Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ basketball teams in action Monday. NP/CB East photos provided courtesy of Diane Barry/CB East basketball.
SOL Colonial Division
NORTH PENN 54, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 48
The young Knights turned in a gritty effort, digging themselves out of an early hole and then – after watching an eight-point lead slip away in the fourth quarter – displaying composure and rallying for the hard-fought win.
“This group of girls – every single day is a new day and a new opportunity to be successful,” said North Penn coach Bri Cullen, who started two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior in Monday’s game. “They’re taking all these lessons that they’re learning that typically upperclassmen learn as freshmen and sophomores, and they’re coming in and improving every single game.
“I think they’re also starting to buy into all the things that I’m saying. Obviously, having a new coach as a new team is difficult for a group of girls, especially the returners, but I think today they finally took a step back and bought into the system and the culture that we’re trying to build.”
The Patriots – behind six points from Elise Duffy – led 13-5 after one quarter and took a 26-20 lead into halftime. Kendall Gregor’s 10 points led the Patriots while Caleigh Sperling had nine points for the Knights.
Down but hardly out, the Knights erupted for 20 third-quarter points. Sperling led the charge, scoring 10 points, which included a three and a perfect 3-for-3 effort at the foul line. Abby Plaugher and Kelly Donnelly each had a 3-pointer as well.
“As a team, they came together and said – enough of hanging their heads and that kind of mentality,” Cullen said. “They made a decision to go in the game and score the basketball.”
The Knights took 40-34 lead into the final quarter and upped that lead to eight only to watch the Patriots rally to twice take a one-point lead.
“Abby Plaugher had a huge and-one,” Cullen said of a three-point play that gave the Knights the lead for good.
The Knights were 5-for-5 from the foul line in the fourth quarter with Plaugher – who had seven points in the frame – connecting on 3-of-3 while Cam Gregory buried a pair.
“Especially coming off three or four close games (they lost) at the end – for them to take the lessons they learned and have composure, they showed now they’re experienced in that type of setting, and they pulled it out at the end,” Cullen said.
Sperling led all scorers with 21 points. Plaugher finished with 15, and Liv Stone added eight points, including a clutch three in the fourth quarter.
“Caleigh had a great game offensively and went in with the mentality to score the basketball, and Abby stepped up as a leader today and as a guard had 13 rebounds,” Cullen said. “Liv Stone had a very big eight points. She scored at critical times and took big shots.
“Cameron Crowley, a freshman, stepped up and made two massive free throws, and that’s when things took the final turn. They just played with more confidence than they have in the previous games.”
For the Patriots, Kendall Gregor’s 18 points led the way. Anna Barry added 12 points, and Duffy had eight.
North Penn (3-6, 2-4 SOL) will travel to Neshaminy on Tuesday, and Central Bucks East (3-6, 2-4) will host Bensalem on Tuesday.
Central Bucks East 13-13-8-14 48
North Penn 5-15-20-14 54
Central Bucks East (48) – Erin LeRay 2 0-0 4; Shayne LeRay 1 0-0 3; Anna Barry 4 1-1 12; Elise Duffy 3 2-2 8; Kendall Gregor 5 5-8 18; Emily Curran 1 1-2 3; TOTALS 16 9-13 48.
North Penn (54) – Caleigh Sperling 7 5-5 21; Cam Crowley 1 2-2 4; Abby Plaugher 5 4-5 15; Kellly Donnely 1 0-0 3; Leah Mikulski 1 1-2 3; Liv Stone 3 1-2 8; TOTALS 18 13-16 54.
3-point goals: CBE – Anna Barry 3, Kendall Gregor 3, Shayne LeRay; NP – Caleigh Sperling 2, Abby Plaugher, Kelly Donnely, Liv Stone.
SOL Freedom Division
UPPER MORELAND 56, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 24
They hadn’t forgotten.
Upper Moreland’s coaches and players remembered last year’s much-hyped home game against New Hope-Solebury with an opportunity to take a two-game lead on the Lions for the top spot in the division standings.
But things didn’t exactly go as the Golden Bears had hoped as the Lions came to their house and notched a 39-21 win. The two teams ended up sharing the SOL Freedom Division crown.
“Knowing that team beat us last year in a bad spot made us more hungry for the win,” UM sophomore Holly Gohl said. “From last year sharing and how our team felt after we had to share it, we knew we wanted to have it for ourselves this year.”
“It’s hard to see 20-21 and know that it was shared because it doesn’t feel (like a) full (championship), and we want it to be full,” junior EmmyFaith Wood said.
Monday’s showdown was rescheduled from last Tuesday night after that game was postponed when the Lions were shut down due to COVID 19 protocols.
“I think sometimes that can get in your head – you’re over prepared, you’re real excited for the game, and you have to balance that out with the nerves of coming back after a long break,” Wood said. “I feel like the team handled it pretty well, got rid of the nerves early.”
If the Golden Bears had nerves, they certainly didn’t show. Wood scored 22 points in a glittering offensive showing, and Gohl added 16 – all in a first half that saw the Bears seize control of the game.
“They were amped up to play the game last week and then it got moved to today,” UM coach Matt Carroll said. “We had some girls get really, really nervous - they were pacing, and it was just a different feel today.
“It was one of those things we had so much time to prepare. There’s no preparing anymore. We know what they do, we know the plays they run, what their players do well, and I feel our girls were really excited to just play a game of basketball. We had one game since Dec. 21.”
And that game was a 56-15 rout of Cheltenham, but the Golden Bears showed no signs of rust. They led 12-8 after one quarter and then all but put the game away with a 21-point second quarter that featured 11 points from Gohl and sent the Golden Bears into halftime with a 33-11 lead.
“I had some good looks, and my shots were falling,” Gohl said. “It was good to get my flow back.”
While Gohl stole the spotlight in the first half, Wood owned the second half, burying a pair of 3s and scoring 14 of her game-high 22 after the intermission. The duo combined for 38 points, but they didn’t do it alone.
“They’re awesome, and they’re great scoring,” Carroll said of Wood and Gohl. “The stuff the other kids do is just as important – the rebounding, and Emma Hurley hit a big three early. She’s actually hit a couple the last couple of games.
“There were times we knew who to help off of, we knew who to double and who to not double. Every good team has those players who – I’m not going to get 15 shots, I’m not going to get 15 points, but if I have to do other things for us to win, that’s what I’m going to do.’”
Hurley added seven points for the Golden Bears.
Reagan Chrencik’s 10 points led the Lions, who were without a starter, Isabella Elizondo.
“We have a little bit of a rivalry,” Carroll said of the Lions. “We shared a championship last year, and obviously, us beating them first, we weren’t happy about that.
“They have good players, they’re well-coached, and they have some players who are a handful. (Reagan) Chrenchik is a handful. You almost have to have six people on the court to cover her. (Madi) Fasti is a pain as a guard. They’re good, but thankfully our girls were ready, excited, and you could tell.”
Upper Moreland (6-1, 4-0 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Tuesday, and New Hope-Solebury (4-4, 3-2) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
New Hope-Solebury 8-3-7-6 24
Upper Moreland 12-21-9-14 56
New Hope-Solebury (24) – Grace Fitzgerald 1 0-0 2; Reagan Chrencik 2 5-7 10; Emily Wilson 1 0-0 3; Madi Fasti 1 1-2 3; Ella Dudek 0 0-2 0; Nina Mexler 1 0-0 3; Ives 1 0-0 3 TOTALS 7 6-13 24.
Upper Moreland (56) – Alyssa Wiley 0 2-2 2; EmmyFaith Wood 8 3-3 22; Kiera Coyle 0 2-2 2; Marie Meyers 0 3-4 3; Holly Gohl 7 1-2 16; Emma Hurley 3 0-0 7; Mikel Lancit 1 0-0 2; Lilly Hansen 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 20 11-13 56.
3-point goals: NHS – Reagan Chrencik, Emily Wilson, Nina Mexler, Ives; UM – EmmyFaith Wood 3, Holly Gohl, Emma Hurley.
Non-league
ST. HUBERT’S 55, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 46
The Indians put on an impressive long-range shooting display, burying 11 shots from beyond the arc, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the visiting Bambies, who connected on seven 3s of their own. The difference in this one came at the foul line where the Bambies buried 12-of-17 while the Indians took just four foul shots, connecting on three.
Lizzie Lustig had a hot hand from long distance, connecting on six 3-pointers and leading the Indians with 18 points. She had a pair of 3s in the first quarter that also saw Riley Hamilton and Kristen Polinsky both connect on a three as the Indians scored 16 points and led by one at the end of a quarter.
The shots stopped falling the second quarter, and the Indians managed just six points – on a pair of 3-pointers. St. Hubert’s took a 27-22 lead into halftime. The Bambies led 43-37 lead into the final quarter that saw them connect on 6-of-9 from the foul line to seal the Indians’ fate.
Also, for the Indians, Hamilton had nine points on three 3-pointers. Polinsky added eight points as the trio combined for the 11 treys.
Gianna Grassifulli led all scorers with 25 points, which included an 8-for-9 effort at the foul line. Mackenzie McLaughlin added 17 points, including four 3-pointers.
Council Rock North (2-8, 1-5 SOL) will host Central Bucks South on Tuesday.
St. Hubert’s 15-12-16-12 55
Council Rock North 16-6-15-9 46
St. Hubert’s (55) – Mia Tobin 2 2-2 8; Mackenzie McLaughlin 6 1-3 17; Charlotte Pugh 2 0-0 4; Alexa Price 0 1-3 1; Gianna Grassifulli 8 8-9 25; TOTALS 18 12-17 55.
Council Rock North (46) – Kiera Katz 2 0-0 4; Lizzie Lustig 6 0-0 18; Riley Hamilton 3 0-0 9; Sofia Shields 1 1-2 3; Kristen Polinskky 2 2-2 8; Ruth O’Keefe 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 16 3-4 46.
3-point goals: St. Hubert’s – Mackenzie McLaughlin 4, Mia Tobin 2, Gianna Grassifulli; CRN – Lizzie Lustig 6, Riley Hamilton 3, Kristen Polinsky 2.
VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 48, HARRY S TRUMAN 33
The Tigers, who trailed 13-6 after one quarter, found themselves on the short end of a 25-13 halftime score. They were outscored 23-20 in the second half.
Patricia Monroe and Secret McCleve both scored eight points to lead the Tigers. Mayah Alford added six points.
Tori Nigro’s 16 points led the Jems.
Harry S Truman (0-6, 0-4 SOL) will travel to Souderton on Tuesday.
Harry S Truman 6-7-6-14 33
Villa Joseph Marie 13-12-13-10 48
Harry S Truman (33) – Mayah Alford 3 0-4 6; Saniya Blount 1 0-0 2; Ayla Beitler 2 0-0 4; Patricia Monroe 2 4-10 8; Shylah McCleve 1 1-2 3; Secret McCleve 3 2-3 8; Dahlia Guma 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 13 7-19 33.
Villa Joseph Marie (48) – Tori Nigro 6 2-2 16; Hailey Magilton 1 1-2 4; Emma Hagen 2 0-0 4; Carly Austin 2 5-8 10; Camille Kakoyan 3 1-2 7; Sam White 2 1-4 5; Michaela Joniec 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 17 10-18 48.
3-point goals: VJM – Tori Nigro 2, Hailey Magilton, Carly Austin.
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