By Mel Greenberg
HATBORO, Pa. -- Teams White, Orange, and Black nearly squandered all of big leads each held before escaping with victories while Gold clinched the first of eight playoff slots Thursday night in the Philadelphia/Suburban Women's NCAA Summer Basketball League at Kelly Bolish Gym, home of the AAU Renengades in lower Bucks County.
Three nights remain on the regular season schedule -- two next week and then on Tuesday, August 5 -- before the quarterfinals begin two nights later.
Overall, there was one very slight ripple in the standings on Thursday night.
However, winless Royal Blue (0-9) became the first team eliminated, but not before erasing all but one of a 21-point deficit down the stretch to Orange, which held on for a 77-74 victory.
There are a technical clear eight in the current standings but only because Purple (5-5) snapped an eight-place tie with a 59-30 win over Red (2-7), while Pink (4-5), also known as the Division II University of the Sciences of Philadelphia contingent, was idle.
That was the slight ripple previously mentioned.
Meanwhile, the Guru spoke too soon to longtime Commissioner David B. Kessler earlier in the evening.
The Guru noted that his individual nightly performance standard of 20 or more points was becoming a rarity.
Then no less than six players achieved the distinction with four of them -- two on each side -- collecting big totals in the Orange/Royal Blue matchup.
Ciara Andrews, a Saint Joseph's junior out of Cheltenham, turned in the season's third best nightly performance with 29 points and was 5-for-5 from the line for Royul Blue while Sarah Fairbanks on Hunter Green, who holds the best performance with 35 points in a win laat week over Orange, now also owns the fourth best performance eih 28 points in Hunter Green's 66-53 loss to Sky Blue.
Continuing a trend, Saint Joseph's were all over the scoring leaderships in the six games played.
Saint Joseph's Summer Stars Reunion in Maryland
The Guru recently reported the Loyola, Md., announcement that former Hawks and summer league star Katie Kuester, who spent last season as the video coordinator for North Carolina, has been hired as an assistant coach by Joe Logan, who is a former assistant on Hawk Hill to Cindy Griffin.
The Guru happened to meet Kuester Wednesday in the nation's capital at the Washington Convention Center where many collegiate coaches have descended to scout talent in AAU Competition at the U.S. junior national tournament.
Kuester noted how much she misses the summer action, said she follows the league by computer, and sent her wishes to everyone.
Earlier in the day when the Guru was over at the WNBA contest beteen the host Mystics and Connecticut Sun, the Guru ran into Hall of Fame North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell, who said of Kuester: "I'm going to miss her. I din't want to lose her but she's going to do well."
Meanwhile, though Logan hasn't formally made the announcement, he told the Guru he is bringing aboard Erin Shields, another former Hawks and summer league star, as director of basketball operations.
He also hired former Villanova star Sarah Jones.
"Our office is going to be something when Saint Joseph's and Villanova meet, we might have to go up to Philly to watch that one," Logan quipped.
Sewing the Seeds
As mentioned, not much changed Thursday night, but there will be clinchings and more eliminations probably when the action of the three doubleheaders take place Tuesday night.
Gold, with a two-game lead, is a clear No. 1 seed and either a win over Pink Tuesday night or a White loss to Maroon will give Gold the top seed in the playoffs.
White (7-2), also known as the Division II West Chester squad, is clearly second, while Hunter Green (6-4) and Maroon (6-4), which both lost Tuesday, are tied for third and Hunter Green gets the higher seed off a recent win over Maroon.
Black (5-4), Orange (5-4), and Sky Blue (5-4) all won but did not play any game amongst them self so Black at 1-0 in the group stays fifth, Orange at 1-1 for sixth, and Sky Blue (0-1) is seventh.
Purple (5-5) is eighth with the 59-30 win over 12th place Red (2-7), which is all alone in the slot.
Pink (4-5) is ninth, and since both Kelly Green (3-6) and Navy Blue (3-6) both lost, Kelly Green stays 10th off its head-to-head win over Navy Blue in overtime.
Thursday's Recaps
Orange 77, Royal Blue 74 -- Most of the fireworks from this near-upset by Royal Blue have been addressed.
In addition to the 24 points from incoming Saint Joseph's sophomore Amanda Fioravanti for Orange, Penn senior Kara Bonenberger of Northampton High had 21 points, while sister Quakers aenior Kathleen Roche of the defending Ivy champions, scored 15 points and was 5-for-5 from the line in a game that had some pretty good foul shooting accuracy.
On Royal Blue, adding to the 28 from Ciara Andrws, including 6-for-6 from the lone, incoming Saint Joaeph' freshman Adashia Franklyn od Rustin High in West Chester had a summer high 20 points and shot 5-for-5 from the line.
Black 52, Maroon 45 -- Division II Phiadelphia University stayed in the middle of the pack with an upset of Maroon (6-4), as senior Ram Monica Shacker out of Germantown Academy got Black (5-4) above .500 with 17 points.
Black had 17-point lead cut to six by Maroon.
Maroon (6-4) got nine points from Division II East Stroudsburg sophomore Rachel Falkowski out of Central Bucka South, and seven from East Stroudsburg sophomore Courtney Brown of Council Rock South.
White 60, Navy Blue 58 -- The Division II West Chester bunch saw a 17-point lead whittled to just two over Navy Blue (3-6) but stayed in second as sophomore Emily Torrance of Henderson High scored 15 points for White (7-2) while sophomore Victoria Smick of Woodstown High scored 10 points.
Saint Joseph's incoming freshman Chelsea Woods as mentioned had another great individual night, scoring 20 points for Navy Blue, and Devin Gold, a Caldwell College senior out of Council Rock North scored nine points.
Gold 61, Kelly Green 48 -- Senior Pallavi Juneja of Division III Haverford College out of the Peddie School scored 15 points for unbeaten Gold (9-0), which clinched a playoff spot and hss a magic number one one to finish the regular season in first place.
Ashley Wood, a recent Division II Kutztown graduate out of Spring-Ford, whose father Keith is the Gold coach, scored 13 points, while Saint Joseph's senior Natasha Cloud out of Cardina O'Hara had 12 points and was 4-for-4 from the line.
Kelly Green (3-6), in a precarious situation, got 17 points from Villanova sophomore Megan Quinn of Episcopal, while Lexi Scrivano, a Division II Millersville junior out of Central Bucks East, scored 10 points.
Sky Blue 66, Hunter Green 53 -- Avery Marz, an incoming Saint Joseph's freshman scored 16 points and Hawks sophomore Jessica Pongonis added 13 for Sky Blue (5-4), which stopped Hunter Green (6-4) from taking sole possession of third place.
Hunter Green (6-4) got the 28 points from Saint Joseph's sophomore Sarah Farbanks, as mentioned, while Erin Martin of Indiana U. of Pa. as a junior out of Plymouth Whitemarsh, scored 10 points.
Purple 59, Red 30 -- Lia DiScaascio, a Scranton senior out of Cardnal O'Hara, scored 15 points for Purple, which also got nine points each from Sarah Payonk, a Scranton sophomore out of Spring-Ford, and Samantha Stipa, an incoming Lafayette freshman out of Spring-Ford for Purple (5-5).
Red (2-7) continued to fade but got six points each from Tuga Goff, a Rosemont sophomore out of Upper Dublin, and Josephine Noonan, an incomingx an incoming Salisbury freshman.
Individual Scoring Performances
(20 or more points)
35 pts. -- Sarah Fairbanks, Hunt. Grn(W) vs. Orange, July 17
31 pts. -- Jasmine Elum, Gold (W) vs. Maroon, July 1
29 pts. -- Ciara Andrews, RB (L) vs. Orange, July 24
28 pts. -- Sarah Fairbanks,Hunt.Grn. (L) vs. S. Bl., July 24
27 pts. -- Samantha Stipa, Purple (W) vs. H.G., June 26
26 pts. -- Mariah Powell, White (W) vs. Red, July 17
26 pts. -- Courtney Brown, Maroon (W) vs. R. Blue, July 2
25 pts. -- Meghan Gibson, Gold (W) vs. Navy Blue, July 17
24 pts. -- Jasmine Elum, Gold (W) vs Hunter Green, June 24
24 pts. -- Erin Fenningham, Hunt. Green (W) vs. N.B., July 1
24 pts. -- Alexis Smith, Gold (W) vs. Maroon, July 1
24 pts. -- Brianne Traub, Pink (W) vs. Royal Blue, July 10
24 pts. -- Amanda Fioravanti, Orange (W) vs. R. B., July 23
23 pts. -- Lexi Scrivano, Kelly Green (L) vs. White, June 24
22 pts. -- Mariah Powell, White (W) vs. Kelly Green, June 24
22 pts. -- Alex Smith, Gold (W) vs. Orange, June 26
22 pts. -- Brianne Traub, Pink (L) vs. Sky Blue, July 1
22 pts. -- Chelsea Woods, Navy Bue (L) vs. White, July 24
21 pts. -- Alex Smith, Gold (W) vs. Hunter Green, June 24
21 pts. -- Jasmine Elum, Gold (W) vs. Orange, June 26
21 pts. -- Chelsea Woods,Nav Blu (L-OT),vs.Kelly Grn, July 8
21 pts. -- Amanda Fioravanti, Orange (L) vs. Maroon,July 10
21 pts. -- Natalie Stella, Pink (W) vs. Royal Blue, July 10
21 pts. -- Sarah Fairbanks, Hunt Grn (L) vs. White, July 14
21 pts. -- Ciara Andrews, Royal Blue (L) vs. Gold, July 14
21 pts. -- Kara Bonenberger, Orange (W) vs. Toyal Blue, July 24
20 pts. -- Brittany Sicinski, White (W), vs. R.B., June 26
20 pts. -- Lauren Crisler, Gold (W), vs. White, July 10
20 pts. -- Natasha Cloud, Gold (W), vs. Royal Blue, July 14
20 pts. -- Chelsea Woods, Navy Blue (W), vs. Black, July 22
Running Tracker for Playoff Seeds and Tiebreakers
Placements now reflect seeds (in front of team name) if the season ended today, which it doesn't
1-Gold (9-0): H.G. (W), Orange (W), Maroon (W), Purple (W), White (W), R.B. (W), N.B.(W), S.B. (W). K.G. (W)
2-White (7-2): K.G.(W), R.B. (W), Purple (W), S.B.(W), Gold (L), H.G.(W), Red (W), Orange (L), N.B. (W)
3-Hunter Green (6-4) Gold (L), Purp. (L), N.B. (W), Pink (W), Red (W), vs. Black (W), White (L), Orange (W), Maroon (W), S.B. (L)
4-Maroon (6-4): Red (W), K.G. (W-F), Gold (L), R.B. (W), S.B. (L), Orange (W), N.B. (W), Pink (W), H.G. (L), Black (L)
5-Black (5-4): Pink (L), Red (L), Orange (W), K.G. (W-F), R.B. (W), H.G. (L), Purple (W), N.B.(L), Maroon (W),
6-Orange (5-4): Gold (L), Black (L), Purple (W-F), Pink (W), Maroon (L), S.B. (W), H.G. (L), White (W), R.B. (W)
7-Sky Blue: (5-4) R.B.(W), Pink (L), White (L), Maroon(W), Purple (W), Orange (L), K.G. (W), Gold (L), H.G. (W)
8-Purple (5-5): N.B.(W), H.G.(W),White (L), Orange (L-F), Gold (L), S.B. (L), K.G. (W), Black (L), R.B. (W), Red (W)
9-Pink (4-5): Black (W), N.B. (L), S.B. (W), H.G. (L), Orng (L ), R.B. (W), Red (W-OT), Maroon (L), K.G. (L)
10-Kelly Green (3-6): White (L), Maroon (L-F), Black (L-F), N.B. (W-OT), Red (W), Purple (L), S.B. (L), Pink (W), Gold (L)
11-Navy Blue (3-6): Purple (L), Pink (W),H.G.(L), Red (W), K.G. (L-OT), Maroon (L), Gold (L), Black (W)
12-Red (2-7) Maroon (L), Black (W), R.B.(W), N.B. (L), H.G. (L), KG (L), Pink (L-OT), Gold (L, Purple (L)
13-Royal Blue (0-9): S.B. (L), White (L), Red (L), Maroon (L), BLack (L), Pink (L), Gold (L), Purple (L), Orange (L)
Standings (Thru Monday, July 28)
Team, W-L, Pct., G.B., Pts., Opp Pts.
x-Gold, 9-0, 1.000, --, 691 537
White, 7-2, .750, 2.0, 653 479
Hunter Green, 6-4, .600, 3.5, 611 617
fw-Maroon, 6-4, .600, 3.5, 541 411
w-Black, 5-4, .556, 4.0, 408 388
Orange, 5-4, .556, 4.0, 484 517
Sky Blue, 5-4, .556, 4.0, 579 499
fl-Purple, 5-5, .500, 4.5, 519 482
Pink, 4-5, .444, 5.0, 467 479
fl(2)-Kelly Green, 3-6,.333, 6.0, 382 458
Navy Blue, 3-6, .333, 6.0, 502 701
Red, 2-7, .222, 7.0, 474 596
Royal Blue, 0-9, .000, 9.0, 428 624
x -- Clinched playoff slot
fw -- includes forfeit win, fl -- includes forfeit loss
Past Results
Thursday (July 24) Results
Gold 61, Kelly Green 48
White 60, Navy Blue 58
Black 52, Maroon 45
Sky Blue 66, Hunter Green 53
Orange 77, Royal Blue 74
Purple 59, Red 30
Bye: Pink
Tuesday (July 22) Results
Purple 72, Royal Blue 51
Orange 67, White (D2-West Chester) 58
Navy Blue 45, Black (D2-Phila. U.) 36
Hunter Green 68, Maroon 57
Gold 74, Sky Blue 63
Kelly Green 43, Pink (D2-USP) 37
Bye: Red
Thursday (July 17) Results
White (D2-West Chester) 102, Eed 62
Black (D2-Phila. U.) 56, Purple 39
Hunter Green 78. Orange 62
Gold 83, Navy Blue 62
Maroon 55, Pink (D2-USP) 36
Sky Blue 70, Kelly Green 55
Bye: Royal Blue
Tueaday (July 14) Results
White (D2-West Chester) 89, Hunter Green 37
Gold 79, Royal Blue 64
Pink (D2-USP) 64, Red 59, ovt.
Purple 62, Kelly Green 59
Orange 73, Sky Blue 72
Maroon 68, Navy Blue 61
Black (D2-Phila. U.), Bye
Thursday (July 10) Results
Maroon 53, Orange 47
Sky Blue 59, Purple 36
Kelly Green 59, Red 45
Gold 69, White(D2-West Chester) 47
Hunter Green 51, Black (D2-Phila. U) 43
Pink (D2-USP) 70, Royal Blue 50
Tuesday (July 8) Results
Black (D2-Phila. U.) 58, Royal Blue 56
Kelly Green 74, Navy Blue 70, ovt.
Orange 50, Pink (D2-USP) 49
Sky Blue 52, Maroon 47
Hunter Green 75, Red 60
Gold 77, Purple 57
Wednesday (July 2) Results
Hunter Green 51, Pink 47
Maroon 98, Royal Blue 48
White (D2-West Chester) 59, Sky Blue 48
Navy Blue 78, Red 52
Black 2, Kelly Green 0, forfeit
Orange 2, Purple 0, forfeit
Tuesday (July 1) Results
Hunter Green 69, Navy Blue 59
White (West Chester) 54, Purple 45
Gold 85, Maroon 68
Black (Phila. U.) 54, Orange 38
Pink (USP) 59, Sky Blue 56
Red 70, Royal Blue 57
Thursday (June 26) Results
Red 55, Black 54
White 84, Royal Blue 59
Gold 79, Orange 68
Purple 80, Hunter Green 50
Navy Blue 62, Pink 46
Maroon 2, Kelly Green 0 (forfeit)
Bye: Sky Blue
Tuesday (June 24) Results
Purple 69, Navy Blue 44
Maroon 48, Red 42
Sky Blue 93, Royal Blue 43
White (West Chester) 99, Kelly Green 44
Pink (USP) 59, Black (Phila. U.) 53
Gold 84, Hunter Green 59
Bye: Orange
Looking Ahead
Purple gets a break with the bye and could move to a game in front of Pink since the USP group will be playing Gold at 8:15 p.m. on Court 3.
Two of the teams in the three-way tie for fifth, Black (5-4) and Sky Blue (5-4) meet at 8:15 p.m. on Court 2.
Orange (5-4), the third team in that mix, eill meet Red (2-7) at 7 p.m. on Court 1.
Kelly Green (3-6) will be an underdog facing Hunter Green (6-4) at 7 p.m. on Court 3.
At the same time Maroon (6-4) will be playing White (7-2) on Court 2.
Upcoming Schedule
Tuesday, July 29
7 p.m.
Red (2-7) vs. Orange (5-4), Court 1
White (7-2)vs. Maroon (6-4), Court 2
Hunter Green (6-4) vs. Kelly Green (3-6), Court 3
8:15 p.m.
Royal Blue (0-9)vs. Navy Blue (3-6), Court 1
Black (5-4) vs. Sky Blue (5-4), Court Court 2
Gold (0-0) vs. Pink (4-5), Court 3
Bye: Purple
Thursday, July 31
7 p.m.
Gold vs. Black, Court 1
Kelly Green vs. Royal Blue, Court 2
Maroon vs. Purple, Court 3
8:15 p.m.
Pink vs. White, Court 1
Sky Blue vs. Red, Court 2
Navy Blue vs. Orange, Court 3
Bye: Hunter Green
Tueaday, August 5
7 p.m.
Sky Blue vs. Navy Blue, Court 1
Purple vs. Pink, Court 2
Hunter Green vs. Royal Blue, Court 3
8:15 p.m.
Orange vs. Kelly Green, Court 1
Red va. Gold, Court 2
Black vs. White, Court 3
Bye: Maroon
Regular Season Ends
Playoff Schedule
Quarterfinals
Thursday, August 7
7 p.m.
8th aeed vs. 1st seed, Court 1
6th seed vs. 3rd seed, Court 2
8:15 p.m.
7th seed vs. 2nd seed, Court 1
5rh seed vs. 4th seed, Court 2
Semifinals
Tuesday, Aug. 12
7 p.m.
Highest surviving seed vs. lowest surviving seed, Court 1
8:15 p.m.
Remaining quarterfinals survivors, Court 1
Championship
Thursday, Aug. 14
Semifinal survivors, Court 1
That's it for this report.
-- Mel
- Posted using BlogPress from the Guru's iPad
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