Upper Dublin girls romp as substitute has her moment

It started out as a joke in Morgan Funsten's math analysis class, a running gag between a student and her teacher.

Now in his fourth year as Upper Dublin's girls' basketball coach, Funsten has a miniature net in his classroom. Every day, Becca Watson sat in that class - which is basically pre-calculus - with a question for him.

"Should I try out?" the senior recalls repeatedly asking, mimicking an elbow-jabbing motion as she reenacted the encounter.

When Watson - who plays soccer and also runs track - would ask Funsten, he'd throw her the miniature basketball to take a shot.

"I missed every single time," Watson said, laughing.

She didn't try out that season, but as open gyms in the fall approached, Funsten told his former student to give it a try. She showed up in the only pair of basketball shoes she had, "strappy bright Reeboks" that were "completely worn down" because she got them in seventh grade.

Then she did the unthinkable: She made the team.

The guard did the unthinkable again on Thursday night - this time in new black Nikes - when she scored her first points in her first varsity start as Upper Dublin rolled against Springfield (Montco), 50-25.

"That was one of my favorite moments of the season and it isn't even over yet," said teammate Allison Chernow, who finished with 12 points and nine assists.

"There were definitely plenty of times where I doubted myself and I got into a couple games and I missed layup after layup after layup," Watson, who had four points, said. "It feels like I've been waiting for that for a very long time."

The Spartans (8-13, 6-8 Suburban One League) were without their dynamic leading scorer, Molly Dugan, who averages 21.6 points a game. She's been playing with an injured hamstring, and the contest against the Cardinals (18-4, 14-0) was the first she missed.

On Senior Night, Ashley Barber and Chernow both exited the court to a flurry of applause and high fives from Funsten, followed by a hug.

Watson left last, bowing out of the game with 44 ticks remaining. Her reception was the loudest.

Springfield 2 4 9 10 - 25

Upper Dublin 20 11 10 9 - 50

S: Maura Ryan 13, Rachel Harman 3, Jamy Krewson 2, Emily Giampetro 2, Grace Barraclough 2, Siana Wynn 2, Carolyn Price 1.

UD: Allison Chernow 12, Ashley Barber 9, Demi Balasa 6, Nicole Kaiser 6, Josie Barrett 5, Becca Watson 4, Maggie Weglos 4, Hannah Reape 2, Taylor Purshock 2.