FRANCONIA — The North Penn girls basketball team had little trouble extending its winning streak to 13 games, a run of success that has not exactly shocked Knights senior Caleigh Sperling.
“I don’t know about surprised cause we’ve really been working hard at practice,” she said. “But I’m just happy that we’re all able to come together and play how we knew we could.”
Visiting North Penn found their offensive rhythm in the second quarter of Tuesday night’s SOL Colonial Division matchup against Souderton, outscoring the Indians 16-6 to take a 14-point lead into halftime. The Knights held off Souderton from there and rolled to a 48-31 victory.
“I think at halftime, we talked by ourselves and realized we have to push it better, kind of see each other more up the floor,” Sperling said. “And kind of just pass it around a bit more and look for each other and that really helps.”
After Sperling began the third quarter with a 3-pointer to make it 27-10, Souderton could only get as close as 15 in the second half while the Knights pushed the margin to 22 twice in the fourth.
Sperling, a Jefferson University commit, scored 11 of her game-high 18 points after halftime while Cameron Crowley chipped in 15 points as North Penn (17-2, 12-1 division) stayed ahead of second-place Central Bucks East – the Patriots 10-2 after a 41-38 win over Pennridge Tuesday – in the SOL Colonial standings.
“A lot of my baskets were team made,” Sperling said. “A lot of assists from my team – cut and they were able to find me.”
The Knights began the season with a 65-45 loss at Germantown Academy Dec. 1, won their next four then fell on the road to CB East 65-56 Dec. 19. North Penn has not lost since, the string of 13 consecutive victories – 10 in January –putting it at fifth in the District 1-6A rankings.
“I feel like we’re focusing on the game we have ahead of us and not really in the future,” Sperling said. “And we’re going to play every game like our hardest no matter what because we know all these teams can definitely come out on top either way.”
North Penn is looking to overcome the loss of senior Widener commit Kelly Donnelly, who was injured in the Knights’ win over Methacton Jan. 20. Sperling pointed to freshman Lily Brown – who had five of her seven points in the second quarter – and sophomore Tallie Smink as players who are stepping up.
“Obviously that’s such a huge loss for the team, she impacts the team so much on the court, at practice, everything, she kind of brings a lot of energy,” said Sperling of Donnelly. “But I think some of the other girls are doing really well stepping in and trying to fill her spot.”
Brooke Fenchel scored 10 points to lead Souderton (3-16, 1-12). The Indians visit CB East 7 p.m. Friday then host Pennsbury 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
North Penn also has two more games this week, at Council Rock North 7 p.m. Wednesday then at Central Bucks South 7 p.m. Friday.
North Penn never trailed Tuesday night but Souderton pulled even 4-4 after a Julia Purvy free throw at 2:12 in the first quarter. A Sperling basket then a long Crowley two made it 8-4 after the opening eight minutes.
Sperling connected on a corner three to start the second quarter before Alaina Picard’s bucket had the Indians within 11-6. Crowley, however, knocked down a three to start an 8-0 North Penn run capped by a Brown free throw for a 19-6 Knights lead at 3:04.
Fenchel’s three off an inbounds had Souderton down 21-10 but Leah Mikulski’s triple gave the Knights a 24-10 lead at halftime.
Four straight points from Crowley had North Penn up 31-12 at 5:36 in the third. The Knights led by 19 again at 33-14 after a Sperling basket and took a 40-22 advantage into the fourth.
North Penn pushed its lead to as much as 22 twice in the fourth, the last time at 45-23 after a Smink free throw with 6:12 remaining.
North Penn 48, Souderton 31
North Penn 8 16 16 8 – 48
Souderton 4 6 12 9 – 31
North Penn: Caleigh Sperling 6 2 0-0 18; Cameron Crowley 3 2 3-4 15; Lily Brown 1 0 5-6 7; Leah Mikulski 0 1 0-0 3; Olivia Stone 1 0 1-2 3; Lily McGee 0 0 1-2 1; Tallie Smink 0 0 1-4 1; Totals 11 5 11-18 48.
Souderton: Brooke Fenchel 1 2 2-4 10; Emily Dick 3 0 1-2 7; Julia Purvy 2 0 1-3 5; Jacquelyn Bermel 2 0 0-2 4; Kiera Fadden 1 0 0-0 2; Alaina Picard 1 0 0-0 2; Madison Bealer 0 0 1-2 1; Totals 10 2 5-13 31.
