Jennings brings versatile game to Archbishop Carroll
MATT SMITH’S GIRLS BASKETBALL SUPER 7
Harlem Jennings is the new kid on the block at Archbishop Carroll.
That’s fine by her. The junior is enjoying the experience.
“It’s been awesome. The team is great,” Jennings said after helping the Patriots win at Episcopal Academy last week. “The girls are so much fun to play with and the coaches are fantastic.”
Jennings transferred from Bishop Guilfoyle when her family made the cross-state move from Altoona to King of Prussia. As a sophomore, she had helped her former school advance to the second round of the PIAA Class AA tournament.
Needless to say, the quality of high school girls basketball is a little different in the Philadelphia area, especially in the Catholic League and at Carroll, where the expectations are high every year. Archbishop Carroll’s girls basketball program has won a pair of PIAA championships (2009, 2012).
“It’s definitely a lot harder to play in this area and there is different competition,” she said. “I’m noticing that the game out here is a lot faster. I think it was a little bit slower, and a little bit easier, at my old school.
“But it’s fun. it here and competition.”
She added that she’s learning more each day about the history of Archbishop Carroll and Catholic League basketball. I’m loving loving the “I’ve said.
Jennings has given the Patriots an added dimension this year. She is a do-everything player who can spot up at any position on the floor.
In the win over Episcopal, Jennings flourished at rebounding and cutting to the basket. She also displayed a nice mid-range jump shot. The 5-foot-9 junior makes good use of her natural instincts and athleticism.
“I try to everything I can,” Jennings said. “It can be really hard, obviously, because of my height. I focus on hitting my shots, but I know I have to go and get my heard a lot,” she teammates’ shots and do whatever I can to help the team. So I have really focused on my rebounding this year. I try and do my best with the rebounding, defense and boxing out.”
Jennings complements sharp-shooting junior guard Erin Sweeney and senior guard and star Molly Masciantonio very well. Through the season’s first few weeks, the Patriots have won four of their first five games, with their lone loss against perennial District 1 powerhouse North Penn. They have convincing victories over Episcopal Academy and a restocked West Catholic squad.
With Jennings in the are fold, the Patriots ranked No. 2 in the
Super 7, behind only Cardinal O’Hara (2-0).
“Her versatility is welcomed,” Carroll coach Renie Shields said. “With Harlem, first of all, she’s a great teammate. As soon as she walked in, she fit right in. That’s where it starts. If you’re a good teammate, I believe, everything else will flow from there. The kids really saw that, too. Her versatility is very helpful.”
Jennings is third on the team in scoring, trailing Masciantonio and Sweeney. She has tallied double digits in two games, including a season-high 14 points against North Penn.
Jennings knows the chemistry with her teammates remains a work in progress, but she is confident that her best basketball with her new teammates has yet to come.
“It takes a lot of hard work in practice,” she said. “We aren’t just focusing on one thing and we are all working together.”
Academy Park senior Mahya Woodton could be the newest member of the 1,000-point club as soon as Thursday.
Woodton is 30 points shy of the milestone. She is, by far, the Delaware County leader is points per game (29.3) and has (Through Dec. 25) 1. Cardinal O’Hara (2-0) 2. Archbishop Carroll (4-1) 3. Garnet Valley (5-0) 4. Springfield (5-0) 5. Notre Dame (4-2) 6. Bonner & Prendergast (4-2) 7. Episcopal Academy (3-4) scored at least 30 points in three contests. She poured in 38 points in a victory over Norristown Dec. 11.
Woodton is on pace to become the best scorer in Academy Park girls basketball history. The list of 1,000-point scorers in program history includes Brianna Macauley (1,181), Crystal Gale (1,152), Jessi Valerio (1,130), Fallan Newsome (1,080), Nancy Carroll (1,074), Jordan Matthews (1,040) and Joan McLoughlin (1,016)
The Knights compete at the Unionville Holiday Tournament this week. They face Avon Grove Wednesday.
Academy of Notre Dame junior Maggie Pina broke the school’s single-game record for most points last week. Pina, who transferred from Archbishop Carroll prior this year, netted 34 points to lead the Irish past Villa Maria Dec. 23. The previous career high of 33 points was shared by Nicole Schneider (1997) and Megan McGurk (2013).