The Guru’s Philly Summer League Report: Unbeaten 1-seed Aquatic/Holy Family Historic Rally Over 2-Seed BlackStar/Jefferson Gets Overtime Win and Repeat Championship
By Bob Heller and Mel Greenberg @womhoopsgurux
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Befitting the rivalry the two teams are in the winter in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, 1-seed Aquatic /D2-Holy Family and 2-seed BlackStar/D2-Jefferson turned in the all-time championship game performance in the Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Basketball Summer League Wednesday night at Plymouth Whitemarsh High.
BlackStar entered the game with only a lopsided loss to Aquatic on the eight-game schedule in the nine-team league and a narrow 43-41 escape Tuesday in the semifinals from Purple Haze (D2-West Chester) while Aquatic continued its unbeaten romp in ousting Electric Green (D3-Gwynedd Mercy).
That appeared headed for a reversal of BlackStar in recent seasons being the 1-seed but falling short in the postseason in the league.
Not so fast said both teams in the back end of the fourth quarter of the game streamed with an outstanding broadcast job on Ari Bluestein’s Sports Fan Based Network which can be seen after the fact on YouTube.
Aquatic rallied from a ten-point deficit to a tie and in the final 1.9 seconds BlackStar scored what appeared to be the upset game-winner only to have Aquatic on the ensuing possession beat the regulation buzzer to take over in overtime and emerge 72-67 as back-to-back champions.
Here’s Bob with all the extended details followed by the final scoreboard season summary.
#1 Aquatic Blue 72 #2 Blackstar 67 OT
Ella Brown’s basket at the buzzer in regulation capped top seed Aquatic Blue’s (Holy Family University +) comeback from a ten-point deficit in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter, forcing overtime against second seed BlackStar where Aquatic Blue doubled up BlackStar (Jefferson University +) 10-5 in the extra period to capture the 2026 Philadelphia/ Suburban Women’s Basketball League Championship 72-67.
Brown led all scorers in the contest with 17 points, ten of those coming in the final four minutes of regulation and the ensuing overtime.
Dana Brusha added 11 points while Kara Meredith and Amy Ngo chipped in ten apiece. Ngo was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final quarter and overtime.
Emily Spratt led BlackStar with 16 points while Caleigh Sperling added 11. Morgan Sconza (Georgian Court University) chipped in nine points.
BlackStar trailed 35-32 at halftime but opened the third quarter scoring the first 11 points to take a 43-35 lead before Brown got Aquatic’s first basket of the period with 4:36 left in the quarter.
BlackStar finished the quarter with a ten-point lead, 51-41, outscoring Aquatic 19-4 in the period.
Spratt scored BlackStar’s first four points of the fourth quarter, giving her team their biggest lead of the game at 55-42.
BlackStar still led by ten 57-47 with 4:03 left when Aquatic began to chip away at the differential.
Meredith sank a three-point basket and Brusha added two free throws to cut the deficit in half, 57-52 with 3:03 left.
Spratt followed with a basket to push the lead back to seven as the clock wound down to the final minute.
The final minute belonged to Brown as she scored all eight of her fourth quarter points in the final 58 seconds, starting with a three-point basket to make the score 59-55.
After a free throw by Spratt, Meredith sank a three-ball to pull Aquatic within two 60-58 with 36.4 seconds left.
Brown followed with the tying basket with 18.8 seconds on the clock. Following a timeout, BlackStar worked the ball around and Spratt was open for a jumper, putting her team ahead 62-60 with just 1.9 seconds left.
Aquatic then called a timeout and when play resumed, Brown received the ball off the inbounds and sank a second game-tying basket at the buzzer to force overtime.
The overtime belonged to Aquatic, who scored eight straight points following Bella Bacani’s basket that tied the score at 64-all to open up a 72-64 lead.
Ngo had four free throws down the stretch and Brusha added a three-ball and a free throw. Bacani added a three-point basket with 0.1 seconds left to make the final score 72-67.
In the first half, BlackStar controlled the tempo and the lead for the first 15 minutes.
Karissa Smedley (Georgian Court) sank two three-point baskets to open the game and Sperling scored in the final seconds of the first quarter, giving BlackStar a 20-14 lead.
Aquatic opened the second quarter with a 16-4 run, taking a 30-24 lead. Brooke Evans’ (Stevens Institute of Technology) three-point basket late in the quarter gave Aquatic their biggest lead, seven points (35-28) until the overtime.
Baskets from Cassidy Kruesi and Sperling closed the deficit to 35-32 at halftime.
BlackStar kept the momentum with the dominant third quarter before Aquatic made their comeback in the fourth quarter and dominated the overtime to win the championship.
Standings (Regular Season Final)
Team W L Pct. GB PF PA
C-Aquatic 8 0 1.000 — 581 367
F-BlackStar 7 1 .875 1.0 613 410
S-Purple Haze 5 3 .625 3.0 407 374
Q-Electric Pink 4 4 .500 4.0 423 424
S-Electric Green 4 4 .500 4.0 366 394
Q-Jade 3 5 .375 5.0 485 536
Q-Citrine Orange 3 5 .375 5.0 403 546
Q-Sunburst 1 7 .125 7.0 439 536
Royal Crown 1 7 .125 7.0 430 540
Q-Quarterfinalist
S-Semifinalist
C-Champion
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-Natalie Mehl, Citrine Orange (L) vs. Aquatic, July 7
25-Grace McShane, Citrine Orange (W) vs. Sunburst, June 23
24-Bridget Malloy, Electric Pink (W) vs. Sunburst, July 14
24-Jocelyn Goldstein, Jade (W) vs. Cintrine Orange, June 17
24-Kara Meredith, Aquatic (W) vs. Sunburst, June 30
23-Emily Spratt, BlackStar (W) vs. Electric Green, July 15
23-Amy Ngo, Aquatic (W) vs. Electric Pink, July 8
23-Lianna Adames, Royal Crown (W) vs. Electric Green, July 7
22-Jocelyn Goldstein, Jade (L) vs. Aquatic, July 15
22-Abby Arnold, Jade (W) vs. Royal Crown, July 14
22-Taylor Koneig, Jade (L) vs. Purple Haze, July 1
21-Caleigh Sperling, BlackStar (W) vs. Citrine Orange, July 22, Q
21-Emily Spratt, BlackStar (W) vs. Purple Haze, June 30
21-Bridget Malloy, Electric Pink (W) vs. Electric Green, June 16
20-Caroline Foley, Sunburst (W) vs. Jade, July 8
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
Playoffs
Championship
Wednesday, July 29
1-Aquatic 72, 2-BlackStar 67, ovt.
Semifinals
Tuesday, July 28
1-Aquatic 60, 5-Electric Green 39
2-BlackStar 43, 3-Purple Haze 41
Quarterfinals
Wednesday, July 22
1-Aquatic 51, 8-Sunburst 37
3-Purple Haze 69, 6-Jade 42
2-BlackStar 83, 7-Citrine Orange 61
5-Electric Green 66, 4-Electric Pink 58
Tuesday, July 21
Play-in
6:30 p.m.
8-Sunburst 64, 9-Royal Crown 59
Regular Season
Wednesday, July 15
Purple Haze 69, Sunburst 42
Citrine Orange 2, Electric Pink 0, forfeit
Aquatic 75, Jade 46
BlackStar 49, vs. Electric Green 45
Bye: Royal Crown (1-7)
Tuesday, July 14
Jade 67, Royal Crown 59
Aquatic 75, Electric Green 42
Electric Pink 63, Sunburst 59
BlackStar 81, Citrine Orange 32
Bye: Purple Haze (4-3)
Wednesday, July 8
Electric Green 55, Citrine Orange 55
Jade 64, Sunburst 63
Aquatic 70, Electric Pink 47
Purple Haze 76, Royal Crown 55
Bye: BlackStar
Tuesday, July 7
Purple Haze 53, Electric Pink 47
BlackStar 81, Sunburst 56
Royal Crown 56, Electric Green 47
Aquatic 85, Citrine Orange 66
Bye: Jade (1-4)
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, 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
Team by Team Results (records include playoffs)
1-Aquatic (D2-Holy Family +) 11-0
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 (W) 85-66 vs. Citrine Orange (D3 Rowan + Ursinus Alums)
July 8 (W) 70-47 vs. Electric Pink (D2-Goldey-Beacom)
July 14 (W) 75-42 vs. Electric Green (D3-Gwynedd Mercy)
July 15 (W) 75-46 vs. Jade (D3-Arcadia)
July 23 (W) 51-37 vs. Sunburst, Q
July 28 (W) 60-39 vs. 5-Electric Green, S
July 29 (W) 72-67, ovt. vs. 2-Black Star, Finals
2-BlackStar (D2-Jefferson+), 9-2
June 16 (W) 75-47 vs. Jade
June 17 (W) 80-47 vs. Electric Pink
June 23 (W) 84-47 vs. Royal Crown
June 30 (W) 83-68 vs. Purple Haze
July 1 (L) 50-68 vs. Aquatic
July 7 (W) 81-56
July 8 Bye
July 14 (W) 81-32 Citrine Orange
July 15 (W) 49-45 Electric Green
July 23 (W) 83-61 vs. 7-Citrine Orange, Q
July 28 (W) 43-41 vs. 3-Purple Haze, S
July 29 (L) 67-72 ovt. vs.1-Aquatic
7-Citrine Orange (D3-Rowan Undergrads + Ursinus Alums), 3-6
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 (L) 66-85 vs. Aquatic
July 8 (L) 55-59 vs. Electric Green
July 14 (L) 32-81 vs. BlackStar
July 15 (W) 2-0 vs. Electric Pink, forfeit
July 23 (L) 61-83 vs. BlackStar, Q
5-Electric Green (D3-Gwynedd Mercy +) 5-5
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
July 1 (W) 58-54 vs. Sunburst
July 7 (L) 47-56 vs. Royal Crown
July 8 (W) 59-55 vs. Citrine Orange
July 14 (L) 42-75 vs. Aquatic
July 15 (L) 45-49 vs. BlackStar
July 23 (W) 66-58 vs. Electric Pink, Q
July 28 (L) 39-60 vs. 1-Aquatic, S
4-Electric Pink (D2-Goldey-Beacom +) 4-5
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
July 7 (L) 47-53 vs. Purple Haze
July 8 (L) 47-70 vs. Aquatic
July 14 (W) 63-59 vs. Sunburst
July 15 (L) 0-2 Citrine Orange, forfeit
July 23 (L) 58-66 vs. 5-Electric Green, Q
6-Jade (D3-Arcadia +) 3-6
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 (W) 64-63 vs. Sunburst
July 14 (W) 67-59 vs. Royal Crown
July 15 (L) 46-75 vs. Aquatic
July 23 (L) 42-69 vs. 3-Purple Haze, Q
3-Purple Haze (D2-West Chester +) 6-4
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) 68-83 vs. BlackStar
July 1 (W) 72-63 vs. Jade
July 7 (W) 53-47 vs. Electric Pink
July 8 (W) 76-55 vs. Royal Crown
July 14 Bye
July 15 (W) 69-42 vs. Sunburst
July 23 (W) 69-42 vs. 6-Jade, Q
July 28 (L) 41-43 vs. 2-BlackStar, S
9-Royal Crown (D3-Immaculata +) 1-8
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 (W) 56-47 vs. Electric Green
July 8 (L) 55-76 vs. Purple Haze
July 14 (L) 59-67 vs Jade
July 15 Bye
July 22 (L) 59-64 8-Sunburst, play-in
8-Sunburst (D3-Ursinus +) 2-8
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 (L) 56-81 vs. BlackStar
July 8 (L) 63-64 vs. Jade
July 14 (L) 59-63 vs. Electric Pink
July 15 (L) 42-69 Purple Haze
July 22 (W) 64-59 vs. 9-Royal Crown, play-in
July 23 (L) 37-51 vs.1-Aquatic, Q
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
Pre-playoff records
AQ 8-0 W-RC; W-PU; Bye; W-SU; W-BS; W-CO; W-EP; W-EG; W-JA
BS 7-1 W-JA; W-EP; W-RC; W-PH; L-AQ; W-SU; Bye; W-CO; W-EG
PH 5-3 W-CO; L-AQ; vs. LF-EG; L-BS; W-JA; W-EP; 4- RC; Bye; W-SU
EP 4-4 W-EG; L-BS; W-JA; Bye; W-RC; L-PH; L-AQ; W-SU; LF-CO
EG 4-4 L-EP; Bye; WF- PH; W-JA; W-SU; L-RC; W- CO; L-AQ; L-BS
JA 3-5 L-BS; W-CO; vs. L-EP; L-EG; L-PH; Bye; W-SU; W-RC; L-AQ
CO 3-5 L-PH; L-JA; W-SU; W-RC; Bye; L-AQ; L-EG; L-BS; WF-EP
SU 1-7 Bye; W-RC; L-CO; L- AQ; L-EG; L-BS; L-JA; L-EP; L-PH
RC 1-7 L-AQ; L-SU; L-BS; L-CO; L-EP; W-EG; L-PH; L-JA; Bye
posted by Mel Greenberg | 8:38 AM
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