Girls Basketball: The top players, performances and wins in Bucks County girls hoops
We might say this every week – but what a week of girls basketball!
From statement wins, to coach and player milestones, and plenty of standout performances, it was a week to remember in girls basketball. Check out the teams and players who turned in star-studded performances last week!
College Player of the Week: Taylor Hinkle, Holy Family University
The 2022 Central Bucks South grad has put together a remarkable sophomore season at Holy Family. Last week, she scored a team-high 18 points and recorded a career-high 18 rebounds in a 69-62 win over Felician, and posted another double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds in a victory against Bridgeport. She is averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds on the season, and leads the Tigers (16-5) in both categories.
Coaching Spotlight: Steve Polinsky, New Hope-Solebury
Lions’ head coach Steve Polinsky recorded his 100th win for New Hope-Solebury with Tuesday’s victory against Cheltenham. Polinsky reached the milestone in just his fifth season with the Lions, the lone Suburban One League team in Class 3A. Playing most of their games against bigger schools, the Lions won the District One Class 3A championship last season after moving down from Class 4A. Polinsky, who founded the Rebels Basketball Academy AAU, previously coached at Villa Joseph Marie and at Archbishop Wood in an assistant role and played for the Washington Generals.
Wins of the Week in Girls Basketball:
Bensalem’s overtime victory against CR South was its first win against the Golden Hawks in the past four seasons. The Owls won 41-34 against their SOL Patriot rivals.
Archbishop Wood defeated Lansdale Catholic in a rematch of last season’s Catholic League Championship game. The Crusaders won the title last year, but the Vikings took control early en route to Tuesday’s 70-52 win.
Council Rock South topped division-leader Neshaminy 36-32 in a huge SOL Patriot game.
Stat Line of the Week: Emily Knouse, Archbishop Wood
The Vikings’ junior put on a show for the sellout crowd on Tuesday at Lansdale Catholic. Knouse scored 34 points, which, in addition to being a game- and career-high, tied the team record for points in a game. She scored 20 of those points in an epic second quarter, shooting 7-for-7 from the floor, giving the Vikings a 34-22 halftime lead en route to a 70-52 win. She finished 10-for-14 from the floor, including 7-for-10 on 3-pointers, and 7-for-8 at the line.
Milestone of the Week: Amber Howard, Bensalem
The senior NC A&T commit scored her 1,000th career point in Saturday’s win against Unionville. Howard scored 26 points, and also pulled down 10 rebounds, leading the Owls to a 64-53 victory against the No. 11-ranked Class 6A team in District One.
Girls Basketball: From the art studio to the basketball court, Amber Howard is leaving a legacy at Bensalem
Top Performers of the Week:
Lily Milewski, Conwell-Egan
The junior helped the Eagles to a three-game win streak, with games of 11, 18 and 22 points. She also racked up 26 rebounds in the three victories.
Ariella Parks, Conwell-Egan
The sophomore had a season-high 19 points in a win over Parkway.
Mya Aizen, Conwell-Egan
The senior has continued to impact all aspects of the after her return from injury earlier this month. She tallied 5 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals in a PCL win over Little Flower, and contributed 6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals in another league victory over Bonner.
Grace Weyler, Neshaminy
The freshman turned in an impressive performance in a rivalry game win against Pennsbury, scoring a career-high 12 points, all from beyond the arc. She was a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor, helping to secure a victory in the rivalry game.
Reese Zemitis, Neshaminy
The senior posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, along with three assists and two blocks, in a 49-36 win over Pennsbury.
Avery Kocur, William Tennent
She had consecutive big games, scoring 18 points against ANC and then 16 points vs. Springfield.
Halie Staub, William Tennent
Staub had 17 points in a close loss to Academy of the New Church, and followed with 16 points against Springfield Township.
Emily Wilson, New Hope-Solebury
Wilson led the way with 21 points in the Lions 51-42 win over Cheltenham, and she had 20 points in a victory over Springfield.
Angelica Visceglia, Hatboro-Horsham
The freshman scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Hatters to a win over Wissahickon.
Piper McGinley, Abington
McGinley tallied 10 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in a victory against Plymouth-Whitemarsh.
Sydney Ralph, CB East
Ralph beat the buzzer with her game-tying 3-pointer to force OT against rival CB West. She finished with 8 points in the 35-32 win.
Jess Lockwood, CB East
Lockwood connected on a pair of free throws in the final seconds of overtime to secure the Patriots’ win over rival CB West. Against Gwynedd Mercy, she scored 18 points in a 54-45 victory.
Delaney McCaffery, CR North
She had a game-high 21 points for CR North, which was edged by Bensalem.
Frannie Boyle, CR North
The senior captain, known more for her defensive skills, had a career-high 7 points in a win over Harry S. Truman. She had six points in the decisive third quarter, when the Indians needed an inside presence, and followed with 6 points in a Senior Night victory over Souderton, in addition to a key blocked shot.
Amber Howard, Bensalem
The senior scored the game-tying basket to send the game to OT, finishing with 11 points in the win over CR South. She had 26 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Unionville.
Talia DiMichele, Bensalem
The junior had a game-high 14 points in an OT win against CR South, and her pass to teammate Amber Howard over a pair of defenders led to the game-tying basket in the final seconds of regulation. She also scored 14 points in a win over Unionville.
Amelia Furman, CR North
The senior earned her first varsity start on Senior Night, and responded with a career-high 5 points, while leading the team on defense and rebounding in a win over Souderton.
Emilia Coleman, Gwynedd Mercy
She had a game-high 19 points in a win over Villa Joseph Marie, followed by 15 points in a victory against Sacred Heart. On Saturday, she led the way with 14 points in a big win over AACA rival Villa Maria.
Fiona Reckner, Council Rock South
Reckner took charge in the first quarter against SOL Patriot opponent Neshaminy, accounting for all seven of the Golden Hawks’ points, and finishing with 11 in the 36-32 win.
Haley Thompson, Council Rock South
Thompson was a catalyst on both offense and defense in the Golden Hawks’ win over Neshaminy, leading the defense, grabbing rebounds and keeping the offense flowing smoothly.
Sofia Vitucci, Pennsbury
The senior had 23 points in a win over Mastery Charter, and 18 points in limited action in a Senior Night win over Harry S. Truman.
Ella Brown, Pennridge
The junior led the way with 14 points in a win over Souderton, ending a three-game losing streak for the Rams.
Lily Brown, North Penn
The freshman scored 12 points in a win over CB West.
Cameron Crowley, North Penn
The junior scored 11 points in the first quarter, helping the Knights take a 27-8 lead over WC Rustin. Crowley finished with 18 points in the win.
Mikaya Durham, Abington
Durham poured in 23 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead the Ghosts to a win over Hatboro-Horsham.
Lilly Hansen, Upper Moreland
Hansen erupted for 12 first-quarter points, setting the stage for a 45-40 win over Upper Moreland. She finished with a game-high 20 points.
Emily Knouse, Archbishop Wood
Knouse had two huge games against the Vikings’ PCL rivals, tallying 34 points and 10 rebounds against Lansdale Catholic, and 19 points and 11 rebounds against Neumann-Goretti, both wins.
Girls Basketball: 13 is a lucky number for New Hope-Solebury's Emily Wilson
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Girls Basketball: Top Players, Teams from week of Jan. 21 Bucks County
