Top Performers: These local athletes are surpassing their New Year's resolutions

The New Year kicked off with plenty of fireworks. Check out the New Year's resolutions these student-athletes may have made, and, already surpassed. And all the players who stood out in the first week of 2024 in basketball, indoor track, swimming and wrestling.

And be sure to vote the first Boys Athlete of the Week and Girls Athlete of the Week for 2024! This week's polls will run from 7 p.m. Tuesday until 8 p.m. Thursday.

New Year's Resolution #1: Spend more time doing what you love

Olivia Boccella, Lansdale Catholic, girls basketball

The Crusaders’ senior is known for her prowess beyond the arc, but she took it to a new level in last week’s Philadelphia Catholic League matchup with Archbishop Ryan. Boccella downed 10 3-pointers, shooting 67% from beyond the arc, and finished with 36 points in the win. She hit both of her two free throw attempts and was 2-for-2 on two-point attempts.

New Year's Resolution #2: Be a perfectionist

Liam Feeney, Bristol, bowling

The senior achieved a highly coveted but rarely attained feat when he bowled a perfect game.

Feeney rolled a perfect 300 game on Friday in a Bicentennial League match against Church Farm School. He followed with games of 236 and 214 for a 750 series to lead the Warriors to the victory. Last season, Feeney won the BAL individual title and was named Bowler of the Year.

New Year's Resolution #3: Be consistent

Amber Howard, Bensalem, girls basketball

Howard scored 15 of her game-high 20 points in the second half, breaking a tie and powering the Owls to a 48-36 win over Souderton. It was the third straight 20-point game for the Division 1 NC A&T State University commit.

New Year's Resolution #4: Be a good role model

Brooke Fenchel, Souderton, girls basketball

The Indians’ lone senior and only returning starter from last year scored 10 points and dished out six assists to secure Souderton’s second win of the season, ending a nine-game losing streak with a 61-35 victory over Truman. She followed that by scoring 12 points against Pope John Paul II – all in the second half – in the Big Red’s second straight win.

New Year's Resolution #5: Never give up

Ahmaar Godhania, North Penn, boys basketball

Godhania scored the game-tying basket against Neshaminy to force overtime, and then tied the game again to necessitate double OT. His career-high 26 points, which included six 3-pointers, powered the Knights to a 73-67 double overtime win.

Top Performances in Girls Basketball:

Delaney McCaffrey, Council Rock North

The senior scored 24 points and dished out seven assists to lead CR North over New Hope-Solebury, 61-51. In addition to making several free throws late in the game, McCaffrey also had a key steal in the fourth quarter to help put the game away. The next day, she scored 23 points, with five 3-pointers, in an OT loss to CB South.

Izzy Elizondo, New Hope-Solebury

The junior had a 23-point game, going 9-for-11 from the foul line, to keep the Lions in the game against Class 6A opponent CR North, though they fell short of the win. She scored 10 of her points in the third quarter, for her second 20-plus point game in a row.

Julia Koval, Council Rock North

Koval came with an offensive rebound and then hit a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter to help CR North take a lead that would hold until the end, after a 23-point third quarter from New Hope-Solebury, in a 61-51 win.

Grace McShane, Bensalem

The sophomore scored 10 points, including a go-ahead layup in the final minute of the fourth quarter, to help the Owls upset CB East, the fifth-ranked team in District One.

Talia DiMichele, Bensalem

She scored nine of her 13 points in the second half, helping the Owls break a halftime tie and take the win over Souderton. The next day, she scored 10 points and played excellent defense on CB East’s top scorer in a 48-45 win.

Daniella MacDonald, Pennsbury

She led the Falcons with 14 points, 11 after halftime, in a win over Pennridge.

Layla Matthias, Pennsbury

Matthias tallied 11 rebounds, five assists, five points and five steals in a victory over Pennridge.

Ella Dudick, New Hope-Solebury

The junior scored all four of the Lions OT points, finishing with 14 for the game, as the Lions were edged 38-36 by a strong Plymouth Whitemarsh team.

Jess Lockwood, CB East

The junior had 21 points for the Patriots, who fell to Bensalem 48-45.

Lily Brown, North Penn

The freshman scored a team-high 10 points, with six in the second half, to lead the Knights to a quality 39-31 win over Neshaminy.

Ella Wheeler, CB South

The junior powered the shorthanded Titans to an OT win against CR North, hitting a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation, and then five points in overtime. She finished with 18 points.

Olivia Herron, Souderton

The freshman led shorthanded Souderton with 14 points in a 43-31 win over Pope John Paul II.

Brooke McFadden, Conwell-Egan

The senior posted a double-double against Archbishop Wood, tallying 18 points and 11 rebounds against the defending state champs.

Gianna Johnson, George School

The senior Delaware commit posted 20 points and 18 rebounds in a tough matchup against Audenried.

New year, new rankings? See which girls basketball teams are at the top of the list

Top Performances in Swimming:

*Includes results from Dec. 27- Jan. 7

Jess Burns, Souderton

The senior Duquesne University commit broke a long-standing school record at the Cumberland Valley Invitational in December. Burns won the girls 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:03.19, breaking the school record of 1:03.57 set in 2002. She also finished second in the 200-yard IM and first in the 200-yard medley relay. In a dual meet with Pennridge, she won both the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM.

Annie Jia, Hatboro-Horsham

Jia took home four gold medals at the Cumberland Valley Invitational, winning two individual and two relay events, including the girls 200 IM (2:03.63) and the 100-yard butterfly (54.91). She later won the 100-yard freestyle and finished second in the 100 breaststroke in a meet against Souderton.

Top Performances in Boys Basketball:

Mike Green, Archbishop Wood

The junior hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, helping the Vikings secure an 85-64 win over Father Judge in PCL action. He finished with 14 points for the Vikings, who trailed 37-35 at halftime.

Jake Cummiskey, CB East

He hit a game-winning free throw with five seconds to go to give the Patriots a 61-60 win over Upper Dublin. Cummiskey finished with 18 points, going 9-for-10 from the line, along with five rebounds and five assists.

Matt Engle, CB West

Engle led the way with 19 points in the Bucks’ 65-44 win over CR South.

Jeremiah Lee, Abington

Lee erupted for 11 points in the fourth quarter, finishing with 18 for the game to go along with nine rebounds, six steals, three assists and two blocks, in a huge win over 9-1 Cheltenham.

Kamari Brasher, Abington

Brasher came off the bench to deliver 16 points and nine rebounds for the Ghosts, scoring 10 of his points in the second half of a 72-61 win over Cheltenham.

Jaidyn Moffitt, Bensalem

Moffitt led the Owls with 20 points and 12 rebounds in a statement win over CB East.

Tristen Guillouette, George School

Guillouette came up big against Peddie School, scoring 29 points and grabbing 15 rebounds to secure the 62-58 victory.

Top Performances in Wrestling:

Ernazar Baiyshbekov, Neshaminy

The senior went 4-0 at the Rock Duals, earning two wins by pin in the 160-pound bracket.

Sam Kuhns, Pennridge

The senior won his 100th career match in Wednesday’s dual meet against Souderton. Kuhns pinned his opponent in 0:27 to reach the milestone and improve to 17-2 on the season.

Gisele Ramirez, Souderton

She had four wins by fall, including two under 35 seconds, to win the 112-pound title at the Penn Manor Girls New Years Rumble.

MacKenna Atkinson, Souderton

The freshman had two wins by fall, including a 0:35 in the championship match, at the Penn Manor girls tournament.

Kayla Husti-Luca, Souderton

The junior went 4-0 on her way to winning the 130-pound championship at the Penn Manor girls tournament

Top Performances in Indoor Track:

*Includes results from Dec. 27-Jan. 7

Brooke Lobban, Upper Moreland

Her 36-11 mark was good for first place in the girls triple jump at the Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic at Lehigh University. Her jump ranks as the top in PA this season.

Abigail Kolbe, CB West

The senior took first place in the girls 800-meter run at the RJB Classic with a time of 2:23.92.

Luke Coleman, Abington

The senior won the boys 400-meter dash with his speedy time of 50.12 at the RJB Classic.

Destini Smith, Souderton

The junior took first place in the girls high jump at the RJB Classic with her 5-4 leap.

Gwen Hamilton, Archbishop Wood

The sophomore won the girls mile run at the RJB Classic, crossing the finish line at 5:10.57.

Aislyn Fitzgerald, Neshaminy

The sophomore ran a season-best 9.64 in the 60-meter hurdles, good for first place, at the RJB Classic.

Justin Landis, North Penn

Landis took first place in the boys mile run with his time of 4:24.02 at the RJB Classic. His time qualifies as the best in the state this season in the event.

Kate Bradish, Neshaminy

Bradish was the winner of the girls 3,000-meter run at the RJB Classic with her time of 11:02.65.

Chase Ely, Abington

He won the boys 3,000-meter run at the RJB Classic with a time of 8:53.8.

Ava Wilson, Bensalem

She finished fourth in the girls 400-meter dash (1:03.21) and took seventh in the high jump (4-10) at the RJB Classic.

Lucas Knappenberger, CB South

The senior won the boys pole vault finals at the Philadelphia Jump Club’s New Years Challenge with his 14-0 mark, and he took second in the event at the RJB Classic by clearing 13-6.

Chase Rosenfeld, William Tennent

He finished second in the boys 1,600-meter race at the N5CTA Indoor T&F Holiday Classic, crossing the finish line in 4:31.54.

Ava Chebruch, William Tennent

The senior took third place in the girls 800-meter run with a time of 2:31.52 at the N5CTA Indoor T&F Holiday Classic at Ursinus College.

Zach Dinnis, William Tennent

The senior had a strong showing at the prestigious N5CTA Indoor T&F Holiday Classic, placing fourth in the triple jump (40-10.5)  and fifth in the long jump (19-7.5 ).

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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: High School Sports: Top performances in first week of 2024 basketball