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Best of the Week: Milestones, broken records highlight a great week in H.S. sports

melissa hanejko, bucks county courier times
·9 min read

As the regular season winds down, the number of basketball players reaching milestones is climbing. The seniors, and sometimes juniors, reaching these coveted milestones have had to contend with the challenges of pandemic-shortened seasons, making these accomplishments even more meaningful.

Check out all of top peformances in boys and girls high school basketball, swimming, and track & field from last week, and don't forget to vote for the Athletes of the Week! This week's Athlete of the Week polls will run from Tuesday evening until 8 p.m. Thursday.

Abington senior Cire Worley is Abington's all-time leading scorer.
Abington senior Cire Worley is Abington's all-time leading scorer.

Major Milestones and Broken Records

Abington senior Cire Worley became the program's all-time leading scorer on Sunday. Worley scored her 1,488th point in the second quarter of the Ghosts' game against Haverford, breaking the previous record of 1,487 points set in 2015 by Deja Rawls. The UMass-Lowell commit finished with 19 points to give her 1,499, and is averaging over 20 points per game this season for first-place Abington.

Cire Worley celebrated her 1,000th career point last season.
Cire Worley celebrated her 1,000th career point last season.

Less than two weeks after breaking the Lansdale Catholic girls basketball scoring record, Gabby Casey is now the school's all-time leading scorer (girls or boys). Casey surpassed Mike McGowan’s 2003 record of 1,347 points on Sunday against Penn Charter at the Play-By-Play Maggie Lucas Classic. Casey reached the milestone in the third quarter, and finished the game with 25 points in a 61-33 win.

More:'A surreal moment:' Gabby Casey breaks Lansdale Catholic's all-time scoring record

Lansdale Catholic senior Gabby Casey poses for photos with her teammates after becoming the school's all-time leading scorer in girls basketball during their game against Bonner and Prendergast Catholic at Lansdale Catholic High School on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023.
Lansdale Catholic senior Gabby Casey poses for photos with her teammates after becoming the school's all-time leading scorer in girls basketball during their game against Bonner and Prendergast Catholic at Lansdale Catholic High School on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023.

EmmyFaith Wood was 13 points short of 1,000 for her career going into Tuesday’s game against Hatboro-Horsham. The Upper Morland senior scored 14 points in the first half to reach the milestone, as the Golden Bears cruised to a 48-26 victory. Wood is just the sixth player to reach 1,000 points in program history.

Upper Moreland senior EmmyFaith Wood scored her 1,000th career point in a win against Hatboro-Horsham on Jan. 17, 2023.
Upper Moreland senior EmmyFaith Wood scored her 1,000th career point in a win against Hatboro-Horsham on Jan. 17, 2023.

Casey Harter scored her 1,000th career point for Souderton in Tuesday’s win over Council Rock North. Harter needed 15 points to reach the milestone, and reached the mark in the fourth quarter. The Northwestern-commit finished with a game-high 18 points. Harter is the seventh player in program history to reach 1,000 points.

Souderton's Casey Harter shoots while covered by Easton's Sara Tamoun in a PIAA 6A first round state playoff game, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at Souderton High School. The Red Rovers defeated Big Red 42-36 to advance to the second round.
Souderton's Casey Harter shoots while covered by Easton's Sara Tamoun in a PIAA 6A first round state playoff game, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at Souderton High School. The Red Rovers defeated Big Red 42-36 to advance to the second round.

More:Girls Basketball: A night to remember for EmmyFaith Wood and Upper Moreland

Top Performers in Girls Basketball

Amber Howard, Bensalem: Howard had 21 points, with nearly half coming in the fourth quarter, to give the Owls the 52-48 edge over New Hope-Solebury. The senior also contributed seven rebounds and four assists.

Lil Metrick, Council Rock South: Metrick led the way with 20 points and five rebounds to power the Golden Hawks, who had lost their last three, to a much-needed win against Imhotep Charter. Metrick also had a team-high 19 points in a loss to Pennridge.

Council Rock South's Liliana Metrick eyes a path as she drives down the lane during a District One Class 6A first round playoff game at Central Bucks West on Friday, February 18, 2022. The Bucks advance to the second round after narrowly defeating the Golden Hawks 52-50.
Council Rock South's Liliana Metrick eyes a path as she drives down the lane during a District One Class 6A first round playoff game at Central Bucks West on Friday, February 18, 2022. The Bucks advance to the second round after narrowly defeating the Golden Hawks 52-50.

More: Reagan Chrencik enjoying senior moments at New Hope-Solebury

Gabby D’Agostino, New Hope-Solebury: The Lions’ freshman continued to impress with a 21-point outing against Bensalem.

Emily Wilson, New Hope-Solebury: Wilson hit a huge 3-pointer at the end of the fourth quarter to secure the Lions’ 49-47 win over Quakertown. She finished with 14 points.

Lily Milewski, Conwell-Egan: The sophomore had one of the biggest games of her young career against the defending Class 3A state champs. Milewski had 29 points, shooting 10-for-13 from the field, plus 10 rebounds, three blocks and a steal in a one-point loss to Neumann-Goretti (57-56).

More:Girls Basketball: Brooke, Brianna McFadden the perfect pairing for Conwell-Egan

Leah Harrington, Hatboro-Horsham: Harrington scored a season-high 21 points, including six 3-pointers, in a 48-27 win over Cheltenham on Senior Night.

Reese Zemitis, Neshaminy: The senior tallied 19 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two blocks in a 48-37 victory over CB West.

Molly Farrell, Bristol: Farrell’s staunch defensive effort, which included 10 rebounds and seven blocks, secured the Warriors’ 34-23 win over Morrisville.

Angelisse Cantiello, Bristol: The senior captain’s huge game — 27 points, 13 rebounds — led the Warriors to a 61-18 victory over Dock Mennonite.

Carolyn Sipprell, Quakertown: The Panthers’ senior continued to put up huge numbers with a 21-point, 18-rebound and five-block outing in a win over Cheltenham.

Anna Barry, Central Bucks East: Barry led the way with 18 points as the Patriots picked up what might be their biggest victory of the season against Neshaminy. Barry hit a pair of free throws in the final seconds to put the game away for the Patriots (48-44).

Central Bucks East's Anna Barry
Central Bucks East's Anna Barry

Katie Yoder, Pennridge: Another huge game by Yoder secured the Rams’ fifth win in their last six. Yoder had a game-high 24 points, with 11 coming in the fourth quarter when the Rams outscored CR South 20-14, to clinch the 63-56 victory.

Sofia Vitucci, Pennsbury: Of her game-high 18 points, eight came in the fourth quarter as the Falcons outscored CB West 14-6 en route to the 33-25 win.

Kendall Bennett, Germantown Academy: The senior led the way with a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double in a 52-46 victory over Neumann-Goretti.

Swimming Superstars

Anna Stauffer, Souderton: Stauffer notched two wins in a meet against CB West, giving Souderton the edge in the 100-83 win. She took first place in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.92, and in the 100 freestyle with a time of 56.17.

Jessica Burns, Souderton: In a win against CB West, Burns won the 100 butterfly with a time of 59.13 and finished first in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:39.20.

Marley Swain, Central Bucks West: Swain had two individual wins against Souderton, taking first place in the 200 IM (2:17.50) and the 100 breaststroke (1:12.81).

Ally Ricciardi, Pennridge: In a dual meet win against CB South, Ricciardi won both the 50 freestyle (39.32) and 100 backstroke (1:02.83), and was also a part of the winning 200 medley relay team.

Emily Hamill, Germantown Academy: The sophomore helped the Patriots remain undefeated on the season, winning the 50 freestyle (23.79) and 100 breaststroke (55.55) in a meet against Peddie School. She was also a part of the winning 400 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay teams. At Episcopal Academy, Hamill set pool records while winning the 100 freestyle (50.76) and 200 freestyle (1:49.21).

Blaise Hofmann, Central Bucks West: Hoffman was a double winner in the Bucks dual meet victory over Souderton. He took first place in the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.09 and the 100 freestyle with a 47.54 time.

Max McCloskey, Central Bucks West: In the Bucks 113-73 win over Souderton, McCloskey finished first in the 200 freestyle (1:53.71) and the 100 butterfly (56.96).

Andrew Bowles, La Salle: Bowles won the 200 IM with a time of 2:02.56 and took second in the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.52 to lead the Explorers to the win over Upper Dublin.

Richard Scholer, Central Bucks South: Scholer won both the 200 freestyle (1:53.03) and the 100 breaststroke (1:01.75) to lead the Titans to a 96-80 win over Pennridge. He was also a part of the winning 200 free relay and 400 free relay teams.

Top Performers in Boys Basketball

Germantown Academy's Bryce Rollerson dribbles past Malvern Prep's Andrew Phillips, on Friday, January 14, 2022, at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington. The Friars upended the Patriots 69-42.
Germantown Academy's Bryce Rollerson dribbles past Malvern Prep's Andrew Phillips, on Friday, January 14, 2022, at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington. The Friars upended the Patriots 69-42.

Bryce Rollerson, Germantown Academy: The Inter-Academic League’s leading scorer was at it again this week, scoring a game-high 23 points in a win over Haverford School.

Ryan Zeltt, North Penn: Zeltt (8 points) scored the go-ahead basket with a minute remaining in the fourth quarter as the Knights bounced back from an 18-point third-quarter deficit to take the victory over Bensalem.

Adam Mahtat, Council Rock North: Mahtat erupted for 25 points to lead CR North over Souderton.

CR North senior Adam Mahtat drives through Lower Moreland defense in a December game.
CR North senior Adam Mahtat drives through Lower Moreland defense in a December game.

Tyler Meinel, Central Bucks South: Meinel had 19 points in the second half, on his way to a game-high 25 points, to lead the Titans to a big road win against Pennsbury.

Jalil Bethea, Archbishop Wood: The junior scored 31 points to lead the Vikings in an upset of defending PCL champion Neumann-Goretti. Bethea also contributed seven rebounds and five assists in the 90-79 win. In a victory against Father Judge, Bethea had a game-high 29 points.

Mel Lindsey, Holy Ghost: Lindsey tallied a team-high 15 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line, as the Firebirds went on a 21-10 fourth-quarter run to defeat Pennsbury 55-45.

Sean Curley, Neshaminy: Curley deposited 18 points to lead Neshaminy to a huge win over CB East, and then had 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists in a 52-38 victory over CB West.

Neshaminy's Sean Curley eyes the basket from the free throw line in a boys basketball game against Central Bucks West at Neshaminy High School in Langhorne on Friday, January 20, 2023. Neshaminy defeated Central Bucks West 52-38.
Neshaminy's Sean Curley eyes the basket from the free throw line in a boys basketball game against Central Bucks West at Neshaminy High School in Langhorne on Friday, January 20, 2023. Neshaminy defeated Central Bucks West 52-38.

Jake Cummiskey, Central Bucks East: Cummiskey scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half, along with 10 rebounds, in a 54-43 win over CR North.

Aiden Maue, Souderton: Maue had a career-high 14 points, including a huge 3-pointer late in fourth, to put the game away in a 59-57 victory over CR South.

Nate Townsend, Neshaminy: Townsend had a game-high 26 points in a 66-57 win over Upper Merion.

Tommy Cramer Pennridge: Cramer scored a game-high 21 points against Bensalem, securing head coach Dean Behrens’ 300th career win on Friday.

More:Boys basketball: Pennridge's Dean Behrens hasn't changed how he coaches since 2019 playoff run

Kachi Nzeh, George School: At the Capitol Hoops Challenge, Nzeh posted 20 points and 16 rebounds against Maryland’s Bishop McNamama.

Track & Field Superstars

La Salle's Drew Brill (right) competes at last season's track and field state championships.
La Salle's Drew Brill (right) competes at last season's track and field state championships.

Dante Ndeta, George School: The senior dominated in the five-team meet, winning three events and placing second in another. Ndeta took first place in the boys 55-meter dash (6.78), 200-meter dash (24.50) and the high jump (5-6). He was second in the long jump with a 19-11.5 leap.

Nicholas Sealey, Harry S. Truman: Sealey won the sophomore boys 200-meter dash with a time of 23.23 at the U.S. Army Officials Hall of Fame Invitational. The race had 182 competitors.

James Long-Stratton, Hatboro-Horsham: At the Army Officials Invitational, Long-Stratton sprinted past 141 of his competitors to take first place in the boys Silver 300-meter dash, with a time of 36.00.

Bailey Hall, Pennsbury: The Falcons’ junior had an impressive outing at the highly competitive Army Officials Invitational in New York. In the girls Invitational 3,000-meter run, Hall ended up fifth with a time of 10:46.44. She then raced to a fifth-place finish in the Invitational two-mile run with a time of 11:33.66.

Drew Brill, La Salle: The Explorers’ senior set the standard for PA boys in the 3,200-meter run at the Army Officials Invitational. Brill finished in fourth place with a time of  9:20.84, which is the top time this season for a PA boy in the event. Brill also finished fifth in the Invitational two-mile run with a time of 9:24.09.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA Bucks Montco High School Sports Top Performers winter