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Holiday Heroes: These players turned in the top performances of the week heading into the break

melissa hanejko, bucks county courier times
·10 min read
Pennsbury girls basketball team cheers as they defeat their first opponent at the state championship at Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hill on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Pennsbury girls basketball defeated Dallastown, 62-46, in the first round of the PIAA Class 6A tournament.
Pennsbury girls basketball team cheers as they defeat their first opponent at the state championship at Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hill on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Pennsbury girls basketball defeated Dallastown, 62-46, in the first round of the PIAA Class 6A tournament.

What's even better than unwrapping presents at the holidays? Wrapping up a stellar performance for your team ahead of the holiday break. While the weather was indeed frightful, these performances were delightful. Check out some of the best showings in basketball, wrestling, and indoor track and field from the week of Dec. 19.

Girls Basketball

Comeback of the Week: Conwell-Egan 

Brianna McFadden led the way with 13 points and four assists as the Eagles mounted an incredible comeback against Villa Joseph Marie on Thursday. Down 22-6 in the first quarter, the undaunted Eagles chipped away at the deficit for the next three quarters for the thrilling 47-44 win at home.

Conwell-Egan’s Brianna Mcfadden shoots the ball in last season's PIAA 3A playoffs.
Conwell-Egan’s Brianna Mcfadden shoots the ball in last season's PIAA 3A playoffs.

Sophomore Lily Milewski gave her team plenty of second chance opportunities, grabbing four offensive rebounds, along with 12 points and four blocks. Brooke McFadden dominated on defensive with six rebounds and two blocks, along with seven points. The Eagles improved to 6-2 with the win.

Conwell-Egan's Brooke Mcfadden drives to the basket is last season's PIAA Class 3A playoffs.
Conwell-Egan's Brooke Mcfadden drives to the basket is last season's PIAA Class 3A playoffs.

Jess Mangoni, Council Rock South: Mangoni had a team-leading 17 points to help the Golden Hawks to a huge 44-41 win over Pennsbury on Tuesday. Mangoni, who also led the team with four rebounds, scored 13 points in the first half to keep the Golden Hawks within two points of the Falcons at halftime, and four points in the game-deciding fourth quarter.

CR South's Jess Mangoni defends under the basket in a win against Bensalem last season.
CR South's Jess Mangoni defends under the basket in a win against Bensalem last season.

Reagan Chrencik, New Hope-Solebury: Chrencik erupted for 27 points, going 6-for-6 at the free throw line and sinking five 3-pointers, in the Lions’ 53-42 win over William Tennent.

New Hope-Solebury's Reagan Chrencik eyes the basket while attempting a free throw in a District One Class 4A semifinal game against Gwynedd Mercy, on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School in Lower Gwynedd. The Monarchs advance to the championship game after defeating the Lions 56-28.
New Hope-Solebury's Reagan Chrencik eyes the basket while attempting a free throw in a District One Class 4A semifinal game against Gwynedd Mercy, on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School in Lower Gwynedd. The Monarchs advance to the championship game after defeating the Lions 56-28.

Amber Howard, Bensalem: In the final second of a tie game, Howard scored the go-ahead basket to give the Owls a 38-36 win over St. Hubert’s. Howard finished with a game-high 17 points. Howard then put up 18 points in the Owls’ win over Truman, 15 coming in the first half.

Sofia Vitucci, Pennsbury: The Falcons’ junior scored 13 of her game-high 21 points in the third quarter, leading Pennsbury to a come-from-behind, 40-35, win against CR North on Thursday. Earlier in the week, Vitucci led all scorers with 23 points though Pennsbury was edged by CR South, 44-41, in an SOL Patriot thriller.

Pennsbury's Sofia Vitucci shoots while covered by Plymouth Whitemarsh's Erin Daley in a District One Class 6A semifinal game, on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. The Colonials defeated the Falcons 47-36 to move on to the district title game.
Pennsbury's Sofia Vitucci shoots while covered by Plymouth Whitemarsh's Erin Daley in a District One Class 6A semifinal game, on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. The Colonials defeated the Falcons 47-36 to move on to the district title game.

 Layla Matthias, Pennsbury: The junior forward was a game-changer in the Falcons’ win over CR North. Matthias grabbed nine rebounds, several on the offensive end, and had four steals.

Bailey Balkir, Gwynedd Mercy: The Monarchs freshman continued to shine, scoring a game-high 15 points in a win over Shipley School.

Pennsbury's Layla Matthias goes for a layup while covered by Plymouth Whitemarsh's Jordyn Thomas in a District One Class 6A semifinal game, on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. The Colonials defeated the Falcons 47-36 to move on to the district title game.
Pennsbury's Layla Matthias goes for a layup while covered by Plymouth Whitemarsh's Jordyn Thomas in a District One Class 6A semifinal game, on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. The Colonials defeated the Falcons 47-36 to move on to the district title game.

Carolyn Sipprell, Quakertown: The Panthers’ center dominated on both sides of the court in Tuesday’s win over Hatboro-Horsham. Sipprell scored 26 of her team’s 46 points, grabbed 19 rebounds (11 offensive) and nabbed five steals. On Wednesday, Sipprell Sipprell led with 18 points and 16 rebounds, plus three blocks, in a close loss to Abington.

Cire Worley, Abington: It was another huge week for the Ghosts’ star guard. Worley scored 20 points in the first half of the Ghosts bout with Penn Charter, en route to a game-high 25 points in the 67-63 at the Speedy Morris Invitational. Against Quakertown, the University of Massachusetts Lowell commit scored six of her 16 points in the fourth quarter to secure the 64-59 win, and in a win over Wissahickon, Worley scored 18 points.

Lola Ibarrondo, Neshaminy:  Ibarrondo scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the second half to give Neshaminy the edge over CR North, 38-34, in a closely-contested SOL Patriot matchup.

Ariana Jenkins, Victoria Matheiu, Bensalem: The Owls’ sophomores scored their first varsity points in Bensalem’s SOL Patriot win over Harry S. Truman. Jenkins and Matheiu had two points apiece.

Teya McConnaha, Souderton: McConnaha came up big for Souderton in the final minute of the a tie game against CB East. McConnaha scored the go-ahead basket, and then pulled down two offensive rebounds to secure the 36-34 win. She finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds, both team-highs.

Souderton's Teya McConnaha shoots a layup on a breakaway in a PIAA 6A first round state playoff game against Easton, 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 Teya McConnaha shoots a layup on a breakaway in a PIAA 6A first round state playoff game against Easton, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at Souderton High School. The Red Rovers defeated Big Red 42-36 to advance to the second round.

Casey Harter, Souderton: Harter put up 20 points in the first half, finishing with 29 on the night, in the Indians’ 51-28 win over CB West. Harter added six rebounds, five steals and four assists to her stat line as Souderton improved to 6-1.

Holly Gohl, Upper Moreland: With 10 seconds left in overtime, Gohl sank the game-winning shot to give the Golden Bears a 38-36 win over New Hope-Solebury. Gohl, who led the team with 12 points, scored all four of the Golden Bear’s points in OT.

Natalie Berndt, Central Bucks East: The Patriots’ freshman had 17 points to help ignite a comeback win against North Penn. Berndt drilled five 3-pointers as the Patriots climbed back from an early eight-point deficit for the 58-52 win.

Caleigh Sperling, North Penn: Sperling posted a glittering 23-point-performance, though the Knights were ulitmately edged by CB East 58-52.

Boys Basketball

Dock Mennonite's Nathan Lapp shoots a layup in last season's District One/11 Class 3A Championship game. Lapp is closing in on his 1,000th career point.
Dock Mennonite's Nathan Lapp shoots a layup in last season's District One/11 Class 3A Championship game. Lapp is closing in on his 1,000th career point.

Nathan Lapp, Dock Mennonite: Lapp led the way with 17 points to lead the Pioneers over The Christian Academy for their fifth straight win on Thursday. Lapp goes into the holiday break with 978 career points and will look to reach the 1,000 point milestone this week. He will have the chance to do so in front of his home crowd, as Dock hosts the Tim Ehst Holiday Tournament on Tuesday and Wednesday. Lapp, a senior, has committed to play baseball at Millersville University.

Kyle Berndt, Central Bucks East: Berndt contributed nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals in the Patriots come-from-behind win over Souderton on Tuesday.

Jacob Cummiskey, Central Bucks East: Cummiskey tallied 15 points, eighth rebounds and five assists as the Patriots topped North Penn 60-53 to remain unbeaten on the season at 8-0.

CB East junior Jacob Cummiskey jumps for a rebound in a game against CB South last season.
CB East junior Jacob Cummiskey jumps for a rebound in a game against CB South last season.

Tyler Meinel, Central Bucks South: Meinel scored eight of his 14 points in the fourth quarter as the Titans outscored North Penn 23-10 to secure the come-from-behind win.

Bowen Gugger, Central Bucks West: Gugger sank a pair of clutch free throws in the final seconds of overtime to give the Bucks a 53-51 win over Pennridge. Gugger finished with seven points as the Bucks celebrated their first win of the season.

Cole McCarthy, Council Rock North: McCarthy’s last-second heroics gave the Indians an improbable win over Neshaminy on Tuesday. Down by two points with two seconds to go, McCarthy hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the thrilling win. He finished with seven points.

CR North senior Cole McCarthy runs the ball down the court at Council Rock North High School on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. CR North defeated Lower Moreland 55-49 in the season opener.
CR North senior Cole McCarthy runs the ball down the court at Council Rock North High School on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. CR North defeated Lower Moreland 55-49 in the season opener.

Matt Wingen, Hatboro-Horsham: With three seconds to go and the Hatters down by one, Wingen sank the game-winning shot to give Hatboro-Horsham a 46-45 win over Quakertown. The thrilling last-second victory ended a 27-game winless streak for the Hatters.

Horace Simmons, La Salle: Simmons scored 25 points to lead the Explorers over Abraham Lincoln 58-50 and improve to 5-1 on the season.

La Salle's Horace Simmons defends the lane in a game last season.
La Salle's Horace Simmons defends the lane in a game last season.

Emeer Coombs, Neshaminy: Coombs came through in the clutch, sinking two free throws with no time remaining on the clock in OT, to give Neshaminy a thrilling 57-56 win over Bensalem. Coombs finished with 11 points.

Xavier Peters, Pennridge: The sophomore hit a 3-pointer late in overtime to give the Rams a 58-56 win over CB South. Peters finished with 12 points in the win.

Neshaminy's Emeer Coombs shoots, as Pennsbury's Connor Taddei attempts to block, on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at Neshaminy High School in Langhorne. Neshaminy beat Pennsbury in triple overtime, 81-78.
Neshaminy's Emeer Coombs shoots, as Pennsbury's Connor Taddei attempts to block, on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at Neshaminy High School in Langhorne. Neshaminy beat Pennsbury in triple overtime, 81-78.

Bill McFadden, Plumstead Christian: McFadden came alive in the second half, scoring 18 of his game-high 20 points after halftime to lead the Lions to a 58-47 win over Faith Christian.

Nigel Adamson, Upper Moreland: Adamson hit the go-ahead basket with 20 seconds remaining to give the Golden Bears a thrilling 52-50 win against Cheltenham. Adamson finished with a team-high 13 points in the win.

George Marion, William Tennent: Marion led the way with 21 points as the Panthers erupted for 80 points in a win over New Hope-Solebury.

Kirby Mooney, William Tennent: Mooney led all scorers with 27 points as the Panthers topped Lower Moreland 74-67.

Colson Campbell, Upper Moreland: Campbell led the way with 18 points as the Golden Bears improved to 8-1 with a win over New Hope-Solebury on Thursday.

Indoor Track & Field

Jack Czarnecki, Council Rock North: Czarnecki won the boys one mile run with a thrilling finish at the Track and Field Coaches of Greater Philadelphia meet. After running neck and neck with Upper Dublin’s Matt Castronuovo, Czarnecki surged forward in the final lap to take the win in 4:30.14. Czarnecki’s time qualified as a MileSplit Elite Silver performance.

Ava Mills, Souderton: Mills took first place in the girls 60 meter dash (8.18) and second in the 200 meter dash (28.41) at the Delaware Valley Girls Track Coaches Meet at Lehigh.

Noah Gartenberg, Central Bucks West: The Bucks’ senior clocked in at 23.58, good for second in a field of 109, in the boys 200 meter dash at the TFCA of GP meet.

Luke Coleman, Abington: Coleman sprinted to a second-place finish in the boys 400 meter dash at the TFCA of GP meet with a time of 52.94.

Connor Salmon, Central Bucks West: Salmon won the boys 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.78 at the TFCA of GP meet. In the high jump, Salmon took third place with a jump of 6-0.

Xavier Bryan-Booth, North Penn: Bryan-Booth won the boys high jump with a 6-2 jump at the TFCA of GP meet.

JP Tomlinson, Central Bucks West: Tomlinson took first place in the pole vault, clearing a height of 13-06.00 at the TFCA of GP meet.

Wrestling

Dual Meet of the Week: Quakertown at Pennridge 

Pennridge's Sam Kuhns, right, pictured in a dual meet win against CB East last season.
Pennridge's Sam Kuhns, right, pictured in a dual meet win against CB East last season.

In the final match of the night with the meet outcome still undecided, Pennridge’s Coby Martinelli earned a 6-1 decision in the 114-pound match to secure the Rams’ 37-32 win over Quakertown. It was the Rams’ first win against Quakertown since 2017, according to PaPrepLive.

Quakertown’s Kyler Roesener (126 lbs.) had the fastest pin of the night, taking his opponent down in just 14 seconds. For Pennridge, Sam Kuhns (145) secured a win by fall in just 1:04 and Riley Cullen, the Rams’ heavyweight, pinned his opponent in 1:02 in the 285-pound match.

Quakertown's Kaden Roesener, top, wrestles Council Rock South's Matt Colajezzi in a 189-pound match during a Suburban One League quad meet at Central Bucks East High School in Buckingham on Saturday, February 6, 2021. The Golden Hawks defeated the Panthers, 39-27.
Quakertown's Kaden Roesener, top, wrestles Council Rock South's Matt Colajezzi in a 189-pound match during a Suburban One League quad meet at Central Bucks East High School in Buckingham on Saturday, February 6, 2021. The Golden Hawks defeated the Panthers, 39-27.

The Rams other winners were Cole Coffin (120) with a 13-4 major decision, Gio Iadonisi (160) with a pin in 2:58, Ryan Rowe (189) with a 2:00 pin, and Cole Meehan (106) with a win by fall in 4:08.

Pennridge's Cole Coffin, right, wrestles in the PIAA Class 3A Wrestling Championships last season.
Pennridge's Cole Coffin, right, wrestles in the PIAA Class 3A Wrestling Championships last season.

Gauge Botero, Faith Christian: Botero picked up a pair of wins at the Lions’ tri-meet with St. Peters and Christian Brothers, two of the top-ranked teams in New Jersey. Botero (120) went 2-0 on the day with a quick pin of 47 seconds and a technical fall.

Faith Christian Academy's Gauge Botero, right, wrestles Athens Area's Gavin Bradley during a 113-pound semifinal bout at the PIAA Class 2A Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center on Friday, March 11, 2022, in Derry Township. Bradley won by decision, 4-1.
Faith Christian Academy's Gauge Botero, right, wrestles Athens Area's Gavin Bradley during a 113-pound semifinal bout at the PIAA Class 2A Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center on Friday, March 11, 2022, in Derry Township. Bradley won by decision, 4-1.

Adam Waters, Faith Christian: Waters (175) had a win by fall, earning the pin in just 16 seconds, and a win by technical fall in the Lions’ meet against St. Peters and Christian Brothers of NJ.

Lorenzo Dickson, Bristol: Dickson (127) was able to pin his opponent in 29 seconds in Bristol’s dual-meet win over New Hope-Solebury.

Evan Blackman, Bristol: Blackman (121) needed just 1:27 to pin his opponent as the Warriors rolled to a 48-30 win over New Hope-Solebury.

AJ Stayton, Souderton: Stayton (132) earned a win by fall, pinning his opponent in only 23 seconds, in Souderton’s dual meet with Perkiomen Valley.

Colin Foster, New Hope-Solebury: Foster (160) was able to pin his opponent in just 38 seconds, helping the Lions secure a 42-30 win over Overbrook in Monday’s dual meet.

Donovan Leone, New Hope-Solebury: Leone (133) had a win by fall, pinning his opponent in a quick 29 seconds, in the Lions’ dual meet win over Overbrook. Against Bristol, Leone needed just 57 seconds to pin his opponent in the 133-pound match.

Who was voted Athlete of the Week? Follow here to see all the winners for the winter season!

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA high school basketball wrestling bucks montco top performances