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District 1 6A opening round
#17 PENNRIDGE at #10 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH (Friday, 4 pm)
Plymouth Whitemarsh
---14-9 overall
---4-4 SOL Liberty Division
---Players to watch include Eliza Meersman (11 ppg, 7 rpg, 1 bpg), AJ Avery (12 ppg), Kenna Winland (8.5 ppg) and Taylor Williams.
---Other contributors are freshman Grace Harvey, who leads the team in steals, Live Patete, who has started every game and is third in minutes played, and sophomore Gracie Kerns.
---Win over Class 6A #20 Lower Merion (51-34)
Coach Dan Dougherty: “We feel fortunate/excited to be hosting a first round game this year. It was a goal of ours heading into the season. We know we are going to have our hands full with an experienced and well-coached Pennridge team. At first glance, we see the fantastic season that (Ella) Brown has had for them, but as we have started to dive deeper, you can see they are a balanced team of shooters, excellent defenders, and most importantly a team that plays together.
“For us, Eliza Meersman has really had a breakout season, having some of her best games against our toughest competition. AJ Avery and Kenna Winland are playing in the postseason for the third consecutive year, so we will certainly rely on their experience and leadership. Our lone senior, Taylor Williams, has filled in admirably for Joslyn Perez and is coming off one of her better games last Friday at CB East. Kids who don’t show up in the stat sheet, but we will be looking to, to make an impact on the game will be freshman Grace Harvey (leads our team in steals), sophomore Live Patete (has started every game this season, third on team in minutes played) and sophomore Gracie Kerns (elite athlete that we will use to give us some depth.”
Pennridge
---15-6 overall
---4-6 SOL Colonial Division
---Led by Holy Family University commit Ella Brown, who averages 22 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 steals.
---Players to watch also include Layla Verbit (9 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Emily DeHaven, Samantha Murphy & Madison L------Wins over Class 6A #19 William Tennent (66-62), #20 Lower Merion (52-51), Class 5A #6 Villa Maria Academy (47-38) & Class 4A #2 Villa Joseph Marie (61-45).
Coach Jason Rapp: “We are looking forward to the opportunity to compete against a talented and well-coached PW team. Having missed the playoffs last season, this is a first-time chance for many of our players to experience.”
Next up: Winner will travel to #1 Perkiomen Valley.
#22 ABINGTON at #11 NESHAMINY (Friday, 7 pm)
Neshaminy
---17-6 overall
---8-2 SOL Patriot Division second place
----Players to watch include senior Alena Cofield (10.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 3.4 spg), sophomore Hayley Kolk (11.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg), sophomore Grace Weyler (5.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg), sophomore Ashlyn Duffy (6.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg) & sophomore Mia Raivitch (3.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.1 apg).
---Wins over Class 6A #13 Spring-Ford (35-31), #15 North Penn (70-53), #23 Central Bucks South (37-23) & #24 Coatesville (61-34)
---Split season series with Class 6A #8 Council Rock South (50-34, 48-42) & #14 Pennsbury (24-30, 39-29) & Class 5A #6 Villa Maria Academy (40-39)
Coach John Gallagher: "Our Patriot Division opponents have ensured we are battle tested. We have had a good season so far; unfortunately, good is the enemy of great. We need to make a run here in our second season to elevate our season from good to great. How our younger players practice and prepare for this second season will be a good judge of how far we go.”
Abington
---12-8 overall
---6-2 SOL Liberty Division second place
---Led by point guard Maya Johnson (12 ppg, 6 apg), Aniyah Williams (15 ppg, 8 rpg) & Mikiaya Durham (11 ppg).
--Wins over Class 6A #11 Neshaminy (44-41) & #16 Plymouth Whitemarsh (43-35, 51-48)
Coach Allison Lawson: “Our team has worked hard all season to reach this point, and we are excited to compete. Our focus is on taking it one game at a time, staying disciplined and playing the type of basketball that got us to this point.”
Next up: Winner will travel to #6 Cheltenham.
#19 WILLIAM TENNENT at #14 PENNSBURY (Thursday, 4:30 pm)
Pennsbury
--14-8 overall
--7-3 SOL Patriot Division third place
---Key players include freshman Alyssa Thomas (6.4 ppg, 3.1 apg, 2.6 rpg), senior Maggie Burns (6.4 ppg, 3 rpg), senior Ava Jordan (9.1 ppg, 1.5 spg) & Sammie Haws (7.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
---Wins over #4 Central Bucks East (35-31), #18 Phoenixville (46-26) & #22 Abington (43-33)
---Split with #11 Neshaminy (30-24, 29-39)
Coach Frank Sciolla: “We are extremely pleased to have earned a home playoff game, albeit one played on Thursday afternoon because of the Eagles Parade. Our team has absolutely maxed out every ounce of their ability, and they are a great example of program kids stepping into roles and succeeding. Playing Tennent will be a challenge as they enter the game red hot, and they are always well coached by Laura Whitney.”
William Tennent
---14-9 overall
---7-3 SOL Freedom Division
---First trip to district in a decade.
---Led by the trio of junior Avery Kocur (18.3 ppg), junior Halie Staub (11.5 ppg) & sophomore Megan Volz (10.9 ppg).
---Wins over Class 6A #18 Phoenixville (45-41), Class 4A #2 Villa Joseph Marie (47-42), #4 Springfield Twp (53-48, 46-38).
---Split with Class 5A #3 Lower Moreland (49-55, 67-64)
---Won five of six to close out the regular season.
Coach Laura Whitney: “We are excited about this opportunity to be playing in the playoffs. The last few seasons we’ve been really close, so to finally get over the hump this year and make it back to the playoffs after a 10-year drought is a testament to the hard work the girls have put in. This is a special group of girls. I feel like all season we’ve been looked at as underdogs with our youth and inexperience, but our girls have been so resilient all season and play with so much fight. They never get fazed by the adversity and big moments and just love to compete. We have a tough challenge in our matchup against Pennsbury. Frank does an incredible job with his program. His teams are always so disciplined and play the right way. But, our girls aren’t satisfied with just making it to the playoffs, and I expect them to come out and play with the same fight they have all season.”
Tennent junior Avery Kocur: “I think it means everything to make the playoffs. We haven’t made the playoffs in a decade. No one ever sees us as a playoff team, and this year we can say we are one. It was a goal for my teammates and I every year, but this year we said we were going to get it done and we did. Our goal is just to go out there and give it our all. No matter the outcome, it is going to be an awesome experience and an opportunity to play more games and have fun.”
Next up Winner will travel to #3 Upper Dublin.
#18 PHOENIXVILLE at #15 NORTH PENN (Friday, 7 pm)
North Penn
---12-11 overall
---8-2 SOL Colonial Division second place
---Led by sophomore Lily Brown (16 ppg, 12 rpg), senior Cameron Crowley (10 ppg, 5 rpg) & senior Leah Mikulski.
---Wins over #17 Pennridge (59-42, 50-33), #21 Methacton (55-51) & #22 Abington (60-25) #23 Central Bucks South (46-44, 41-44).
---Split with Class 6A #2 Central Bucks East (49-61, 54-44) & Class 5A #4 Unionville (47-27, 47-60)
---Won six of eight to close out regular season.
Coach Bri Cullen: “We are looking forward to have the opportunity to compete against some great talent. Our schedule this season was tough, but we used it to prepare for the intensity that playoffs can bring.”
Phoenixville
---13-9 overall
---9-4 PAC Liberty third place
---Lost to Perkiomen Valley in PAC semifinals
---Players to watch include junior Kayden Baratta, who surpassed the 1,000-point mark, and senior Emine Ulcay
---Wins over Class 6A #16 Plymouth Whitemarsh (52-46), #21 Methacton (47-46,65-56),
#23 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH at #10 HAVERFORD (Friday, 6 pm)
Central Bucks South
---12-10 overall
---6-4 SOL Colonial Division third place
---Anchored by Jules Tropea (11.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg), Ella Wheeler (8 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 spg), Mia Klein (10.7 ppg, 5 rpg) and Gabby Tropea (6.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg).
---Wins over Class 6A #17 Pennridge (55-51, 52-48) & Class 4A #3 Lower Moreland (55-41.
Coach Beth Mattern: “The team is excited to take the court on Friday and to be in the district playoffs. Haverford is a great team, and we are looking forward to the challenge they present. I’m happy with the effort that has been put forward at practice and am excited to coach this team on Friday.”
Haverford
---17-4 overall
---13-3 Central League third place
---Lost to Conestoga 28-23 in Central League Tournament semifinal
---Led by St. Joe’s commit Rian Dotsey, who surpassed the 1,000-point milestone this season.
----Natalie Wright is also an impact player for the Fords.
---Wins over Class 6A #2 Garnet Valley (47-28), #20 Lower Merion (42-28, 43-25) & 5A #2 Radnor (41-32) & #12 Harriton (42-21)
---Split with #2 Garnet Valley (47-28, 26-43)
Next up: Winner will travel to #7 Downingtown West.
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