City of Basketball Love

Missy Dougherty (@Missyingyou)
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As Friends’ Central junior Logyn Greer remembers it, she thinks her first points in a varsity uniform came from the free-throw line late in a game as a freshman. 

Greer won’t have any trouble remembering the setting for her 1,000th, as the junior forward reached the milestone under the bright lights of PAISAA semifinal action Friday afternoon with the host Phoenix rallying past Germantown Academy 54-49.

Friends’ Central advances to take on top seed and defending champion Westtown in the championship tilt March 3.

“I was nervous, but trying to get it out of the way,” said Greer, who entered the night 10 points away from the milestone. “I am just happy I got it.”

It was Greer’s final bucket of a 10-point first-half performance — a jumper on the right side of the lane with 16 seconds remaining — that etched the forward into the school’s record books as the eighth player in girls program history to surpass the 1,000-point milestone.

The visiting Patriots had all intentions of spoiling the Friends’ Central festivities as they jumped out to a 13-5 lead on a Jess Aponik finish at the rim against Greer with two minutes to go in the first. 

The Phoenix fought back with seven of the next nine to move within 15-12 before a Jess Kolecki drive off a high screen closed out the first-quarter scoring.

Greer seemed to sense history was within her reach as she scored her fourth field goal of the contest less then a minute into the second quarter on a hard drive in the lane.

While conscious that the next basket would be the big one, Greer demonstrated her all-around game with a great kick to Saniyah Washington for a wing 3-pointer that brought the Phoenix within two, 21-19.

When Kaiya Rain Tucker put back a London Mayo miss minutes later, it tied the score at 24-24 and brought on a timeout from the visitors.

The timeout propelled Germantown Academy to continue to attack as Kolecki drove by Mayo on her way to a three-point play, followed by another drive soon after to give the Patriots a 29-24 advantage.

The stage was set for Greer’s big bucket at the 16-second mark that provided a memory for the Phoenix and their faithful, as well as a spark to carry in the locker room.

Nal’la Bennett said the halftime vibe was all positive.

“We knew we weren’t losing this game,” Bennett said. “ We just had to pick up the defensive intensity and close out on the shooters and make them drive.”
“We just had to pick it up,” Greer said. 

If there was a feeling in the air that they had been there before, it was due to the fact that Friday’s contest strongly resembled the first matchup of the season between the two squads on Dec. 5 — won by Friends’ Central 54-51.

“We were in this position against them the first game,” Friends’ Central coach Vinny Simpson said. “We went into halftime down, trailed the third quarter, trailed the fourth quarter and came back and won just exactly like this one.

“That first game gave them the confidence that we have been here before. We have been here, done that and let’s do it again. 

Do it again, they did, as this matchup seemed to follow a similar script.

A Bennett 3-pointer off a flare screen tied the game at 29-29 to open a tightly contested third quarter. Germantown Academy’s balance was on full display as four different players scored at least four points in the period with a Kolecki steal and layup at the other in the closing seconds, putting the score at 44-39 entering the fourth.

A huge three-point play by Friends’ Central reserve guard Mayo tied the score at 44-44 with just less than seven minutes to play.

Two free throws by Germantown Academy’s Isabella Casey broke the last tie of the contest at the 5:20 mark.

A wing 3 by Jenna Aponik off a great look from Kolecki seemed to swing momentum in the Patriots’ favor, putting them on top 49-45 with four minutes to go.

The Phoenix weren’t finished, however, as Washington drained a corner 3-pointer after a Friends’ Central timeout that brought them within one.

Another timeout by the hosts saw Washington drop a great pass to Tucker on the left block. While Tucker was unable to convert, the rebound landed right in the hands of Greer, who in one motion converted the second chance and gave Friends’ Central its first lead of the night, 50-49, at the 1:40 mark.

While Greer’s last basket of the first half made history, her last basket of the game proved to be meaningful in its own way as it gave the Phoenix a lead they would not relinquish.

Bennett — who made a difference-making 3 in the waning minutes of the first meeting between the two clubs — then sealed the victory with a foul-line jumper and two from the line.

“Nal’la is a big-time shot-maker,” Simpson said. “She loves it. She wants the ball.”
Bennett took game-high scoring honors with 15, while Greer finished with 14 points to go along with 10 boards, five blocks and four assists.

The Patriots placed three in double figures as Kolecki and Casey each tallied 13, and Jess Aponik chipped in with 12.

Germantown Academy first-year head coach Lauren Power couldn’t say enough about the journey with this particular senior class.

“I call them the ‘Fab Five,’” Power said. “They embraced me from Day 1 and made me enjoy every single day. I am just so grateful and will remember this group for the rest of my coaching career and life. I just wish I had more time with them.”

Simpson, on the other hand, will have more time with the Phoenix as they accomplished their goal of playing in the last game of the season.

“All we can ask for is another opportunity to play basketball.,” Simpson said. “We want to work this whole week and prepare. Get to the last game and anything can happen.”

By Quarter

Friends' Central: 12 | 14 | 13 | 15 || 54

Germantown Academy: 17 | 12 | 15 | 5 || 49

Scoring

Friends' Central: Nal’la Bennett 15, Logyn Greer 14, Kaiya Rain Tucker 9, Saniyah Washington 6, London Mayo 4, Jordyn Adderly 3, Phoenix Walker 3

Germantown Academy: Jess Kolecki 13, Isabella Casey 13, Jess Aponik 12, Sam Wade 6, Jenna Aponik 5

~~~

PAISAA Girls

Semifinals (Fri., Feb. 23)
1) Westtown School 66, 5) Notre Dame 44
2) Friends’ Central 54, 3) Germantown Academy 49

Championship (Sun., March 3, 5 p.m. at St. Joseph’s University)
1) Westtown School vs. 2) Friends’ Central