Central League Girls Basketball: Sky Newman, Aniya Eberhart have kept Haverford on right track
HAVERFORD — One of the underrated factors in Haverford High’s undefeated season has been the tremendous play of its starting guards.
Senior Sky Newman and junior Aniya Eberhart have given the 23-0 Fords a dynamic backcourt combo, something the program hasn’t had in prior seasons. Both can fill the role of point and shooting guard, and together Newman and Eberhart helped the Fords quicken the pace on both ends of the floor.
Eberhart was not in the starting lineup last season when the Fords advanced to the quarterfinals of the District 1 Class 6A tournament and the second round of the PIAA playoffs. Late in the season Eberhart emerged as the first player coach Lauren Pellicane called upon off the bench to provide the team a spark.
Newman and Eberhart are the perfect complement to the Fords’ big three – six-foot-plus forwards Caroline Dotsey, Rian Dotsey and Mollie Carpenter, all of whom have grabbed headlines and plaudits for their individual dominance this season. Eberhart knows she could not develop into such a good player without surrounding herself with other good players and coaches. And the Fords have plenty of both.
“I’ve got to give props to my teammates, we have all been there for each other throughout the season,” Eberhart said after Saturday’s 59-40 win over Radnor in the Central League semifinals. “It’s our work ethic, it’s our coaches. They push us every single day and that’s why we are where we’re at now. Last year we lost Garnet Valley (in the Central League semifinals). We were upset, we were devastated, and we didn’t want that happening this year. This year is different because we have great leaders, great captains in Mollie Carpenter and Caroline Dotsey. They always keep us in check and always keep us pushing.”
Eberhart and the No. 1 Fords meet second-seeded Conestoga (20-4) for the third time in Monday’s Central League championship game at Harriton High. Tip off is 6 p.m.
In their first meeting of the season Dec. 13, the Fords nipped the Pioneers in overtime, 43-41. Eberhart’s steal and layup accounted for the only points in the extra session. In their second showdown Jan. 28, Caroline Dotsey led the way with 16 points in a 36-33 Fords’ triumph. With the exception of a 31-30 win against Marple Newtown, ‘Stoga is the only team all season to give the Fords a run in the Central League.
“Our last championship was in 2012 and our assistant coach (Jaclyn Gantz) was on the team,” Eberhart said. “We always come so close, like last year we came so close to making the championship. This year we definitely have it in us. And we want to keep going.”
Conestoga flaunted its strengths on defense in its 22-14 win over No. 3 Springfield in the other semifinal game Saturday. Marisa Francione ignited the offense with consecutive 3-pointers in the third period, giving the Pioneers a lead they would not relinquish.
“We definitely have to prep hard for Haverford, just because they have taller players and they are a great team,” Francione said. “Hopefully the third time’s a charm and we can pull out a win.”
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Before Saturday’s game the Fords honored Pellicane for achieving career victory No. 300 in her team’s Jan. 28 win against Conestoga. She also recorded her 100th win as Haverford coach Feb. 2 at Ridley. Pellicane, a guidance counselor at Haverford, was a 200-game winner at Lower Merion before stepping down following the 2015-16 campaign. She became head coach at Haverford in 2017.
