McCaughan making most of Ridley switch

RIDLEY TWP. — Dakota McCaughan never wanted to leave Bonner-Prendergast, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t happy to be playing basketball for Ridley High School.

The senior guard and former All-Catholic League selection was excited to join her hometown high school. But it took McCaughan a little time to adjust to the new environment.

And it was emotional at times.

“To be honest, the first week of volleyball preseason was really bad,” McCaughan said. “I would go home and have anxiety attacks about coming back. It’s not that I didn’t want to see people I grew up with; it was just so different. I just wasn’t used to it at first.”

McCaughan was a three-year starting point guard at Bonner-Prendergast, where she developed into one of the top talents in Delco. She helped the Pandas advance all the way to the semifinal round of the PIAA Class 4A tournament last March.

McCaughan and her family decided she wouldn’t return to Bonner-Prendergast for her senior year.

“The volleyball preseason was so awkward for me. I was new here,” she said. “I didn’t want to leave Prendie, but I had no other option. … So, it was awkward, but the basketball team made it so much better for me. They welcomed me like family, and we’re all genuinely good friends outside of school.”

After Tuesday’s 64-24 rout of Penncrest, the Green Raiders have won nine in a row are tied for first place in the Central League.

McCaughan takes a lot of pride in making her teammates better players.

“They needed glue and I feel like I’ve been able to come in and help with that,” said McCaughan, who shot 4-for-5 from beyond the arc and finished with a game-high 14 points. “They had the talent, but now we’re putting all the pieces together.

“I just wanted to make an impact on the team … and I knew I had the ability to.”

One player who has benefited from McCaughan’s addition is Shannen Hinchey, an athletic junior forward who has the ability to drive, post up and defend. Hinchey tallied six points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal Tuesday.

“With Dakota coming in, it’s really great to have an actual point guard, that really does help us a lot,” Hinchey said. “Also, coach (Roe) Falcone is  amazing and she is always making sure we are doing the right thing.”

Falcone is having a blast coaching the upstart Green Raiders in her first season as a head coach. The Ridley product and former softball star is a member of the Delco Athletes Hall of Fame.

“I think we’re really fortunate this year and I feel we are a deep team,” said Falcone, who has guided the Green Raiders to a 10-1 record. “I think we’re a team that is able to run a lot and not worry about kids getting tired and we can play a lot of people. We focus on a transition game.”

Ridley began the night on a 17-0 run and never looked back. McCaughan swished three 3-pointers in the opening four minutes and the Green Raiders forced 10 first-quarter turnovers. Lindsay Boyd, Emily Liberio, Hinchey and McCaughan led the charge on defense. While she did not score, Liberio hopped off the bench to lead all players in steals (six) and assists (five).

The young Lions were unable to stem the tide and found themselves trailing by 24 points at halftime.

Ten players got on the scoreboard for the Green Raiders. Fantastic junior guard Lindsay Boyd had only two points but influenced the game with her stingy defense (two steals, one block), distributing (two assists) and effort on the glass (four rebounds).

Madison Chapman added four points, five rebounds and three steals. Mackenzie Everett came off the bench to score eight points, and Amirah King pitched in with four points, six rebounds and a block.

“We’re really jelling right now and we’re all one big family,” Hinchey said. “Even the JV players, they have really come along and we’re all working hard together as a team.”

Alexis Calloway led the Lions with seven points and five rebounds.

Elsewhere in the Central League:

Haverford 45, Marple Newtown 43 >> Addison Brodnik scored two of her game-high 15 points at the free-throw line with 9.1 seconds left in regulation. Katie Redding had a steal to seal the victory for the Fords.

Chiara MacGillivray and Caroline Dotsey had eight points apiece for Haverford.

Brooke Impriano paced the Tigers with 12 points. Mackenzie Hilden and Haley Levy added 10 points each.

Garnet Valley 41, Radnor 31 >> Liesl Dentinger scored seven of her 13 points in the first quarter and added seven rebounds and two steals for the Jaguars (9-1, 5-1). Kendall DiCamillo added 11 points, four assists and two steals, while Abbey Anderson chipped in with seven points, three assists and a pair of steals.

Brienne Williams netted a game-high 18 points for the Raiders.

Springfield 75, Lower Merion 38 >> The Cougars hit nine 3-pointers, including four by Rachel Conran, who finished with 14 points. Alexa Abbonizio drilled three triples and had 14 points in the winning effort.

Springfield exploded for 25 points in the second quarter and led at halftime, 42-17.

The Cougars stayed unbeaten in the Central League and tied with Ridley.

Harriton 49, Upper Darby 43 >> The Royals led most of the first half, but the visiting Rams outscored them 24-16 in the final 16 minutes of regulation.

Jasmine Forrester and Aubrey Ennis each netted 13 points for UD. Gabby Liberio added 11 points.

Conestoga 32, Strath Haven 23 >> The Panthers held a 16-8 advantage at halftime, but the Pioneers closed the game on a 24-7 run. Danielle McNeely paced Haven with nine points.