Villa Joseph Marie 50, Pennsbury 44

Villa Joseph Marie (50)
Lauren Waterson 0 0-0 0; Meghan Ledwith 1 0-0 2; Kate Abel 4 0-0 8; Suzanne Bierly 4 2-2 10; Carolyne Heston 1 2-4 4; Jennie Quattrocchi 3 0-2 8; Melissa Van Wert 5 2-2 16; Jenny Sandora 0 0-0 0; Christine Gorrell 1 0-0 2; Melissa Poderis 0 0-1 0. Totals: 19 6-11 50.

Pennsbury (44)
Lacey Balascsak 2 2-2 7; Kelsey Balascsak 4 2-3 13; Molly Phillips 3 0-2 6; Lauren Gerity 0 0-0 0; Kelsey Moulton 1 1-4 3; Lauren Pisauro 1 0-0 2; Kelsey Alvino 0 0-0 0; Kelly Rebert 4 3-4 11; Kersten Formento 1 0-1 2. Totals: 16 8-16 44.

VJM: 13-12-12-13--50
P: 12-9-15-8--44

Three-point goals: Van Wert 4, Quattrocchi 2 (VJM); K. Balascsak 3, L. Balascsak (P).

Link to Courier Times article

NINE THINGS

1. Villa Joseph Marie (3-5) led by as many as eight points in the first half. But Pennsbury (1-6) came back in the third quarter and trailed by a point, 37-36, at the end of three. The Falcons led by three points, 40-37, after a drive by sophomore Molly Phillips about 1:20 into the fourth quarter, and had a two-point lead, 44-42, with 3:10 left. VJM's Kate Able scored to tie it at 44-44, and Suzanne Bierly hit two free throws to put the Jems ahead for good with 2:37 left.

2. Guard Melissa Van Wert led the Jems with 16 points. Van Wert hit four 3-pointers, including three 3-pointers in a span of about 2 1/2 minutes in the second quarter. Van Wert also made two foul shots with 1:45 left in the game. “When Melissa’s on, she really has ice in her veins,” VJM coach Becky Flynn said.

3. Bierly scored 10 points for VJM. Forward Kate Abel scored eight points and had two blocked shots, while guard Jennie Quattrocchi scored eight points and added five assists.

4. VJM has struggled with chemistry in the season's first month, but has won three of its last five games after an 0-3 start. “It makes my job challenging, more so than in the past,” Flynn said. “I have to find the right combinations. On paper we look great, but that doesn’t always translate to the court. We played with more intensity tonight. When we play with that kind of intensity, we’re a different team. Everybody who played tonight, played with intensity.”

5. Pennsbury has talent, but is very young. The Falcons nine-player rotation included two freshman and three sophomores. Sophomore guard Lacey Balascsak scored seven points for Pennsbury, and sophomore Molly Phillips added six points. Sophomore Kersten Formento (two points) and freshmen Kelsey Moulton (three points) and Lauren Pisauro (two points) logged significant minutes. “We’re battling, and they’re learning,” Falcons coach Donna Nicholson said. “We just keep getting better every game. They’re getting used to each other. You can’t fault their effort. I’m looking forward to them coming together in the second half of the season. Our future looks bright.”

6. Senior guard Kelsey Balascsak led the Falcons with 13 points and hit three 3-pointers. Junior forward Kelly Rebert added 11 points.

7. Pennsbury has played a tough schedule over the first three weeks. The Falcons have already played Council Rock-North, Bensalem, CB East and William Tennent. Pennsbury doesn't play in a holiday tournament, but hosts North Penn on Dec. 30. The Falcons open January with CR-South, Truman, Conwell-Egan and rival Neshaminy.

8. VJM plays in the Boyertown tournament and begins January with Sacred Heart and Gwynedd-Mercy.

9. VJM junior forward Carolyne Heston is playing with a broken finger and had four points.

Pennsbury 2008-2009

Coach: Donna Nicholson (7th season)
Last year: 11-13 (4-10 SOL National)

Roster
23 Kelsey Alvino Sr., 5-6
35 Emilyrachel Atunrase Sr., 6-0
31 Kelsey Balascsak Sr., 5-7
41 Lauren Gerity Sr., 5-10
5 Cody Wolpert Sr., 5-5
55 Kelly Rebert Jr., 5-9
13 Lacey Balascsak So., 5-5
25 Katie Fields So., 5-7
3 Kersten Formento So., 5-6
4 Stephanie Gray So., 5-8
32 Jaclyn Kelley So., 5-8
42 Brittany Kessler So., 5-10
50 Molly Phillips So., 5-9
12 Becca Radzinski So., 5-5
25 Sarah Urso So., 5-6
33 Kelsey Moulton Fr., 5-8
11 Lauren Pisauro Fr., 5-8
30 Carly Quake Fr., 5-10
10 Victoria Taylor Fr., 5-7
40 Lindsey Weaver Fr., 5-8

Schedule
Dec. 5 Shipley L, 38-50 (0-1)
Dec. 7 Haverford W, 56-47 (1-1)
Dec. 9 at CR-North L, 39-63 (1-2, 0-2)
Dec. 12 Bensalem L, 41-54 (1-3, 0-2)
Dec. 16 at Abington, ppd.
Dec. 18 CB East L, 38-61 (1-4)
Dec. 19 Tennent, L, 48-51 (1-5, 0-3)
Dec. 22 Villa Joseph Marie L, 44-50 (1-6)
Dec. 30 North Penn W, 50-45 (2-6)
Jan. 6 CR-South
Jan. 9 at Truman
Jan. 10 at Conwell-Egan
Jan. 13 Neshaminy
Jan. 16 CR-North
Jan. 17 at Pennridge
Jan. 20 at Bensalem
Jan. 23 Abington
Jan. 27 at Tennent
Jan. 29 at CR-South
Feb. 3 Truman
Feb. 6 at Neshaminy

Pennsbury 52, CB East 42

CB EAST (42)
Alli Rosati 0 2-2 2; Sarah Pullar 4 2-5 10; Madelline Ross 3 2-2 8; Jordan Seiz 4 2-4 10; Liz Martin 2 0-0 4; Abby Gallagher 1 0-0 3; Jaime Donovan 1 0-0 3; Caitlin Vasey 1 0-0 2. Totals: 16 8-13 42.

PENNSBURY (52)
Sarah Thorn 5 3-4 14; Jenn Prine 4 7-9 15; Kelly Rebert 2 0-0 5; Brittany Kobal 4 1-1 9; Michelle Beri 0 0-0 0; Kelsey Balascsak 1 0-0 3; Amanda Klock 0 0-0 0; Meghan Ponza 1 2-2 5; Jennalese Taylor 0 0-0 0; Lauren DiVeglio 0 1-2 1. Totals: 17 14-18 52.

CBE 11-11-8-12—42
P 12-4-13-23—52

3-point goals: Donovan, Gallagher (CBE); Thorn, Rebert, Klock, Ponza (P).

Link to Courier Times game story

SIX THINGS

1. Pennsbury trailed by 10 points, 26-16, early in the third quarter. Over the next 11 minutes, the Falcons outscored CB East 28-7.

2. Pennsbury (10-12) has won four straight. CB East (12-8) had won nine of its previous 11 games.

3. Pennsbury's senior guards combined for 29 points. Shooting guard Jenn Prine scored 15 points and point guard Sarah Thorn scored 14. Prine had eight points in the fourth quarter. Thorn scored 12 points in the second half.

4. Jordan Seiz and Sarah Pullar scored 10 points apiece for the Patriots.

5. The Falcons have averaged 60.5 points in their last four games.

6. College note: Pennsbury graduate and St. Bonaventure sophomore forward Dana Mitchell had 16 points, five rebounds and three assists to lead the Bonnies to a 60-54 win over La Salle on Saturday. Mitchell is averaging 19.8 points and 6.1 rebounds a game for the 14-6 Bonnies. She was 15th in the nation in scoring going into Saturday's game.

CR-North 64, Pennsbury 55

CR-NORTH (64)
Fricke 5 4-4 16; Gold 4 0-0 10; Kiely 6 8-8 20; Peters 1 0-0 2; Sroba 5 3-5 14; Logan 1 0-1 2; Scull 0 0-0 0; Casper 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 15-18 64.

PENNSBURY (55)
Thorn 6 2-2 16; Prine 3 2-2 9; Ponza 5 3-3 13; Kobal 1 1-2 3; Beri 2 0-0 4; Balascsak 2 1-2 5; Klock 0 2-2 2; DiVeglio 0 3-4 3. Totals: 19 14-17 55.

CRN 20-18-6-20—64
P 13-16-15-11—55

3-point goals: Fricke 2, Gold 2, Sroba (CRN); Thorn 2, Prine (P).

Link to Courier Times game story

Link to Friday's Courier Times girls basketball notebook

FIVE THINGS

1. Senior point guard Sarah Thorn scored 16 points, and senior forward Meghan Ponza added 13 points for Pennsbury (6-9).

2. CR-North (10-4) had four players in double figures. Sophomore center Sarah Kiely had 20 points and 14 rebounds. Junior point guard Juliann Fricke had 16 points, five steals and four assists. Senior guard Jen Sroba had 14 points, seven assists, six rebounds and two steals. Freshman guard Devin Gold scored 10 points.

3. The Indians led by as many as 14 in the first half. But Pennsbury opened up the third quarter with an 11-0 run to go ahead, 40-38. The game was tied, 44-44, after three quarters.

4. CR-North has won five straight.

5. College note: Pennsbury 2006 graduate Dana Mitchell is averaging 20.5 points and 6.5 rebounds a game for St. Bonaventure. Mitchell, a 6-foot-1 sophomore forward, scored 34 points in a win over Cornell on Jan. 4. The Bonnies (12-3) visit Temple at the Liacouras Center on Jan. 15.

Pennsbury 56, Coatesville 33

COATESVILLE (33)

Sandone 2 0-0 4; Brown 0 0-0 0; Clemson 4 0-0 12; Franklin 5 4-4 15; Miller 1 0-0 2; Hudgins 0 0-0 0; McFadden 0 0-0 0; Brantley 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 4-4 33.

PENNSBURY (56)

Prine 2 4-5 9; Ponza 4 0-0 8; Kobal 2 0-2 4; Taylor 2 0-0 4; Beri 2 3-4 7; Balascsak 5 2-2 14; Rebert 2 0-0 4; Alvino 1 2-2 4; Natale 0 0-0 0; DiVeglio 0 0-0 0; Wolpert 1 0-0 2; Gerity 0 0-0 0; Arrigan 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21 11-15 56.

C 10-5-7-11—33

P 13-9-19-15—56

3-point goals: Clemson 4, Franklin (C); Balacsak 2, Prine (P).

Link to Courier Times game story

FOUR THINGS

1. The Falcons have a nice mix of talent, and several good shooters.

2. Pennsbury senior shooting guard Jenn Prine has really matured into a solid shooting guard. When she hits her outside shots, she's very dangerous.

3. Falcons senior point guard Sarah Thorn was on the bench with her injured hamstring wrapped. Hopefully, it won't be a long-term injury. Thorn is one of the area's terrific point guards.

4. Coatesville has fallen on rough times after a great stretch a few years ago. The Red Raiders have some decent players, but no depth at all. Only eight girls played against Pennsbury, and there were only two or three more on the bench.