The Guru’s Philly Summer League Report: BlackStar (D2-Jefferson) Cruises to a Half-Game Lead at 3-0; Citrine Orange Gets First Win

By Bob Heller and Mel Greenberg @womhoopsgurux

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – With Aquatic (D2-Holy Family+) serving the bye this week, BlackStar (D2-Jefferson) was able to take advantage with a lopsided 84-47 win over Royal Crown (D3-Immaculata) in the second game Tuesday night and stay unbeaten at 3-0 moving a half-game in front of the Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Basketball Summer League at Plymouth Whitemarsh High, the new site for the long-running competition consisting of nine teams this month and next July.

Royal Crown dropped to 0-3.

The opening game was one of the more challenging of contests played to date since getting under way last Tuesday with Citrine Orange (D3-Ursinsus Alums and Rowan undergrads) pulling away late to gain an 81-72 win, its first in three attempts, over Sunburst (D3-Ursinsus), which fell to 1-1.

Correcting an earlier designation, the Rowan portion are undergrads and incoming freshman Grace McShane out of Bensalem High rode four 3-pointers to get the night’s only 20+ shoutout with 25 points.

This is the week due to use conflicts in the regular gym that the schedule is just one game per team split over two nights.

Thus, the current standings are temporarily out of sorts among teams not playing the two games on this week’s card until Wednesday and, Sunburst with a bye served last week and first loss Tuesday, causing a four-way tie for third place.

If you are coming to watch, admission is free and signs are posted to lead you to the right entrance which is in the back close to the side nearest to Chestnut Hill.

At 6:30 p.m., Electric Green (D3-Gwynedd-Mercy) plays Purple Haze (D2-West Chester+) at 6:30 p.m., followed at 7:45 p.m., by Electric Pink (D2-Goldey-Beacom) playing Jade (D3-Arcadia).

Long-running commissioner David Kessler hands out his newsletter each game with standings, the immediate past results and upcoming schedule.

On this blog, scroll back to opening night (published June 17) and in the lower scoreboard area are the rosters for each team if those who are tech savy would like to make printouts.

Now here’s Bob with the game details followed by the scoreboard.

Recaps

Citrine Orange 81 Sunburst 72

Citrine Orange (Ursinus Alums/Rowan) rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to earn their first win of the season, defeating Sunburst 81-72 in the early game Tuesday night.

Orange was led by Grace McShane (Rowan), who scored 25 points, 17 in the second half. She finished the game with four three-point baskets.

Lily Bross (Rowan) added 18 points (four threes) and Natalie Mehl (Ursinus ’24) chipped in 16. Orange players combined to make 12 three-point baskets.

Sunburst was led by Anna Chimento’s 14 points, all in the first half. Olivia Nardi added ten while Delaney McCaffrey and Emerson Gunther chipped in nine points apiece. Sunburst had ten three-point baskets on the night.

Orange trailed 46-34 at the half but opened the third quarter with a 15-5 spurt to pull within two 51-49.

McShane had eight of the 15 points during the run. Sunburst continued to hold on to the lead the rest of the quarter stretching their advantage to as many as six before starting the final period ahead by five 61-56.

McCaffrey’s free throw about three minutes into the final period put Sunburst ahead 65-61.

 Bross followed with back-to-back three pointers to flip the score and put Orange on top 67-65.

A three-point bucket from Brynn Tague, a former D-1 Saint Joseph’s player, and a basket from McShane completed an 11-0 run and Orange held a 73-65 lead with under four minutes left.

Ruth O’Keeffe scored back to back baskets to pull Sunburst within three, 72-69 before a basket from Kylee McNicholas (Ursinus ’25) and McShane’s fourth three-ball of the game put Orange ahead 77-69.

Sunburst’s Emma Afflerbach sank a three-ball to close the gap to 77-72 but that would be the final points for the Sunburst team as Orange handed them their first loss of the young season.

BlackStar  84  Royal Crown 47

Ten different players scored at least one field goal as Blackstar (Jefferson University+) remained undefeated, cruising to an 84-47 win over Royal Crown (Immaculata+) in the late game Tuesday night.

Gabby Recinto led the BlackStar squad with 14 points while morgan Sconza (Georgian Court University) added 12.

Caleigh Sperling chipped in 11 points. All ten players who were suited for the game scored.

A trio of Royal players reached double figures as Keira Benoit, Abby Grillo and Liliana Metrick (Widener University) all had ten points.

The first few minutes of the game were close with Black jumping out to an early lead before Grillo and Metrick sank back-to-back three-point baskets to give Royal their only lead of the game at 6-4.

Black followed with a 15-2 run to lead 19-8 and closed out the opening quarter with 11 straight points following a Marie Meyers (Widener) three-ball to lead 30-11 heading into the second quarter.

BlackStar outscored Royal 21-7 in the second quarter with Cassidy Kruesi and Sconza leading six different players that scored with five points apiece in the period as their team to a 51-18 lead at halftime.

The lead increased to 66-28 by the end of the third quarter as BlackStar outscored Royal 15-10.

Sperling and Recinto combined for 13 of the team’s 15 points in the quarter.

Blackstar maintained the 30+ point advantage the rest of the way, holding a 41-point lead late in the game before Benoit scored the final four points of the game for Royal.

Standings (Thru Wed A.M. June 24)

Team         W   L   Pct. GB    PF   PA

BlackStar        3  0  1.000 —   239 141

Aquatic           2   0  1.000  0.5 133 72

Sunburst          1  1  .500 1.5 121 126

Electric Pink  1  1   .500 1.5    135 183

Purple Haze   1  1  .500  1.5   119 82

Jade                     1 1  .500  1.5  139 135

Citrine Orange 1  2 .333 2.0 168 250

Electric Green 0 1  .000 2.5  53 88

Royal Crown     0 3  .000  3.0  131 12

 

Individual Scoring 20+ Points

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

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

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

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

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

 

Results and Schedule

Tuesday, June 23 (Games Both Days Rear Bldg)

Citrine Orange 81, Sunburst 72

BlackStar 84, Royal Crown 47

 

Wednesday, June 24

6:30 p.m.

Electric Green (0-1) vs. Purple Haze (1-1)

7:45 p.m.

Electric Pink (1-1) vs. Jade (1-1)

Bye: Aquatic (2-0)

 

Tuesday, June 30

6:30 p.m.

Electric Green vs. Jade, Court 1

Royal Crown (0-3) Citrine Orange (1-2), Court 2

7:45 p.m.

Purple Haze vs. BlackStar (3-0), Court 1

Sunburst (1-1) vs. Aquatic, Court 2

Bye: Electric Pink

 

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 1

6:30 p.m.

Blackstar vs. Aquatic, Court 1

Electric Pink vs. Royal Crown, Court 2

7:45 p.m.

Electric Green vs. Sunburst, Court 1

Jade vs. Purple Haze, Court 2

Bye: Citrine Orange

 

Tuesday, July 7

6:30 p.m.

Purple Haze vs. Electric Pink, Court 1

Sunburst vs. BlackStar, Court 2

7:45 p.m.

Royal Crown vs. Electric Green, Court 1

Aquatic vs. Citrine Orange, Court 2

Bye: Jade

 

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 +) 2-0

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 vs. Sunburst (D3-Ursinus), 7:45 p.m., Court 2

July 1 vs. BlackStar (D2-Jefferson), 6:30 p.m., Court 1

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+), 3-0

June 16 (W) 75-47 vs. Jade

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

June 23 (W) 84-47 Royal Crown

June 30 vs. Purple Haze, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 1 vs. Aquatic, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

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), 1-2

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

June 17 (L) 60-92 vs. Jade

June 23 (W) 81-72 vs. Sunburst

June 30 vs. Royal Crown, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

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 +) 0-1

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

June 17 Bye

June 24 vs. Purple Haze, 6:30 p.m., Rear Bldg.

June 30 vs. Jade, 6:30 p.m., Court 1

July 1 vs. 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 +) 1-1

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

June 17 (L) 47-80 vs. BlackStar

June 24 vs. Jade, 7:45 p.m. Rear Bldg.

June 30 Bye

July 1 vs. 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. Cintrine Orange, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

 

Jade (D3-Arcadia +) 1-1

June 16 (L) 47-75 vs. BlackStar

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

June 24 vs. Electric Pink, 7:45 p.m., Rear Bldg.

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

July 1 vs. Purple Haze, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

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 +) 1-1

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

June 17 (L) 33-55 vs. Aquatic

June 24 vs. Electric Green, 6:30 p.m., Rear Bldg.

June 30 vs. BlackStar, 7:45 p.m., Court 1

July 1 vs. Jade, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

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 +) 0-3

June 16 (L) 39-78 vs. Aquatic

June 17 (L) 45-49 va. Sunburst

June 23 (L) 47-84 vs. BlackStar

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

July 1 vs. Electric Pink, 6:30 p.m., Court 2

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 +) 1-1

June 16 Bye

June 17 (W) 49-45

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

June 30 vs. Aquatic, 7:45 p.m., Court 2

July 1 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 (Alphabetical for Now)

 

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

 

AQ 2-0 W-RC; W-PU; Bye; vs. SU; vs. BS; vs. CO; vs. EP; vs. EG; vs. JA

BS 3-0 W-JA; W-EP; W-RC; vs. PH; vs. AQ; vs. SU; Bye; vs; CO; vs. EG

CO 1-2 L-PH; L-JA; W-SU; vs. RC; Bye; vs. AQ; vs. EG; vs. BS; vs. EP

EG 0-1 L-EP; Bye; vs. PH; vs. JA; vs. SU; vs. RC; vs. CO; vs. AQ; vs. BS

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

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

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

RC 0-3 L-AQ; L-SU; L-BS; vs. CO; vs. EP; vs. EG; vs PH; vs. JA; Bye

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