deMarteleire earns 500th win, North Penn tops Garnet Valley for 5th in District 1-AAAA

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TOWAMENCIN >> Maggie deMarteleire was not expecting the North Penn girls basketball team to replicate the result of their last matchup with Garnet Valley in Friday night.

“That first game, holy cow, we just played out of our heads and they just struggled a little bit,” said the Lady Knights coach of the 75-41 win Jan. 31. “We knew that wasn’t going to happen again.”

North Penn could not match that 34-point margin of victory, but it was still too much for the visiting Jaguars in the District 1-AAAA fifth place game. The Lady Knights have four starters in double-figures, led by 17 at half and was by much in the 22 in the second half in cruising to a 62-44 victory.

“I think we lost by about 35 maybe the first time, now we only lost by 20, so that’s progress,” Garnet Valley coach Joe Woods said. “Maybe the next time, right? They’re a very good team. We almost have to play not a perfect game, but close to it with the turnovers and making our shots.

“But they’re an excellent defensive team. They take you out of what you want to do. They’re a well-coached team, all credit to them.”

Jess Huber knocked down four 3-pointers and had a game-high 18 points as North Penn (26-3) gave deMarteleire her 500th career coaching victory.

“I’m really proud of the girls, I’m really thankful for all the tremendous players that I’ve had go through,” deMarteleire said. “My husband has been wonderful for all these years and my kids, too. They’ve been really supportive, and my family. It’s a blessing, really.”

deMarteleire’s 400th victory also came in the District 1 postseason, the Lady Knights beating Council Rock North in the 2012 tournament’s first round. Since then, North Penn has gone 100-24 with three Suburban One League Continental Conference titles – two outright (2014, 2016) and one shared (2013 with Central Bucks West) – and a district championship in 2014.

“She really deserves it. She works so hard for it. And I’m just glad we could be a part of it,” said Huber deMarteleire.

Huber posted double-figures in all five of North Penn’s district games, Friday night collecting 12 of her points in the first half while hitting a three in each quarter.

“Obviously, she really worked on her conditioning in the offseason and she’s become a much better defender,” said deMarteleire of the junior. “And she’s just playing with a lot of confidence. She’s a really solid player.”

Last Saturday against Central Bucks South in the district quarterfinals, Huber’s three-point play gave North Penn a 45-42 lead with just 2.9 seconds left. But Jordan Vitelli’s shot from beyond half court at the buzzer went in and South eventually won 57-54 in overtime.

But the Lady Knights bounced back from the tough loss to beat Neshaminy 57-29 Wednesday then Garnet Valley by 18 to head into their fifth straight PIAA tournament appearance on a two-game win streak.

“I think the loss it was a wake-up call for us,” Huber said. “And we just wanted to work game-by-game, take it day-by-day and work hard at practice so we can be better, focus on the next game.”

Irisa Ye and Mikaela Giuliani both finished with 12 points while Sam Carangi added 11 points for North Penn, which open states against the District 12 runner-up – either Cardinal O’Hara or Central.

Brianne Borcky paced Garnet Valley (24-5) with 10 points. Maddie Ireland hit a trio of 3-pointers for nine points. The Jaguars made PIAAs for the fourth straight season and takes Governor Mifflin – which lost to Cumberland Valley 65-57 in the District 3 final – in the first round.

“We’re happy to be Central League champions, three years in a row. And to be in districts again, four, five, six, seven, whatever that is and making states and just being part of the show,” Woods said. “It’s a beautiful thing for our girls.”

While both sides struggled with turnovers early, North Penn used a 13-1 run in the first quarter to take a 13-4 lead after a Huber three. An Ireland triple and Borcky free throw cut the margin to five at the end of the opening eight minutes.

Emily McAteer’s three had the Jaguars within 13-11 but the Lady Knights proceeded to pull away by scoring 17 of the next 20 points.

Carangi and Huber knocked down back-to-back threes with a Giuliani basking putting NP up 21-11. After an Ireland trey made it 21-14, North Penn ran off nine straight to lead 30-14 when Carangi found Giuliani inside for two.

“The first quarter I felt we got the ball a lot of times after dead balls and so we were running half-court set. I felt like in the second quarter, we got more things going off live balls,” deMarteleire said. “And we were able to run and get out and beat them in transition.”

Huber’s steal and layup put North Penn 34-17. Two Kylie Young free throws with 13.8 seconds left made it 34-19, but Bri Hewlett’s putback before the buzzer had the Lady Knights back up 17 at halftime.

“We were right in there with them early, but they’re a very strong, deep team, they’re very experienced, excellent team,” said Woods of North Penn. “They’re No. 1 seed in District 1, even though they got upset by (Central Bucks) South, they’re an outstanding team.”

Sam Tomasetti’s three got Garnet Valley within 40-24 in the third, but a 9-3 run gave North Penn its biggest lead at 49-27. The Jaguars scored the next six to cut the margin to 16, but Ye’s two free throws at 6.6 seconds had the Lady Knights up 51-33.

A Sydney Fail three-point play cut the margin to 56-40 at 3:37 in the fourth before 3-pointers from Carangi and Huber had North Penn back up 22.

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Mike Cabrey

Mike Cabrey
Mike Cabrey is the Assistant Sports Editor for The Reporter and Montgomery News. Email him at mcabrey@thereporteronline.com.

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