City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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ROSEMONT — With plenty on the line, Annie Aspesi stepped up. 

Harriton’s home game against Marple Newtown on Friday afternoon, moved up a few hours due to weather, was crucial for both Rams and Tigers, not only for their standing in a tight bunch at the top of the Central League but in the ever-more-important District 1 5A rankings. There was also the matter of some revenge, with Marple having handed Harriton a four-point win at Marple earlier in the season.

So while the early start time and pouring rain kept the crowds away, there was plenty of tension inside Harriton’s gym as the hosts took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter. 

It didn’t seem to bother Aspesi.

The Rams’ senior guard found her rhythm when it mattered most, scoring 10 straight points for Harriton as the Rams pulled away to a 47-33 win over the Tigers.

“This was definitely big, a payback game, and we knew it,” Aspesi said afterwards. “When we lost, the last time we played them, we all looked at each other and we’re like we’re going to get them back next time. 

“We’ve been looking forward to this.”

It was a crucial win for Harriton (12-7, 10-4), which began the day No. 5 in the unofficial District 1 5A rankings, while Marple (12-5, 11-4) came in No. 1, just ahead of another Central League foe Springfield (Delco.).

The two are also two of seven teams in the mix for six Central League playoff spots. Springfield, 12-2 in league play after beating Penncrest on Friday, is in the safest spot, followed by Haverford (11-3), Marple, Harriton, Garnet Valley (10-4), Conestoga (9-4) and Radnor (9-5), all of whom have at least a couple league games left to play.

Harriton was the No. 2 seed in last year’s district playoffs, losing to Springfield in the title game. The Rams’ returners know how important every seed line can be to get the easiest path possible to the end. 

Unlike last year, when only the district champions went to states, this year’s District 1 5A field will send five teams to the PIAA bracket, out of the 12 who qualify for the field. That won’t be much consolation for a group that’s been stewing off its oh-so-close call a year ago.

“Coming off that district finals loss, it stung a lot and motivated us a lot in the offseason,” Aspesi said. “I’ve just been taking it one game at a time and focusing on that opponent, but definitely, the coaches know our seeding and they know what we have to do. We’re really just focused on the next game.”

Aspesi (12) is one of two seniors in the Harriton starting lineup. (Photo: Dan Hilferty | CoBL)

One of two seniors back from last year’s district runner-ups, Aspesi entered the final frame Friday with four points in a low-scoring, 27-25 contest, most of Harriton’s offense up to that point coming off the fingertips of Felicity McFillin. 

She started to heat up with a step-back 2-pointer from just inside the right arc, finding the bottom of the net. The next possession down, a clean steal of a pass around the perimeter resulted in Aspesi scooting the other way, depositing an easy left-handed layup ahead of a defender. 

Then came a pair of deep 3-pointers, each with a hand in her face, which put Harriton up 35-30 and then 38-30 with 4:35 to play.  Those buckets finished off her day with 14 points; she also added six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

“That’s Annie for you,” Harriton head coach Chris Wielgus said. “That’s how she plays [...] she got herself free, she took the shot because she has confidence.”

McFillin, a 5-5 sophomore, picked up the scoring at that point, getting her own miss and popping it back from the baseline to keep the lead at seven with 3:40 left. She then dropped the hammer with a 3-pointer from the left wing off an Aspesi feed, putting Harriton up 10 with 2:45 to play. 

“We were kind of trying to stall, but no one was on me,” she said, “so I just shot the 3, because we had rebounders in position, and it went in.”

Two free-throws finished off an 18-point, five-rebound, four-assist outing for the older of two McFillin sisters in the Rams’ starting lineup. It was a career-best scoring night for McFillin, who was a part-time starter a year ago but has become an even more key component for the Rams this season. 

“I’m really proud of her,” Aspesi said. “We’ve gotten really close this year and I’m really proud to see her be able to step up and do that.”

McFillin isn’t the only underclassman who’s crucial to Harriton’s success. Freshman forward Anna Chimento played crucial interior defense with 12 rebounds and five blocks, plus three points, and Maddie McFillin contributed six second-half points, including a driving layup with 1:50 left to put Harriton up 12, before departing in the game’s final seconds with an injured ankle.

The only other senior in the lineup is guard Maretta Smith, who had six points and two steals, serving as a complementary ball-handler to Aspesi when the pressure got intense.

“We lost a lot of players [from last season],” Aspesi said, “so it was [about] getting the younger kids into the system, getting them comfortable, so they can step up in these big moments and see what we can do in [the] playoffs.”

As a group, they all clamped down on Marple Newtown, holding the Tigers to 12-of-40 (30%) from the floor and 5-17 (29%) from 3-point range. Senior guard Nikki Mostardi was the only Marple player in double figures, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers as she finished with a dozen points.

Aspesi’s going to be continuing her hoops career at the next level, at Tufts University (Mass.). The Jumbos compete in the high-level Division III New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), where they’re currently 16-2 (5-1) and have made the NCAA Sweet 16 every year since 2012, save for 2021 when the season was canceled due to COVID; they made the Elite 8 every year from 2014-19, with four Final Fours, two NCAA championship game appearances, and three NESCAC championships all during that span.

All of that was enough to help Aspesi spurn a Division I lacrosse offer from Davidson and numerous other high-level D-III interest to commit to head coach Jill Pace, the 2019-20 D3Hoops.com Coach of the Year. 

“Basketball’s always been the sport that I pictured me doing it at the next level,” Aspesi said, “but really being on campus and being with the team and the coaches, it just fit, and when I made my final decision I was super-happy with it and knew I made the right choice.”

First are more pressing matters, like another key league game against Radnor on Saturday, Strath Haven waiting on Tuesday in their regular-season finale. Beat the Raptors, and they’re guaranteed a spot in the Central playoffs; the district berth is guaranteed, but seeding is very much in play.

“I think that everyone’s ready to step up,” Aspesi said. “We’re on a four-games-in-five-day stretch, but I think that we’re prepared and we put in the work and I think we’re where we need to be.”

By Quarter
Harriton:  10  |  11  |   6   |  20  ||  47
Marple:    14  |   7   |   4   |   8   ||  33

Shooting
Harriton: 20-40 FG (4-14 3PT), 3-4 FT
Marple: 12-40 FG (5-17 3PT), 4-8 FT

Scoring
Harriton: Felicity McFillin 18, Annie Aspesi 14, Maretta Smith 6, Maddie McFillin 6, Anna Chimento 3 

Marple: Nikki Mostardi 12, Haley Levy 8, Ellie DiBona 6, Mary O’Brien 4, Brooke Impriano 3