The Guru’s Philly Summer League Report: Three-Point Attack Carries Aquatic/Holy Family To First Over Winter Rival BlackStar/Jefferson in Unbeatens Battle

 By Bob Heller and Mel Greenberg @womhoopsgurux

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – In the battle of unbeatens Wednesday night at Plymouth Whitemarsh High, Aquatic Blue (D2-Holy Family) that began to assert itself over BlackStar (D2-Jefferson) at the end of last season winning the Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Basketball Summer League after the Rams had been perfect on the schedule ahead of the playoffs kept the string going with a 68-50 victory to move into sole possession at 4-0 a half-game ahead of the Rams (4-1).

The two are also rivals in the Southern Division and overall, of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, which last season saw the Tigers advance to the NCAA D-2 Finals as the East Region representatives.

After Tuesday’s individual outburst with five players making the nightly 20+ points honor roll just one, Taylor Koenig of Jade (D3-Arcadia), did so the third time this summer in her team’s 72-63 tie-breaking loss to Purple Haze (D2-West Chester) that sent the winners into (2-3) into 6th place at 2-3 and Jade (1-4) to eighth on the eight-game schedule in the nine-team league.

In the two other games, both close with likes facing likes, Electric Pink (D2-Goldey-Beacom plus D3-Scranton) and Electric Green (D3 Gwynedd Mercy) kept pace with each other in third place at 3-1, the former holding the three seed on a head-to-head win, as Pink just nipped Royal Crown (D3-Immaculata) 59-58 denying the opposition (0-5) its first win, while Green won 58-54 over Sunburst (D3-Ursinus), which fell to 1-3.

Citrine Orange (D3-Rowan Undergrads and D3 Ursinus Alums) had the nightly bye and held fifth at 2-2.

With three weeks in the books and three left the seedings if the playoffs happened now are in proper order for the first time.

Understand, though, with byes back to inclusion, Aquatic, Citrine Orange, Electric Pink, Electric Green, and Sunburst have played one game less than the other four and last week those competing only played one game, the slate spread over two days using the rear gym due to a site conflict.

Looking Ahead

Tuesday’s slate in the 6:30 p.m. games have Purple Haze (2-3) and Electric Pink (3-1) meeting on Court 1 while Sunburst (1-2) and BlackStar (4-1) meet on Court 2.

In the 7:45 p.m. games Royal Crown (0-5) meets Electric Green (3-1) on Court 1 while Aquatic (4-0) meets Citrine Orange (2-2) on Court 2.

Jade is serving Tuesday’s bye.

Noteworthy

From the commissioner’s nightly handout, 111 players from over 30 NCAA schools this summer with five alums each are out of Plymouth Meeting, Council Rock South, Germantown Academy, and Archbishop Carroll High Schools.

Five sets of sisters are playing: Erin & Quinn Daley and Anna & Lena Stein on Purple Haze while on Citrine Orange are three sets Peyton & Brynn Tague, Brynne, by the way, played club ball at Saint Joseph’s, not varsity; Charlotte & Sarah DiLello; and the twin sister combo of Gabby & Jules Tropea.

Statistically Speaking

Because of one forfeit and those who have served byes, the points for and against could cause a misread besides those games varying from blowouts and tight differentials.

So here are the game averages of each team corresponding to the standings.

*Aquatic 69-41.5

BlackStar 74.4-55.4

*Electric Pink 66.5-72.5

*#Electric Green 43.25-49.75

*Citrine Orange 62-80.25

%Purple Haze 51.8-45.8

*Sunburst 54.75-64.75

Jade 61.6-67.8

Royal Crown 52-70

 

*-Served byes #-includes 2-0 forfeit win; %-includes 0-2 forfeit loss

Now here’s Bob with the recaps followed by the scoreboard.

 

Recaps

 

Aquatic Blue 68 Blackstar 50

It was raining three point baskets on court one Wednesday night as Aquatic Blue (Holy Family University +) made 15 ‘threes’ and remained unbeaten, defeating Blackstar (Jefferson University +), 68-50 in the early game on Court 1.

Amy Ngo sank four three pointers and finished with a team high 14 points. Ella Brown made two three pointers and had 11 points.  Nine of the 11 Aquatic players who scored in the game made at least one three point basket.

BlackStar, who was also undefeated heading into the contest, was missing two of their better players for the game but placed three players in double figures led by Tori Nigro’s 12 points. Morgan Sconza (Georgian Court University) added 11 points while Caleigh Sperling chipped in ten.

Seven three-point baskets by seven different Aquatic players in the first quarter pushed their team to a 24-17 heading in the second quarter.

 Blue opened the quarter with a 10-2 run to take a 34-19 lead with just over three minutes to go.

 Aquatic’s defense held BlackStar to just two field goals in the quarter as they took a 17-point lead into the halftime break, 38-21.

BlackStar went to the free throw line six times in the third quarter, making ten of 11 shots but only managed to shave one point of Aquatic’s lead and trailed by 16 points at 57-41 heading into the final period.

 Sperling was a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe in the period.

Both teams struggled to make baskets in the final quarter, with each team connecting on four shots from the field.

Three of the four Aquatic baskets, however, were three-point shots as Aquatic outscored Blackstar in the quarter 11-9 to take home the 18-point win.

Electric Pink 59 Crown Royal 58

Royal Crown’s (Immaculata University +) fourth quarter comeback fell just short as Electric Pink (Goldey Beacom College/University of Scranton) held on for a 59-58 win in the early game on Court 2.

Pink’s Bridget Malloy (Scranton) and Marissa Fracione (Scranton) led all players with 18 points apiece. Bridget Archbold (Catholic U.) added ten points.

 Liliana Metrick (Widener University) led Royal with 14 points. Alaina Picard added 12 while making three three-point baskets.

Royal had trailed by 14, down 49-35 with 3:30 left in the third quarter, started cutting the deficit to 11 at 53-42 heading into the final period.

The team slowly chipped away at the lead with a 10-4 run to pull within five 57-52.

A Pink basket increased the lead to seven 59-52 with 4:14 left.

Back-to-back three points from Royal’s Lianna Adames and Picard cut the lead to one 59-58.

With Pink in possession, Royal had to foul if they could not get a steal and they did so three times but still did not put Pink on the free throw line as time was ticking away.

Pink on their next inbounds turned the ball over via a back court violation, giving Royal seven seconds to get off a potential winning shot. The shot never happened as time expired, and Pink hung on for the win.

Pink had led by double digits since the early part of the second quarter, opening up a 30-17 lead late in the quarter and leading 35-25 at halftime before peaking with a 14-point lead late in third as Royal readied for the comeback attempt.

Electric Green 58  Sunburst 54

It was a tale of two halves in the late game on Court 1 as Sunburst (Ursinus College) controlled the first half before Electric Green (Gwynedd Mercy University +) turned on the offense and took control in the second half en route to a 58-54 win.

Brianna McFadden led Green with 16 points, Layla Verbit and Gabrielle Bowes (Millersville University) chipped in 12 and ten points respectively.

 Ruth O’Keeffe led Sunburst with 17 points while Bridget Grant and Emma Yogis added 11 and nine points respectively.

Grant’s three-point basket broke a 14-14 tie in the first quarter as Sunburst went on to hold a 20-15 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 29-26 advantage at halftime.

The first 90 seconds of the third quarter also belonged to Sunburst as they opened with a 7-0 run to lead 36-26.

Green countered with a 13-0 run to take a 39-36 lead before O’Keefe broke the run with a basket. 

A Sunburst three-ball then tied the game at 41-41 before Green closed out the quarter on an 8-2 run to lead 49-43 heading into the final quarter.

Green maintained the lead as the fourth quarter continued, holding a 55-49 advantage with 3:32 left.

An O’Keeffe basket with 1:57 left pulled Sunburst within four and after a McFadden free throw, Grant’s three-ball with 12 seconds left cut the Green lead to 56-54. 

Bowes than converted two free throws to make the final margin 58-54.

Purple Haze  72  Jade 63

Purple Haze (West Chester University +) used a strong second quarter to take a double-digit lead over Jade (Arcadia University +) as they cruised to a 72-63 win in the late game on Court 2.

Jade’s Taylor Koenig led all scorers with 22 points (six three-point baskets). Jocelyn Goldstein (Johns Hopkins University) added 16 points while Emily Wilson (Lancaster Bible College) chipped in 11.

Purple placed four players in double figures led by Alyssa Donahue’s  (East Stroudsburg University)16 points.  Lena Stein added 15 points while Sa’ni Savage (Chowan University) and Anna McTamney chipped in 12 and 11 respectively.

The game was tied late in the first quarter when Purple closed out the period with an 8-2 run to take a 23-17 lead.

The lead was eight at 33-25 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter when Purple scored ten straight points en route to a 12-2 run to lead 45-27 at halftime.

Purple led 60-43 after three quarters with Jade attempting to whittle the lead down in the fourth quarter.

Just three Jade players scored in the period (Koenig- 3 threes- nine points; Goldstein- six points; and Ellie Dexter (WPI) – five points).

Three times Jade got the lead down to ten points but were unable to get any closer until the final basket which brought the score into single digits, 72-63.

Standings (Thru Monday, July 6)

Team         W   L   Pct. GB    PF   PA

Aquatic           4   0  1.000  — 276 166

BlackStar        4  1  .800  0.5   372 277

Electric Pink  3  1   .750 1.0    266 290

Electric Green 31 .750 1.0  173 199

Citrine Orange 2 2 .500 2.0 248 321

Purple Haze   2  3  .400  2.5   259 229

Sunburst          1  3  .250 3.0 219 259

Jade                     1 4  .250 3.5  308 339

Royal Crown     0  5 .000  4.5  260 350

 

Individual Scoring 20+ Points

36-Taylor Koenig, Jade (W) vs. Citrine Orange, June 17

26-Grace McShane, Citrine Orange (W) vs. Royal Crown, June 30

25-Grace McShane, Citrine Orange (W) vs. Sunburst, June 23

24-Jocelyn Goldstein, Jade (W) vs. Cintrine Orange, June 17

24-Kara Meredith, Aquatic (W) vs. Sunburst, June 30

22-Taylor Koneig, Jade (L) vs. Purple Haze, July 1

21-Emily Spratt, BlackStar (W) vs. Purple Haze, June 30

21-Bridget Malloy, Electric Pink (W) vs. Electric Green, June 16

20-Taylor Koenig, Jade (L) vs. Electric Green, June 30

20-Emma Wagner, Royal Crown (L) vs. Citrine Orange, June 30

20-Abby Arnold, Jade (L) vs. Electric Pink, June 24

20-Gabrielle Recinto, BlackStar (W) vs. Electric Pink, June 17

 

Results and Schedule

Wednesday, July 1

 

Aquatic 68, BlackStar 50

Electric Pink 59, Royal Crown 58

Electric Green 58, Sunburst 54

Purple Haze 72, Jade 63

Bye: Citrine Orange

 

Tuesday, July 7

6:30 p.m.

Purple Haze (2-3) vs. Electric Pink (3-1)

Sunburst (1-3) vs. BlackStar (4-1)

7:45 p.m.

Royal Crown (0-5) vs. Electric Green (3-1)

Aquatic (4-0) vs. Citrine Orange (2-2)

Bye: Jade (1-4)

 

Tuesday, June 30

Electric Green 60, Jade 57

Citrine Orange 80, Royal Crown 71

BlackStar 83, Purple Haze 68

Aquatic 75, Sunburst 44

Bye: Electric Pink

 

 

Wednesday, June 24 (Games J23 & J24 Rear Bldg)

Electric Green 2, Purple Haze 0, forfeit

Electric Pink 72, Jade 49

Bye: Aquatic (2-0)

 

Tuesday, June 23

Citrine Orange 81, Sunburst 72

BlackStar 84, Royal Crown 47

 

Wednesday, June 17

BlackStar 80, Electric Pink 47

Aquatic 55, Purple Haze 33

Jade 92, Citrine Orange 60

Sunburst 49, Royal Crown 45

Bye: Electric Green

 

Tuesday, June 16

Aquatic 88, Royal Crown 53

Purple Haze 86, Citrine Orange 27

BlackStar 75, Jade 47

Electric Pink 88, Electric Green 53

Bye:  Sunburst

 

Wednesday, July 8

6:30 p.m.

Electric Green vs. Citrine Orange, Court 1

Jade vs. Sunburst, Court 2

7:45 p.m.

Electric Pink vs. Aquatic, Court 1

Purple Haze vs. Royal Crown, Court 2

Bye: BlackStar

 

Tuesday, July 14

6:30 p.m.

Royal Crown vs. Jade, Court 1

Aquatic vs. Electric Green, Court 2

7:45 p.m.

Sunburst vs. Electric Pink

Citrine Orange vs. Blackstar, Court 2

Bye: Purple Haze

 

Regular Season Ends

 

Wednesday, July 15

6:30 p.m.

Sunburst vs. Purple Haze, Court 1

Citrine Orange vs. Electric Pink, Court 2

7:45 p.m.

Aquatic vs. Jade, Court 1

BlackStar vs. Electric Green, Court 2

Bye: Royal Crown

 

Playoffs

Tuesday, July 21

Play-in

6:30 p.m.

8 seed vs. 9 seed, Court 1

 

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, July 22

6:30 p.m.

1 seed vs. 8-9 winner, Court 1

6 seed vs. 3 seed, Court 2

7:45 p.m.

7 seed vs. 2 seed, Court 1

5 seed vs. 4 seed, Court 2

 

Semifinals

Tuesday, July 28

Court 1

6:30 p.m.

Highest Seed Survivor vs. Lowest Seed Survivor

7:45 p.m.

Remaining Survivors Meet

 

Championship

Wednesday, July 29

 

Team by Team Schedules and Results

 

Aquatic (D2-Holy Family +) 4-0

June 16 (W) 78-39 vs. Royal Crown (D3-Immaculata)

June 17 (W) 55-33 vs. Purple Haze (D2-West Chester)

June 23 Bye

June 30 (W) 75-44 vs. Sunburst (D3-Ursinus)

July 1 (W) 68-50 vs. BlackStar (D2-Jefferson)

July 7 vs. Citrine Orange (D3 Rowan + Ursinus Alums), 7:45 p.m., Court 2

July 8 vs. Electric Pink (D2-Goldey-Beacom), 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 14 vs. Electric Green (D3-Gwynedd Mercy), 6:30 p.m., Court 2

July 15 vs. Jade (D3-Arcadia), 7:45 p.m., Court 1

 

BlackStar (D2-Jefferson+), 4-1

June 16 (W) 75-47 vs. Jade

June 17 (W) 80-47 vs. Electric Pink

June 23 (W) 84-47 vs. Royal Crown

June L 30 (W) 83-68 vs. Purple Haze

July 1 (L) 50-68 vs. Aquatic

July 7 vs. Sunburst, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

July 8 Bye

July 14 vs. Citrine Orange, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

July 15 vs. Electric Green, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

 

Citrine Orange (D3-Rowan Undergrads + Ursinus Alums), 2-2

June 16 (L) 27-86 vs. Purple Haze

June 17 (L) 60-92 vs. Jade

June 23 (W) 81-72 vs. Sunburst

June 30 (W) 80-71 vs. Royal Crown

July 1 Bye

July 7 vs. Aquatic, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

July 8 vs. Electric Green, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

July 14 vs. BlackStar, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

July 15 vs. Electric Pink, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

 

Electric Green (D3-Gwynedd Mercy +) 3-1

June 16 (L) 53-88 vs. Electric Pink

June 17 Bye

June 24 (W) 2-0 vs. Purple Haze, forfeit

June 30 (W) 60-57 vs. Jade, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

July 1 (W) 58-54 Sunburst, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 7 vs. Royal Crown, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 8 vs. Citrine Orange, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 14 vs. Aquatic, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

July 15 vs. BlackStar, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

 

Electric Pink (D2-Goldey-Beacom +) 3-1

June 16 (W) 88-53 vs. Electric Green

June 17 (L) 47-80 vs. BlackStar

June 24 (W) 72-49 vs. Jade

June 30 Bye

July 1 (W) 59-58 Royal Crown, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

July 7 vs. Purple Haze, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

July 8 vs. Aquatic, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 14 vs. Sunburst, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 15 vs. Citrine Orange, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

 

Jade (D3-Arcadia +) 1-4

June 16 (L) 47-75 vs. BlackStar

June 17 (W) 92-60 vs. Citrine Orange

June 24 (L) 49-72 vs. Electric Pink

June 30 (L) 57-60 vs. Electric Green

July 1 (L) 63-72 vs. Purple Haze

July 7 Bye

July 8 vs. Sunburst, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

July 14 vs. Royal Crown, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

July 15 vs. Aquatic, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

 

Purple Haze (D2-West Chester +) 2-3

June 16 (W) 86-27 vs. Citrine Orange

June 17 (L) 33-55 vs. Aquatic

June 24 (L) 0-2, forfeit vs. Electric Green

June 30 (L) 6-8 vs. BlackStar

July 1 (W) 72-63 vs. Jade

July 7 vs. Electric Pink, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

July 8 vs. Royal Crown, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

July 14 Bye

July 15 vs. Sunburst, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

 

Royal Crown (D3-Immaculata +) 0-5

June 16 (L) 39-78 vs. Aquatic

June 17 (L) 45-49 va. Sunburst

June 23 (L) 47-84 vs. BlackStar

June 30 (L) 71-80 vs. Citrine Orange

July 1 (L) 58-59 vs. Electric Pink

July 7 vs. Electric Green, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 8 vs. Purple Haze, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

July 14 vs. Jade, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

July 15 Bye

 

Sunburst (D3-Ursinus +) 1-3

June 16 Bye

June 17 (W) 49-45 vs. Royal Crown

June 23 (L) 72-81 vs. Citrine Orange

June 30 (L) 44-75 vs. Aquatic

July 1 (L) 54-58 vs. Electric Green, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 7 vs. BlackStar, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

July 8 vs. Jade, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

July 14 vs. Electric Pink, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 15 vs. Purple Haze, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

 

Seed Tracker

 

Codes – AQ-Aquatic; BS-BlackStar; CO-Citrine Orange; EG-Electric Green; EP-Electric Pink; JA-Jade; PH-Purple Haze; RC-Royal Crown; SU-Sunburst

F-Outcome Thru Forfeit

 

AQ 4-0 W-RC; W-PU; Bye; W-SU; W-BS; vs. CO; vs. EP; vs. EG; vs. JA

BS 4-1 W-JA; W-EP; W-RC; W-PH; L-AQ; vs. SU; Bye; vs; CO; vs. EG

EP 3-1 W-EG; L-BS; W-JA; Bye; W-RC; vs. PH; vs. AQ; vs. SU; vs. CO

EG 3-1 L-EP; Bye; WF- PH; W-JA; W-SU; vs. RC; vs. CO; vs. AQ; vs. BS

CO 2-2 L-PH; L-JA; W-SU; W-RC; Bye; vs. AQ; vs. EG; vs. BS; vs. EP

PH 2-3 W-CO; L-AQ; vs. LF-EG; L-BS; W-JA; vs. EP; vs. RC; Bye; vs. SU

SU 1-3 Bye; W-RC; L-CO; L- AQ; L-EG; vs. BS; vs. JA; vs. EP; vs. PH

JA 1-4 L-BS; W-CO; vs. L-EP; L-EG; L-PH; Bye; vs. SU; vs. RC; vs. AQ

RC 0-5 L-AQ; L-SU; L-BS; L-CO; L-EP; vs. EG; vs PH; vs. JA; Bye