Delco Madness: Defensive Nether Providence girls back on a familiar path in Girls Sweet 16

The eternal truth about basketball-tournament brackets, the everlasting appeal, the lure that mesmerizes, the gravitational pull that makes them a world-wide addiction is simple.

Somewhere in the field, no matter how expertly constructed by trained and accomplished bracketologists, there will be one glaring opportunity, one team that will jump out as an under-seeded value play.

So it would be when the Daily Times revealed the seedings for the mythical Delco Madness Sweet 16 to determine the greatest high school basketball team in Delaware County history.

“Nether Providence,” said Jim Vankoski, whose dedication to the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum and careful handling of all Delco sports history made him the 2018 Daily Times Sports Figure of the Year. “I don’t know about the rest of them, but that team they had in 1983, that is one to watch.”

Though the No. 5 seed was anything but disrespectful for John Smith’s PIAA 3A champions, it would suggest the Bulldogs would be underdogs beyond the first round.

As for Saturday, the Bulldogs proved they could handle themselves against a modern-era opponent of some achievement as they bumped off 12th-seeded Cardinal O’Hara of 2016, 59-54, at Haverford College to advance to Sunday’s Elite Eight.

Predictably rusty from a long layoff, N-P was outscored, 14-2, in the first quarter. But the trait that made the Bulldogs so special in 1983, a relentless pressing defense, would help them force a 30-30 halftime tie.

“If you’re not prepared for that, man,” warned Lou Alleva, the coach of the 1985 Archbishop Prendergast team that also advanced Saturday, “it’s going to be a problem.”

In addition to the defense, the Bulldogs received a boost Saturday from large Chester contingent, there to watch the 1981 Clippers play the 2009 Archbishop Carroll team in the second game of the doubleheader. The show of neighboring-district support was reciprocal, with Bulldogs fans sticking around to cheer on Chester. As many recalled, a similar dynamic played out in 1983 when the Nether Providence girls and Chester boys won state championships in the same Hershey doubleheader.

While O’Hara, the PIAA 4A runner-up, was able to solve the Bulldogs’ press late in the game, Nether Providence was more efficient at the offensive end.

Daily Times Player of the Year Lisa Cano finished with 19 points. Barb Yost added 16. Donna Bowers had 10 and the Bulldogs improved to 35-1. For the Lions, who dipped to 26-5, Player of the Year Hannah Nihill scored 26 points, making enough nifty moves to rate consideration for a One Shining Moment clip. Kenzie Gardler added 12 points and 10 assists. Mary Sheehan tabbed 10 points.

The Bulldogs will face the 1981 Clippers Sunday at 2:30 in the quarterfinals at the Palestra. The know-it-alls, and there were more than a few, are none too surprised.

The other first-round results from Saturday:

No. 1 CARROLL (1979) 77, No. 16 GARNET VALLEY (2019) 70 >> Coach Muffet McGraw predicted tough assignments in the tournament and received one in Round 1. But her Pats finished the game on a 7-0 run to improve to 29-0. Ann Troyan delivered 18 assists. Jessi Dunne had a game-high 26 points. Claire Rose chipped in with 15. All-Delco Player of the Year Emily McAteer deposited 25 points for the Jags, who finished 29-3.

No. 9 O’HARA (1997) 80, No. 8 PENNCREST (1978) 66 >> Kristen Clement fashioned a quadruple-double with 20 points, 16 assists, 11 steals and 10 rebounds as the Lions, not happy having been planted to the 8-9 game, made a quick statement to improve to 28-1. Carol Boyer’s 24 points were not enough as Penncrest fell to 27-4.

No. 13 CHESTER (1981) 66, No. 4 CARROLL (2009) 65 OT >> With Nether Providence fans lending full-throated support after their team’s Game 1 victory, the Clippers forced OT when Fredia Gibbs made both ends of a one-and-one with no time left in regulation. Teresa Govens saved eight of her 20 points for overtime, including a game-winning put-back with a second to play. Erin Shields and All-Delco Player of the Year Kerri Shields scored 20 apiece for the PIAA 4A-champion Patriots, who fell to 30-2. Chester improved to 26-3.

No. 14 PRENDERGAST (1985) 48, No. 3 DARBY-COLWYN (1976) 47 >> Nothing less than furious with their seeding, the Pandas made Delco Madness by rallying from a 10-point halftime deficit to prevail. Helen Koskinen shot 8-for-8 from the foul line and had 17 points as Prendie went to 22-7. Darby-Colwyn (25-1) suffered its first defeat, but only after a five-minute video review revealed that Debbie Bechta’s swished 16-foot jumper came a tenth of a second after the horn at Cabrini. Bechta had a game-high 22 points.

No. 6 O’HARA (1969) 34, No. 11 CARROLL (2019) 33 >> The Lions, who’d built their legend in the pre-three-point era, were able to force the rival Patriots into a slowdown game and survived. Theresa Shank had 12 points, including the final four of the game, as O’Hara improved to 17-3. Carroll (25-7) benefitted from Erin Sweeney’s 17 points and six rebounds.

No. 10 COLLINGDALE (1979) 60, No. 7 CARROLL (2012) 50 >> Jill McKone dropped 27 to lead the 21-6 mid-major Colls to the upset. Despite 13 points from Meghan Creighton, 12 from Rachel Pearson and 11 from Sarah Curran, the Patriots (29-3) led only once, 14-13, at the end of the first quarter.

No. 2 O’HARA (1993) 78, No. 15 NOTRE DAME (1992) 61 >> Making their presence and intentions immediately clear, the Lions (29-0) scored the first 10 points, led by 44-29 at halftime and rolled into Round 2. All-Delco Player of the Year Chrissie Donahue poured in 37 points, plenty through the generosity of Annie Gallagher’s 17 assists. The Inter-Ac champion Irish (20-10) were led by 14 Lauren Straub points.