North Penn bounces back by going inside, routs Neshaminy in District 1-AAAA playbacks

TOWAMENCIN >> Inside, inside, inside.

That’s where North Penn flourished Wednesday night in subduing Neshaminy, 57-29, in a seeding game for the PIAA Class AAAA championships.

Sure, the Lady Knights had their share of three-balls and mid-range jumpers.

But it was the paint that created the prettiest picture for the winners, who will meet the Garnet Valley — which beat Conestoga 57-53 in overtime — Friday night in a game that will help determine District One’s 5 through 8 seeding going into the state tournament.

But to get there, the Knights knew they had to push the ball down low, and that’s where it went early, with Mikaela Giuliani feasting under the basket.

“Coming into the game, we knew we had to work the ball inside to open up our outside game,” Giuliani said.

Instead, all the Knights accomplished was getting Giuliani virtually uncontested layups, as the visitors had difficulty getting backside defensive help.

“Actually, our plan was to try and stop (Giuliani), said Neshaminy head coach Joe Lally. “We wanted to front the post and get backside help.

“But Giuliani is good. She’s a 1,000-point scorer for a reason.”

The first quarter belonged to Giuliani, who posted down low, and got three layups as the Lady Knights forced the ball inside at will

Giuliani ended up with 11 points in the period, while Neshaminy remained close behind the scoring of Allison Harvey and Brooke Mullin.
It was more of the same in the second period as Bri Hewlett got inside for seven points and the Knights stretched their lead to nine at the break.

Still emotionally fragile after their overtime loss to Central Bucks South this past Saturday, the Knights had head coach Maggie deMarteleire nervous.

“That loss Saturday was really draining,” the coach said. “I was wondering how they’d respond, but they responded very well.”

North Penn blew the game open in the third quarter, outscoring Neshaminy, 14-2, and carrying a 21-point lead into the final stanza.

Along with Giuliani’s game-high 19 points, Jess Huber added 13 and Hewlett finished with 11.

Mullin had 12 for Neshaminy, while Devon Storms added eight.