Cheltenham girls beat Downingtown West, 49-38
The Cheltenham girls' basketball team has certainly battled adversity in the playoffs. The Panthers had to play without senior co-captain Dayna McCrewell, suspended because of a school-related matter, in the last two games of the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA tournament.
The Cheltenham girls' basketball team has certainly battled adversity in the playoffs.
The Panthers had to play without senior co-captain Dayna McCrewell, suspended because of a school-related matter, in the last two games of the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA tournament.
And yesterday, just three-and-a-half hours before the start of their scheduled state quarterfinal playoff versus Downingtown West, the Suburban One League American Conference champions learned that quick-footed junior guard Shayla Felder would not suit up because of a fractured left tibia.
But, somehow, Bob Schaefer's squad, which many thought at the beginning of the season was a year away from making serious noise in the state playoffs, continues to overcome unforeseen obstacles.
Without Felder, a sparkplug and dangerous scorer in transition, the Panthers knocked off Downingtown West, 49-38, last night at Spring-Ford High in Royersford.
"I've kind of labeled this year 'Against All Odds,' " Schaefer said "We have had a lot of different stuff go on. But this team is flexible. The girls adjust to everything."
Next up for Cheltenham, ranked No. 5 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, is a semifinal matchup versus Mount Lebanon. The District 7 champion topped State College, District 6's top finisher, in a quarterfinal last night.
Felder was hurt in a state opener versus Reading. An MRI after she played in Tuesday's second-round triumph over Northampton revealed the injury.
In Felder's absence, McCrewell and fellow captain Jenna Peoples, a 6-foot-3 senior center, each delivered 12 points. Sophomore guard Tiffany Johnson (10 points) also reached double figures.
Cheltenham (28-2) started strong and was comfortably ahead, 23-9, with 2 minutes, 20 seconds left in the first half. The Whippets (20-10) rallied in the third quarter, with the help of the Panthers' poor foul shooting, and trimmed the lead to 30-28 at the end of the third quarter.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Cheltenham's 11-0 spurt, highlighted by back-to-back buckets from Peoples, signaled the end to Downingtown West's season.
Amanda Donia led the Whippets with nine points. Jessica Beswick, who had poured in 26 points in a second-round win against defending state champ Central Dauphin, and Isabel Scott each scored eight.
Downingtown West 5 6 17 10 - 38
Cheltenham 12 11 7 19 - 49
DW: Jessica Beswick 8, Amanda Donia 9, Kelly Coker 5, Isabel Scott 8, Megan Martin 2, Jessica Renaud 5, Brittany Sicinski 1.
C: Tiffany Johnson 10, Dayna McCrewell 12, Jenna Peoples 12, Monet Constant 8, Sydni Epps 4, Liz Taliaferro 3.