City of Basketball Love

By Joseph Santoliquito (@JSantoliquito)
—

FOLSOM, PA — Kyla Carney carries a reminder on the inner part of her right wrist. It’s the tattoo of a peace symbol, similar to the one her grandmother, Jackie Carney, used to have on the back of her left shoulder.

Jackie was a free spirit. She was a child of the 1960’s tie-dye, hippie generation. She also never missed one of Kyla’s games. On September 13, Kyla’s biggest fan passed away suddenly from lung cancer.

Kyla has a good idea Jackie was somewhere watching on Saturday night, as she dropped a career-best 27 points on Ridley’s Senior Night to beat Marple Newtown, 50-36.

It marked the fifth-straight win for the Green Raiders (9-7 overall, 5-4 Central League) and Kayla’s best game so far this season, supported by 10 points from fellow senior Kailyn Bell.

Before the season, Kayla changed her number from 23, her father’s high school number at Ridley, to 30, which was Grandmom Jackie’s digit when she was a first-team all-Central League.

The No. 30 has served Kyla well, especially Saturday night, when she seemingly could not miss. She hit five 3-pointers, including a crucial trey with 2:42 to play and Marple Newtown (8-7, 3-7) inching within striking distance.

“My shot felt smooth and so right tonight, and I was able to calm myself down,” Kyla said. “It was kind of nerve-wracking being Senior Night and I felt some pressure. I want to play basketball in college. But this might be it. I wanted to wear my grandmother’s number for basketball, because I never really felt I had time to mourn over my grandmother because it happened during volleyball season.

“It was emotional when I first put on 30. And then I got the tattoo and a chance to show it to her. She was my biggest support and she never missed a game. I would like to think she was here tonight watching.”

Kyla is getting some interest from Immaculata, Neumann and Misericordia.

Kyla, according to her coach Roe Falcone, a former Ridley star, is the type of player any coach would love. There was a lot of extra time put into her shot. When Ridley’s point guard went down last year to an injury, Kyla approached Falcone about taking her place. She showed up at Falcone’s house to work on her ballhandling in Falcone’s driveway.  

“I’m proud of Kyla, she’s a great kid,” Falcone, who is in her fifth year. “This is starting to come together. This was our fifth-straight win and Kyla nailed that big shot in the fourth quarter that calmed us down. Kyla put in the work. And I’m starting to see good things on the defensive end, force turnovers and speed the game up.”

Ridley trailed once, 4-3, in the first quarter and once Kyla scored on a driving layup to end the quarter, the Green Raiders never trailed again.

But Marple Newtown did not make it easy.

When it appeared Ridley would run away, Ellie Dibona, the Tigers’ high scorer with 13, Taylor Murrin or Olivia Gicking would step up and make a play.

Debbie Black, the Big Five Hall of Famer in her first year coaching the Tigers, is starting a freshman, Gicking, and two sophomores, Murrin and Rowan Hilden.

“We’re still learning and I like the fact that my team always plays hard, and I think we have a bright future,” Black said. “I can live with playing hard. I’m having fun, because I’m all about energy, effort and enthusiasm, my three Es, and this team is giving that to me. Sometimes, we just can’t score.

“That will come around. It is a young group that is coming around. I want to try and make an impact for these kids. They’re getting there. But that (Kyla Carney) shot really well. She was tough to stop tonight.”

By Quarter
Marple Newtown: 4  | 8  |  11  |  13 ||  36
Ridley                  8  | 13  |  16  | 13 ||  50

Scoring
Marple Newtown: Ellie Dibona 13, Taylor Murrin 9, Olivia Gicking 6, Rowan Hilden 6, Catherine Kirby 2

Ridley: Kyla Carney 27, Kailyn Bell 10, Nadia Henkel 5, Keira Small 3, Nikki McMenamin 3, Morgan Smith 2.