‘Hungry’ Haverford makes a statement

HAVERFORD — It would appear that there is a new team to beat in the Central League.

Caroline Dotsey and Haverford rolled past Garnet Valley Thursday night, 57-30, for their seventh victory in as many games this season.

The Fords are as dangerous as they have ever been under coach Lauren Pellicane, now in her sixth season. Dotsey, a four-year starter at power forward, has matured into a well-rounded threat from all areas of the floor. She produced a game-high 24 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.

“Our mentality this year is we came out really hungry as a team,” Dotsey said. “The competitiveness we have in practice and the effort everyone puts has really put us in a good spot at this point in the season. We just want to keep getting better.”

The Fords love to push the ball, a delightful change of pace from the stop-and-stall tactics many high school teams employ. They move the ball well and have four legit shooters who can drill the long-range shot. Thursday, Dotsey and her sophomore sister Rian each banked a 3-pointer, along with fleet-footed combo guards Sky Newman and Aniya Eberhart, who netted seven points apiece.

“Our speed in transition and utilizing that with our different types of players we have on the floor is really important,” Caroline Dotsey said. “Everyone can run, everyone is long and everyone can score this year. It’s really great to have that kind of pace.”

Another aspect of the Fords’ game is their physicality. Caroline Dotsey is 6-2, Rian Dotsey is 6-1 and Mollie Carpenter is 6-0. They are bigger than any team in the Central League. A senior forward/center, Carpenter is by far the team’s most aggressive player. And she doesn’t shy away from playing a little bully ball.

“We just like to fight,” said Carpenter, who had six points, four rebounds, three steals and a block. “Even getting into people’s heads, mentally, to show that you are the stronger player on the court, just goes a long way. Sometimes, if the shots aren’t falling but you get a steal or you knock someone on the ground, that’s what you need to do to win games.”

Haverford is built to win this year, with four-year starters Dotsey and Carpenter leading the way.

“I thought we played really well tonight. We probably had double digit turnovers, but I think for stretches of the game we controlled the game, we moved the ball really well and we shared the ball and got decent shots,”  Pellicane said. “We’re trying to push the ball more and control it. We have a senior laden team that we’ve been trying to teach them for years. So after four years, I give these guys a lot of credit because they’re four-year players and some of them are like coaches on the court. We expect a lot from them and they are performing well.”

The Fords have dismantled six of their opponents in the first month. Their closest contest was a thrilling, 43-41 victory over Conestoga, another league favorite. All other games were won in blowout fashion. During the holiday next week, the Fords will travel to Brooklyn for a showcase tournament.

“I think everyone has stepped up this year and everyone knows their role,” Carpenter said. “We’re all talented players and everyone knows what they have to contribute in order for us to win.”

Rian Dotsey had 11 points, three rebounds and an assist for the Fords (7-0). Haverford outrebounded Garnet Valley, 40-12.

Garnet Valley was led by spectacular sophomore Haylie Adamski, who scored 10 of her 14 points after halftime. Savannah Saunders added five points and a steal. The Jaguars are likely to miss their best forward and second-leading scorer, junior Emily Olsen, for the foreseeable future due to injury.

“They move the ball beautifully and they are fast,” GV coach Joe Woods said of Haverford. “We said that we’ll give up the jump shot, but they’re obviously big and they got a lot of rebounds. We tried to mix it up defensively, but they are big, strong, fast and they have shooters. They’re physically stronger than us across the board — and they are good. Lauren does a great job.”

Elsewhere in the Central League:

Radnor 52, Strath Haven 45 >> Mary Sareen poured in 28 points and Kate Gallagher added eight to propel the Raptors, who were 11-for-14 at the foul line in the fourth quarter.

Freshman Chloe Hunold netted 11 points, while Olivia Voshell paired eight points with six rebounds for Haven

Springfield 40, Penncrest 28 >> Kaitlyn Kearney paced the Cougars with 12 points. Mia Valerio chipped in with 10 points and Lexi Aaron had seven.

Alex Bruce finished with a team-high nine points for the Lions. Kat Harding added six points.

Conestoga 69, Upper Darby 34 >> Mia Wilson went 6-for-8 from the foul line and scored a team-leading nine points for the Royals.

Cardinal O’Hara 55, Imhotep Charter 20 >> The Lions used a 32-9 run in the middle quarters to pull away from Imhotep at the Speedy Morris Invitational at Penn Charter.

All-Delco sophomore Molly Rullo led the way with 24 points. Joanie Quinn tallied 12 points and Meg Rullo finished with six.

O’Hara’s game Friday was canceled due to the forecast.

Villa Maria 54, Notre Dame 47 >> Katie Halligan (13 points), Annie Greek (11) and Catie Kelly (11) all scored in double figures for the Irish, who were outscored 19-13 in the fourth quarter by the unbeaten Hurricanes. Lizzie Halligan added seven points.

In the Ches-Mont League:

Kennett 48, Sun Valley 34 >> The Vanguards were tied at halftime but were outscored 27-13 in the second half. Brielle Wright and Jaina Preuhs each scored eight points for Sun Valley. Wright, Preuhs and freshman Samantha Baron (six points) hit two 3-pointers each.