While the New Hope-Solebury girls held their own against a handful of Suburban One League (SOL) foes last season, there was some trepidation about the Lions playing a full slate of SOL foes this year.
Goodbye Morrisville, Bristol and Jenkintown. Hello Bensalem, Quakertown and a pair of Council Rocks.
Consider all the questions answered as New Hope posted an impressive 15-4 mark facing SOL rivals as the Lions stepped up to Class 4A competition in 2021.
In its first season as a member of the SOL Freedom Division, New Hope grabbed a share of the conference crown, thanks to a resounding win over co-champion Upper Moreland the second time the sides squared off and a convincing 9-1 mark in the conference.
“Coming into this (season), we knew we had tougher competition, but I think the girls really bonded together in the sense of rising to the occasion and knowing that we are a small school coming into it,” stated NH-S senior Juliana Covino.
“I think our coaches, too, they really gave us the confidence and that sense where we’re going to go out on that court and we’re going to make a name for ourselves as a small school, first year.”
After a season-opening loss to fourth-ranked 6A rival Upper Dublin, the Lions reeled off four straight double-digit road wins over their SOL rivals before coming home to face Upper Moreland.
Up 33-27 after three quarters, New Hope saw its lead – and the game – slip away in the fourth quarter. Two weeks later in their rivals’ territory, the Lions turned their fate in the division around, posting a double-digit win over the Golden Bears.
“No. 24 and No. 11 – we fronted both of them and denied them the ball,” explained NH-S senior Kate Dougherty. “We wanted to allow them the least amount of shots as possible and that’s what helped us.”
Dougherty was referring to UM freshman Holly Gohl (No. 24) and sophomore EmmyFaith Wood (No. 11). In the initial matchup, Gohl tallied nine of her game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead Upper Moreland to a 44-39 triumph.
In the rematch, with the sides deadlocked at 15 at the half, the Lions outscored the Golden Bears 24-6 the rest of the way to emerge with a 39-21 triumph that essentially earned them a share of the league crown. Gohl was held to a single field goal in the game and Upper Moreland never reached double digits in any quarter in a 39-21 victory for New Hope.
“Going into that game, we knew we had to take care of business in the sense of the (league) title,” said Covino. “The first game, we were really amped up and it got away from us and we really didn’t stay focused.
“In the second game, we really stressed making the extra pass and playing great defense and that’s how we came out on top.”
The Lions came out on top more recently in their very first foray into the District One Class 4A tournament, outpacing No. 3 seed John Paul II in a close game decided on successful free throw shooting by New Hope. Rachel Saxton, Madi Fasti and Dougherty each hit a pair of shots from the foul line in a 39-35 Lions’ triumph.
For the game, Saxton and Dougherty canned seven points each and Fasti and Covino added five, each. Sophomore Reagan Chrencik hit five shots from the floor and a foul shot and junior Emily Primavera made a shot from 3-point land.
“We share the ball,” said Saxton. “We’re not just a one- or two-person team. Everybody on the floor can score. Everybody brings heart and hustle every single game.”
Unfortunately, the shots failed to fall for visiting New Hope last Friday, March 12 in the District One championship.
Facing top seed and host Gwynedd Mercy Academy, the Lions held their own in the first half but had no answer for some hot shooting by the Monarchs, who pulled away with 19 points in the third quarter.
At the half, however, it was anyone’s game, with New Hope trailing by just four, 19-15.
A few minutes into the third quarter, Covino sandwiched a pair of 3s around a trey by Gwynedd Mercy junior Sophia Coleman to draw the visitors within a pair. A 7-0 scoring string by the Monarchs – spurred on by Lions’ turnovers – gave the top seed some breathing room and four 3-pointers including a pair by Coleman put Gwynedd Mercy up 38-23 heading into the final frame.
The sides fought to a 5-5 draw in the final frame, putting the game, the District One crown and a PIAA tournament berth in the hands of the Monarchs, who have now won four straight D1/4A trophies.
“I thought we had some good momentum going in the first half,” said Lions head coach Steve Polinsky. “In the third quarter, we just dropped the ball, we started thinking way too much and not just playing the game in front of us.
“That got us in trouble with them; they’ll capitalize on your mistakes right away.
“I give them kudos; they came and they brought it.”
“We just let things get a little hectic and we weren’t keeping control of the ball,” added Dougherty. “Even on defense, we were letting a lot of shots go.
“Every time we lost (the ball), it was hard to get back in the mojo and get our groove back.”
With the win, Gwynedd Mercy advances to states.
If not for COVID-19, New Hope would have itself a state berth as well, but the pandemic has shortened the PIAA brackets so the Lions’ season is over. New Hope waves goodbye to Covino, Dougherty and Saxton but will be back next year with returning starters Fasti and Chrencik in addition to Primavera, who oftentimes was the first player off the bench.
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