City of Basketball Love

Andrew Robinson (@ADRobinson3)
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FAIRLESS HILLS — Sofia Vitucci drove, scored and took a few seconds to celebrate before hustling back on defense.

The Pennsbury senior guard knew she’d just scored her 1,000th career point on that strong second quarter drive but she knew a win against visiting Council Rock South was more important. Her game is uniquely her own, the senior thriving in spaces others ignore and her headstrong approach Thursday was a difference maker.

Victucci finished with 24 points and a milestone, helping the Falcons to a 53-27 win in the SOL Patriot standings.

“The thought was in my head, but I wanted to win and that’s what we did,” Vitucci said. “It’s nice to score your 1,00th, but winning has always been better for me.”

Vitucci didn’t even attempt a three on Thursday, although she is a pretty good shooter from range, instead accumulating all her points either on drives to the rim, free throws or her patented mid-range game. The senior scored on the game’s first possession, using a couple power dribbles to get into the lane and sink a short pull-up at the rim.

Pennsbury didn’t look back. The Falcons zipped out to a 12-0 start and led 16-4 after a quarter with Vitucci having posted nine points despite seeing several different Golden Hawks defenders on her.

“We spaced them out and the lanes were open,” Vitucci said. “I got downhill, couple times got fouled, couple times got my own rebound and just put it back up.”

The Falcons haven’t been the highest scoring team around the last two years, relying on defense and grit, so there’s been a lot placed on Vitucci in terms of generating points and having the ball in clutch moments. She doesn’t look at it as a burden but a sign of the trust and confidence her coaches have in her.

Sofia Vitucci (above, center, holding flowers) scored her 1,000th point on Thursday night in a win over CR South. (Photo: Andrew Robinson/CoBL)

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Vitucci, who is about 5-foot-5, developed her offensive repertoire out of need but adapted it to a fit the more she worked at it.

At the end of every season, Pennsbury coach Frank Sciolla gives each player a run down of what the coaching staff wants them to work on or hone in the upcoming summer. There’s never a 100 percent return on that plan but with Vitucci, anything she was given, she did.

“Every year she’s had a different challenge,” Sciolla said. “What she has is a very unique, old-school game.

“She defies analytics. When I sell her to colleges, I explain you’re not used to seeing the shots that she takes. She gets to spots, she elevates, she shoots 12, 10, eight feet out and uses her body to back people down.” 

At the end of Thursday’s game, before she was swarmed by teammates, family and friends for a collage of photos, Vitucci had one person she needed to talk to. When Ava Sciolla scored her 1,000th point as a Falcon with Vitucci alongside her on the court, the former all-state player of the year made a promise.

That’s why Sciolla boarded a train and made the trip down from Manhattan, where she’s currently playing her first season at Columbia, to see Vitucci join her in the 1,000 point club. Despite having just two seasons as teammates, Ava Sciolla knew right away there was something special about Vitucci and it led to a close friendship even as she’s moved on to college basketball.

“Something that jumped out at me right away was just how fierce she was,” Ava Sciolla said. “She played with no fear and when you combine an elite skill set and athleticism with somebody who just doesn’t give a damn and is all about attacking and winning, you get an elite level player.

“She’s shown that from the second she first stepped on the practice court here.”

With her dad coaching the team, Ava Sciolla stayed well in-tune with the Falcons during her freshman year at Maryland. As a senior, she trusted Vitucci as an outlet when she got into tough spots so watching her former understudy flourish taking the reins of the program didn’t surprise Sciolla.

“I would give her the ball, not necessarily knowing what would happen and she would score every time or make something great happen,” Ava Sciolla said. “Showing little flashes is a huge indicator that something huge is coming and those flashes turned into where we are tonight and she’s scored 1,000 points.”

Vitucci is still looking for her place at the next level, the senior saying a few colleges are interested but she’s still looking for the right fit. Between four years starting for the Falcons and playing with the Lady Runnin’ Rebels on the HGSL circuit - she helped her team to the 17U title this past summer - there’s a really strong skill set out there for someone to have on their roster.

The guard said she wasn’t even sure where her career total was entering senior year until she saw it printed in a season preview. Knowing it was in range, it was an accomplishment she wanted to get to but was also in no rush to do so if it meant getting in the way of some wins.

“It’s something where you come into your high school career and want to do,” Vitucci said. “It actually happening; it’s totally different and I’m really excited about it.”

Vitucci thanked her family, her teammates and coaches and just about anyone that’s ever had her back along the way. She and the team’s other seniors are a proud group and pride themselves on winning over any individual accomplishment.

For her coaches to know that’s what drives her and in turn to put the ball in her hands when it matters says a lot to Vitucci.

“It’s kind of everything,” the senior said. “I know the coaching staff trusts me with the ball and that gives me that extra confidence that if they trust me, then I can do it.”

Vitucci did get her moment of recognition, the game stopping following the CR South possession following her milestone drive and there were plenty of people filling the court after the game waiting to congratulate her or snap a quick photo. The senior was surprised by a framed photo collage that all her teammates signed and made sure to take in the moment but it’s a sure bet she was also starting to think about the next game as well.

“She’s had an incredible career,” Frank Sciolla said. “Every year she’s gotten better and especially this year, she’s really stepped up as a leader. If we can get into a game, we feel good with her leading the way.

“Tonight was a really good night for her.”

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PENNSBURY 53, CR SOUTH 27

Frank Sciolla expected CR South to come out aggressive, scrappy and physical on defense, which the Golden Hawks did. He also knew his team could match that and led by Maggie Burns in the starting five and Ava Jordan off the bench to spark the defense, the Falcons did.

Burns started out shadowing CR South point guard Kathryn O’Kane, keeping the junior point guard from slicing in and kicking out to shooters as she’s so adept at doing. Of course, it’s also hard to find shooters when they’re all being covered and Pennsbury’s dedication to not leaving perimeter targets to slide over in help defense took away a lot of looks.

“It defies every way you’re taught since kindergarten, you’re taught to slide in and with them, you can’t,” Sciolla said.

After dropping their SOL opener at Neshaminy in overtime last week, the Falcons have rebounded to win their last three league games and thanks to Thursday’s result, sit just a game back in the table. Vitucci pointed to one thing in particular that’s played a part in the turnaround.

“Free throws,” Vitucci said. “We’ve been hitting a few recently, which is important. We’ve been playing as a team.

“We came out tonight ready and we wanted to win.”

Daniella MacDonald scored 10 points for Pennsbury, seven coming after halftime while Layla Matthias had nine rebounds and two blocks and freshman point guard Joley Hohman tallied six points. 

“We’ve already played two big-time league games eight days into the season,” Sciolla said. “Knowing tonight that the loser really had their back up against the wall, (Vitucci) got us off to a good start and our kids did a really good job of being disciplined.”

By Quarter
Pennsbury: 16  |  13  |   5   |  19  ||  53
CR South:    4   |   7   |  10  |   6   ||  27

Scoring
Pennsbury: Sofia Vitucci 24, Daniella MacDonald 10, Joley Hohman 6, Maggie Burns 4, Layla Matthias 3, Ava Jordan 2, Danielle Sherman 2, Oliveah Gilchrist 2

CR South: Lilian Metrick 9, Fiona Reckner 8, Katie Purpura 4, Cam Gregory 3, Sarah Freeman