Episcopal turns up the defense to down Shanahan
Episcopal Academy turned to its defense to get back on the winning track.
The Churchwomen pitched a shutout in the second quarter, and that defensive effort enabled EA to break a two-game losing streak with a 4333 nonleague girls basketball victory over Bishop Shanahan Friday afternoon.
Episcopal Academy had a 16-13 lead going into the second quarter when it turned up the heat on defense. The Churchwomen only scored seven points in the period, but the defensive effort gave them a 23-13 advantage at halftime.
“It was a mix of man and zone,” Episcopal coach Chuck Simmonds said. “We did a good job of containing them and they took their time on their possession, which shortened the game a bit.”
The Eagles never got closer than five points the rest of the way. Cara Harty only had one field goal for EA, but it was a 3-pointer with four minutes to go to push the lead to eight. “That was big,” Simmonds said. Seanna McNamara led Episcopal Academy with 15 points. She scored nine of those points in the second and third quarters. Luca Mamula scored eight of her 12 points in the first quarter to stake the Churchwomen to the early lead.
In the Central League: HAVERFORD 52, UPPER DARBY 32 » Although 10 players scored, it was defense that carried the Fords to their first league win of the season.
Haverford held Upper Darby to single digits in the first three quarters to take a 36-21 lead into the final period. Erin Doherty paced a balanced offensive attack with 14 points. Erin Kelly, Sara Walsh and Lindsey Lane pitched in seven points apiece.
Emma Blewett scored 13 points Gabby Liberio added 11 for UD.
In the Bicentennial League: CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 47, PHIL-MONT CHRISTIAN 23 » Lindsay Haseltine scored 11 of her game-high 18 points in the third quarter to ice a league victory. Grace Gormley added 13 points for the Crusaders (5-0, 2-0).
Boys Hockey
Dante Gattone scored once in each period to pace Haverford to a 7-3 Central League victory over Garnet Valley at Ice Works.
The Fords broke the game open with four goals in the second period. Jacob Orazi had one goal and one assist in that period. Daniel Morris pitched in with two goals for Haverford.
Garnet Valley scored all of its goals in the second period. Matthew Wood led the way with two goals and one assist.
Girls Track
Upper Darby was one of the teams that braved the conditions to compete in the first Delaware Valley Girls Track Coaches Association meet of the season.
The Royals made the most of and that decision to go.
Kayla Thorpe led the way as the Royals came home from Lehigh University with eight medals. Thorpe won the shot put with a heave of 30-7 ¾ inches.
Jenerita Sokan took third in the 60-meter dash (8.19 seconds). Siani Barnes was fourth in the triple jump (32-2 ½).
Denique Smith was fourth in the 60 hurdles (11.03). Micah Cross-Jones placed fifth in the long jump (14-11), while Leah Brown finished sixth in the 800 (2:53.19) and Anaelie Mainville was sixth in the mile (6:21.72). Upper Darby also finished fifth in the 4 x 200 (1:56.73).
They weren’t the only medal winners from Delco. Jesikah Boykin of Cardinal O’Hara was second in the 300 hurdles (44.26), while Lauren Nigro from Archbishop Carroll took fourth in the 400 (1:05.99).