Bensalem girls and boys basketball teams were in action Monday. Check the recaps.
Boys
Non-league
EXECUTIVE EDUCATION ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL 72, BENSALEM 64
Aaron Sanders turned in a glittering 28-point effort, which included six 3-pointers, and teammate James Ashford added 17 points, including a three.
For the game, the Owls buried 10 three-pointers, but Executive Education had too much firepower.
The Owls, who trailed 33-30 at the intermission, trimmed EEAC’s lead to just one heading into the final frame when they were outscored 26-19.
Bensalem (2-2, 2-0 SOL) will travel to Council Rock North on Wednesday.
Bensalem 18-12-15-19 64
Executive Education 21-12-13-26 72
Bensalem (64) – Eric Gonzalez 1 0-0 3; Aaron Sanders 9 4-4 28; Matt Ebner 1 0-0 3; James Ashford 7 2-2 17; Rahul Kohli 1 0-0 3; Jake DeLange 2 1-2 5; Nikita Schaefer 2 1-2 5; TOTALS 23 8-10 64.
Executive Education Academy Charter School (72) – Jalil Schenck 8 6-7 24; Nonirit 1 3-4 5; Kobe Magee 5 2-2 13; Sandon 1 1-2 3; Javin Muniz 9 5-9 27; TOTALS 24 17-24 72.
3-point goals: Bensalem –Aaron Sanders 6, Matt Ebner, James Ashford, Rahul Kohli, Eric Gonzalez; Executive Education – Javin Muniz 4, Jalil Schneck 2, Kobe Magee.
Girls
Non-league
BENSALEM 41, EXECUTIVE EDUCATION ACADEMY CHARTER 32
After an offseason that was anything but conventional, the season got off to a bit of a bumpy start for the young Owls, who had reason to celebrate Monday when they notched their first win of the season.
“I’m super happy for the girls that got the win - all the work they’ve put in the last six months really showed,” coach Steve Johnson said. “In the offseason, we had run challenges before we were allowed to work out in person, and then when we were allowed to work out in person, it had to be outside, so we were on the school grounds, and for a month and a half, we worked out on the grass and the blacktop in 90-degree weather.
“When we were finally allowed to go inside in September, that’s when soccer season started, so there were like four girls coming to workouts. It’s a testament to their hard work, especially our junior captains – Delaney Bell, Erin Devlin and Maddie MacDougall. They just do a great job of leading the girls, and their leadership rubs off.”
In Monday’s non-league win, Bensalem opened up a 17-7 halftime lead, but Executive Charter pulled to within five points heading into the final quarter when the Owls outscored their hosts 18-14 to earn the win.
“They pressed us, and we did a good job breaking their press for layups in the fourth quarter,” Johnson said. “There were at least three or four times where they pressed us, we swung the ball from the backcourt to the front court, and the girl who got it passed it to a girl cutting for a layup.
“In a normal world, you have two or three scrimmages at the beginning of the year to get the kinks out, so this is kind of like dealing with the pros and cons on the go.”
Delaney Bell led a balanced Owl attack with 13 points while Sam Daut and Gianna Paglaiccetti each added six points in a contest that saw eight players put their names in the scoring column.
“They played us in a 1-2-2 and a 2-3 zone, and at times, we worked the ball around well,” Johnson said. “Erin (Devlin), Mackenzie (Kramer) and Amber (Howard) were in the middle, and they made good decisions from the high post, and they passed it where the ball needed to go, and that helped everyone get on the scoreboard.
“Sam Daut and Gianna Paglaiccetti came off the bench four minutes into the game, and they’re players that are the majority of the time are in the right spot on defense and they bring an intensity that every team needs off the bench. Some of the time if you go to your bench, it drops down, but with those two girls off the bench, it stays or increases our intensity.”
One thing that won’t show up in the box score was the Owls’ hustle.
“My favorite play of the game today was in the fourth quarter,” Johnson said. “We were up by maybe five or six. On an inbounds play, they rolled the ball so the clock wouldn’t start, and Delaney Bell sprints from the three-point line and dives for it, tips it out of bounds but just hustle plays like that, and then the freshmen and sophomores buy into it as well.
“Erin Devlin stepped up and took a big charge in the second quarter, which moves our charge total to four this season. That’s one thing we’re trying to instill in the girls to step in and take charges.”
Bensalem (1-2, 0-2 SOL) is tentatively scheduled to host Council Rock North on Wednesday.
Bensalem 9-8-6-18 41
Executive Education 4-3-11-14 32
Bensalem (41) – Delaney Bell 13, Amber Howard 4, Kylie Smith 4, Erin Devlin 2, Sam Daut 6, Mackenzie Kramer 4, Ganna Paglaiccetti 6, Peyton Miller 2.
Executive Charter (32) – T’Nyah Riggins 14, Kimberly Madind 3, Shaylynn Waiters 15.
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