A look at the near-upsets in this weekend’s opening round of the District One AAAA Tournament threw a bit of a scare into Kelly Scull.
“It kind of freaked me out – being a senior and knowing that at any moment it could be over,” the Council Rock North senior said.
Scull’s reaction undoubtedly has more to do with last season than it does with this one.
Last year, the Indians – the district’s third seed – won their first two games in the district tournament but then lost four in a row, a stretch that began with an upset at the hands of 11th-seeded Downingtown West in the district quarterfinals and ended with a loss to Cardinal O’Hara in the opening round of states.“It almost seemed as if everything we worked for meant nothing,” Scull said. “You can go in and have a perfect league season, but when you get to the playoffs, anything can happen.”
“It didn’t feel good,” senior Sarah Kiely added. “If felt like, ‘How could this happen? I thought we were all on board.’
“That ending left a sour taste that stuck in our mouths, so we’re back to kind of wash off our slate and keep going.”
If the Indians needed any reminders about last year’s less-than-happy ending, they get them regularly from their coach.
“I think this senior class has a mission, and when I keep saying, ‘We set a record last year by losing the last four games of the season,’ you can just see Sarah and Kelly kind of roll their eyes,” coach Lou Palkovics said. “I think it kind of sets them off, and I hope they take it out on the court.”
The constant reminders have certainly made the players sit up and take notice.
“It sounds like a broken record that keeps playing over and over again, and it’s a good motivator,” Kiely said. “You get tired of hearing it, but you want to get back to that point where you can redeem yourself and just shut them up.”
“I know the girls who really were a part of that last year – it’s constantly in the back of our heads,” Scull said. “We’re torturing ourselves with it.
“In a way, it really has taught us something. It’s motivation that we’re not going to do that again, we’re not going to make the same mistakes. We’re going to be the girls that made mistakes but learned from them.”
In Friday’s district opener, the Indians demolished an overmatched Academy Park squad, sprinting to a 43-15 halftime lead and then coasting to a 68-39 win. They figure to face a tougher challenge from a young Upper Dublin squad that rolled to a 57-41 win over Chester.
In the Flying Cardinals’ win, freshman point guard Curtrena Goff was unstoppable, scoring a season high 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the floor. She also had eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.
“Obviously, I was very impressed with the Goff girl,” Palkovics said. “She was 7-for-8 from the field and just the way she ran the team - she has an air of confidence on the court.”The Indians have some speed and talent of their own in the backcourt with sisters Devin and Lauren Gold. Both average around 10 points a game and combine for 7.5 assists, but it’s on the defensive end that the twosome has the biggest impact, combining for close to six steals a game.
“The Gold sisters will be all over Tuga (Goff) and Taylor (Bryant),” Upper Dublin coach Vince Catanzaro said. “The number one thing is I have to figure out a way to get the court to be more into our favor.
“If we have to go the full length of the court against their kids, we’re going to have a problem. If I can get over the top of it and we only have to go half the court - that will help our offense get untracked. Tuga can throw the ball the length of the court on a line. I don’t see us being able to dribble the length of the floor the whole game, and I think that will be a key for us.”
While there will be plenty of youth on the court for both sides, it is the seniors who are the undisputed leaders.
Captains Scull and Kiely combine to contribute 25 points and 14 rebounds a game. They are the heart and soul of an Indian squad that includes seniors Rebecca Houser, who is out for the season with an injury, as well as the team’s fifth starter, Jodi Marrazzo, and reserve Steph Brennan.
“I think this is one of the best groups of senior leaders,” Palkovics said. “Steph Brennan doesn’t play a lot, but she takes it upon herself to be the captain of our scout team at practice.
“The seniors will be the first ones at the beginning of practice if they think there isn’t any focus to say to the girls, ‘Time to focus, time to focus.’ It takes a lot of pressure off me where I can concentrate on the other team’s players and offenses and defenses and not have to worry about my team’s focus at practice.
“Kelly and Sarah have definitely been a big part of that. They both lead by example, and they have no problem and I have no problem when they speak up at practice because what they usually say is what I would say, and I’m happy with the way they approach practice.”
Talk to Scull, and there’s an unmistakable sense of urgency in her voice.
“I think Sarah and I both knew after we lost last year that Sarah, Lauren, Devin and I all had another chance, but this is it for Sarah and me,” Scull said. “There’s no going back.
“It really is scary. You go out there, and it’s one and done, so every girl is playing their hearts out. No matter how good you are or how good your team is, if you don’t play with heart, someone is going to give you a run for your money.
“We’re a talented team, but talent can only take you so far. You have to want it, and you have to have that drive and desire. You have to be willing to work hard. Last year we might have gotten a little too far ahead of ourselves and didn’t realize what was coming at us. This year with that experience in the back of our heads, we’re ready.”
According to Kiely, there’s a different feeling this time around.
“After our first loss to Downingtown West last year, the chemistry just got thrown off,” she said. “We kind of fell apart, and we couldn’t get it back up. We just weren’t working as a team the way we used to be.
“This year everyone is jelling together really well, and I don’t think the chemistry will be broken depending on how far we get.”Only five seniors remain from a class that had 12 players out for the team as freshmen.
“People kept getting weeded out, and the five of us were left standing,” Kiely said. “We all played together in middle school. We had that chemistry going since eighth grade.
“It’s a great experience finishing my (high school career) with people I’ve known for so long. We’re all really close.”
Upper Dublin has some seniors of its own, and while only one – Holy Cross bound Kristen Fuery – is a household name, the other four – Siobhan Brady, Leah Ellert, Arin Weiss and Jamie Black – have also contributed to the success of this year’s squad.
“This team has really come together, and it’s because of our seniors keeping them together, even if they don’t play,” Catanzaro said. “We didn’t have that last year.
“The commitment to being leaders is important. You need leadership, especially when you have a young team. The kids look up to the seniors even though they don’t play. Without them, I don’t see us having as successful a year.”
On Friday night, Weiss connected for a basket that ignited the Cardinals.
“The whole team went nuts,” Catanzaro said. “She never scored, and she scored in the first district game she’s ever played in. The first shot she takes, she makes.”
Catanzaro is hoping Fuery – his team’s top scorer and rebounder - will be able to give the team meaningful minutes after battling back from an injury that sidelined her in the final weeks of the regular season.
“She only played about half the game on Saturday, but she’s impressive,” Palkovics said. “She scares me a little bit because she hasn’t been around.
“She’s getting her legs back under her now, and she can only get better.”
Tipoff for the all-SOL showdown is 6 p.m. at Council Rock North, the opening game of a girls/boys double header.
For Rock North’s seniors, it will be their final game on their home court.
“It’s unbelievable,” Scull said. “I looked at the seniors last year thinking, ‘It’s no big deal. They’re probably excited for college and to get away,’ but it goes by too fast. I feel like we were playing Central Dauphin in our first game a week ago. It’s amazing.
“You have to approach it – I have nothing to lose from this point, only so much to gain, so much to experience. You don’t realize how fast it goes. Tomorrow could be it, and we’re definitely not ready. We have bigger goals in mind.”
On Tuesday night, the Indians will take their next step toward achieving those goals. No matter the outcome, both teams will continue on – the winner to the district quarterfinals and the loser to a playoff for the ninth spot and a berth in the state tournament.
Just the Facts
Last year’s record: Council Rock North 14-0 SOL National Conference champions (22-6 overall), Upper Dublin 12-11 overall
This year’s record: Council Rock North 14-0 SOL National Conference champions (19-4 overall), Upper Dublin 11-3 SOL (16-6 overall)
Last meeting: March 1, 2006 – Council Rock North 54, Upper Dublin 53
Last game: Council Rock North 68, Academy Park 39 (Lauren Gold 17 points; Sarah Kiely 16 points; Devin Gold 10 points; Kelly Scull 9 points; Emily Grundman 5 points; Ally Mangogna 4 points; Steph Brennan 3 points; Megan Cunningham 2 points; Jodi Marrazzo 2 points)
Upper Dublin 57, Chester 41 (Curtrena Goff 18 points; Taylor Bryant 11 points; Lauren Rothfeld 7 points; Kristen Fuery 6 points; Jen Myers 5 points; Megan Deetscreek 4 points; Arin Weiss 2 points; Marissa Ferguson 2 points; Tori Waters 2 points)
Council Rock North
Projected starters and season averages:
#4 – Jodi Marrazzo (5-10, Sr., F) 2.4 PPG
#5 – Devin Gold (5-7, Jr., G) 10.0 PPG, 3.3 assists, 2.7 steals
#12 – Lauren Gold (5-7, Soph., G) 10.8 PPG, 4.1 assists, 3.2 steals
#15 – Kelly Scull (5-10, Sr., F) 12.0 PPG, 5.6 rebounds
#23 – Sarah Kiely (6-0, Sr., C/F) 13 PPG, 7.7 rebounds
The rest of the Indians:
#3 – Rebecca Houser (5-10, Sr., F)
#10 – Steph Brennan (5-7, Sr., G)
#21 Emily Grundman (6-2, Soph., C/F)
#22 – Helena Gemmell (5-10, Soph., F)
#30 – Ally Mangogna (5-10, Jr., F)
#34 – Alyssa Dumont (5-11, Soph., F/G)
#35 – Megan Cunningham (5-9, Soph., G/F)
#41 – Molly Doyle (5-8, Soph., G)
Upper Dublin
Projected starters and season averages:
#1 – Curtrena Goff (5-4, Fr., G) 8.9 PPG, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists
#5 – Taylor Bryant (5-5, Soph., G) 10.5 PPG, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists
#23 – Kristen Fuery (6-0, Sr., F) 10.8 PPG, 6.0 rebounds
#24 – Jen Myers (5-8, Soph., F) 4.6 PPG, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists
#42 – Tori Waters (5-9, Jr., F) 3.0 PPG, 5.5 rebounds
The rest of the Flying Cardinals:
#3 – Catrice Goff (5-4, Fr., G)
#4 – Siobhan Brady (5-6, Sr., G/F)
#10 – Bri Spector (5-8, Fr., G/F)
#11 – Ellie Silverman (5-11, Fr., C)
#12 – Samira Strand (6-3, Soph., C)
#13 - Sarah Hallowell (5-3, Jr., G)
#20 - Cra Chernow (5-3, Jr., G)
#22 – Lauren Rothfeld (5-8, Fr., F)
#25 – Carly Strauss (5-5, Soph., G)
#32 – Megan Deetscreek (5-10, Jr., F)
#33 – Leah Ellert (6-0, Sr., F)
#35 – Haley Klein (5-2, Soph.., G)
#40 – Erica Blum (5-6, Soph., G)
#45 – Arin Weiss (5-10, Sr., F)
#50 – Jamie Black (5-6, Sr., G)
#55 – Danielle Ferguson (5-7, Soph., F)
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