Town and Country Newspaper

Sports Article

Another Win for Perkiomen's Lady Panthers

Written by Derek Nestler
2012-01-26

Perkiomen's Nicole Pupillo drives towards the basket during play in Tuesday's home game against Delaware Valley Friends School. Pupillo led her team with 23 points.

The Perkiomen School varsity Girl’s Basketball team fought for a tough 37 - 30 win over Delaware Valley Friends School Tuesday afternoon in a home game. The Panthers were led by sophomore Nicole Pupillo, who scored a whopping 23 of the team’s 37 points.

Even with Alexa Turner winning the tip off at the beginning of the game, the Panthers got off to a rocky start in the first period with Friends School’s Jen Howard scoring the first two points after a foul by the home team. It was an all out struggle for the ball until Pupillo stole the ball and scored on a breakaway, tying the score at 2 - 2.

As the game neared the end of the first period, the Panthers were up 9-7. But Friends School’s Gaby Macera made a basket at the last second, making the score at the end of the first quarter 9-9.

The score bounced back and forth between a tie and a slight lead by either team the entire second quarter. After a stunning breakaway by Perkiomen’s Pupillo which brought the team to a 17-15 lead, Friends School’s Macera tied it up again with a last second rebound catch and shoot.

Initially, once again, the score was tied 19-19 at the beginning of the third quarter with baskets being made by both Pupillo and Friends School’s Catherine Martsolf. However, with another breakaway by Pupillo and a basket made by Turner, the Panthers left the third quarter with a slight four point lead.

With assistance with a breakaway each, Pupillo and junior Elyn Tong led the team throughout the fourth quarter. With the majority of points of the game already under her belt, Pupillo left the fourth quarter with seven points, including a three-point shot, while Tong trailed her with three points.

Martsolf and Macera tried to catch their team up as the clock wound down with both scoring two points each. However, despite Macera’s basket made at the final buzzer, the Panthers came out of this struggle for a decisive lead during the game with a win.

Head coach Catie Gibbons was ecstatic about the win the girls had just received. “We are a very young team,” said Gibbons, “and whenever the team comes together to win like this, it always boosts their confidence.”

With a league record of 7-4, Gibbons hopes her team will be one of the top teams in their league to make the private school tournament at the end of the season. “It’s all about finishing the season on a high note,” Gibbons said.

The Panther’s next game is home on Monday, January 30 at 4:00 p.m.

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