Philly Women's Summer Leaague: One-Two Showdown Set For Final Night of the Regular Season

By Mel Greenberg - @womhoopsguru

And Bob Heller

 HATBORO, Pa. – When longtime commissioner David Kessler produced the 11-night regular season schedule back in the early spring for the Philadelphia/Suburban NCAA Certified Women's Summer Basketball League he could not foresee that the top two teams would be one game apart entering the final spot prior to the eight-team playoff that begin with quarterfinal action Thursday.

But that is what will happen Tuesday when Gold (9-1) meets Maroon (8-2), also known as the D-3 USciences squad that plays in the winter, at 7 p.m. On Court 3 of the Kelly Bolish Gym, home of the AAU Renegades.

The winner will get the No. 1 seed and the other team gets the No. 2 slot, with the chance they could again for all the glory in the title round August 2.

Elsewhere, an eighth-place tie exists among three teams -- Red (4-6), Orange (4-6), and Sky Bliue (4-6), while a fifth-place threesome of Royal Blue (5-5), White (5-5) and Black (5-5) will be trying to avoid slipping a notch below and getting in danger of being knocked out through a tiebreaker.

The two middle groups will be bnging into each other for the most part with Black meeting Red at 7 p.m. on Court 1, Royal Blue meeting Purple at 8:15 on the same court, while Sky Blue meets Pink at 7 p.m. on Court 2, and White meets Orange on Court 2 at 8:15 p.m.

After missing a night, the hot-shooting Chelsea Woods, a junior at Saint Joseph's, returned to play for Purple and blasted the nets for 34 points, her sixth game of 30 or more points, to lead Purple to a narrow 64-60 victory over Sky Blue.

Woods has scored 30 or more points six times and was above 20 or more in two other games, not reaching either barrier just twice, the game she missed, and the game stopped by the rules because Purple claimed a 2-0 forfeit win over Gold, the only loss to date for the perennial power.   

Here are the recaps from Thursday night's games:

Red 51, Royal Blue 45 – The Red Team thrust itself back into contention for one of the eight playoff slots as they held off a late rally to defeat Royal Blue, 51-45 to improve to 4-6 on the season.

 

West Chester University senior Tori Smick (Woodstown HS) sank four free throws in the final 46 seconds to help seal the win, snapping a 7-0 run by Royal (5-5) that put the team within two points of the predominantly West Chester University Red squad.  Smick led all players with 14 points (10-12 from the free throw line).  WCU sophomore Mariah Traywick (Spring-Ford HS)added 11 and incoming WCU freshman Katie Fisher (Strath Haven HS) chipped in nine.

 

Royal was led by Meghan Pickell’s (Ithaca College via Episcopal Academy) 12 points.  East Stroudsburg University senior Courtney Brown (Council Rock South HS) added eight.

 

Red, who had led by as many as 12 points early in the game and again in the third quarter, took a ten point lead into the final period.  The Red lead was nine with 4:43 remaining when Royal went on a 7-0 run to pull within two 49-45 with one minute left.   Five of Royal’s seven points came from the hands of recent East Stroudsburg University graduate Ryann Fiascki (Archbishop Carroll HS). Smick’s two free throws with 46.4 seconds on the clock made the score 49-45 and after a defensive hold, Smick was again fouled and went to the line, converting two more to provide the final six-point margin of victory.

 

Red is now in a three-way tie for the eighth and final playoff spot with the win while Royal Blue is in a three-way tie for fifth place. 

 

Purple 64, Sky Blue 60 – St. Joseph’s University junior Chelsea Woods recorded her sixth game of 30 or more points as she scored 34 to lead Team Purple (6-4) with a 64-60 win over Team Sky Blue 

 

Purple moved into sole possession of fourth place with the win. Sky Blue is still in line for a playoff spot, despite the loss as they remain in a three-way tie for eighth place with Team Red and Team Orange. 

 

Woods sank seven free throws in the final 62 seconds to help secure the win.  Penn State-Abington junior Symantha Marrero (Central HS) added 10 points while St. Joseph’s University senior and Germantown Academy graduate Jaryn Garner and Penn State Abington’s Marah Hayes (Archbishop Wood HS) had nine and eight points respectively.

 

Lafayette College junior Samantha Stipa (Spring-Ford HS) and NYU freshman Gabrielle Heinsinger (Merion Mercy Academy) led Sky Blue (4-6) with 17 and 10 points respectively.  Mercyhurst University freshman Stephanie Petery (Pope John Paul II HS) and St. Joseph’s University freshman Avery Marz both added eight points.

 

With Purple leading by just one at the half, Sky Blue’s Heinsinger opened the third period with a three-point basket to give her team their first lead of the game 28-26.  Purple then used a 20-4 run to pull ahead by double digits, 44-32 before Sky closed out the third quarter on a 7-1 run to trail 45-39 entering the final period.

 

Madison Kimball’s (Jenkintown HS) putback with 6:36 left put Purple back on top by double digits 53-43.  Sky followed with an 8-2 run  capped by a three-point field goals from recent St. Joseph’s University graduate Ciara Andrews to close within four 55-51 with 4:34 left. After both squads exchanged three-pointers, Stipa added a layup to put Sky Blue within one 57-56 with just 1:35 remaining.  Woods sank four free throws over the next 1:08 to push Purple’s lead back to four 61-57 before Andrews connected on her second three-pointer of the quarter to pull Sky Blue within one 61-60 with 20.8 seconds left.    Another Woods free throw with 15.8 left made the score 62-60 and she sealed the win with two more with four seconds to go.

 

 

Maroon 55, Hunter Green 41 -  Team Maroon (also known as Division II University of the Sciences)  solidified their hold on second place with their fourth straight win 55-41 over team Hunter Green.

 

Maroon improves to 8-2 and will play Team Gold for the #1 seed in the upcoming league playoffs next Tuesday, July 26.  Hunter Green falls to 3-7 and was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.

 

USciences sophomore Marissa Sylvester (Nazareth Academy) led the Maroon squad with 10 points while junior Laura Trisch (Archbishop Wood HS) and senior Natalie Stella (Wilmington Christian) added nine and eight points respectively.

 

University of Scranton senior Alexix Roman led Hunter Green with ten points while Elizabethtown College sophomore Abby Beyer (Spring-Ford HS) chipped in nine.

 

Hunter Green held an early four point lead before Maroon closed out the first quarter on a 17-6 run to take control and lead 22-15 after one period.  Defense took over as Maroon then held Hunter Green to seven points in each of the next two quarters, while pushing their lead to 11, 40-29 as the two teams entered the final quarter.  

 

Maroon opened the period with an 8-2 run to take their biggest lead,48-32 with Stella sinking two three-point field goals.  Hunter Green closed the gap to ten twice as the quarter progressed, the last at 50-40 on a Roman basket with a little over three minutes remaining.  Sylvester added a layup and a three-pointer to round out Maroon’s scoring.

 

The game marked the sixth time that Maroon has allowed fewer than 50 points in a game this season.  Defensively Maroon is giving up just 48.2 points per game, the best mark in league.

 

Pink 79, White 52 – Gettysburg College sophomore Emma Dorshimer (Jenkintown HS)recorded her second consecutive 20+ -point effort as Team Pink locked down the #3 seed Thursday night with a 79-52 win over Team White.

 

Dorshimer finished with a game high 24 points, which included five three-point field goals.  Sarah Sherman, a Juniata College senior via Methacton HS and SUNY Oneonta senior Brianna Spector (Upper Dublin HS) added 11and nine respectively for Team Pink (7-3).

 

Kutztown University freshman Sierra Taylor (Camden Catholic HS) led three players in double figures for the predominantly Division II Kutztown University White team with 13 points. Recent Philadelphia University graduate Alex Heck and KU sophomore Taylor Thames (North Penn HS) had ten points apiece.

 

The Pink squad took an early four point lead and gradually increased the margin as the game wore on, reaching a double digit lead early in the third quarter and pushing the margin to 14, 53-39 heading into the final period of play.  Dorshimer’s basket with 4:36 left pushed the margin to 20 and Pink closed out the game on a 12-5 run  to earn their second consecutive win.

 

Black 65, Kelly Green 52 -  Team Black won their fifth consecutive game after starting the season at 0-5 to even their record at 5-5 with a 65-52 victory over Team Kelly Green on Thursday.

 

The win moves Team Black (also known as Division II Philadelphia University) into a three-way tie for fifth place with Royal Blue and White. The predominantly Division III Delaware Valley University Kelly Green team falls to 0-10 on the season.

 

PU junior Rachel Day (Archbishop Wood HS) led Black with 16 points(four three-point field goals).  Freshman Alynna Williams (Plymouth-Whitemarsh HS) also made four three pointers and finished with 13 points. Sophomore Valez Jackson (Merion Mercy Academy) added ten.

 

DVU sophomore Danielle Skedzielewski (Archbishop Ryan HS) scored a season high 25 points for Kelly Green, becoming only the fifth league player this season to record at least one game of 25 points of more.  DVU senior Samantha Foy (Ridley HS) added ten points.

 

It was Kelly Green who had the upper hand early in the game leading by three at the end of the first quarter.  A 10-2 run to open the second quarter gave Black a 22-17 lead before Kelly Green came back to tie the game at 26-26.  Black closed out the half with an 8-0 run to lead 34-26 at the break.

 

Day’s triple opened the third quarter scoring and pushed Black’s lead to 11, 37-26.  Kelly Green would not fold, however, embarking on an 11-5 run capped by a  Skedzielewski layup at the 1:50 mark.  Black pushed the lead up to double digits again closing the quarter on an 8-2 run, highlighted by two Williams’ three-pointers to lead 50-39.  

 

Kelly Green closed within six at 53-47 following a pair of Shannon Barlow free throws with 6:00 remaining. Black then put the game out of reach, with a 10-5 run to lead 63-49 before settling in for the 13-point win.

 

Gold 80, Orange 57 – Team Gold placed four players in double figures as they cruised to their sixth consecutive victory 80-57 over Team Orange.

 

Team Gold improves to 9-1, with their only loss a forfeit to Purple due to lack of enough players.  Gold will play Team Maroon on Tuesday to decide who will receive the #1 seed for the upcoming playoffs.  Orange falls to 4-6 and is in a three-way tie for the eighth and final playoff spot, along with Red and Sky Blue.

 

St. Joseph’s University junior Adaisha Franklyn (Bayard Rustin HS) led all scorers with 24 points.  Holy Cross University graduate Alex Smith (The Peddie School) and Bloomsburg University graduate Danielle Derr (Upper Dublin HS) had 14 and 11 points respectively for Gold while Lafayette College sophomore Nia Holland (The Shipley School) added ten points.

 

St.Joseph’s senior Mackenzie Rule (Cardinal O’Hara HS) led Orange with 12 points. A pair of  Emory University freshmen, Erin Lindahl (Germantown Academy) and  Allison Chernow(upper Dublin HS) chipped in 11 and ten points.

 

Gold took control in the second quarter opening the period on an 8-3 run en route to a 37-30 halftime lead.   A 12-2 run to start the second half put Gold firmly in charge with a 49-32 lead.  Smith’s layup late in the third quarter pushed the lead to 21, 60-49 as the defending league champs rolled on to a 23-point win, 80-57.

 

Breaking Ties

Going into the final night of the regular season on Tuesday mathematically 10 teams are in play for tihe eight-team playoffs with 12th place Kelly Green (0-10) eliminated several weeks ago and Hunter Green (3-7) eliminated Tuesday night because it cannot survive tiebreakers if a massive logjam emerges next Tuesday for the final spots.

Four teams are all alone individually in the top four spots with Gold (9-1) in first, a game ahead of Maroon (8-2), which is also one up over third-place Pink (7-3), which is one up over fourth-place Purple (6-4).

Should Maroon and Pink tie for second, Maroon off its head-to-head win would get the No. 2 slot.

Pink holds third because it has the tiebreak if it occurs over Purple.

Right now, Royal Blue, White and Black are tied for fifth, all at .500 at 5-5, and Royal Blue gets the fiifth slot off a perfect 2-0 mark in the group leaving White to take the sixth slot off its head-to-head win on Black, which holds seventh.

Orange (4-8), Sky Blue (4-6), and Red (4-6) are in a three-team jam for the eighth and final slot.

Within the group, they've all played each other and are all 1-1 so the next tiebreak and if the season ended now instead of next Tuesday, Red would get the eighth spot off a win over Purple, the best in the trio and then for the purposes of the final standings, Orange would be ninth off its head-to-head win over Sky Blue.

Bjut the season does not end until Tuesday so anything can happen, meaning all three in the seventh-place tie by record are in play.  

Standings

(Thru July 25)

Team,  W-L, Pct., G.B., PF, PA

^@-Gold, 9-1, .900, ---, 684 489

^-Maroon, 8-2, .800, 1.0, 580 482

^-Pink, 7-3, .700, 2.0, 672 557

^%-Purple, 6-4, .600, 3.0, 614 583

Royal Blue, 5-5, .500, 4.0, 592 561

White, 5-5, .500, 4.0, 615 648

%-Black, 5-5, .500, 4.0, 503 530

@-Orange, 4-6, .400, 5.0 514 578

Sky Blue, 4-6, .400, 5.0, 612 662

%-Red,4-6, .400, 5.0 , 495 559

#@-Hunter Green, 3-7, .300, 6.0, 477 525

#-Kelly Green, 0-9, .000, 7.0, 556 740

%-includes forfeit win

@-includes forfeit loss

^-Clinched playoff berth

#-Eliminated from playoffs

Schedule

Tuesday, July 26

(Regular Season Ends)

7 p.m.

Black (5-5) vs. Red (4-6), Court 1

Sky Blue (4-6) vs. Pink (7-3), Court 2

Gold (9-1) vs. Maroon (8-2), Court 3

8:15 p.m.

Royal Blue (5-5) vs. Purple (6-4). Court 1

White (5-5) vs. Orange (4-6), Court 2

Hunter Green (3-7) vs. Kelly Green (0-10), Court 3

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Thursday, July 28

7 p.m.

Seed 1 vs. Seed 8, Court 1

Seed 6 vs Seed 3, Court 2

8:15 p.m.

Seed 2 vs. Seed 7, Court 1

Seed 5 vs. Seed 4, Court 2

Semifinals

Tuesday, Aug. 2

7 p.m.

Game 1, Court 1

8:15 p.m.

Game 2, Court 1

Championship

Thursday, Aug. 4

7 p.m.

Winner Semifinal 1 vs. Winner Semifinal 2

Results

Thursday, July 21

Black 65. Kelly Green 52

Pink 79, White 52

Gold 80, Orange 57

Red 51, Royal Blue 46

Maroon 55, Hunter Green 41

Purple 64. Sky Blue 60

Tuesday, July 19

Pink 90, Kelly Green 35

Gold 79, Red 51

Maroon 49, Orange 35

Hunter Green 59, Purple 33

Black 62, Sky BLue 44

Royal Blue 61, White 56

Thursday, July 14

Hunter Green 54, Red 45

Black 72, Orange 64, OT

Maroon 56, Pink 46

Gold 55, Royal Blue 51

White 59, Sky Blue 56

Purple 85, Kelly Green 78

Tuesday, July 12

Black 69, Purple 65

Orange 56, Royal Blue 48

White 66,  Kelly Green 55

Pink 62, Red 37

Maroon 60, Sky Blue 40

 Gold 62, Hunter Green 43 

Thursday, June 30

Gold 90, Kelly Green 52

White 67, Maroon 65

Red 67, Purple 65, OT

Royal Blue 69, Pink 56

Orange 69, Sky Blue 57

Black 2, Hunter Green 0, forfeit

Tuesday, June 28

Purple 90, White 81

Gold 76, Pink 59

Maroon 58, Kelly Green 47

Royal Blue 55, Black 45

Orange 67, Hunter Green 42

Sky Blue 61, Red 56

Thursday, June 23

Sky Blue 78, Royal Blue 71

Orange 71,  Kelly Green 65

Purple 2,  Gold 0, forfeit

Maroon 64, Black 41

White 67, Red 64, OT

Pink 70, Hunter Green 66, OT

Tuesday, June 21

Purple 57, Maroon 52

Royal Blue 80, Hunter Green 58

Red 69, Kelly Green 66

White 60, Black 44

Gold 89, Sky Blue 59

Pink 75, Orange 50

Thursday, June 16

Sky Blue 67, Hunter Green 66

Pink 63, Black 51

Maroon 59, Red 53, OT

Purple 88, Orange 45

Gold 90, White 63

Royal Blue 56, Kelly Green 44

Wednesday, June 15

Hunter Green 48, White 44

Sky Blue 90, Kelly Green 66

Pink 72, Purple 65

Gold 63. Black 52

Maroon 62, Royal Blue 55

Red 2, Orange 0, forfeit

Individual Scoring 20 Or More Points

46 Chelsea Woods, Purple, L, vs. Black, July 12

43-Chelsea Woods, Purple, W, vs. White, June 28

39-Chelsea Woods, Purple, W, vs. Kelly Green, July 14

34-Chelsea Woods, Purple, W, vs. Sky Blue, July 21

33-Chelsea Woods, Purple, W, vs. Maroon, June 22

32-Chelsea Woods, Purple, L, vs. Pink, June 15

28-Alex Smith, Gold, W, vs. Sky Blue, June 22

28-Alex Smith, Gold, W, vs. White, June 16

26-Chelsea Woods, Purple, L, vs. Red, June 30 

26-Alexix Roman, Hunter Green, L, vs. Sky Blue, June 16

25-Danielle Skedzielewski, Kelly Green, L, vs. Black, July 21

25-Ciara Andrews, Sky Blue, W, vs. Hunter Green, June 16

25-Ciara Andrews, Sky Blue, W, vs. Kelly Green, June 15

24-Adaisha Franklyn, Gold, W, vs. Orange, July 21

24-Emma Dorshimer, Pink, W, vs. White, July 21

24-Alynna Williams, Black, W-OT, vs Orange, July 14. 

23-Alynna Williams, Black, L, vs. Pink, June 23

23-Kelsey Watson, White, L, vs. Gold, June 16

23-Chelsea Woods, Purple, W, vs. Orange, June 16

22-Alexix Roman, Hunter Green, W, vs. Red, July 14

22-Mia Hopkins, Gold, W, vs. Sky Blue, June 22

22-Adaisha Franklyn, Gold, W, vs. White, June 16

21-Ciara Andrews, Sky Blue, L, vs. Orange, June 30

21-Lauren Rothfeld, Pink, L, Royal Blue, June 30

21-Tori Smick, Red, L, vs. Sky Blue, June 28

21-Julia Glantz, Hunter Green, W, vs. White, June 15

21-Jessica Gerber, Sky Blue, W, vs. Kelly Green, June 15

21-K.T. (Katie) Armstrong, Royal Blue, L, vs. Maroon, June 15

20-Michele McCaughern, Gold, W, vs. Red, July 19

20- Emma Dorsheimer, Pink, W, vs. Kelly Green, July 19

20-Taylor Thames, White, W, vs. Maroon, June 30

20-Ciara Andrews, Sky Blue, W, vs. Royal Blue, June 23

20-Lauren Rothfeld, Pink, W-OT, vs. Hunter Green, June 23

20-Mackenzie Rule, Orange, L, vs. vs. Pink, June 22

20-Micah Morgan, Maroon, W-OT, vs. Red, June 16

Seed Tracker (In order)

^-Gold (9-1) vs. Bk (W), vs. Wh (W), vs. SB (W), vs. Pur (L-@), vs. Pnk (W) ,vs. KG (W), vs. HG (W),

RB(W), vs. Red (W), vs. Orng(W),

^-Maroon (8-2) vs. RB (W), vs. Red (W-OT), vs. Pur(L), vs. Bk (W), KG (W), vs. Wh (L), vs. SB(W),

vs. Pnk(W), vs. Orng(W), vs. HG(W).

^-Pink (7-3) vs. Pur (W), vs. Bk (W), vs. Orge, (W), vs. HG (W-OT), Gold (L), vs. RB(L), vs. Rd(W),

 vs. M(L), vs. KG(W), Wh(W),

^-Purple (6-4) vs. Pk (L), vs. Org (W), vs. M(W), vs. Gd (W-%), vs. W (W) vs. Red (W-OT), vs. Bk(L), 

 vs. KG(W) vs. HG(L), vs. SB(W), 

Royal Blue (5-5) vs. M (L), vs. KG (W), vs. HG (W), vs, SB (L), vs. Black (W), Pnk(W), vs. Orng(L), vs. Gold(L), vs. Wh(W), vs. Red (L),

White (5-5) vs. HG (L), vs. Gd (L), vs. Bk (W), vs. Red (W-OT), vs. Pur (L), vs. M (W), vs. KG(W)

 vs. SB(W), vs. RB(L), vs. Pink(L),  

Black (5-5) vs. Gd (L), vs. Pk (L), vs. Wh (L), vs. M (L), vs. RB (L), vs. HG (W-%), vs. Pur(W), vs. Or(W-OT), vs. SB(W), vs. KG(W),

Red (4-6) vs. Org (%-W), vs. M (L-OT), vs. KG (W), vs. Wh (L-OT), vs. SB (L), Pur (W-OT), vs. Pk(L), vs. HG(L), vs. Gold(L), vs. RB(W),

Orange (4-6) vs. Red (@-L), vs. Pur (L), vs. Pnk (L), vs. KG (W), vs. HG (W), vs. SB (W), vs. RB(W),

 vs Bk (L-OT), M(L), vs. Gold (L),

Sky Blue (4-6) vs. KG (W), vs. HG (W), vs. Gold (L), vs. RB (W), vs. Red (W), Ornge(L), vs. M(L),

  vs. Wh(L), vs. Blk(L), vs. Purple(L)

#-Hunter Green (3-7) vs. Wh (W), vs. SB (L), vs RB (L), vs. Pk (L-OT), vs. Org (L),vs. Blk (L-@) vs. Gd(L), vs. Red(W), vs. Pur(W), vs. M(L).

#-Kelly Green (0-10) vs. SB (L), vs. RB (L), vs Red (L), vs. Orange (L), vs. M(L), vs. Gold (L), vs. Wh(L), vs. Pur(L) vs. Pnk(L),vs. Blk(L)

%-forfeit win

@-forfeit loss

^-Clinched playoff berth

#-Eliminated from playoffs