The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Finalists
plenty of promise with D-I guards Zahree Harrison and Jaelen McGlone projected to lead an athletic and defensively versatile group poised to give a lot of people problems.
Not even a full quarter into the season, Harrison went down with a knee injury that would cost the St. Francis (PA) recruit the rest of his senior year and that foundation was rocked. Where others would have crumbled, the Panthers came together and authored their own 20-2 season before using a run of strong defense to reach Temple and put away Bensalem in the semifinals.
The final game of four at Temple on Saturday will pit two drastically different styles against each other. Cheltenham doesn’t have anyone with the size to match up with Woodward directly, but the Panthers have the athletes to try and pressure the Warriors up the floor. Methacton can run but are really good in a halfcourt offense where Eberly, Kropp, Timko and sophomore Brett Byrne can knock down perimeter shots and Woodward can use his excellent passing.
Cheltenham loves to attack, with sophomore Justin Moore good at getting to the rim and players like McGlone and Saleem Payne also able to attack the paint while working the spaces in between. Methacton’s guards handle pressure well but the Panthers being able to put Sean Emfinger, Brandon Scott and Travis Coleman at the back end of a fullcourt defense means any errant pass is in danger of getting picked.
CB WEST VS PENNSBURY » After the Bucks’ grind-itout win over Spring-Ford on Wednesday, coach Zach Sibel quoted his former high school coach.
Sibel’s made no secret the influence Frank Sciolla had on him both as a player and now in his first year as a high school head coach. Saturday, student meets teacher again as Sibel and the Bucks take on Sciolla’s Falcons at the Liacouras Center.
They met earlier this month, with West edging Pennsbury in the SOL tournament semifinals, but Saturday’s game is totally different.
In terms of what they do, the two squads aren’t all that far apart. Both lean on strong defense, a standout guard and plenty of quality supporting players who can rise to the occasion on a given night.
West senior Maddie
Burke has been the focus of defenses most of her career but especially so this year with opponents devoting a face-guard to the Penn State recruit. While she’s been able to get free enough most nights, the playoffs have put an extra focus on her and to their credit, her teammates have responded.
In the semifinals, it was senior Olivia Irons and sophomore Emily Spratt. The game prior it was Irons and senior Jess Broskey while Paige Gilbert was a spark in the SOL tournament. Regardless of who it is, the Bucks don’t care because they’re so focused on winning.
Burke’s quick release means she only needs a sliver of space to get a shot and if she is covered, the ball just keeps moving. West screens well and every player is willing to make the extra pass, a big reason why so many of their clutch shots this postseason have been open looks.
It’s been just three years from four-win team to district title for Pennsbury but this isn’t a fluke run either. Sophomore Ava Sciolla is a terrific talent, a 5-foot-11 guard with the ability score outside and inside, handle the ball and pass but like Burke, she has good teammates around her.
Guards Bella Arcuri and Mary Miller have been the Falcons’ top secondary scorers but that shouldn’t discount what players like Abbi Nassiveri and Nicole Pompili have chipped in both scoring-wise and in areas like rebounding and defense.
When Pennsbury thrives, it’s often due to spreading the floor and having one of the guards attack the rime but the Falcons work to get all five players shots either off the drive or passing for an open jumper.