By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru
An exciting time on the road back to normalcy will occur Thursday night as a few sentences beginning “First time since …” will be inbounded with the launch of the Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Summer Basketball season at Kelly Bolish Gymnasium, home of the AAU Renegades in suburban Hatboro, Pa.
It’s the first time in two summers that the league returns, albeit with some alterations, after being knocked out a year ago by the coronavirus, another in the many organization victims in the sports world.
Just as important, for the first time since March 2020, the winter D2 programs of Jefferson, Chestnut Hill, USciences and Holy Family out of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC), D2 Kutztown of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in the East Division, and D3 Ursinus of the Centennial Conference will play an organized contest.
Only D3 Arcadia in the eight-team summer league among the seven undergrad groups played last winter in a shortened league-only schedule that began in February.
The eighth team is a second USciences unit composed of alumnae and why not considered this will be the last calendar year for the Devils, whose school next year will merge with D1 Saint Joseph’s of the Atlantic 10.
The coaches won’t be on the sidelines but under NCAA rules for D2 and D3, they will be in the stands as will parents, friends, families, and just fans of the sport getting a chance to watch competition live.
Several checked in with the Guru Wednesday night to express their joy.
“Having finished the 2020 season with a 12-game winning streak, we are excited to get on the floor to see what the future holds,” said longtime Jefferson coach Tom Shirley, whose team will compete under the color name Black in the summer league. “With six freshman this year, the talent is there but the experience will have to be learned. So Thursday night we start.”
Shirley this winter, will be starting his 32nd season with the Rams, having seen the university coached by the legendary Herb Magee on the men’s side change names from Textile to Philadelphia U. then to Jefferson U. several years ago.
Overall, it will be his 40th active season, just three wins from the 800 milestone, an overall mark of 797-362 counting his years at DeSales up in Allentown and 648-289 with Jefferson. He is also the school’s athletic director and has spent time on the NCAA women’s basketball rules committee.
One person missing from opening night but who will be around the rest of the way is long time director/commissioner David “Deuce” Kessler, who is having a small medical procedure previously scheduled.
Less than a month ago Kessler had resigned himself to a second straight summer of no games because it was unknown if a site was available due to a mixup in communications and also there wasn’t a lot of feedback showing interest when past players were surveyed.
In fairness, at the time of the reach out, the outlook for COVID-19 protocols over the summer were still unclear until the road back became more open in recent weeks.
At the same time, USciences coach Jackie Hartzell and Holly Family’s Bernadette Laukaitis became concerned what medical situations might befall their teams if their inactivity stretched further right into the next winter.
“We just wanted something, it didn’t have to be exactly as organized as it’s been, it didn’t even have to contain playoffs, just so a series of games could be played to get ready,” Laukaitis said. “So we began looking for interest and called a few places, including the Renegades.”
The Renegades then reached to Kessler, who admittedly doesn’t know everything about the sport but is excellent at running a league, which as he got to work created some angst off last-minute roster additions, and time schedule changes.
“Listen,” said Kessler after everything was finally locked into place, “for all of that, in the end I’m just happy for these kids who are going to have a chance to get back on the court and play the sport that they love.”
“These amazing young women have been through so much this past year,” said Laukaitis, who served a long stint under her Holy Family coach Mike McLaughlin at Penn before returning to her alma mater for a successful revival in 2019-20.
“To see them handle the adversity with so much positivity, poise and strength makes me and our great staff beyond proud to be their coaches.
“They have worked so hard this past spring and are so ready for Summer League to begin!!,” she continued. “We know how much they want to be on the floor together and. FINALLY play the game they all love!!”
Holy Family will compete as Sky Blue.
“Our players are very excited to be playing summer league again,” said Hartzell. “Especially since we haven’t played at all since March 2020. We are very grateful for all the work everyone has done to keep the league going.”
USciences undergrads will compete as Black while the Devils alumnae group will compete as Pink.
The other teams will be Red (Arcadia), Kelly (Kutztown), Orange (Chestnut Hill), and Royal (Ursinus).
A note that all these teams are so co-mentioned color to school because of the domination of the rosters, but many teams also have individual players from elsewhere to complete the groups.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
The bottom line is if you are fully vaccinated, you don’t to have to wear a mask inside the venue, otherwise you are requested. There’s no limit on crowd size but be aware in the summer league configuration there’s not a ton of room at any time.
WHAT’S DIFFERENT
Unlike past years with more squads, necessitating bye nights, their will be eight teams, five with 12 players, one with 13, one with 10, and one with 15. Every team will make the playoffs, which after the regular seven-week series comes to a conclusion, will be a series of one-and-dones, starting with quarterfinals on Tuesday, Aug. 3, semifinals on Thursday, Aug. 5, and title game on Thursday, Aug. 12.
Unlike the past, time starts are now a half-hour earlier 6:30 p.m. instead of 7, for the earlier games on courts 1 and 2, and 7:45 p.m. instead of 8:15 p.m. for the nightcaps. The commissioner did not have a choice in the matter.
However, while teams will have a 15-minute grace period to field a playable roster (there’s no grace for lateness to nightcaps), it is recognizable especially for that time of night the gym is in a high commuter traffic area, so grace periods have extended due to weather conditions, traffic accidents, while others might occur at the discretion of the commissioner or his associate Steve Michilelli.
Unlike the past with Tuesday and Thursday action, games will be Thursday night only, two doubleheaders, from now until July 29.
This blog will have ongoing coverage and with Bob Heller returning to spice the reports with game detail, while a whole stat-type section after the game reporting is done for the roundups. It will contain standings, a running results/all games to come schedule by calendar followed by one of each team’s results schedule, and a seed tracker to ultimately set up the playoff slots.
Until teams separate themselves after a while the tracker will be listed alphabetically.
This is known as the Guru’s smoke and mirrors act considering player points are the only numbers in the books.
Also, the league is no longer NCAA certified, needed when Division I players participate. In the past many of the local greats in the game played while also bringing along some other talented friendsfrom afar.
But in recent years, that number extremely diminished because of summer jobs, summer classes, hometowns from afar primarily. So given all the requirements and cost to fulfill such requirements the commissioner decided it was not worth it but will always be willing if a demand should occur to return to certification.
GETTING THERE
Kelly Bolish Gym is at 2950 Turnpike Drive inside Willow Grove Commons, a business park alongside the Pennsylvania Turnpike near the Willow Grove Exit 611.
The entrance to the drive is off Davisville Road near the Byberry Road intersection. The Drive begins there and you follow it all the way down until you bear left into the parking lot along a row of buildings and the gym has a big sign in the middle. If weather is dicey and you can’t park close try coming around the back, the door is usually open.
Coming from center city, 611 is extension of Broad Street but you go until just before the Septa Rail Willow Grove station, make a right on Davisville and proceed about six minutes to the Turnpike Drive.
Make a Left or if you are getting off the turnpike, head south a mile to make a left on Fitzwatertown. Road which becomes Terwood Drive and then turn left onto Davisville.
By Public Transit, take the SEPTA Warminster Rail Line, get off at the Willow Grove Station and then take a short ride share to the gym. On bad weather days you may consider going to the end of the line or returning from there because there is some shelter, even when the station is closed.
You can also take the 55 bus from the Olney subway stop and get off at the Willow Grove rail station and then rideshare to the gym.
The gym, unless the Guru learns otherwise off covid, has a snack bar with reasonable priced drinks, water ice, hot dogs, hamburgers and other items so if dashing up from work for the early games you can get things to hold you over.
OPENING NIGHT
We can’t say a lot, given the longtime idleness, but in the 6:30 p.m. tips, Sky Blue will face Black on Court 1, which right from the get-go matches two of the top CACC teams in. Holy Family and Jefferson.
On Court 2, Pink, featuring a pretty competitive group of USciences alums, will meet Royal, featuring Ursinus.
In the latter games at 7:45 p.m. on Court 1, Red or Arcadia will face Maroon, the USciences regulars, while on Court 2 Orange or Chestnut Hill will face Kelly or the Kutztown folks.
STANDINGS
(Opening Night)
Team W L. .Pct. G.B. PF. PA
Black 0 0 .000 —- 00. 00
Kelly 0 0 .000 —- 00. 00
Maroon 0 0 .000 —- 00. 00
Pink 0 0 .000 —- 00. 00
Red 0 0 .000 —- 00. 00
Royal 0 0 .000 —- 00. 00
Black 0 0 .000 —- 00. 00
Sky Blue 0 0 .000 —- 00. 00
PLAYERS INDIVIDUALLY SCORING 20 OR MORE POINTS
None
WEEK-BY-WEEK AND TEAM SCHEDULES/RESULTS
Thursday, June 17
Early Games (6:30 p.m.)
Court 1: Sky Blue vs. Black
Court 2: Pink vs. Royal
Late Games (7:45 p.m.)
Court 1: Red vs. Maroon
Court 2: Orange vs. Kelly
Thursday, June 24
Early Games (6:30 p.m.)
Court 1: Maroon vs. Pink
Court 2: Black vs. Red
Late Games (7:45 p.m.)
Court 1: Royal vs. Orange
Court 2: Kelly vs. Sky Blue
Thursday, July 1
Early Games (6:30 p.m.)
Court 1: Maroon vs. Kelly
Court 2: Sky Blue vs. Orange
Late Games (7:45 p.m.)
Court 1: Royal vs. Red
Court 2: Pink vs. Black
Thursday, July 8
Early Games (6:30 p.m.)
Court 1: Kelly vs. Royal
Court 2: Black vs. Maroon
Late Games (7:45 p.m.)
Court 1: Sky Blue vs. Pink
Court 2: Red vs. Orange
Thursday, July 15
Early Games (6:30 p.m.)
Court 1: Sky Blue vs. Red
Court 2: Kelly vs. Pink
Late Games (7:45 p.m.)
Court 1: Black vs. Orange
Court 2: Royal vs. Maroon
Thursday, July 22
Early Games (6:30 p.m.)
Court 1: Sky Blue vs. Royal
Court 2: Orange vs. Maroon
Late Games (7:45 p.m.)
Court 1: Kelly vs. Black
Court 2: Pink vs. Red
Thursday, July 29
Regular Season Ends
Early Games (6:30 p.m.)
Court 1: Pink vs. Orange
Court 2: Red vs. Kelly
Late Games (7:45 p.m.)
Court 1: Sky Blue vs. Maroon
Court 2: Royal vs. Black
Tuesday, August 3
Playoffs Quarterfinals
Early Games (6:30 p.m.)
Court 1: 8th seed vs. 1st seed
Court 2: 6th seed vs. 3rd seed
Late Games (7:45 p.m.)
Court 1: 7th seed vs. 2nd seed
Court 2: 5th seed vs. 4th seed
Thursday, August 5
Playoffs Semifinals
Early Game (6:30 p.m.)
Court 1: Highest Quarterfinal Survivor vs. Lowest Quarterfinal Survivor
Late Game (7:45 p.m.)
Court 1: Remaining Surviving Seeds
Thursday, August 12
Playoff Championship
Tipoff: 6:30 p.m.
Court : Semifinal Winners
Team By Team Regular Season Schedules/Results
Red (D3-Arcadia) 0-0
June 17: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
June 24: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
July 1: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
July 8: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill), 7:45 p.m., Court 2
July 15: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family), 6:30 p.m., Court 1
July 22: vs. Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae), 7:45 p.m., Court 2
July 29: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill) 0-0
June 17: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown), 7:45 p.m., Court 2
June 24: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
July 1: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
July 8: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia), 7:45 p.m., Court 2
July 15: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
July 22: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
July 29: vs. Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae), 6:30 p.m., Court 1
Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family) 0-0
June 17: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson), 6:30 p.m., Court 1
June 24: vs. Kelly D2-Kutztown, 7:45 p.m, Court 2
July 1: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
July 8: vs. Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
July 15: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia), 6;30 p.m., Court 1
July 22: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus), 6:30 p.m., Court 1
July 29: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
Black (D2-Jefferson) 0-0
June 17: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family), 6;30 p.m., Court 1
June 24: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
July 1: vs. Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae), 7:45 p.m., Court 2
July 8: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
July 15: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
July 22: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
July 29: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus, 7:45 p.m., Court 2
Kelly (D2-Kutztown) 0-0
June 17: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill), 7:45 p.m., Court 2
June 24: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family), 7:45 p.m., Court 2
July 1: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads), 6:30 p.m., Court 1
July 8: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus), 6:30 p.m., Court 1
July 15: vs. Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
July 22: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
July 29: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
Royal (D3-Ursinus) 0-0
June. 17: vs. Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
June 24: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
July 1: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
July 8: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown), 6:30 p.m., Court 1
July 15: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads), 7:45 p.m., Court 2
July 22: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family), 6:30 p.m., Court 1
July 29: vs. Black (Jefferson), 8:15 p.m., Court 2
Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads) 0-0
June 17: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
June 24: vs. Pink (USciences Undergrads), 6:30 p.m., Court 1
July 1: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown), 6:30 p.m., Court 1
July 8: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
July 15: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus). 7:45 p.m., Court 2
July 22: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
July 29: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae) 0-0
June 17: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
June 24: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads), 6:30 p.m., Court 1
July 1: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson), 7:45 p.m., Court 2
July 8: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family), 7:45 p.m., Court 1
July 15: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown), 6:30 p.m., Court 2
July 22: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia), 7:45 p.m. Court 2
July 29: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill), 6:30 p.m., Court 1
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