Hissner, Heller lead Faith Christian past Sankofa Freedom in District 1/11-1A first round
QUAKERTOWN >> A few early shots didn’t fall for the Faith Christian girls basketball team Thursday night but Sydney Heller was not about to panic.
“I’ve never been in this high of a pressure game and I was really excited for it,” she said. “I knew I was going to get in the flow, I wasn’t nervous about my shot or anything, I knew it was coming along.”
Heller did not have to wait too long to jump-start the Lions’ offense to help fourth-seeded Faith Christian build a 13-point halftime lead over No. 5 Sankofa Freedom in their District 1/12 Class A first-round matchup. Joy Hissner took over the scoring in the third as the Lions put together a 17-1 run to pull away a roll to a 62-38 victory at Quakertown Community High School.
“We had a little bit of nerves early we were missing some easy shots so that’s always gets you a little bit worried,” Faith Christian coach David Forker said. “But we weren’t in this situation last year and it’s good experience for us to get used to playing under that pressure. So we were pleased, after the lid came off the basket for us the girls relaxed and played well.”
Hissner hit four 3-pointers in scoring a game-high 18 0 – 13 coming during the Lion’s burst in the third that turned an already-comfortable 37-22 margin into a 54-23 lead after Hissner’s third triple of the quarter.
“I felt a little more confident in the third quarter,” Hissner said.
Heller, meanwhile, collected 14 of her 17 points in the first as Faith Christian ( 14-11) eclipsed 60 points for the second time this season to earn its second PIAA Tournament berth in three years. The Lions visit top seed Jenkintown 7 p.m. Saturday in the district semifinals.
“We set a goal before the year started to win 15 games,” Forker said. “That was Number 14 for us, so we’re excited to have a chance to keep going towards that goal.”
It will be the Lions’ third matchup with the Drakes in February with the defending state champs having taken the previous two – Jenkintown winning 52-38 Feb. 4 then earning a 70-35 victory in the Bicentennial Athletic League quarterfinals Feb. 13.
“It’s just Jenkintown,” said Forker with a laugh. “So I say that joking. But we’re looking forward to play them, though. They beat us pretty good the first two times but we’re going to come out and leave everything we have in the floor and give them whatever we can give them.”
Shynia Sloan led Sankofa Freedom with 16 points while Shakiya Miller added 12 points for the Warriors, who never led in the contest.
Heller scored six points during an 8-0 first-quarter run that gave Faith its first double-digits lead at 12-2. A Sloan 3-point play cut Sankofa’s deficit to seven but a Hissner basket has the Lions up 14-5 after eight minutes.
Faith started the second quarter scoring nine of the first 11, Heller draining a 3-pointer for a 23-7 lead.
“She’s our sparkplug, she’s our catalyst,” said Forker of Heller. “She’s always the one that sometimes to a fault she tries to make it happen for her teammates. She leaves everything she has on the floor. But when she finds that rhythm and gets that lid off for us, I think everybody else just plays their game around her.”
A Hissner trey gave Faith its largest first-half lead at 30-12 before Sankofa scored five straight – four from Miller – to pull within 30-17. Heller’s free throw with 34.1 seconds had the Lions leading by 14 at the break.
Up 15 in the third, Faith blew open the game with 14 straight points, 10 coming from Hissner for a 51-22 lead. A Sloan free throw at 2:29 ended the run but a Hissner 3-pointer increased the Lions’ lead to 54-23.
“I guess that’s a freshman with ice in her veins,” said Forker of Hissner. “Either that or she doesn’t know enough to be nervous. She was definitely in a good rhythm and she was stepping into her shot really well.”
