Aaron, Springfield excelling at the learning game
SPRINGFIELD — Lexi Aaron and Springfield’s other juniors understand what is at stake for them this season.
The sophomores and freshmen are looking to them for leadership.
Aaron, who scored a game-high 16 points to help the Cougars to a 42-36 Central League win over Marple Newtown Friday, realizes that a lot is expected of her, point guard Mia Valerio and forward Anabel Kreydt, the three juniors who not long ago were role players as freshmen on a team that won the first of two straight District 1 Class 5A titles in 2020.
They were able to stay in the background last season, too, as members of a great team that went undefeated until the semifinal round of the PIAA tournament. Now, since Springfield doesn’t have any seniors, this is Aaron’s, Kreydt’s and Valerio’s team. They have the most varsity experience, by far. The good thing is, they learned how it’s done from two of the the program’s very best.
“I think we learned so much from Rachel and Alexa and the seniors from last year. The way they did things, that is built into us,” Aaron said.
Rachel Conran and Alexa Abbonizio accounted for roughly 90 percent of the Cougars’ offense last year. Abbonizio became the all-time leading scorer in program history and Conran grew into an excellent all-around player. Both were All-Delco first-team selections in their careers and are now playing together at West Chester University. As freshmen, Springfield’s juniors had the great Alyssa Long to look up to, as well.
Aaron, Valerio and Kreydt have embraced their new roles. Junior Kaitlyn Kearney (four points, one steal, two rebounds) and junior Taylor Hunyet (three points, two rebounds, one assist) started alongside them Friday
After a wobbly win Friday, the new-look Cougars (2-1) improved to 2-0 in the Central League. That trademark Springfield hustle and grit is still there, but the Cougars will be a work in a progress.
“If we all play hard, we’ll all follow through, we’ll all learn from each other,” said Valerio, who was 8-of-10 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and finished with 13 points. “So even though there is a lot of pressure, it’s kind of all worth it. … It’s a completely different year than last year. One of the biggest things we are focusing on is, even if your skills aren’t doing the best in a game or you’re not shooting as well, even if you hustle it will still get you pretty far. If your hustle is there, it’s going to be a good game every game.”
Aaron is progressing into a complete player. She banked three 3-pointers, drove the lane when needed, and grabbed some tough rebounds. In her first two years, Aaron was often the kid out near the wing ready to shoot when called upon. She becoming that player, coach Ky McNichol hopes, that you can count on for 15-20 points per game.
“It’s going to be a year where we have to figure out our identity and how this team’s going to win basketball games,” McNichol said. “But I also think the junior class are really doing a good job stepping up and leading this team and filling roles that they didn’t fill last year. Lexi … she’s putting the team on her back a little bit this year. Mia made 8-for-10 shots from the foul line and last year she wouldn’t have been the one at the foul line. Anabel rebounded the hell out of the ball tonight and kept the ball alive for us and she was huge on the defensive end.”
Marple Newtown was without its best player in Haley Levy due to illness, but coach Ryan Wolski was proud of his team. Despite falling behind 22-9 in the first half, the Tigers made things very interesting and pulled with four points, 37-33, thanks to a 3-pointer from Caroline Kirby late in the fourth quarter.
Junior forward Brooke Impriano came on strong and had eight of her 11 points in the second half. Senior guard Nikki Mostardi added 12 points before fouling out in the fourth and Ellie DiBona sank a pair of 3-pointers.
“We really tried to get Brooke going for us,” MN coach Ryan Wolski said. “She has so much length and she’s such a good athlete and she can do almost anything on the floor that you need her to do. It was nice having her get to the basket and showed she can shoot and play tough defense.”
The Tigers outscored the Cougars by four points in the second half and shot 50 percent from the floor in the fourth period. Marple had won two in a row.
“Our kids will play hard every night,” Wolski said. “We hit some big shots in the second half to get us back in it. In the first half we had seven or eight shots in a row that seemed to rattle in and out. We’re getting looks, which is good, and we didn’t turn the ball over as much as we did the first game of the season (at Episcopal Academy). We’re starting to value the ball, we just have to make our shots and be more consistent.”
In other Central League action Friday:
Garnet Valley 52, Lower Merion 18 >> GV freshman Haylie Adamski had a solid all-around performance with 14 points, six steals, five rebounds and three assists. Emily Olsen had 10 points and six rebounds.
Ava Possenti (eight points, four steals, two assists) and Katelyn Dugery (seven points, three steals, one assist) also played well for the Jaguars.
Harriton 53, Radnor 49 >> Ellie Davis went for 16 points, but the Raptors fell to the Rams in overtime. Paige Yurchak chipped in with 14 points and Mary Sareen had seven.
Annie Aspesi led all players with 17 points for Harriton.
Conestoga 34, Ridley 22 >> Kailyn Bell had a team-high eight points for the Green Raiders, who trailed 13-7 at halftime.
Kate Galica tallied nine points and 11 rebounds for the Pioneers. Janie Preston contributed eight points
