Hill locks up MAPL top seed
The Hill School got more than just a victory Saturday.
With their 55-39 win over Mercersburg Academy, the Blues claimed the top seed for the upcoming Mid-Atlantic Prep League boys basketball tournament. They will have home-court advantage for the Feb. 7-9 competition, serving as host team.
The Blues (4-0, 13-5) used a stifling first-half defensive effort to build a 2715 halftime lead, behind seven of Daniel Nixon’s 12 points; Nixon finished with a double-double, pulling down 10 rebounds. Mercersburg got no closer than six points in the third quarter, and Hill pushed back to a 40-30 advantage entering the fourth.
Gabe Dorsey, after sitting out most of the first half in foul trouble, scored 12 of his game-high 18 points in the second half to propel Hill to victory. Zach Lezanic added eight points and eight assists, Caleb Dorsey had similar stats in a similar sitution.
The win was the sixth straight for the Blues.
Girls basketball
HILL SCHOOL 50, MERCERSBURG ACADEMY 39 >> Six different players scored during a third-quarter outburst that helped carry the Blues to victory over Mercersburg Academy in a Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) showdown Saturday afternoon.
Up 19-16 at halftime, the Blues put up 18 points in the third quarter — while holding Mercersburg to 10 — to take control of the game. Cynthia Williams had five of her game-high 18 points during that stretch while Aine Farrell and Courtney Bodolus added nine points apiece in the game. PENNRIDGE 66, POTTSGROVE 49 >> With three players scoring in double figures, the Rams pulled away from the Falcons in the second half of Saturday’s non-league game to emerge victorious.
Pottsgrove, which trailed Pennridge in the first half 28-22, got 14 points from Sydney Mowery and 10 from Rachel Ludwig.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 53, PERKIOMEN VALLEY 29 >> Emily Chmiel scored 20 points and Mia Salvati had 17 points for the Patriots as they defeated the Vikings in a non-league game moved from East’s main gym by a leaky roof from Saturday’s heavy rains.
The leading scorer for PV was Lindsay Hartman, who scored nine points off three 3-point goals in the second half.
POPE JOHN PAUL II 43, NAZARETH ACADEMY 30 >> Amelia Kennedy produced a double-double Saturday while helping the Golden Panthers handle Nazareth Academy in their non-league game.
Kennedy scored a team-high 15 points while pulling down 10 rebounds. Tess Crossan came up short of her own double-double, clearing 13 boards alongside nine points.
SHOEMAKER SCUFFLE >>
Perkiomen
Valley qualified for the championship match in Saturday’s duals tournament at Radnor by winning its first two matches. The Vikings rolled Twin Valley 68-10 in their opener, then handled Lower Merion in the semifinals 57-21, to set the stage for the title matchup with Ridley.
P.J. Kakos (132, 138) and Eric Jefferies (152) scored pairs of pins in the early going. Connor Kim (120) and Kelly Kakos (126) had falls to kick off a four-drop run against TV, one capped by Cole Roberto scoring a fall at 138.
COAL CRACKER >> Blake Fisher had the best showing for Pope John Paul II during the tournament hosted by Lehighton this weekend.
Fisher, one of three Golden Panthers to advance to fourth-round consolations, went 2-2 at 285 with a pair of pins. Cole Miller (120) and Matt Delcitto (160) both went 1-2 while also advancing to the fourth-round consis. PAISAA DUALS >> The Hill School broke even in the Pa. Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) Duals competition at Germantown Saturday. The Blues opened with a 49-22 loss to the host team, scored back-toback victories over Penn Charter (5217) and Kiski School (59-18) before finishing up with a 42-30 loss to Episcopal Academy.
Kade Davidheiser (106) and Ben Beckett (138) both went 4-0 on the day, with Kelvin griffin (126) and Sam Beckett (138) 3-0. Joey Asterino (120/126) and Derek Schmaeling (195) turned in 3-1 outings.