The Guru Philly Summer League Report: Top-Seed Pink via Forfeit from 5-seed Purple Haze and 3-seed Sky Blue With Narrow Payback to 2- Black Advance to the Championship

By Bob Heller and Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

HATBORO, Pa. – An unfortunate historic first and a revenge payback in the semifinals Thursday night sent defending champion Cyber Pink (10-1), the top seed, and third seed Sky Blue/D2-Holy Family (8-3) into next Thursday’s championship at 7 p.m. on Court 1 here at Kelly Bolish Gym, home of the AAU Renegades.

The game at 2950 Turnpike Drive will air on the YouTube channel of Ari Bluestein’s SFBN Network with Drexel’s Zach Feinberg on the call.

We’ll have a precise link with the championship advance - links to that here appearing on Facebook, along with the Guru’s X and threads accounts.

In the semifinal opener there was none with fifth-seed Purple Haze/D2-West Chester (7-4) hours earlier sending the word that vacations and illness had dropped the roster below the required limit forcing the squad to yield a 2-0 forfeit.

It’s the first time those situations have impacted the semifinals though there has been a forfeit in earlier seasons in first round play.

Cyber Pink is a squad assembled with prominent area alumni D2 players though past former D-1 Drexel grad Kate Connolly is also on the team.

In the past the alums on Pink came primarily from former D-2 area power USciences, which as a school merged several years ago into D-1Saint Joseph’s University.

As dominant as Cyber Pink has been, its sole loss was to Holy Family on night eight on the nine-game regular schedule right after clinching the top seed the previous game.

That Holy Family win and a follow-up victory over Lime Citrus helped Sky Blue complete a strong finish to land the third seed through tiebreakers on a three-way tie for third on the final night.

In Tuesday’s quarterfinals with a short roster, Pink barely dodged upset-minded ninth-seed Royal Blue/D2-Goldey-Beacom (2-9) escaping 69-66.

Ironically, Purple Haze gained a 2-0 win opening night on June 11 when Royal Blue was forced to surrender, though the two forfeits in 2024 were a bit lower than has occurred across past seasons.

Purple Haze was a decided underdog heading into the semifinal contest and lost to Cyber Pink 74-55 on June 25, just ahead of when the ten-team league went dark on the two-night weekly schedule for the July 4th holiday.

The semifinal nightcap, however, was the battle that was expected with red hot three-seed Sky Blue/D2-Holy Family, which had been a six-seed back in June, atoning for a 63-62 loss on June 27 edging two-seed Black/D2-Jefferson 73-70 to gain a shot at a second title and first since 2019.

In that game in defeat, Sam Yencha scored 23 for Black, which was a missing a key player in Cassie Murphy.

But Sky Blue’s Jessica Riepe countered most of Yencha’s production with 19 points.

Sky Blue and Black are rivals in the winter in the South Division of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC).

The summer of 2019 was ahead of former star Bernadette Laukitis returning as head coach to her alma mater at Holy Family after following Mike McLaughlin to Penn years earlier from the national power he built in D2 at the school in Northeast Philadelphia.

Jefferson has been right up there also, and longtime coach Tom Shirley is narrowing in on his 900th career victory.

Though the higher seeds in the final standings got there only losing just among themselves, paybacks have been plentiful in the postseason: 9-Royal Blue ousted 8-Red Fire in the first round two nights after Red won in its final game.

Sky Blue beat 6-Orange Citrus while Purple Haze beat 4-Lime Citrus taking paybacks in the quarterfinals from teams handing regular season setbacks and now Sky Blue added to the revenge wins in the semifinals.

Here’s Bob with those details.

3 Sky Blue 73  #2 Black 70

Thursday night’s semifinal matchup between #2 seed Black (D-II Jefferson University) and #3 seed Sky Blue (D-II Holy Family University) took on the feel of a typical winter season matchup between these two conference rivals with neither team pulling away from the other.

When the dust had settled, Sky had pulled off the mild upset, 73-70 to advance to next Thursday’s Championship game.

Sky will face three-time defending champion Cyber Pink (alumni team 1) who advanced to the championship game without even taking the court as #5 seed Purple Haze informed league commissioner David Kessler earlier in the day that they would not have enough players to compete.

Jessica Riepe led four Sky players in double figures with 19 points (17 in the second half).  Taylor Hinkle added 13 and Claire Dougherty chipped in 11.  Carlyn Prevost rounded out the double figure scorers for Sky with ten points.

Sam Yencha scored a game-high 23 points to pace Black. Emily Spratt added 11 points.

In the first quarter, Skyler Searfoss broke a 13-13 tie with five seconds to go in the first quarter with a free throw, starting a 9-2 run to take their biggest lead of the game, seven points, 22-15.

Black countered with a 12-4 run to take a 27-26 lead with 2:06 left in the second quarter.  Both teams scored in the final two minutes as Black held onto their lead, 29-28.

Trailing by just one at the half, 29-28, Sky forced two ties in the opening minutes of the third quarter before taking the lead at the 7:31 mark on a Dougherty three-point basket, 38-35.

  Black remained within striking range, never trailing by more than five and cutting the lead to two on three occasions as the quarter progressed.

Hinkle’s traditional three-point play with 1.8 seconds left in the period gave Sky a 53-48 lead heading into the final ten minutes of action.

Riepe hit the first of her two fourth quarter three-point buckets in the opening minute of the quarter to give Sky their biggest lead of the second half at 56-50.

Black scored twice to again close the gap to two and the lead fluctuated between two and four points until Emma Kuczynski’s three-point basket with 5:26 pulled her team with one 60-59.

 Riepe answered immediately on Sky’s next possession to go back up by four 63-59.

The two teams again took to exchanging baskets with Sky holding a 65-63 lead with 3:41 left in the game.

Hinkle scored back-to back baskets to push the lead back to six 69-63 with 2:42 left.

 Yencha countered with back-to back scores to again pull Black within two 69-67 with 1:36 left.

Sky held the ball for the next minute until Black was forced to foul bringing the clock down to 28.5 seconds before Sky went to the free throw line, making three of four shots to take a 72-67 lead with 12 seconds left.

Spratt followed with a three-point basket to make the score 72-70.

Amy Ngo closed out the contest making the second of two free throws before black’s final half-court shot fell short and Sky came away with the 73-70 win.

Summer Scoreboard (Thru Semifinals, Wed. July 31)

Final Regular Season Standings

Team    W-L Pct. G.B.  PF   PA

F-Cyber Pink 8-1 .889 — 626 451

S-Black 7-2 .778 1 627 490

F-Sky Blue 6-3 .571 2 652 492

Q-Lime Citrus 6-3 .750 2 545 555

S-Purple Haze 6-3 .667 2 523 400

Q-Orange Citrus 5-4 .556 3 488 538

Q-Maroon 3-6 .333 5 556 591

X-Red Fire 3-6 .333 5 557 589

Q-Royal Blue 1-9 .111 7 406 563

X-Sunburst 0-9 .000 8 412 623

 

X-Eliminated First Round

Q-Quarterfinalist

S-Semifinalist

F-Finalist

 

Players Scoring 20 or More Points

 

37 – Taylor Hamm, Cyber Pink (W) vs. Maroon, June 18

36 – Claire Dougherty, Sky Blue (W) vs. Maroon, June 11

31 – Michelle Kozicki, Purple Haze (W) vs. Orange Citrus, June 13

30 – Rylee Derr, Cyber Pink (W) vs. Purple Haze, June 25

29 – Jessica Huber, Lime Citrus (W) vs. Orange Citrus, July 11

29 – Rylee Derr, Cyber Pink (W) vs. Red Fire, June 20

28-Nicole Timko, Orange (W) vs. Maroon, July 16

28 – Anna McTamney, Purple Haze (W) vs. Orange Citrus, June 13

26 – Caleigh Sperling, Black(W) vs. Maroon, Quarterfinals, July 23

26 – Hannah Rhoades, Maroon (W) vs. Sunburst, June 13

25 – Rachel Conrad, Purple Haze (W) vs. Sky Blue, June 18

24 – Taylor Hamm, Cyber Pink (L) vs. Sky Blue, July 11

24 – Rory Ciszkowski, Royal Blue (L) vs. Lime Citrus, July 9

24 – Jessica Riepe, Sky Blue (W) vs. Royal Blue, June 20

24 – Katie Yoder, Royal Blue (L) vs. Orange Citrus, June 18

24 – Katie Yoder, Royal Blue (L), vs. Black, June 13

23 – Sam Yencha, Black (L) vs. Sky Blue, July 25, semifinals

23 – Jess Huber, Lime Citrus (L) vs. Sky Blue, July 16

22 – Katie Yoder, Royal Blue (L) vs. Cyber Pink, Quarterfinals, July 23

22 – Leah Johnson, Lime Citrus (W), vs. Royal Blue, July 9

22 – Claire Dougherty, Sky Blue (W) vs. Royal Blue, June 20

21 – Anna McTammney, Purple Haze (L), vs. Black, July 16

21 – Michelle Kozicki, Purple Haze (W) vs. Red Fire, July 11

21 – Taylor Hamm, Cyber Pink (W) vs. Royal Blue, June 27

21 – Katelyn Becker, Sunburst (L) vs. Orange Citrus, June 27

21 – Claire Dougherty, Sky Blue (L) vs. Black, June 27

21 – Emily Spratt, Black (W) vs. Maroon, June 25

20 – Michelle Kozicki, Purple Haze (W) vs. Lime Citrus, Quarterfinals, July 23

20 – Taylor Hamm, Citrus Pink (W) vs. Royal Blue, Quarterfinals, July 23

20 – Avery White, Red Fire (W) vs. Royal Blue, July 16

20 – Jessica Riepe, Sky Blue (W) vs. Lime Green, July 16

20 – Emma Kuczynski, Black (W) vs. Sunburst, July 11

20 – Leah Johnson, Lime Citrus (W) vs. Maroon, June 20

20 – Scarlett Glasser-Nehls, Maroon (W) vs. Sunburst, June 13

 

Results/Schedule

 

Playoffs

 

Thursday, July 18

 

First Round

 

7-Maroon 66, 10-Sunburst 57

9th-Royal Blue 55 – 8th-Red Fire 50

 

Tuesday, July 23

 

Quarterfinals

 

1-Cyber Pink 69, 9-Royal 66

3-Sky Blue 63, 6-Orange Citrus 42

5-Purple Haze 69, 4-Lime Citrus 60

2-Black 76, 7-Maroon 39

 

Thursday, July 25

 

Semifinals (Records inc. Playoffs)

1-Cyber Pink 2, 5-Purple Haze 0, forfeit

3-Sky Blue 73, 2-Black 70

 

Tuesday, July 30

 

No Games

 

Thursday, Aug. 1

 

Championship

 

Court 1

7 p.m.

SFBN on YouTube

 

1-Cyber Pink (10-1) vs. 3-Sky Blue/D2-Holy Family (8-3)

 

Regular Season Nightly Results

Tuesday, July 16

Orange Citrus 76, Maroon 57

Black 75, Purple Haze 48

Red Fire 57, Royal Blue 49

Sky Blue 93, Lime Citrus 63

Cyber Pink 69, Sunburst 45

 

Thursday, July 11

 

Sky Blue 71, Cyber Pink 67

Purple Haze 76, Red Fire 67

Black 70, Sunburst 35

Maroon 76, Royal Blue 37

Lime Citrus 56, Orange Citrus 48

 

Tuesday, July 9

 

Lime Citrus 76, Royal Blue 60

Black 77, Red Fire 61

Purple Haze 67, Maroon 54

Cyber Pink 56, Orange Citrus 40

Sky Blue 85, Sunburst 29

 

Tuesday, July 2

No Games – Holiday Week

 

Thursday, July 4

No Games – Holiday Week

 

Thursday, June 27

 

Black 63, Sky Blue 62

Cyber Pink 88, Royal Blue 33

Orange Citrus 66, Sunburst 65, ovt.

Lime Citrus 68, Purple Haze 53

Maroon 80, Red Fire 76

 

Tuesday, June 25

 

Lime Citrus 66, Red Fire 62 Red Fire

Royal Blue 61, Sunburst 37

Cyber Pink 74, Purple Haze 55

Orange Citrus 49, Sky Blue 43

Black 83, Maroon 57

 

Thursday, June 20

 

Purple Haze 59, Sunburst 53

Cyber Pink 72, Red Fire 58

Lime Citrus 51, Maroon 50

Sky Blue 80, Royal Blue 52

Orange 47, Black 44

 

Tuesday, June 18

 

Orange Citrus 61, Royal Blue 52

Red Fire 58, Sun Burst 49

Black 68, Lime Citrus 51

Cyber Pink 67, Maroon 44

Purple Haze 70, Sky Blue 67

 

Thursday, June 13

 

Maroon 84, Sunburst 44

Purple Haze 93, Orange Citrus 42

Black 91, Royal Blue 62

Sky Blue 61, Red Fire 45

Cyber Pink 66, Lime Citrus 48

 

Tuesday, June 11

 

Sky Blue (D-2 Holy Family) 90, Maroon (D-3 Arcadia) 54

Cyber Pink (Draft Team-1) 67, Black (D2-Jefferson) 57

Red Fire (D-2 Chestnut Hill) 73, Orange Citrus (Draft Team-3) 59

Lime Citrus (Draft Team-2) 71, Sunburst Royal (Draft Team-4) 55

Purple Haze (D2 West Chester) 2, Royal Blue (D2 Goldey-Beacom) 0, forfeit

 

Seed Tracker

Code – Bk: Black/D2 Jefferson; CP: Cyber Pink/Draft Team-1; LC: Lime Citrus/Draft Team-2; OC: Orange Citrus/Draft Team 3; M: Maroon/D3 Arcadia; PH: Purple Haze/D2 West Chester; RF: Red Fire/D2 Chestnut Hill; RB: Royal Blue/D2 Goldey-Beacom; SB: Sky Blue/Holy Family; SU-Sunburst/Draft Team-4

Cyber Pink (8-1): W-Bk; W-LC; W-M; W-RF; W-PH; W-RB; W-OC; L-SB; W-SU

Black (7-2): L-CP; W-RB; W-LC; L-OC; W-M; W-SB; W-RF; W-SU; W-PH

Sky Blue (6-3): W-M; W-RF; L-PH; W-RB; L-OC; L-BK; W-SU; W-CP; vs. W-LC

Lime Citrus (6-3): W-SU; L-CP; L-BK; W-M; W-RF; W-PH; W-RB; W-OC; vs. L-SB

Purple Haze (6-3): WF-RB; W-OC; W-SB; W-SU; L-CP; L-LC; W-M; W-RF; L-BK

Orange Citrus (5-4): L-RF; L-PH; W-RB; W-BK; W-SB (ovt); W- SU; L-CP; LC; W-M

Maroon (3-6): L-SB; W-SU; L-CP; L-LC; L-BK; W-RF; L-PH; W-RB; L-OC

Red Fire (3-6): W-OC; L-SB; W-SU; L-CP; L-LC; vs L-M; L-BK; L-PH; W-RB

Royal Blue (1-8): LF-PH; L-BK; L-OC; L-SB; W-SU; L-CP; L-LC; L-M; L-RF

Sunburst (0-9): L-LC; L-M; L-RF; L-PH; L-RB; L-OC; L-SB; L-BK; vs. L-CP

 

Team by Team (Thru Playoff Semifinals, July 31)

Black (D2 Jefferson) 8-3 (Inc. Playoffs)

Tues. June 11 vs. Cyber Pink (Draft Team-1) L 57-67

Thur. June 13 vs. Royal Blue (D2 Goldey Beacom) W 91-62

Tues. June 18 vs. Lime Citrus (Draft Team-4) W 68-51

Thur. June 20 vs. Orange Citrus (Draft Team-4) L 43-47

Tues. June 25 vs. Maroon (D3 Arcadia) W 83-57

Thurs. June 27 vs. Sky Blue (D2 Holy Family) W 63-62

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Red Fire (D2 Chestnut Hill) W 77-61

Thurs. July 11 vs. Sunburst (Draft Team-4) W 70-35

Tues. July 16 vs. Purple Haze (D2 West Chester) W 75-48

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Maroon W 76-39

Semifinals

 Thurs. July 25 vs. Sky Blue L 70-73

 

Cyber Pink (Draft Team-1) 10-1 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Black W 67-57

Thur. June 13 vs. Lime Citrus W 66-48

Tues. June 18 vs. Maroon W 67-44

Thur. June 20 vs. Red Fire W 72-58

Tues. June 25 vs. Purple Haze W 74-55

Thurs. June 27 vs. Royal Blue W 88-33

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Orange Citrus W 56-40

Thurs. July 11 vs. Sky Blue L 67-71

Tues. July 16 vs. Sunburst W 69-45

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Tues., July 23 vs. Royal Blue W 69-66

Semifinals

Thurs. July 25 vs. Purple Haze W 2-0 forfeit

 

Lime Citrus (Draft Team-2) 6-4 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Sunburst W 71-55

Thur. June 13 vs. Cyber Pink L 48-66

Tues. June 18 vs. Black L 51-68

Thur. June 20 vs. Maroon W 51-50

Tues. June 25 vs. Red Fire W 66-62

Thurs. June 27 vs. Purple Haze W 68-53

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Royal Blue W 71-60

Thurs. July 11 vs. Orange Citrus W 56-48

Tues. July 16 vs. Sky Blue L 63-93

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Purple Haze L 60-69

 

Orange Citrus (Draft Team-3) 5-5 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Red Fire L 59-73

Thur. June 13 vs. Purple Haze L 42-93

Tues. June 18 vs. Royal Blue W 61-52

Thur. June 20 vs. Black W 47-43

Tues. June 25 vs. Sky Blue W 49-43

Thurs. June 27 vs. Sunburst W 66-65, ovt.

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Cyber Pink L 40-56

Thurs. July 11 vs. Lime Citrus L 48-56

Tues. July 16 vs. Maroon W 76-57

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Sky Blue L 42-63

 

Maroon (D3 Arcadia) 4-7 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Sky Blue L 51-90

Thur. June 13 vs. Sunburst W 84-44

Tues. June 18 vs. Cyber Pink L 44-67

Thur. June 20 vs. Lime Citrus L 50-51

Tues. June 25 vs. Black L 57-83

Thurs. June 27 vs. Red Fire W 80-76

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Thurs. July 11 vs. Royal Blue W 76-37

Tues. July 16 vs. Orange Citrus L 57-76

Playoffs

First Round

Thurs. July 18 vs. Sunburst W 66-57

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Black L 39-76

 

Purple Haze (D2 West Chester) 7-4 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Royal Blue W 2-0 forfeit

Thur. June 13 vs. Orange Citrus W 93-42

Tues. June 18 vs. Sky Blue W 70-67

Thur. June 20 vs. Sunburst W 59-53

Tues. June 25 vs. Cyber Pink L 55-74

Thurs. June 27 vs. Lime Citrus L 53-68

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Maroon W 67-54

Thurs. July 11 vs. Red Fire W 76-67

Tues. July 16 vs. Black L 48-75

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Lime Citrus W 69-60

Semifinals

Thurs. July 25 vs. Citrus Pink L 0-2, forfeit

 

Red Fire (D2 Chestnut Hill) 3-7 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Orange Citrus W 73-59

Thur. June 13 vs. Sky Blue L 45-61

Tues. June 18 vs. Sunburst W 58-49

Thur. June 20 vs. Cyber Pink L 58-72

Tues. June 25 vs. Lime Citrus L 62-66

Thurs. June 27 vs. Maroon L 76-80

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Black L 61-77

Thurs. July 11 vs. Purple Haze L 67-76

Tues. July 16 vs. Royal Blue W 57-49

Playoffs

First Round

Thurs. July 18 vs. Royal Blue L 50-55

 

Royal Blue (D2 Goldey-Beacom) 2-9 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Purple Haze L 0-2 forfeit

Thur. June 13 vs. Black L 62-91

Tues. June 18 vs. Orange Citrus L 52-61

Thur. June 20 vs. Sky Blue L 52-80

Tues. June 25 vs. Sunburst W 61-37

Thurs. June 27 vs. Cyber Pink L 33-88

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Lime Citrus L 60-71

Thurs. July 11 vs. Maroon L 37-76

Tues. July 16 vs. Red Fire L 49-57

Playoffs

First Round

Thurs. July 19 vs. Red Fire W 55-50

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Cyber Pink L 66-69

 

Sky Blue (D2 Holy Family) 8-3 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Maroon W 90-51

Thur. June 13 vs. Red Fire W 61-45

Tues. June 18 vs. Purple Haze L 67-70

Thur. June 20 vs. Royal Blue W 80-52

Tues. June 25 vs. Orange Citrus L 43-49

Thurs. June 27 vs. Black L 62-63

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Sunburst W 85-29

Thurs. July 11 vs. Cyber Pink W 71-67

Tues. July 16 vs. Lime Citrus W 93-63

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Tues. July 23 vs. Orange Citrus W 63-42

Semifinals

Thurs. July 25 vs. Black W 73-70

Championship

Thurs. Aug. 1vs. Cyber Pink (10-1) 7 p.m. – Court 1

 

Sunburst (Draft Team-4) 0-10 (Inc. Playoffs)

 

Tues. June 11 vs. Lime Citrus 55-71

Thur. June 13 vs. Maroon L 44-84

Tues. June 18 vs. Red Fire L 49-58

Thur. June 20 vs. Purple Haze L 53-59

Tues. June 25 vs. Royal Blue L 37-61

Thurs. June 27 vs. Orange Citrus L 65-66 (ovt.)

Tues.-Thurs. July 2-4 Holiday Break

Tues. July 9 vs. Sky Blue L 29-85

Thurs. July 11 vs. Black L 35-70

Tues. July 16 vs. Cyber Pink L 45-69

Playoffs

First Round

Thurs. July 19 vs. Maroon L 57-66