Springfield stakes its Central League claim against Ridley
RIDLEY TWP. — There was a buzz inside the Ridley High gymnasium Saturday afternoon.
A regular season game between the Central League’s best squads received the appropriate attention from the schools’ fan bases. Even players from other teams in the conference showed up for this one.
There was an atmosphere in the building that was unlike most high school girls basketball games you’ll see in Delaware County. But when it’s Ridley and Springfield, and both teams are undefeated in the Central League, people are going to come out and watch.
“We knew there was going to be a lot of people here. I guess that got us really going,” said Springfield junior guard Alexa Abbonizio, who poured in a game-high 26 points to lead the Cougars to a 64-51 triumph.
“When the crowd is getting loud, that gets us fired up and I think we had a big section on our side, which is what really helped us put it together,” she said. “That helped with the bench energy as well, and everyone really stepped up today.”
Springfield is the veteran team that has been there and done that before. The Cougars are perennial Central League contenders and PIAA tournament participants, so this type of big-game feeling was nothing new.
Ridley, meanwhile, has taken the league by storm. Winners of 10 in a row entering the day, the Green Raiders are enjoying their best start to a season in 13 years.
All Springfield did was remind everyone that it is still a team to be reckoned with in the Central League and District 1.
“A Springfield-Ridley game on its own is a big deal, then you add the fact that they have (transfer) Dakota (McCaughan) now and they’re winning games and are in first place in the Central League. It just makes this game so much more special,” said senior guard Alyssa Long, who knows a thing or three about performing in big games (she helped the lacrosse team win a PIAA championship last spring). “To go through this with the team is pretty awesome. You look around the gym and you see Penncrest, Marple and Garnet Valley players here. Everyone was here to watch and it’s a fun way to spend a little Saturday afternoon.
“That’s the enjoyment of high school sports. It doesn’t get much better than this.”
Two days after beating reigning Central League champion Garnet Valley in blowout fashion, the Cougars (7-4, 7-0) handled Saturday’s test with the confidence and intelligence of a group that has years of experience. The Cougars withstood the pressure and played their brand of basketball. They excelled on defense, receiving contributions from just about everyone who saw action, and their shooters came out firing. A perimeter-shooting club, the Cougars connected on six 3-point baskets and shot a cool 58.3 percent (21-for-36) from the floor.
“We came into the week seeing that we had Garnet Valley on Thursday and Ridley today,” Long said. “I think we showed that we can handle it, and it’s only going to take us up from here. We might have lost two starters and two 1,000-point scorers (Jordan D’Ambrosio and Belle Mastropietro), but I think this week showed that we are back and we’re ready to play.”
Abbonizio was feeling it from the get-go. Springfield’s best offensive weapon was money throughout the game. She scored no fewer than six points in each quarter and connected on 10 of 16 field goals.
“If you got a good shot, go for it and shoot it, don’t hesitate or anything” Abbonizio said. “I think that’s what we did tonight. And the young kids really stepped up.”
Coach Ky McNichol turned to freshmen guards Lexi Aaron and Mia Valerio in the first quarter and the rookies rose to the occasion, giving the Cougars big minutes off the bench. Aaron (six points) led the team in rebounding and hit a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. Valerio came up with two steals, including a theft of McCaughan in the final quarter. Valerio got the steal and scored a layup on the ensuing breakaway. She was fouled in the act and completed the three-point play from the charity stripe.
“Every game those two get more and more minutes and get more and more confidence,” said Long, who contributed nine points, three steals and a pair of assists. “The more their confidence grows, the better we’re going to be. Mia Valerio and Lexi Aaron were big for us. They came in and hit some shots, and Lexi played big for us at Garnet Valley.
“Hats off to them for growing up and not playing like freshmen anymore.”
In their biggest game of the season, the Cougars also relied on their veteran stars. Abbonizio and fellow junior Rachel Conran (15 points) were superb. Gritty senior Carli Johnston, the unheralded member of the lineup, played her typical style of tough defense.
“Alexa Abbonizio played like a woman today. She was insane,” Long said. “If she plays like that, it’s going to be hard to stop her.”
Abbonizio and Long hit 3-pointers right out of chute to give Springfield a 6-0 lead, which expanded to 11-2 before McCaughan started to heat up. The senior guard drilled six 3-pointers and tallied a team-high 20 points for the Green Raiders (11-2, 7-1), who just lacked the complementary scoring pieces in this one. By the time junior forward Shannen Hinchey (eight points), who was plagued by foul trouble, found a groove in the fourth, it was too late for host team.
Ridley pulled within four points in the second period, but Springfield closed the first half on a 15-3 run. Soon after halftime, Conran scored five straight points, including an and-1, to give Springfield its largest lead at 40-18. Ridley got as close as 13 with less than a minute go in the game.
In other Central League action:
Haverford 63, Radnor 53 >> Chiara MacGillivray scored 13 of her game-high 25 points in a fourth quarter that saw the host Fords outscore the Raiders, 19-8. Caroline Dotsey pitched in 13 points and Addison Brodnik had 12 for Haverford.
Brienne Williams tallied 16 of her 17 points in the first half for Radnor. Ellie Mueller added 10.
Upper Darby 57, Marple Newtown 45 >> Gabby Liberio led the Royals (5-7) with 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Aubrey Ennis totaled 11 points and five assists.
Jasmine Forrester added 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Brooke Impriano finished with 14 points and Haley Levy scored 13 for the Tigers.
Strath Haven 64, Lower Merion 49 >> Faith Raymond posted a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds to power the Panthers past the Aces. Cayden Frazier added 15 points.
Garnet Valley 38, Harriton 29 >> Abbey Anderson had 10 points and Liesl Dentinger contributed nine points, eight rebounds and two blocks for the Jaguars (10-2, 6-2), who led 7-0 after one quarter and 19-5 at the break.
Mary Rose Berry had a solid floor game with six points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists.
In nonleague games:
Penn Wood 55, Kennett 44 >> La’Shonda Jackson poured in 24 points to go with five steals as the Patriots, who won their seventh straight. Jada Hutt notched 10 points and 10 boards, and Racquel Curry paired six points with 15 rebounds.
Oxford 41, Interboro 31 >> Khamani Jackson scored a game-high 16 points in the loss for the Bucs. Madison Ryan-Brady added five points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Coatesville 57, Academy Park 39 >> Gabrielle Jackson totaled 15 points and Lashay Jackson added 13 for the Knights, who were outscored 28-15 in the second half.
