Girls Basketball: Reagan Chrencik enjoying senior moments at New Hope-Solebury
Reagan Chrencik has been enjoying plenty of senior moments at New Hope-Solebury.
Announcing her college commitment definitely ranks at the top of that list.
Last week, Chrencik revealed that she will be continuing her basketball career at Gettysburg College.
“I told my teammates at practice and they all hugged me,” said Chrencik. “I think they were more excited than I was.”
That reception was no surprise for Chrencik, who cherishes the closeness of the Lions’ small, close-knit team and looked for the same in a college.
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“There can be ‘too small’ for college, but Gettysburg is the perfect size,” Chrencik said of the 2,600-student school. “It’s a tight knit community and small enough to always see a familiar face on campus.
“The coaches are great people and have been so welcoming and helped mentor me during this process.”
Mentoring is important to Chrencik, as it's something she has been doing with her younger teammates. Being a senior often means taking on more of a leadership role. For Chrencik, that’s something that comes naturally — and well before her senior year.
“Reagan is one of the most talented players I ever coached,” said Lions’ head coach Steve Polinsky. “I love her work ethic and her leadership skills are incredible. Reagan is always talking and teaching her teammates at practice.”
Chrencik’s leadership and work ethic don’t end on the basketball court. She has a leadership role on the school’s Key Club, a student-led, international service organization, and is always looking for new academic challenges.
“This year I’m taking AP biology and the class has really accelerated my interest in bio and science,” said Chrencik, who is considering a science/business focus in college. “I like that no matter how much I study, there’s always going to be something more to learn.”
In her free time outside of school and playing basketball for the Lions and Comets AAU team, Chrencik enjoys weight lifting, baking and cooking with her dad.
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“One of my Comets' teammates and a good friend is EmmyFaith Wood, who plays for Upper Moreland,” Chrencik said. “Those games are also really fun, and there’s always extra motivation playing against people I know.”
Upper Moreland won the first matchup this season, by just two points, which sets up a highly anticipated rematch of the SOL Freediom rivals in the final game of the regular season.
A Lions’ share of attention on the court ...
Chrencik, a three-year captain, is a four-year starter with the unique experience of being the only one from her grade on the team since she was a freshman. This season, Chrencik finally has a teammate from the class of 2023, Anna Charlotte, an exchange student from Belgium.
“Anna fits in really well with the team,” said Chrencik. “Having a small team, it’s been important for the team to come together and for everyone to buy in.”
That’s especially important this season as the Lions’ have several freshmen and sophomores in the lineup. Last season, Chrencik averaged 18 points and nine rebounds, and became the eighth New Hope-Solebury player to reach 1,000 points.
After graduating a couple seniors, Chrencik is the focal point of opposing defenses in a lineup that features a few freshmen and sophomores. Despite that, she is contributing over 17 points and 10 rebounds a game, highlighted by a 30-point, 10-rebound performance in a win against Hatboro-Horsham.
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As impressive as it is to score 30 points, Chrencik, who had a 34-point game last year, was more pleased with the defensive effort.
“Scoring a lot of points is definitely fun, but I would be just as happy having a lot of assists or rebounds and not scoring any points, as long as we get the win,” said Chrencik. “It was a goal of mine to focus more on defense this season, making sure we stay strong on defense even despite the score.”
That’s been especially important for the Lions, who have the smallest enrollment of any school in the SOL, with 500 students.
“It’s definitely a challenge playing against much bigger schools,” said Chrencik. “We know we have a shorter bench, but it doesn’t matter to us how many players we have.”
“When we do win against those bigger teams, it just makes it more meaningful.”
The Lions have had plenty of meaningful wins lately — last season they finished 10-6 in league play and 11-11 overall before falling to five-time defending District One Class 4A champion Gwynedd Mercy in the first round of districts (NH-S moved down to Class 3A this season).
A Huge Upset in the SOL
New Hope-Solebury has been focusing on defense this season, and the results were on full display on Tuesday, when the Lions did what some might have thought to be impossible.
Facing Liberty Division-leading Abington, a 12-1 team entering the game, the Lions not only won the game, but did so in decisive fashion, winning 57-36 and holding the Ghosts (who average 62 points per game) to their lowest point total of the season.
While senior Reagan Chrencik led the scoring with 15 points, this victory required a full team effort, and the Lions young players proved that they were up to the challenge.
“No one expected us to win or even keep it close,” said freshman point guard Gabby D’Agostino. “It was like the movie ‘Hoosiers,’ except we didn’t need a last second shot to win.”
D’Agostino was particularly impressive running the offense and standing tall against the experienced Ghosts.
“Gabby is very mature, basketball-wise, and she got (the) other players (their) shots,” head coach Steve Polinsky said. “She set the table for the team.”
D’Agostino finished with 10 points and, along with sophomores Ella Dudick and Emily Wilson, was one of four Lions in double figures. She didn’t have a turnover.
“I handled their (Abington’s) pressure, but it wouldn’t have meant anything unless my teammates made the shots,” said D’Agostino. “It was like a perfect team effort.”
Sophomore Izzy Elizondo was a standout on defense, while freshman Kayla Fennel provided a spark off the bench.
“All the girls had a hand in this team win,” said Polinsky.
Small Schools Coming Up Big This Season
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Every season seems to be better than the last for our smaller schools, and this year is no exception.
Last season, Lansdale Catholic played in the state championship game, and the Crusaders are looking every bit like contenders again this year. While Gabby Casey, who became the program’s all-time leading scorer on Tuesday night, is averaging 22 points and 8 rebounds, she has plenty of help. Sophomore Sanyiah Littlejohn is averaging 10 points, and senior Jaida Helm, who transferred from Abington, provides a veteran presence, along with 10 points a game.
Smaller School Rankings (Class 1A-4A, non-PIAA):
Lansdale Catholic (9-1)
Germantown Academy (9-8)
New Hope-Solebury (7-4)
Faith Christian (9-2)
Conwell-Egan (7-7)
George School (8-8)
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA Bucks Girls Basketball New Hope-Solebury, small schools thriving
