By Joe Costa
PHILADELPHIA Pa.– Getting off to a late start due to an unexpected ice storm didn’t keep things from warming up at the 9th Annual Blue Star Elite Invitational Tournament got. Cabrini College hosted the event which drew teams from not only the Philadelphia area but Harrisburg and Northern New Jersey as well. Here’s a quick look at some of the action.
Neumann Goretti (PA) 59 Upper Dublin (PA) 25
Game one featured the top ranked team in the country, Neumann Goretti and it didn’t take long for the Saints to show why they’re deserving of that stature. The Saints doubled up the overmatched Cardinals in the first quarter and then really turned up the heat with a 20-6 second quarter. Goretti was without one of their top players, Alisha Kebbe (5’10” Junior – Guard) due to injury but Coach Andrea Peterson’s squad has plenty of horsepower to call upon. It was Sianni Martin’s (5’7” Senior – Guard) turn to drive the Saint’s engine. The Towson University signee led Neumann Goretti with 14 points. Martin, like the bulk of the Saints, is comfortable in the open court reading passing lanes well and usually finding herself somewhere in the mix to the finish at the hoop. Julie Cross (6’2” – Senior – Forward) led the Cardinal’s with 13 points. Cross is comfortable in the paint with good over the shoulder moves and quick finishes.
Rutgers Prep (NJ) 82 Wissahickon (PA) 29
This one was over quickly as the the Argonauts are what a high school team should look like. Rutgers Prep is a fusion of experience and experiences. Coach Mary Klinger’s years of sideline experiences and discipline mixed with new innovative offensive and defensive styles that she’s picked up while hanging out with the USA Basketball group in the summer. The Argonauts scored effectively as a team with 11 players posting buckets. Prep was led by Niki Metzel (6’2” Junior – Forward) and Gabby Redden (6’1” Sophomore – Forward) with 12 points each. Brittany Gelman (6’0” Senior – Forward) had 17 for the Trojans including 11 free throws.
Germantown Academy (PA) 65 Central Dauphin (PA) 40
The day’s third contest was a methodical take down of an overmatched opponent. Germantown Academy ran their offensive sets with precision while being aggressive defensibly. All of this spelled doom for the ladies from Harrisburg. The Rams played hard and never quit but the Patriots simply had too much talent for Central Dauphin. Olivia Gorman (5’6” Senior – Guard) was a machine for the Patriots with 24 points. Gorman is a two sport athlete that will be attending Haverford College next year and play both basketball and softball. Tarea Daniels (5’6” Sophomore – Guard) paced the Rams with 9 points.
Penn Charter (PA) 46 Central Bucks West (PA) 77
This foul inundated contest proved to be a challenge for Central Bucks West Coach Terry Rakowsky’s group. His Bucks are an aggressive bunch defensively and, because of the tight officiating, took a while to adjust. They finished with five players in double figures including Nicole Munger (5’10” – Senior – Guard – Michigan) who totaled 18 points. Despite being saddled with foul problems, Munger stayed aggressive, especially on the offensive end of the floor. She’s a dynamo with endless energy and her game is all attack with a nice smooth finish to whatever she does. Hannah Fox (5’6” Junior – Guard) had 17 for the Quakers. Fox is quick off the dribble with the capability to score in bunches.
Bishop Shanahan (PA) 62 Agnes Irwin (PA) 52
Much to the chagrin of Bishop Shanahan Coach Fran Burbidge, the finale was a back and forth affair for three quarters that turned out to be the best match-up of the day. Agnes Irwin came to play today. They doubled up the Eagles 10-5 early before Burbidge switched his team to an aggressive trapping full court defense that began to turn the tide. The Owls however kept things interesting and Shanahan on their toes by closing the ten plus point second half deficit to as close as three multiple times. The Eagles Ciara Forde (5’9” Junior – Guard) led all scorers with 21 points. Three point shooter extraordinaire Alex Blostrom (5’6” Freshman – Guard) added 15 points, all from the three point arch, for Agnes Irwin.
Joe Costa has been with Blue Star for 14 years now serving as a National Evaluator and Director of the Rising Blue Star program. Coaching the Pittsburgh Rockers for over 10 years; he helped produce two national championships and over 75 scholarship student athletes. Additionally Costa has coached both girls and boys on the high school & collegiate levels plus served as a floor coach for several Nike All American Camps and Skills Academies. He currently resides in Savannah, Georgia.
