Neshaminy dispels late start to get past Council Rock South (PHOTO GALLERY)
LANGHORNE – Maybe the toughest strategy to devise is defending against a balanced team. The Neshaminy girls basketball team certainly proved the validity of this statement in their 47-34 victory over Council Rock South in the opening round of the District One Class 6A playoffs.
Though having already defeated The Golden Hawks twice in the regular season by convincing 46-29 and 57-32 scores, Redskin co-captain Devon Storms knew pulling a three-peat would be tough.
“We know that South is a tough team and like to go in and bang around. Their two seniors, Payton (Spadaccino) and Kasey (Schlupp) are great players. Just like our motto, they had nothing to lose. It’s hard to beat a team three times, but we stuck to the game plan.”
The Golden Hawks showed from the opening tap they would not be easy prey. A Kasey Schlupp three-pointer followed by a Bailey Vetter layup got South a quick five-point lead. Devon and her teammates got the wakeup call.
“It kind of just hits you. You say ‘okay what are we doing here? They’re up and beating us now. Get it together.’ Then, we started clicking on offense.”
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Neshaminy used all its weapons to halt the Hawks’ drive and reel off 16 straight points. Sophomore Alison Harvey led the resurgence, nailing two treys and a layup to give Neshaminy a lead they never relinquished. When South loaded up in the paint, Neshaminy struck from behind the arc. When the Hawks came out to defend the perimeter, the Redskins drove the lane.”
Their balance certainly paid off, a team quality Devon lauds. “That’s the nice thing about our team. We are not just a one-dimensional team. We’re not all drivers. We’re not all jump-shooters. There’s a mix. If someone takes away the lane, there is a kick out and jump shot.”
Devon further defined the balance saying, “Everyone knows their roles. We have a shooter in Ali Harvey. Brooke Mullin is a great rebounder and can play down low. Emily (Alexis) comes in and bangs around and gets boards. We all piece together well.”
As for Devon, she realizes her role as senior captain is quite different from last season when she helped a young Redskin team reach the PIAA state quarterfinals. “I feel that as a senior on a young team, I have to lead. Going into the playoffs, I have to use the experience of going to the states last year. My role has definitely changed, leadership-wise.”
Tangible evidence of this change is her very position on the court. When South started pressuring Neshaminy’s young guards, Devon assumed ball-handling chores. “Our starting freshman point guard sometimes gets pressured, which is a good strategy for other teams because she is young. Then me and Brooke (Mullin) share the guard position, which is new for me. I do play down low also. It depends on who is on me.”
A talented athlete, Devon made the transition with little difficulty. “It wasn’t a huge adjustment. As a kid, I was always the guard. Then I shot up in height in high school and moved to forward.”
The strategy worked as Devon managed to break the Golden Hawks’ pressing defense and distribute the ball to her hot shooters. The closest South could come was 28-19 when Payton Spadaccino hit a layup with 5:11 left in the third quarter. Neshaminy answered with a 10-point run.
Alison Harvey led Neshaminy scorers with 16 points. Devon followed with eight points. In all, eight Redskins found their way into the scorebook, yet another sign of their balanced attack.
In addition to having an arsenal of physical weapons, the young Redskins carry a good frame of mind into the postseason. “Going into districts, we always say we have nothing to lose. If we lose, we lose. If we win, then awesome. We have to work hard during practice because they’re not easy teams to beat. That attitude worked for us last year.”
Next up for Neshaminy is Central Bucks South, a team that beat them 51-34 in the regular season opener. “We played them our first game. We know they are a really good team. We didn’t play our game when we played them. We beat East and I think East beat them so they are beatable. We just have to bring our A game. We’re not going to beat them by playing 28 of 32 minutes. We have to play the whole game.”
Based on their showing against the Golden Hawks, Neshaminy is ready to bring its balanced attack to CB South.
TOP PHOTO: Neshaminy sophomore Alison Harvey drives between CR South senior Payton Spadaccino (11) and Hannah Binder (35) in Lady Skins win over the Golden Hawks Feb. 18 at Neshaminy HS. (John Gleeson – 21st-Century Media)
District 1 Class 6A Tournament
Neshaminy 47, Council Rock South 34
(Feb. 18 at Neshaminy)
Council Rock South 7 8 7 12 – 34
Neshaminy 16 12 10 9 – 47
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH (10-13) — Payton Spadaccino 7 2-5 18, Kasey Schlupp 2 1-2 6, Faith Turner 1 1-2 3, Allison McGowan 1 0-0 3, Bailey Vetter 1 0-0 2, Hannah Binder 1 0-0 2, Emma Jones 0 0-0 0; TOTALS — 13 4-9 34.
NESHAMINY (17-5) — Kristin Curley 2 0-0 5, Allison Harvey 5 2-2 16, Brooke Mullin 1 2-2 4, Devon Storms 4 0-2 8, Emily Alexis 1 2-2 4, Olivia Scotti 2 0-0 5, Kelli Kowalick 1 2-2 5, Hannah Stonkus 0 0-2 0, Meghan Ansel 0 0-0 0, Emily Tantala 0 0-0 0; TOTALS — 16 8-12 47.
3-POINT GOALS: CRS — Spadaccino 2, Schlupp, McGowan; N — Harvey 4, Scotti, Kowalick, Curley.
