Girls: Supporting cast shines as Perkiomen Valley dispatches Haverford 64-50 in PIAA Second Round

 

By Ed Morrone

No Quinn Boettinger for large chunks of a state playoff game? No problem for Perkiomen Valley.

Bella Bacani led four Perk Valley players in double figures with 12 points, as the Vikings pulled away from Haverford during a dominant third quarter en route to an eventual 64-50 PIAA second round victory on Tuesday night at Upper Merion.

The Vikings advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals to face Cardinal O’Hara, the second seed in District 12 and a member of the Philadelphia Catholic League. Perk Valley, the top seed in District 1, ended fifth-seeded Haverford’s season for the second straight year after also beating the Fords in the 2023 District 1-6A title game.

When Boettinger, the Vikings’ star center and Navy recruit, picked up her fourth personal foul with 5:36 left in the third quarter, there was no panic or slumped shoulders — just a next person up mentality, or in Perk Valley’s case, next people up, because every player who saw the court Tuesday had a massive impact on the outcome.

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Delcohoops & NFHS to broadcast Spring-ford vs Springfield PIAA Playoff game

 

Delcohoops.com in association with the PIAA licensee, NFHS Network, will be LIVE video streaming this week’s Spring-ford vs Springfield PIAA State Championship Round 2 playoff game on Wednesday, March 13th.  Our broadcast will begin at 7:20 P.M. with tip-off at 7:30 P.M.

NFHS Network is a monthly subscription service. Cost is $11.95 per month which allows you unlimited games to watch from all over the U.S. NFHS Network is the only streaming service allowed during the playoffs so a one month subscription will give you access to all the games available during the PIAA playoffs (not all games are broadcast).  

You can go to NFHS Network by clicking on this blue link: NFHS

PIAA Class 6A Boys: Reading holds off a furious Chester comeback from 18 down

Chester's Dante Atkinson goes to the basket during the second half of Saturday's PIAA Class 6A first round game against Reading. (Bill Snook/For Media News Group)

Chester’s Dante Atkinson goes to the basket during the second half of Saturday’s PIAA Class 6A first round game against Reading. (Bill Snook/For Media News Group)

By Matthew DeGeorge

Weshly Rosario had the right mindset at halftime, though he and his Reading teammates let it wane by the end of the third quarter.

Up 13 at the break at the Fred Pickett Gymnasium Saturday in the first round of the PIAA Class 6A Tournament, the sophomore guard knew that Chester wasn’t going to go quietly, even after a first half of haymakers.

“We went to the locker room and said, this is going to be crazy and we need to stay ready,” Rosario said. “We know we can finish good if we can stay together.”

But when the Red Knights unleashed their next salvo, knocking the Clippers down 18 points late in the third quarter, a little overconfidence crept in. For just a moment, Reading thought it might have one foot in the second round.

Instead, Reading required every second of the 32 minutes and a fortunate call at the buzzer to get there.

Chester trailed the entire way, and a shot by Dallas Thompson at the horn where he and Reading forward Xavier Beatty made a lot of contact went uncalled as Reading survived a 65-63 thriller.

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Webmaster’s note: If you missed the game or would like to watch it again go to our Archived Broadcast page.

GIRLS: Knouse’s drive helps Archbishop Wood fend off Radnor in PIAA-5A opener

By GLQ Share

When the going got tough, Emily Knouse got going.

Specifically, the Archbishop Wood junior got going downhill toward the rim to start the fourth quarter of Saturday’s state playoff opener with Radnor. The Raptors had been physical, scrappy and resilient all afternoon and Knouse knew it was time to change the tune.

Wood’s strong fourth quarter powered the three-time defending champions to a 55-43 win over Radnor in the first round of the PIAA 5A tournament.

“My shots weren’t falling as much as I’d like them to be and Coach Mike (McDonald) told me ‘she’s chasing you over (screens) so have space, go ahead and rip,’” Knouse said. “I had to be strong, if you’re strong enough then you’ll get finishes.”

Radnor, the sixth seed out of District 1, knew it had nothing to lose and played like it. The Raptors scored the game’s first eight points, were within four at the half and still had the deficit below double digits going to the fourth.

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PIAA Class 5A Girls Basketball: Knouse provides spark as Wood holds off Radnor upset attempt

Radnor's Kate Gallagher, center, drives down the lane in 2023 game against Ridley. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)

Radnor’s Kate Gallagher, center, drives down the lane in 2023 game against Ridley. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)

By Andrew Robinson

When the going got tough, Emily Knouse got going Saturday.

Specifically, the Archbishop Wood junior got going downhill toward the rim to start the fourth quarter of a state playoff opener with Radnor. The Raptors had been physical, scrappy and resilient all afternoon, and Knouse knew it was time to change the tune.

Wood’s strong fourth quarter powered the three-time defending champions to a 55-43 win in the first round of the PIAA 5A tournament.

“My shots weren’t falling as much as I’d like them to be and Coach Mike (McDonald) told me ‘she’s chasing you over (screens) so have space, go ahead and rip,’” Knouse said. “I had to be strong, if you’re strong enough then you’ll get finishes.”

Radnor, the sixth seed out of District 1, knew it had nothing to lose and played like it. The Raptors scored the game’s first eight points, were within four at the half and still had the deficit below double digits going to the fourth.

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Boys: PIAA 6A: Chris Dolan leads Springfield (Delco) to first state tournament win since 2007

Springfield (Delco) junior Chris Dolan had 13 points and three assists Saturday in the PIAA Class 6A first round against Lincoln. (Photo: Jared Leveson/CoBL)

Jared Leveson 

Chris Dolan didn’t have any Wheaties or “Mike’s Secret Stuff” before Springfield (Delco) boys basketball’s PIAA Class 6A first-round state playoff game at Abraham Lincoln High School. 

The usually reluctant shooter just stayed ready for his opportunities and made the most of them. 

In Springfield’s first state tournament game since 2017, the 6-foot-4 junior let it rip early, scoring its first eight points. Dolan’s spurt set the tone for the Cougars and propelled them to a dominant 59-43 win over Lincoln on Saturday afternoon.

“I was open for all of them,” Dolan said about his hot hand. “When you have other guys who score as much as we do, it opens up a lot, and that always helps.” 

The Division 1-AA football prospect at wide receiver and safety finished with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting and three assists. Still, he was proud of his effort on the glass and defensive end. Dolan racked up six rebounds and two steals.

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