Check out all of Tuesday’s non-league action.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 55, PENNRIDGE 37
Egypt Thompson had a big night for the Colonials, contributing 16 points and 13 rebounds. Maya Thomas and Gabby Schumaker each added 10 points while Erin Martin had seven points. Rachel Konowal had six and Simone Jacques had five in a balanced PW attack.
“I’m really happy about the fact that a lot of the kids are taking more ownership over their roles on the team,” PW coach Becky Duffy said. “They’re sharing the basketball really well. In our first three games, we’ve had different people step up.”
In PW’s loss to Council Rock South in its first game of the season, it was Martin turning in a big performance. Schumaker and Thomas had big games against Methacton, and on Tuesday night, it was Thompson’s turn.
“It’s nice because they’re not relying on one person to take over,” Duffy said. “They all feel comfortable with each other, they’re all friends, and they’re also comfortable with their roles. We’ve had different kids step up in different ways.”
The Rams opened up a 15-13 lead at the end of one quarter, but the Colonials seized control of the game with a 22-5 second quarter explosion to go into halftime with a 35-20 lead. The Rams never threatened.
“The kids are really working hard,” Duffy said. “They’re coming together. We’re really trying to get all our kids involved so we have balanced scoring, which is working out so far.”
The Rams – who were without sophomore Jordan Rimmer (injury) - were led by the 11-point efforts of Alyssa Marchunsky and Nici Bonacci.
While the Rams fell to 1-2 on the season, the Colonials are 2-1.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 63, NESHAMINY 55
Freshman point guard Nicole Munger continued her string of impressive performances, leading the Bucks with 16 points – which included a four-for-four effort from three-point land. Maggie Gratz posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
“Maggie Gratz played a great game for us,” coach Terry Rakowsky said. “We probably start seven kids that I would consider our starters, and she is one of them. She had a huge game tonight.”
Jen Fabian added 11 points and eight rebounds while freshman guard Makenzie Carroll made her presence felt on defense.
“She came in and gave us some really, really good minutes watching that (Megan) Shaffer, who is a phenomenal athlete,” Rakowsky said. “She’s unbelievable.”
Caitlyn Mautz started in place of Sam Colloi, who took a hit on her knee on Saturday.
“Caitlyn gave us a very good game – watching Schafer, scoring and controlling the pace of the game,” Rakowsky said.
The Redskins led 16-15 at the end of one quarter, but the Bucks rallied to go on top 28-24 by halftime. A 15-9 third quarter made it a 43-33 game before the Redskins came to life in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bucks 22-20.
Neshaminy was led by Sarah Oliveira (19 points) and McKenna Mullin (14 points).
Central Bucks West will travel to Souderton for Friday’s league opener while Neshaminy travels to Abington for its league opener on Thursday.
UPPER DUBLIN 53, LANSDALE CATHOLIC 38
Taylor Bryant scored 14 points to lead a balanced attack on a night that saw coach Vince Catanzaro earn win number 200 of a standout career. Brianna Spector added 11 points while Lauren Rothfeld and Kayla McAneney each added nine, and Curtrena Goff added six.
The Flying Cardinals took an 11-5 lead at the end of one quarter and extended that lead to 25-15 by halftime. They outscored the Crusaders in each of the four quarters.
Upper Dublin will travel to Cheltenham on Friday night for the league opener for both squads.
ABINGTON 57, CHESTER 28
The Ghosts received double-digit scoring performances from Aiyannah Peal (16 points), Sarah Listenbee (12 points) and Deja Rawls (11 points). Sophomore Michael Harris added eight points on a night that saw the Ghosts make easy business of the Clippers.
Abington led 13-5 at the end of one quarter and extended that lead to 28-9 by halftime. The Clippers were never heard from again as the Ghosts rolled to their third win in as many games. They will host Neshaminy in their league opener on Thursday night.
PENNSBURY 49, NORRISTOWN 30
Sajanna Bethea and Kaitlin Kelly each scored 15 points to lead the Falcons to Tuesday’s big win. Bethea also had nine rebounds and three steals while Kelly – who buried three treys - had four assists. Lindsay Bolger had eight points and three assists, Jae Jackson had six points, Amie Eppolito added five points.
The Falcons seized control of the game early, opening up a 13-4 lead at the end of one quarter and extending that lead to 29-6 by halftime.
Tyshay Britten led the Eagles with 13 points, and Sydney Morse had eight points. Nicole Graham chipped in with five points, and Steph DiNolfi had four points.
Norristown will travel to Bensalem for a 5:30 game on Thursday – it will be the Owls first home game in their new gymnasium. Pennsbury returns to action on Friday against visiting Bensalem in the league opener for both squads.
WILLIAM TENNENT 46, KENNETT 24
NORTH PENN 64, NESHAMINY 47 (Monday, Dec. 12)
Junior Lauren Crisler scored 15 first-half points while teammate Steph Knauer added nine as the Maidens sprinted to a 35-23 halftime lead over the Redskins. Crisler finished the game with 19 points, 12 rebounds and three steals. It was her third double-double in as many games.
“She’s playing with a lot of confidence and making all the right decisions,” deMarteleire said.
After the game, Crisler was more interested in talking about her team’s camaraderie than her own performance.
“This year we’re really being positive with each other,” she said. “I think that really helps us. It brings the team together. We’re really trying to create opportunities for each other. We’re really balanced this year. Everyone can score.”
Knauer added 11 points while senior point guard Brenda McDermott contributed 10 points, seven assists and three steals.
Sophomore Erin Maher contributed eight points, which included a pair of three-pointers and five straight points to open the second half. Sophomore Vicky Tumasz came off the bench to bury a pair of treys in a first quarter that saw the Maidens open up a 21-7 lead.
“We have a lot of weapons,” Maiden coach Maggie deMarteleire said. “Obviously, our anchors are Steph and Lauren, and Brenda is doing a great job handling the ball. We do have other people who can step up and score when we need them and play good defense too.”
Both deMarteleire and Neshaminy coach Joanne McVey lauded the calming presence of McDermott against the Redskins’ non-stop pressure.
“(Megan) Shaffer is a really good defender – she’s quick and all over you, and Brenda did a really nice job,” deMarteleire said. “She kept her composure. When she’s not on the floor, that takes a little bit away from our team.”
“Brenda has done a really good job, keeping cool and collected,” Crisler added. “Together as a whole I thought we did that. We weren’t freaking out when they were putting pressure on us. We were calm and getting open for each other. We didn’t get frazzled.”
The Redskins, who could not match the Maidens’ size in the paint, have lost senior center Jade Kent for the season to a torn ACL. Kent underwent surgery on Monday.
“Maybe the kids were preoccupied because of that, but it was a very flat effort,” McVey said. “We didn’t have any answer for Crisler or Knauer. I thought their kid – McDermott – really did a nice job. Normally we can get some guard pressure with our guards, but we weren’t able to do that.”
While the Redskins fell to 0-2, the Maidens improved to 3-0.
“I am so excited for the season,” Crisler said. “I think we can definitely go really far this year. It’s going to be exciting.”
The Maidens will travel to Central Bucks East for a battle with the defending Continental Conference champs in the league opener for both teams on Friday night.
UPPER MERION 56, UPPER PERK 44 (Monday, Dec. 13)
Cassidy Koenig continues to rewrite the record books at Upper Merion. The senior guard connected on 6-of-7 shots from beyond the arc in the first half alone, finishing the game with 30 points – which ties a school mark set by teammate Kristina O’Sullivan last season.
“What do you say about that - there are good shooters that can go five, six, seven, eight games and not even have six three’s,” coach Tom Schurtz said. “Upper Perk is much improved this year. They return all their starters from last year. They won four of their last five to close the season out last year, so I was very happy.”
O’Sullivan added 12 points for the Vikings, who opened up a 19-16 lead at the end of one quarter and extended that to 37-20 by halftime.
“It was a nice team win,” said Schurtz, whose team connected on 20-of-26 from the charity stripe. “I give Upper Perk a lot of credit because they never really stopped. We were up double digits most of the game.
“It was one of those games where I thought they would fold but they never did. They just kept hanging around and making shots.”
Upper Merion will host Norristown in Friday’s SOL opener.
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