Unbeaten Black/Jefferson (7-0) and Sky Blue/Holy Family (7-1) Clinch Top Two Playoff Seeds With One Night Left in Philly/Suburban Women’s Summer League

By Bob Heller and Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

 

HATBORO, Pa. — Unlike Tuesday’s return from the week-long holiday break, the only narrow score Thursday night came from a 2-0 result from a game not played, with Maroon (D3-Arcadia) dropping to 1-6 forfeiting its nightcap game to now 3-4 Kelly Green (Draft Team-1) in the Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Summer Basketball League.

 

On the heels of three blowouts at Kelly Bolish Gym, home of the AAU Renegades, came a lot of clarity heading into Tuesday night’s final pre-playoffs slate of the regular season, which has seen a pair of doubleheaders twice a week in the nine-team league.

 

Unbeaten Black (D2-Jefferson) gained a 58-38 win over Pink (Draft Team-2) to go to 7-0, grabbing the top seed and a bye to Tuesday’s quarterfinals on July 25.

 

There are three draft teams, so designated because their rosters are not dominated by any of the D2 or D3 winter squads who are allowed to compete in the summer as such under NCAA rules.

 

The key game that made moot what could have been an interesting night Tuesday was Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family) with a cruising 62-43 win over winter rival Red (D2-Chestnut Hill) of the Southern Division of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) that gave the summer Tigers the second slot at 7-1.

 

With the second longest win streak behind Jefferson, another Southern CACC squad, Holy Family wrapped up its regular season slate, scheduled to serve the final bye on Tuesday night.

 

In the season opener back on June 13 last month, Black rallied for a narrow overtime win on Sky Blue.

 

Had Red won, they face Jefferson in Tuesday’s final and would have had a shot to steal the top seed on a head-to-win.

 

A brief note of recent history, two seasons ago after Black similarly went unbeaten in regular season competition, Red upset the Rams in the quarterfinals and went on to have its best winter season.

 

The loss dropped Chestnut Hill into a 5-2 third-place tie with Purple (D2-West Chester), which in the other rout, took a 79-59 triumph over winless Sun (Draft Team-3), and Purple at the moment holds the third slot off its head-to-head earlier victory over Red.

 

On Tuesday, while Red has a challenge with Black at 7:45 p.m. on Court 1, Purple will meet Kelly Green at 6:30 p.m. on Court 2.

 

Kelly Green and Pink are tied for fifth, Pink  holding the 5^th place slot off its 40-37 head-to-head triumph over Kelly Green Tuesday night..

 

Pink plays Maroon (1-6) on Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. on Court 2.

 

The other Tuesday game has Sun (0-7) meeting Royal Blue (D3-Cabrini), which is 1-6, on Court 2 at 6:45 p.m.

 

Incidentally, again no one reached the 20-points or more individual performance citations, but Leah Johnson of Purple/West Chester came close with 19 points on the best night’s individual performance.

 

Meanwhile, though most of the quarterfinal participants have been determined, if not the pairings, Royal Blue (1-6), holding seventh off its win over Maroon (1-6), and Sun (0-7), head to the last night, where the trio could finish locked together, a tie-break needed to determine, who gets the last bye-slot for the playoffs and who will meet in the 8-9 game next Thursday, July 20.

 

The quarterfinals begin, as mentioned, Tuesday, July 25, the semifinals, Thursday, July 27, and the championship, which will again be streamed on Ari Bluestein’s Sports Fan Base Network, at 7 p.m. on Court 1 on August 1.

 

Now, here’s Bob with the details on the three games.

 

RECAPS

 

Black 58   Pink 38

Team black (D2 -Jefferson University) clinched the #1 seed and at least a share of the regular season title as they remained unbeaten with a 58-38 win over Team Pink (alumni players) in one of the two early games Thursday night at Kelly Bolish gym.

Black is 7-0 and will be the top seed in the playoffs that start next week by virtue of their season opening game win over Team Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family University). 

Sky blue sits in second place after tonight’s games with a 7-1 record.

Black placed two players in double figures with Cassie Murphy leading the way with 16 points.  Sam Yencha chipped in 11.  

Pink, who played with just six players, was led by Lexie Edwards’ 12 points.  Jen Kremp chipped in ten.

A strong second half turned a tie game at halftime into a double-digit lead for Black by the end of the third quarter.

  Black scored the first four points in the period, breaking a 26-26 tie and taking a 30-26 lead.

  Following a Kremp three-ball that brought the pink squad within one 30-29, Black went on a 16-3 tear including nine straight points to push the lead to 46-32 at the end of the quarter.

  Murphy (5 points); Jordyn Thomas (four) and a three-ball from Emily Keehfuss highlighted the run.

  Pink’s only basket in the final six-plus minutes was another three-pointer from Kremp.

Pink was unable to seriously cut into the lead as the Black team maintained its double-digit advantage throughout the final period and scored the final six points of the game to push the final margin to 20.

In the first half, Black did not take their first lead until late in the first quarter as Pink opened the game with a 7-1 run.  

Black rallied to tie the game at 8-8 and took a 12-11 lead on Morgan Robinson’s layup.

  Kremp and Cassie Sebold scored the last two baskets for pink to retake the lead 15-12 heading into the second quarter.

Black opened the second quarter with a 12-4 run to lead 24-19 before Pink closed out the half with a 7-2 spurt to head into halftime tied at 26-26 before running out of gas in the second half.

Sky Blue 62 Red 43

Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family University) used a 16-6 fourth quarter effort to pull away from Team Red (D2-Chestnut Hill College) and cruise to a 62-43 victory in their final regular season game of the 2023 summer league.

Sky finished the regular season with a 7-1 record and will have a bye as the remaining eight teams play their regular season finales next Tuesday.  

Sky also clinched the #2 seed for the upcoming playoffs with the win.  Red falls to 5-2 and is tied with Purple for third place in the league standings.

Red was led by Avery White’s 12 points while Bridie McCann chipped in ten.  

Ten players from Sky scored points with Jessica Riepe leading the way with 14 points.  Taylor Hinkle scored 11 points while Kara Meredith chipped in nine.

Leading by just four points at the half, Sky expanded their lead to nine, 46-37 by the end of the third quarter.

  Anujin Dashdorj scored all eight of her points in the third quarter, sinking two three-pointers along the way.   

Sky Blue opened the fourth quarter with a 9-2 uprising to take a 16-point lead, 55-39.

  Baskets from Bri Rider and McCann brought Red back within 12 but that would be as close as they would get as Sky scored the final seven points of the game to earn the 62-43 victory.

Purple 79 Sun 59

Team Purple (D2-West Chester University) kept pace with the league leaders as they cruised to a 79-59 win over Team Sun.

Purple improves to 5-2 and is tied with Red for third place.  Sun remains winless at 0-7. 

Four players reached double figures for Purple led by Leah Johnson’s 19 points- the high game of the night.

  Michelle Kozicki added 16 points while Sofia Coleman chipped in 15.  Rachel Conran chipped in 12.

  Sun was paced by Taylor Gurysh (Kutztown ’27) and Mia Stock (Bloomsburg ’27) who had 16 points apiece.  Rachel Saxton (Muhlenberg ’25) added 12 points.

The Purple squad led this game wire-to-wire as they opened a 22-10 lead after the first quarter.

  Five straight points in the second quarter from Conran pushed Purple’s lead to 17, 37-19.

  Saxton closed the gap to 15 with the first of her four three-pointers but Purple countered with 11 straight points to lead 48-22.  Johnson’s 35 foot basket at the buzzer completed the 11-0 run.  

Erin Daley extended Purple’s run to 15 straight points scoring the first four points of the third quarter to push their lead to 30, 52-22, and a later basket from Kozicki gave Purple their biggest lead of the game, 59-27.  

Sun followed with a 14-4 spurt to claw back within 22, 63-41 heading into the final quarter.

Sun would only get as close as 18 points in the final quarter as Purple kept pace with Sun whenever they started to close the gap.  

Gurysh’s basket in the final minute closed the gap to 18 with Coleman countering with a layup for Purple’s final points of the game.

Kelly Green 2, Maroon 0 – forfeit

Failure to field enough players for its nightcap game caused Maroon to forfeit, the second contest for the same reason to occur this season.

Standings (Thru Mon., July 17)

 

Team W L Pct. GB PF PA

 

X-Black 7 0 1.000 — 398 324

Y-Sky Blue 7 1 .875 0.5 517 412

Purple 5 2 .714 2 527 408

Red 5 2 .714 2 410 374

Pink 3 4 .429 4 337 406

Kelly Green 3 4 .429 4 295 307

Royal Blue 1 6 .143 6 357 445

Maroon 1 6 .143 6 318 357

Sun 0 7 .000 7 300 365 

 

X-Clinched top seed; Y-Clinched second seed

 

Players Scoring 20 or More Points

29-Cassie Murphy, Black, W, vs. Royal Blue, June 15

23-Michelle Kozicki, Purple, W, vs. Maroon, June 15

22-Anna McTamney, Purple, W, vs. Royal Blue, June 29

20-Ava Morrow, Sky Blue, W, vs. Pink, June 29

20-Sam Yencha, Black, W, vs. Maroon, June 27

20-Bridie McCann, Red, W, vs. Royal Blue, June 27

20-Taylor Hamm, Pink, W, vs. Sun, June 27

20-Valerie McGriff, Purple, W, vs. Maroon, June 15

22-Haley Meinel, Black, (W-OT) vs. Sky Blue, June 13

20-Cassie Murphy, Black (W-OT), vs. Sky Blue, June 13

20-Ava Morrow, Sky Blue (L-OT), vs. Black, June 13

 

Running Results/Advance Schedule

 

Thursday, July 13

 

Black (Jefferson) 58, Pink (Draft Team-2) 38 

Sky Blue (Holy Family) 62, Red (Chestnut Hill) 43

Purple (West Chester) 79, Sun (Draft Team-3) 59

Kelly Green (Draft Team-1) 2, Maroon (Arcadia) 0, forfeit 

 

Tuesday, July 11

 

Red (Chestnut Hill) 51, Sun (Draft Team-3) 50

Pink (Draft Team-2) 40, Kelly Green (Draft Team-1) 37

Black (Jefferson) 65, Purple (West Chester) 62

Sky Blue (Holy Family) 80, Royal Blue (Cabrini) 45

 

 Bye: Maroon (Arcadia)

 

Tuesday, July 4/Thursday July 6

 

Dark (Holiday Week)

 

Thursday, June 29

Purple (West Chester) 84, Royal Blue (Cabrini) 55

Maroon (Arcadia) 58, Sun (Draft Team-3) 55

Black (Jefferson) 55, Kelly Green (Draft Team-1) 43

Sky Blue (Holy Family) 67, Pink (Draft Team-2) 51   

Bye: Red (4-1)

 

Tuesday, June 27

 

Sky Blue (Holy Family) 70, Purple (West Chester) 63

Black (Jefferson) 83, Maroon (Arcadia) 52

Pink (Draft Team-2) 59, Sun (Draft Team-3) 52

Red (Chestnut Hill) 61, Royal Blue (Cabrini) 47 

Bye: Kelly Green (2-2) 

 

Thursday, June 22

 

Black (Jefferson) 2, Sun (Draft Team-3) 0, forfeit 

Red (Chestnut Hill) 67, Pink (Draft Team-2) 51

Royal Blue (Cabrini) 61, Maroon (Arcadia) 48

Sky Blue (Holy Family) 50, Kelly Green (Draft Team-1) 41

 

Bye: Purple (3-0) 

 

Tuesday, June 20

 

Purple (West Chester) 62, Red (Chestnut Hill) 52

Pink (Draft Team – 2) 49, Royal Blue (Cabrini) 42

Kelly Green (Draft Team -1) 59, Sun (Draft Team – 3) 40

Sky Blue (Holy Family) 63, Maroon (Arcadia) 54

Bye: Black (Jefferson) 

 

Thursday, June 15

 

Black (Jefferson) 64, Royal Blue (Cabrini) 61

Red (Chestnut Hill) 76, Kelly Green (Draft Team-1) 54

Sky Blue (Holy Family) 57, Sun (Draft Team-3) 44

Purple (West Chester) 94, Maroon (Arcadia) 58

Bye: Pink

 

Tuesday, June 13

 

Black (Jefferson) 71, Sky Blue 68 (Holy Family), ovt.

Kelly Green (Draft-1) 59, Royal Blue (Cabrini) 46

Purple (West Chester) 83, Pink (Draft-2) 49

Red (Chestnut Hill) 60, Maroon (Arcadia) 48

 Bye – Sun (Draft-3)

   

Tuesday, July 18 (Regular Season Ends)

 

Early Games (6:30 p.m.)

 

Court 1: Sun (0-7) vs. Royal Blue (1-6)

Court 2: Kelly Green (3-4) vs Purple (5-2)

 

Late Games (7:45 p.m.)

 

Court 1: Black (7-0) vs. Red (5-2)

Court 2: Maroon (1-6) vs. Pink (3-4)

 

Bye: Sky Blue (7-1)

 

Playoffs

 

Thursday, July 20

 

Play-In Round

 

7 pm.

 

Court 1: 8^th seed vs. 9^th seed (Winner advances)

 

Tuesday, July 25^th

 

Quarterfinals

 

Early Games (6:30 p.m.)

 

Court 1: 1-seed vs 8-9 winner

Court 2: 3-seed vs. 6-seed

 

Late Games (7:45 p.m.)

 

Court 1: 2-seed vs. 7-seed

Court 2: 4-seed vs. 5-seed

 

Thursday, July 27

 

Semifinals

 

Early Game (6:30 p.m.)

 

Court 1: Highest Advancing Seed vs. Lowest Advancing Seed

 

Late Game (7:45 p.m.)

 

Court 2: Other Advancing Seeds Meet

 

Tuesday, August 1

 

Championship (7 p.m.)

 

Court 1: Semifinal Winners Meet

 

Season Seed Tracker 

 

Codes: BK – Black; KG – Kelly Green; MR-Maroon; PK- Pink; PU-Purple; RD-Red; RB-Royal Blue; SB-Sky Blue; SU-Sun; FW – Forfeit Win; FL-Forfeit Loss

 

*Black (D2-Jeff) 7-0: W-SB (OT); W-RB; Bye; FW-SU; vs. W-MR; vs. W-KG; vs. W-PU; vs. W-PK; vs. RD

%-Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family) 7-1: L-BK (OT); W-SU; W-MR; W-KG; vs. W-PU; vs. W-PK; vs. W-RB; vs. W-RD; Bye

 

Purple (D2-West Chester) 5-2: W-PK; W-MR; W-RD; Bye; vs. L-SB; vs. W-RB; vs. L-BK; vs. SU; vs. KG

Red (D2-Chestnut Hill) 5-2: W-MR; W-KG; L-PU; W-PK; vs. W-RB; Bye; vs. W-SU; vs. L-SB; vs. BK

 

Pink (Draft-2) 3-4: L-PU: Bye, W-RB; L-RD; vs. W-SU; L-SB; vs. W-KG; vs. L-BK; vs. MR

Kelly Green (Draft-1) 3-4: W-RB; L-RD; W-SU; L-SB; Bye; vs. L-BK; vs. L-PK; vs. FW-MR; vs. PU

 

Maroon (D3-Arcadia) 1-6: L-RD; L-PU; L-SB; L-RB; vs. L-BK; vs. W-SU; Bye; vs. FL-KG; vs. PK

Royal Blue (D3-Cabrini) 1-6: L-KG; L-BK; L-PK; W-MR; vs. L-RD; vs. L-PU; vs. L-SB; Bye; vs. SU

 

Sun (Draft-3) 0-7: Bye; L-SB; L-KG; FL-BK; vs. L-PK; vs. L-MR; vs. L-RD; vs. L-PU; vs. RB

 

*-Clinched Top Seed

%-Clinched Second Seed