Girls Basketball: Banks, Academy Park have just enough energy to nip Penn Wood

LANSDOWNE — Neither Semaji Young nor Emani Banks overstated the importance of Thursday’s 46-43 victory at Penn Wood. After all, it’s only one game in a long season.

But it was hard for Academy Park’s star players not to be thrilled with the result.

“It was an exciting game, it was fun,” said Young, AP’s senior point guard. “It was a real battle. We had a good game, moving the ball and taking good shots.”

“And it went back and forth, it wasn’t a blowout or anything like that,” said Banks, the Knights’ talented 5-10 forward. “It was … wow.”

The Knights and Patriots put on an instant classic at the Shoebox. In the end, it was Banks’ 12th rebound of the night, off a Xenia Gillis miss, that sealed AP’s victory. The Knights (7-7) improved to 4-0 in the Del Val League and are favored to defend their championship.

“Honestly, it’s our first time that I think we’ve played a complete game,” coach Ron Bright said. “We’ve had games where the second and third quarters we didn’t come to play and we’ve had games where we couldn’t finish in the fourth. This was the first game that I think in each quarter we played a consistent game.”

Banks canned a pair of triples in the first half, showing her ability to score from multiple spots on the floor. On defense she went toe-to-toe with Gillis, Penn Wood’s fantastic senior forward. Banks blocked her on two occasions and Gillis (10 points, 15 rebounds) got her once.

Banks produced 15 points, 12 boards and four blocks. AP’s other bigs, including sophomore Kiala Bright (nine rebounds, three steals) and reserve Zeriah Hinson, who had a key bucket and free throw in the fourth period, also stepped up to cause havoc inside the paint.

“What I preach to them is being more athletic than other teams and better conditioned, and I tell them that our practices should be harder than the games,” Ron Bright said. “Sometimes, you can just win games on being better conditioned. This game wasn’t really about shot-making and skill.”

To wit, the Knights and Patriots combined to shoot 30.7 percent (35 of 114) from the field.

“It came down to who had the lead in the end,” Bright said.

During a frantic fourth quarter, Gillis put back a miss to tie the game at 40. Jayla Davis came back on the other end to sink a 3-pointer to give the Knights a 43-40 advantage. Penn Wood’s Laila Johnson (13 points, six steals) then was fouled in the act of hitting a basket, but couldn’t complete the three-point play. Hinson, Bright and Banks made freebies down the stretch to give AP the 46-43 win.

“I think our main struggle is we don’t go out with the same energy against teams that we think we can’t beat,” Banks said. “With teams like (Penn Wood), we go out full force. Energy from the start.”

Young finished with 11 points, six assists and six steals for the Knights.

Elsewhere in the Del Val:

Chester 58, Chichester 25 >> Shyne Hall poured in a career-high 27 points to carry the Clippers (5-8, 2-2) past the Eagles. Ja’Mya Muhammad produced 15 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, six steals and a blocked shot.

Rayne Edwards led Chi with 12 points.

In the Central League:

Haverford 55, Harriton 25 >> Rian Dotsey accumulated eight of her 12 points in the first half to help lead the first-place Fords (15-0) to a 26-8 cushion at the break.

Mollie Carpenter registered 12 points and eight rebounds, Caroline Dotsey had nine points, and Sky Newman chipped in seven for undefeated Haverford.

Garnet Valley 35, Marple Newtown 33 >> The Jaguars defeated the Tigers in overtime behind a strong performance from Haylie Adamski, who had 20 points, three steals and two blocks. Kylie Mulholland had nine points, seven boards and four assists.

Mary O’Brien paced the Tigers with 15 points.

Strath Haven 56, Ridley 44 >> Maryella Gilla powered the Panthers with 17 points and four steals. Olivia Voshell amassed 15 points and five rebounds and Sierra Felder scored eight points.

Adria Kitzinger went for 17 points and Kyla Carney added 12 for the Green Raiders.

Penncrest 47, Lower Merion 16 >> Bailey Garrison provided a game-high 16 points for the Lions, who led 24-7 at halftime. Kat Harding contributed nine points.

Radnor 52, Upper Darby 34 >> Caroline Monahan had 15 points and nine rebounds and Kate Gallagher (11 rebounds, 10 assists) was one point shy of a triple-double for the Raptors. Megan Dole pitched in with 12 points and seven rebounds.

Mia Wilson led the Royals with 11 points.

In nonleague action:

Sacred Heart 38, Interboro 36 >> Freshman Linh Tait scored the go-ahead layup with 1:30 left in overtime to put the host Lions in front. She finished with a career-high 11 points. Makenzie Fisher (six points) and MJ Donohue (five) made foul shots down the stretch to seal the win.

Erin Boyer tallied a team-high 10 points and Madilyn Mea tossed in eight for the Bucs.

In the Ches-Mont League:

Great Valley 54, Sun Valley 30 >> The Patriots used a 17-3 charge in the second quarter to run away from the Vanguards. Jaina Preuhs led SV with 11 points.