Magic of Mount St. Joseph continues in PIAA-5A win over Solanco

UPPER DUBLIN >> In the first round of the PIAA 5A girls basketball tournament, the Mount St. Joseph Magic survived a back-and-forth matchup with District 3’s Solanco with a final score of 49-39 at Upper Dublin High School Saturday night.

Highlighting the win for the Magic was junior captain Lauren Vesey, who scored 16 points in the state playoff victory.

Mount St. Joseph head coach Jim Roynan was thrilled with Vesey’s performance in the first state playoff game.

“When she plays at the top of her game, we are very tough to beat,” said Roynan about Vesey’s efforts. “She commands the team well with how we do things offensively and defensively and we get the win because of that.”

Both teams struggled to score in the first quarter, but the Magic held a 10-5 lead heading into the second quarter.

Both offenses came back to life in the second quarter keeping the game close at halftime.

Solanco, however, found a way to bounce back by opening the third quarter with a 8-2 run and take the lead.

Eventually Mount St. Joseph found its rhythm to make it a three-point game heading into the fourth quarter.

The Magic eventually got some help from Solanco thanks to foul trouble from the Golden Mules to walk away with the 10-point victory.

With the loss, the Solanco finishes the season with an overall record 20-8.
Mount St. Joseph, which finished second in the District One tournament, focuses on its second-round game against Trinity on Wednesday night.

Mount St. Joseph 49, Solanco 39
S 5 14 10 10 — 39
M 10 14 8 17 — 49
Mount St. Joseph: Vesey 16; Niekelski 14; Rothenberg 8; Sistrunk 7; Morrow 2; Metzier 2.
Solanco: Burger 12; Kreider 9; Dombach 8; Cabrera 4; Eshelman 4; Phillips 2.