City of Basketball Love

By Jeremy Goode
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In today’s game, you usually have to tell kids to shoot the ball less. This was not the case for Haverford High’s Mya Foley.

Foley knew her role well for the first three years of high school basketball through the Fords’ basketball program: lock down on defense, make several plays through passing, get a rebound, and score occasionally. 

Going into her senior season, Haverford head coach Lauren Pellicane had a different role for the 5-foot-5 defensive-minded guard to embrace: become more offensive in general, especially through moving without the basketball and shooting.

It was not a punishment for Foley. After all, she had been a significant part of some very talented Haverford teams. She was on both championship teams, including sophomore year which Haverford finished 27-0. She just happens to be a good basketball player in an unselfish way.   

The defense was always going to be there, but broadening her scoring for her final season very much could make Haverford a more dynamic team, Pellicane thought. 

She worked on her shot. And then she began shooting more and finding ways to get open to really pose as another offensive threat on Haverford’s team. 

“As a starting senior guard, I knew that I had to help my team more,” Foley said. “I had to be an offensive threat to make our offense more dynamic.”

While early on in the season Foley was still trying to find her ways with increased responsibilities on offense, midway through the season something clicked. This season, she has been averaging eight points a game, a vast improvement from her first three seasons with the team. 

With a more developed offensive game, Foley now spaces the court, facilitates, and shoots from beyond the arc. 

Her new-found offensive game this season makes a difference and is a significant threat for Haverford. While most teams double and try to take away Haverford’s senior forward and St. Joseph’s commit, Rian Dotsey, Foley began moving more without the ball towards the basket in efforts to catch the defense off guard while converting on easy, uncontested layups.  

So, kicking off Haverford’s quarterfinal game hosting Springfield, it was only fitting for Foley to begin the game scoring the first five points, including two uncontested layups after two textbook cuts to the basket without the ball on Thurs., Feb. 6.  

The quick start from Foley kept Haverford aggressive offensively from start to finish, eventually earning Haverford a spot in the Central League semifinals as they beat Springfield, 43-31.

“We need that from her, and we look for her to stay aggressive attacking the basket for good takes and creating opportunities for others,” Pellicane said. 

Lower Merion beat Radnor 37-28 in Thursday's other opening-round game. 

Foley’s aggressive offensive start to the playoff game helped Haverford hold onto a 19-17 lead at halftime, as well as Dotsey and Natalie Wright combining for Haverford’s 10 of 11 points the teams scored in the second quarter. 

Even though Haverford finished third in the Central League and was able to host the six-seeded Springfield Cougars, Springfield took a two-point lead going into the fourth quarter, 31-29. 

Fortunately for Haverford, Foley, as well as her teammates, were able to go back to their defensive roots, and shut out Springfield in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Cougars, 14-0. 

“In our huddle between the third and fourth quarter, we were told to keep going and that there was nothing to lose,” Foley said. “There was a lot of weak side help on defense, and we just pressured as much as we could.”

Of course, Foley was in the middle of it all, keeping shooters off the three-point line and having opponents move away from the basket when they had the ball. In the fourth quarter, she locked on her opponent, causing a few turnovers.  

While she added her final three points of the game in the third period to get to her average of eight points per game, her playmaking turned on in the fourth quarter.  Out of a timeout, Foley hit Wright under the basket on an inbounds pass for an and one attempt, tying the game early in the fourth at 31. With just over a minute left, Foley skied for a rebound, guaranteeing possession and putting a dagger in any chance Springfield had at a comeback with Haverford up eight at the time. 

 “Mya has always been a team-first player with a great attitude and work ethic,” Pellicane said. “She is versatile on both ends of the floor and stepped into a leading role this season. She had multiple six, seven assist games this year and has always been our best defender.”

While Haverford escaped with the win, Springfield had them on upset alert. Abbie McFarland finished with 14 points, including four three-pointers that not only helped keep Springfield in the game but eventually gave them a lead going into the fourth quarter. Springfield’s Lil Ditrolio also added pressure, finishing with 10 points.

Haverford has a short rest and plays Conestoga on Friday at 6 p.m. Conestoga finished a game ahead of Haverford this season, and beat Haverford both times they played, the second time as recently as Tues., Feb. 4.

“I think for three quarters, we battled and played our hearts out and executed the game plan,” Springfield head coach Ky McNichol said. “In the fourth quarter, we just did not put the ball in the basket.”

Foley took over a fifth of Haverford shots and shot 3-6, and 3-4 from inside the arc .She has embraced her senior season role.

“She is a strong guard,” Pellicane said. “We’re thrilled with the season she has enjoyed this year and the success she is having.”

~~~

By Quarter
Springfield:  6   |  11  |  14  |   0   ||  31
Haverford:   8   |  11  |  10  |  14  ||  43

Shooting
Springfield: 11-32 (5-14 3PT), 4-6 FT
Haverford: 14-25 (2-8 3PT), 13-18 FT

Scoring
Springfield: Abbie McFarland 14, Lil Ditrolio 10, Megan Zane 5, Molly Clifford 2 

Haverford: Rian Dotsey 13, Natalie Wright 13, Mya Foley 8, Megan Kelly 3, Grace Maloney 3, Maura Gilroy 3