SF Board Honors Girls Hoops, Praises Prom

The Spring-Ford Area School District's board of education met for its regular meeting on April 23 and honored the 2011-12 girls basketball team, which won the , the and appeared in the semifinals of the . Members of the board and administration, as well as students, also had nice words to say about the April 21 prom and events.

"The girls basketball team had quite a ride this season, setting school records and going further in the state tournament than any basketball team in history," said Superintendent David Goodin.

Goodin said the girls were models for success both on and off the court, citing the girls' participation in Limerick days, the buddy program, the elementary basketball program(s), youth league basketball games and practices and strong academics.

Varsity Season Highlights

• Most wins in a season (boys or girls – 30)
• Highest winning percentage (91%, 3 losses)
• Most wins in a row (boys or girls – 26)
• Lowest total points allowed in a game (13)
• First District I basketball title (boys or girls – Appeared at Villanova, defeating North Penn)
• First PIAA State Semifinal appearance (boys or girls)
• Fourth PAC-10 title (ties conference record)
• Ranked 10th in the Mid-Atlantic Region

"It was a phenomenal year," said Goodin. "For those that got out to see some games, it was exciting, well worth watching and a great season."

Junior Varsity Season Highlights

• 13-0 in the conference
• 18-1 overall
• 14-game winning streak
• Roster: Abbey Beyer (1), Erica Mastromatto (2), Julia Roshelli (12), Chelsea Heller (20), Maggie Locke (24), Lauryn Hart (30), Emily Coyne (31) – all frosh; Katie Dougherty (3), Cindy Nicholson (13), Liz Sterl (33) – sophs; (11), Allie Bentz (32), Hannah Puckett (35), Cara Dombroski (45); student mgr for both – Nicole Sellman
• Coaches: Jeff Mast, Jeff Kahler, Randy Doaty (varsity coaches Jeff Rinehimer and Mickey McDaniel helped on staff)

Varsity Breakdown by Dr. Goodin

• Freshman Maggie Locke - "Only freshman on the squad. When in the game, she definitely produced results."
• Sophomore Shelby Mueller - Averaged four rebounds and 3-and-a-half points per game. "She played well during the playoff run."
• Sophomore Sammy Stipa - First team All PAC-10, First Team All Area, Third Team All State (first to ever achieve that status at Spring-Ford) – tenacious defender – 9.2 points per game, 58 steals this season
• Junior Brittany Moore - Second Team All PAC-10, Second Team All Area. Led the team in 3-pointers with 39 this season. "And she's one fierce competitor."
• Junior Kirsten Landis - doubled on both varsity and J.V. "A tremendous team player who developed a consistent perimeter shot."
• Junior: Courtney Hinnant - Honorable Mention All Area, 6.3 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game. "Courtney pulled down a number of her own rebounds during district and state tournaments in key situations."
• Junior Sammi Haas - "A hard worker, displays leadership skills on and off the court, and gives 150 percent on every possession." Shot 70 percent from free throw line.
• Junior - "Haley has an excellent work ethic and pushes her teammates every day in practice."
• Junior Sarah Payonk - First Team All PAC-10, First Team All Area. Led the team with 67 steals this season, averaged 9.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, scored 324 points this season, and shot 72 percent from the free throw line.
• Senior - Honorable Mention All PAC-10, Honorable Mention All Area. Averaged six points per game, had 38 steals this season. "She's a very good on-the-ball defender. She is still deciding on where she will continue her academic and athletic career."
• Senior - "An excellent leader, premiere defender, gives 100 percent at all times, a recipient of Philadelphia's William H. Markler Award, and is headed to the University of Pittsburgh."
• Senior - First Team All PAC-10, First Team All Area, selected to play in the prestigious All-Star Labor Classic 2012 (second Spring-Ford girl to ever be selected to that game), averaged 10.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, led the team with 353 points, 30 blocked shots. "And is an excellent leader." Committed to play at Shippensburg University.
• Head Coach Jeff Rinehimer - All Area Coach of the Year. Supported by Assistants Mickey McDaniel, Jeff Mast, Randy Doaty, Jeff Kahler.

Rinehimer: "I'd like to thank my staff first. If I get any type of award or anything like that, it’s because of the staff I have. Outstanding, hard working, the best. Any time they mention our team, I link the staff with it. Tremendous group of guys.

"Geez wow, it was a special year. If you see on their shirts, they have a saying and they kept it all throughout the year: TOGETHER. They took this and when it means something, then you see the power of it. It’s a long season and you have ups and downs. They kept this together theme on their apparel, in the locker room, on posters and it meant something. I can learn from them about what the word together means.

"I thank you, the community, for being with them, together. And the parents being together as a group and being behind them. Parents, team, community together. And when I walked on that court and just being part of it, and sitting there, you felt the power of together. We need to keep working together to make this community even better. Take what the girls taught me and work together. Believe me, these girls have taken what you’ve given to them as a school board and have taken it academically and athletically. They have taken full advantage of it. Some people go through high school and don’t take advantage. Well, they’ve taken full advantage of it. In sports, you have memories, and they gave me, geez, how many this year? Thank you very much."

Traywick: "We really want to thank all of you in the community tonight and for the whole season. You really supported us and all of it got us to where we were and how we ended [the season]."

Lynch: "We want to honor one of our biggest fans this year. She was with us throughout the entire season. We want to present one of our signed posters to McKenna Little.

Student Representative Elizabeth Brady explained this was the first year the school couldn't use the Valley Forge Convention Center since was turned into a casino. Therefore, the students in Drexel Hill.

"It was a very nice venue," Brady said. "No complaints. It was so pretty, had a patio in the back, and the wait service staff was very nice."

Brady also said post-prom (presented by SNAP) was also "amazing as usual." The event lasted five hours and "we never ran out of things to do."

Activities included a bounce room, obstacle courses, a henna tattoo artist, Board President and Vice President Tom DiBello and Joe Ciresi serving Rita's Water Ice, a live band in the auditorium, and a magic show. Prizes included iPads, Kindle, and $250 to Tiffany Jewelers.

Ciresi indicated this was the sixth post-prom event and every year it gets better and better.

"I don’t remember anything other than a great time," said Ciresi. "We have a great bunch of kids and should all be proud of them. Thanks to the committee who coordinated SNAP. I encourage everyone to get involved because it’s an absolutely wonderful night."

Goodin reiterated Ciresi's kind words about the behavior of the students who attended both prom and post-prom.

"The behavior of the students at this year’s prom: They all acted like ladies and gentlemen at this event," he concluded. "I was so impressed with the whole program. Congratulations to Mr. [Pat] Nugent and other administrators in putting this together and the teacher advisors and other students who put together prom night. It was a wonderful evening that went through without a hitch."