that point we were chasing.
Tonight was one of those nights where we were really made to pay for our inexperience at both ends. They took advantage of some things in the full court and also against our defense, and it’s a credit to them. They are a great program for a reason, and, of course, it starts at the top with their coaching.
--The positives: “We were able to accomplish several of our goals tonight. We wanted to play as many people as we could in the first half, and we got 11 different players on the floor, and we were able to get our freshmen and sophomores major experience against them so they could see what they were like in case we have to see them again.
“I thought we handled the pressure in the second half really well. I think Alyssa Thomas once again planted her flag in regard to what and who she is in terms of point guards in the district with how she handled the ball and some really creative drives and finishes through contact.
“We knew this was going to be a difficult stretch for us, but everything we want is still in front of us, and good Lord, it will be good to not have to get on a bus for once this Friday.”
--Double trouble: “We lost Emilia Coleman a couple times and that’s not a good. She shot the ball really well in the first half. Her addition to the team has been really big, and it takes them to the next level because of what she can do skill-wise and athletically.
“And you can’t sell out on her because Megan Gno is so good.
Up next: Upper Dublin (14-2, 4-0 SOL) will host Central Bucks East in a non-league battle between a pair of divisions leaders Friday. Pennsbury (10-5, 4-1) will host New Hope-Solebury in a non-league game Friday (6 pm).
Pennsbury 4-10-8-5 27
Upper Dublin 18-12-10-7 47
Pennsbury (27) – Emily Panaro 1 0-0 2; Bella Stewart 1 0-0 2; Maggie Burns 1 0-0 2; Sammie Haws 2 0-0 5; Alyssa Thomas 4 0-0 8; Adrianna Oberto 0 1-2 1; Ava Jordan 2 1-2 7; TOTALS 11 2-4 17.
Upper Dublin (47) – Bridget DiMartile 0 1-2 1; Tamia Clark 3 4-8 10; Maeve Hogan 1 0-0 2; Megan Ngo 4 0-0 10; Lexi Ngo 1 1-2 3; Emilia Coleman 6 2-3 16; Ella Morris 2 0-0 5; TOTALS 17 8-15 47.
3-point goals: P – Ava Jordan 2, Sammie Haws; UD – Emilia Coleman 2, Megan Ngo 2, Ella Morris.
PENNRIDGE 66, WILLIAM TENNENT 62
The Lady Rams trailed by two at halftime and five heading into the fourth quarter when they staged an inspired comeback, erupting for 26 points to eke out the dramatic non-league road win.
“It was a great offensive game by both teams,” Pennridge coach Jason Rapp said. “Very happy we were able to sneak out a win.”
Key stretch: It took a superb effort at the foul line by the Lady Rams in the fourth quarter to rally for the win. In the final frame, they connected on 15 of 18 shots from the charity stripe. Layla Verbit led the way with a near perfect 7-for-8 effort at the line as part of her nine points. Emily DeHaven was 4-for-4 while Ella Brown had nine points in the quarter which included a 3-for-4 effort at the foul line.
Key players: For Pennridge, Ella Brown led the way with 24 points – 13 in the second half. Layla Verbit added 21 in a standout effort that included 13 points in the second half. Madison Lapp also finished in double figures with 11.
For the Panthers, junior Avery Kocur had a dazzling outing of her own, scoring a game-high 25 points, which included four 3-pointers. She had three of those in the first half, and her 15 points helped propel the Panthers to a 32-30 halftime lead.
Junior Halie Staub also added 18 points in a strong outing – nine in each half. Sophomore Megan Volz had 14 points – 11 in the second half.
Pennridge coach Jason Rapp:
--Props: “Incredible job by Layla Verbit tonight, 21 points with big time free throws in the fourth quarter and her typical grit throughout the entire game.
“Ella Brown again was great offensively with 24, scoring 14 in the second half.
“Major props to Maddie Lapp who chipped in with 11 and did a great job running our offense and taking care of the ball.
“Shoutout to Sam Murphy for an outstanding fourth quarter by hitting a huge 3 and making shots difficult for Kocur.”
--Kudos to Tennent: “Avery Kocur is legit. She is a great player and gave us major problems tonight. Fortunately, we were able to get Staub and Volz in some foul trouble because they hurt us on the offensive end as well.”
William Tennent coach Laura Whitney: “Tough loss tonight. We controlled the game from the start of the second quarter up until about four minutes left in the game, and unfortunately, we couldn’t close it out. (It was) definitely frustrating, but proud of our effort tonight and the way we fought.
“We didn’t necessarily have a bad start to the game, just didn’t shoot that well the first quarter and gave up a few easy baskets. Our girls did a great job of responding though in the second quarter and put the pressure back on Pennridge. The second half we got out more in transition, and I thought we had some great ball movement against their zone. We got the lead to six a few times, but we weren’t able to extend it. Credit to Pennridge - Brown and Verbit kept them in the game with some big baskets.”
Turning point: “The turning point of the game was with just under four minutes left in the game. We were up two and turned the ball over, and Brown ended up scoring a layup to tie it up. Next possession we take a poor shot and give it right back to them. The very next defensive possession we foul on a drive, and Pennridge makes 2 of 2 from the line to take the lead. After that we battled and had opportunities but didn’t capitalize. There were also some questionable calls that could have gone either way, but we have to be more disciplined and play smarter.
“I think we’ve done a fairly decent job all season of closing out games despite lacking some experience, but tonight it showed down the stretch. We had several good looks on offense but needed a few more stops defensively.
“It’s a quick turnaround with another game tomorrow. So, we need to bounce back and get ourselves back on track.”
--Props: “Avery was tenacious as always and did a great job of hunting her shots. She had a game high 25 points.
“Staub finished with 18 points and had a great all around game and showed a lot of versatility.
“Meg Volz battled through some foul trouble and after a slow first half finished with 14 points.”
Up next: Pennridge (9-3, 2-3 SOL) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham for a non-league game Friday, and William Tennent (8-6, 2-3) will be on the road at Academy of the New Church for a non-league game Wednesday (4 pm).
Pennridge 20-10-10-26 66
William Tennent 13-19-13-17 62
Pennridge (62) – Ella Brown 10 4-6 24; Emily DeHaven 0 4-4 4; Samantha Murphy 2 0-0 6; Madison Lapp 5 1-2 11; Layla Verbit 6 8-14 21; TOTALS 23 17-26 66.
William Tennent (62) - Aubrey Lynch 1 0-0 3; Avery Kocur 9 3-4 25; Carissa Malpezzi 1 0-0 2; Halie Staub 6 3-4 18; Megan Volz 6 2-4 14; TOTALS 23 8-12 62.
3-point goals: P – Samantha Murphy 2, Layla Verbit; WT – Avery Kocur 4, Aubrey Lynch, Halie Staub 3.
SPRINGFIELD TWP 39, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 32
The Spartans opened up a 12-5 lead after one quarter and took a 22-9 lead into halftime. The Bucks trimmed that lead to 30-24 entering the final quarter, but the Spartans would not be denied.
Audra Lawson’s seven points and Emily Ladley’s six points sparked the Bucks in the third quarter.
Key players: Keira Brandon (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Ava Culler (12 points, 15 rebounds) dominated at both ends of the court.
For the Bucks, Scarlett Baumgardner led the way with 10 points.
Springfield Twp interim coach Aileen Wetton on the win: “I think the girls are gelling and communicating well on offense and defense – definitely on defense. Their basic fundamentals are getting better – like passing. There was a lot of teamwork. It was a hard-fought win. We really played good defense. At the end of the game, we took care of the ball.
“At halftime, we led 22-9, and I said to them, ‘They’re going to come back because they have good shooters.’ Some of their girls got in foul trouble, and also, us being ahead and going to the line and taking care of the ball towards the end of the fourth quarter was key too. It was a big win – I was very proud of them.”
--Props: “Not just because of their points, but Keira Brandon and Ava Culler – Keira had 15 and Ava had 12, but the key was the rebounding. Keira had 11 rebounds, and Ava had 15 rebounds. Both of them had offensive and defensive rebounds.”
Up next: Springfield Twp (4-10, 0-5 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham in a non-league game Thursday, and Central Bucks West (4-11, 0-5) will be on the road at Wissahickon on Friday for a non-league game.
Central Bucks West 5-4-15-8 32
Springfield Twp 12-10-8-9 39
Central Bucks West (32) – Peyton Cramer 2 0-0 4; Miya McDaniel 1 0-0 3; Addy Fay 1 0-0 2; Audra Lawson 3 0-0 7; Emily Ladley 2 0-0 6; Scarlett Baumgardner 4 0-2 10; TOTALS 13 0-2 32.
Springfield Twp (39) – Caitlin Lewis 1 4-6 6; Chloe Kaczor 1 0-0 3; Keira Brandon 7 1-1 15; Julia Guicheteau 1 1-5 3; Ava Culler 5 2-4 12; TOTALS 15 8-16 39.
3-point goals: CBW – Scarlett Baumgardner 2, Emily Ladley 2, Miya McDaniel, Audra Lawson; S – Chloe Kaczor.
BENSALEM 50, HATBORO-HORSHAM 35
The Owls - despite losing a pair of key players to injuries - took a 36-11 halftime lead on their way to the win.
Key stretch: Behind seven points from Talia DiMichele and six from Devon Bell, the Owls opened up a 21-5 lead after one quarter on their way to the win.
Key players: Talia DiMichele’s 20 points led the Owls – 11 in a first-half that saw the Owls open up a 36-11 advantage.
For the Hatters, Maddy Patel led the way with 11 points while Madison Siegfried added 10 points, including a pair of 3s.
Bensalem coach Steve Johnson on the game: “Credit to Hatboro-Horsham for coming out in the second half and punching us in the mouth (with a 15-5 third quarter). We took a pretty nice lead into halftime and Hatboro-Horsham did not give up one bit. They came out to start the second half with a ton of energy and got the better of us in the third quarter.”
--Ill-timed injuries: “Unfortunately, Grace (McShane) went down in the beginning of the first quarter with a wrist injury and did not return. We are being optimistic about her playing Thursday. Just as quick as that happened, Jordyn (Bell) went down with a dislocated knee. Back-to-back injuries are tough to deal with, especially with our group being so close. Our girls really got upset when they saw Jordyn go down, definitely hitting her sister Devon the hardest. It’s really tough to play after those types of injuries, so I am proud of how we handled ourselves the rest of the first half.
--Props: “Talia continued her strong play and did a nice job of managing the offense with some kids playing bigger minutes than expected. Mary Beck was a nice spark off the bench, hitting some big-time shots. She had an impressive slip to the basket midway through the fourth quarter when Hatboro-Horsham had momentum that swung things back our way. We were really impressed with Sydney Daut’s energy on the offensive and defensive glass.”
Hatboro-Horsham assistant coach Nicole Miletto on the game: “We came out flat and had little offense. We’ve been struggling most of the season with some key players out. Not having our point guard – Angelica Visceglia - has been very difficult. We rallied back in the third quarter and held Bensalem to five points. Overall, we outscored them in the second half, but we dug ourselves such a deep hole we ran out of time.
“Give credit to the Owls. They played tough from beginning to end. We put some pressure on them, and I think we cut it to, but they hit two big shots, and we turned the ball over on back-to-back possessions.
--Props: “Senior Maddy Patel struggled in the first half to get going but ended up leading our scoring with 11. Sophomore Madison Siegfried gave us a little spark off the bench, scoring 10 and hitting two big threes. Sophomore Gabby Fisher added six. Junior Mia Fisher had her second game back after being out, and she added four points and had three steals in the second half to get our comeback the too short going.”
Up next: Bensalem (7-6, 1-2 SOL) will be on the road at Conwell-Egan for a non-league game Thursday, and Hatboro-Horsham (3-10, 1-3) will travel to Springfield Twp for a non-league game Thursday.
Bensalem 21-15-5-9 50
Hatboro-Horsham 5-6-15-9 35
Bensalem (50) – Kylie O’Neil 0 0-2 0; Talia DiMichele 8 3-3 20; Kamiya Alexander 1 0-0 3; Mary Beck 3 1-2 8; Mischa Ellzy 1 3-3 5; Grace McShane 1 1-2 3; Devon Bell 2 1-2 6; Sydney Daut 1 0-0 2; Ariana Jenkins 1 0-0 3; TOTALS 18 9-14 50.
Hatboro-Horsham (35) – Madison Duggan 1 0-0 2; Mia Fisher 2 0-2 4; Maddy Patel 5 0-0 11; Gabby Fisher 2 2-4 6; Madison Siegfried 4 0-0 10; Alaina Daniels 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 15 2-6 35.
3-point goals: B – Talia DiMichele, Kamiya Alexander, Mary Beck, Devon Bell, Ariana Jenkins; HH – Madison Siegfried 2, Maddy Patel.
LOWER MORELAND 61, SOUDERTON 40
The Lions took an early lead and led the rest of the way on their way to the non-league win.
Key stretch: Bri McFerran was a one-woman wrecking crew in the first quarter, burying a pair of 3s and scoring 12 points to propel the Lions to a 26-15 lead after one quarter.
Key players: Bri McFerran finished with a double-double that included 13 points, and 12 rebounds. Dani Brusha’s 19 points led the Lions' attack. Emma DiJoseph added 14 points, and Maddie Broderick had 12 points on four 3-pointers.
For the Indians, Emily Dick and Madison Bealer both had nine points.
Lower Moreland coach Rich Becker on the game: “The final score was not indicative of how competitive the game was. Other than a few runs in the first half, it was a fairly even game. They are a well-coached, competitive team that is about to get some players back, and I wouldn't be shocked to see them surprise some teams down the stretch.
“This was a nice way to cap off a stretch of five games in eight days. We won all four quarters and had four players score in double figures. The girls are playing unselfishly, trusting each other and growing as a team.
We have a week until our next game to fine tune some fundamentals and get ready for Cheltenham and the final stretch to get ready for the postseason.”
--Key moment for LM: “The first possession of the game. Due to a lingering ankle injury, Bri (McFerran) has been struggling on offense lately, so we drew something up for her, and she converted and scored a few early baskets and got us off to a fast start.”
Player of the game: “Bri McFerran who got us off to a strong start and had another double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.”
Up next: Lower Moreland (9-6, 3-2 SOL) will host Cheltenham next Tuesday in a key Freedom Division game (6 pm), and Souderton (8-7, 1-4) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh in a non-league game Friday.
Souderton 15-10-9-6 40
Lower Moreland 26-14-11-10 61
Souderton (40) – Julia Purvy 2 0-0 5; Olivia Herron 3 0-1 6; Madison Bealer 4 0-0 9; Liz Word 3 0-0 8; Alaina Picard 1 0-0 3; Emily Dick 4 1-4 9; TOTALS 17 1-5 40.
Moreland (61) - Briana McFerran 5 1-2 13; Dani Brusha 6 3-5 19; Emma DiJoseph 6 1-1 14; Nikki Sahl 1 0-0 2; Maddie Broderick 1 0-0 2; Maddie Broderick 4 0-0 12; TOTALS 23 7-8 61.
3-point goals: S – Liz Word 2, Madison Bealer, Julia Purvy, Alaina Picard; LM – Maddie Broderick 4, Briana McFerran 2, Dani Brusha, Emma DiJoseph.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 63, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 35
The Patriots trailed by one after one quarter but seized control of the game with a 17-point second quarter burst and went into halftime with a 25-14 lead. They added to that lead with a 25-point third quarter.
Key stretch: The Patriots outscored the Lions 42-18 in the middle two quarters. Natalie Berndt scored 17 of her 19 points in that span, and Haley Moran had 10 points.
Key players: Sophomore Haley Moran led all scorers with 20 points, and Natalie Berndt added 19, which included four 3-pointers.
For the Lions, Izzy Elizondo scored 12 points, and Kayla Fennel had 10.
Central Bucks East coach Liz Potash: “Great team effort tonight getting contributions up and down the lineup against a team that has been playing really well. New Hope has been scoring, especially Elizondo and Wilson, and our defense was really solid in both the full court and halfcourt.
--Props: “Nat Berndt and Haley Moran did a great job defending Izzy and Emily. Cece Hayes gave us really solid minutes off the bench tonight. Even when our shots weren’t falling in the first quarter, we continued to defend and it’s only a matter of time until we hit a couple of shots and then it becomes contagious. We’re really proud of the effort and bounce back after Friday’s tough loss.”
Up next: Central Bucks East (10-3, 5-0 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin for a non-league game Friday, and New Hope-Solebury (8-5, 4-1) will be on the road at Pennsbury for a non-league game Friday.
Central Bucks East 8-17-25-13 63
New Hope-Solebury 9-5-13-8 35
Central Bucks East (63) – Sydney Ralph 2 0-0 5; Haley Moran 9 0-0 20; Cece Hayes 1 1-2 4; Natalie Berndt 7 1-2 19; Savannah Hayes 1 2-2 4; Jess Lockwood 5 0-0 11; TOTALS 25 4-6 63.
New Hope-Solebury (35) – Kayla Fennell 4 0-0 10; Izzy Elizondo 4 3-3 12; Emily Wilson 1 0-0 2; Mary Tresler 2 2-2 6; Ella Dudick 1 3-6 5; TOTALS 12 8-11 35.
3-point goals: CBE – Natalie Berndt 4, Haley Moran 2, Sydney Ralph, Cece Hayes, Jess Lockwood; NH-S – Kayla Fennel 2, Izzy Elizondo.
WISSAHICKON 51, HARRY S TRUMAN 39
The Trojans notched their third win of the season, defeating the visiting Tigers. Katelyn Thomson’s 17 points led the Trojans.
“Katelyn Thomson had an outstanding performance,” Wissahickon coach Katie Sims said.
Key players: Katelyn Thomson led the Trojans with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 steals. Maura Jacob contributed 12 points and 4 assists. Ava Stout added 9 points, and Julia Littieri had 5 steals
Wissahickon coach Kathie Sims: “I’m incredibly proud of the team tonight. We stayed composed, were patient with our shots, and played with determination and heart. It was a fantastic win, and everyone contributed to secure the win.”
Up next: Wissahickon (3-9, 0-4 SOL) will host Central Bucks West in a non-league game Friday, and Harry S Truman (0-10, 0-5) will be on the road at Norristown for a non-league game Wednesday (6:45 pm).
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