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By Todd Thorpe

Staff Writer

 

 

Christopher Dock was flailing.

It was the first quarter of a key Bicentennial Athletic League game against New Hope-Solebury, and the Pioneers were struggling to put the ball in the basket. On defense, New Hope standout Alyssa Isler looked like she was about to have a big night as well.

Up stepped junior point guard Jenessa Derstine.

First, she scored six second-quarter points to help pull Dock back to within a point at halftime.

In the third quarter, Derstine broke the back of New Hope’s 2-3 zone defense with a pair of 3-pointers.

And, down the stretch, with foul shooting troubles threatening what had been an 11-point lead, Derstine made 3 of 4 to help secure a 44-38 victory.

“Nothing bothers her,” Dock coach Tim Ehst said about Derstine. “She’s very calm and poised out there, and she’s probably our most valuable player. She doesn’t score the most points, but she’s valuable to our team.”

Dock is 6-2 overall, with its only two losses coming in close games to Class AAAA foes Pennridge and Souderton. In the BAL, it is 3-0, and it also owns a win over a team that has tormented the Pioneers in past District One Class AA playoff games — St. Pius X.

This multi-dimensional team has shooters, post players and the look of a team that could win a district title come March.

Happenings

 Quakertown senior Daniella Ciccarone needs 10 points in tonight’s game at North Penn to break the school’s all-time girls scoring record. Ciccarone currently stands at 1,135 points, and averaging 18 points a game, she’s a pretty good bet to hit the mark tonight.

The previous record-holder is Marian Afflebach. Here’s the interesting part — Afflebach set her record of 1,144 in 1930.

 It’s hard to imagine there’s a better 5-5 team out there than Central Bucks South. Not only are the Titans 4-0 in SOL Continental play and headed for a huge showdown with rival Central Bucks East on Jan. 19, but all five of their losses can be accurately described as “quality losses.”

South has lost to four teams that are still unbeaten, including 51-50, to district favorite Cheltenham on Saturday. It also lost to Abington and Class AAA power Springfield-Delco, as well as District Three powers Red Lion and Central Dauphin East.

 Here’s another amazing stat. In coach Tom Lonergan’s 11 seasons at CB East he’s lost exactly one game to another Central Bucks school — at home to South in the 2005-06 season. East came back to hand South its only regular season loss later, and then eliminated the Titans in the second round of the district playoffs that same year.

 Archbishop Wood still can’t get over that Archbishop Carroll hump, losing 39-30, to Carroll on the road on Thursday. Don’t ask when the last time the Vikings beat the Patriots — because most people affiliated with the Wood program, past and present, can’t recall.

Just the Facts

Thorpe’s Top 5

1. Germantown Academy (10-2)

2. Archbishop Wood (6-2)

3. CB East (7-1)

4. CB South (5-5)

5. Souderton (6-2)

Scoring Leaders

Player, School          PPG

Isler, NH-S                  25.0

Lucas, GA                   22.2

Ciccarone, Quak       18.7

Simononis, Penn       16.5

L. Martin, CBE            14.6

S. Wassel, LC             13.7

Jackiewicz, Quak      13.0

Starzecky, Quak        12.9

Thierolf, GA                12.6

Alden, WT                   12.0

Frelick, NH-S              12.0

Games to watch

 Souderton will look to bounce back from its first loss when it travels to SOL Continental-leading CB East tonight (7 p.m).

 Archbishop Wood will look to make it three in a row over Cardinal O’Hara when it hosts the Lions in a key PCL game Thursday (7:30 p.m.).

Todd Thorpe can be reached                        at 215-345-3059 or tthorpe@phillyburbs.com.