Girls drop home opener to PJP

Girls' high school basketball returned to Phoenixville Tuesday night with a PAC 10 matchup between the Phantoms and Pope John Paul II.

Solid inside play from Phoenixville's Gianna Bliss and Amber Keys, along with dogged perimeter defense, helped narrow a first half deficit of nine points. But in the end, clutch free throw shooting helped propel PJP to a 40-35 victory.

Devin Casey (14 pts) and Taylor Beardon (12 pts) combined for 65 percent of the visitors' offense.

In the first half, Phantoms' junior Chandler DiFebbo slashed and maneuvered her way to eight points. Coach David Baker responded to her early production by assigning the shorter Devin Rauh.

DiFebbo would not score again for the rest of the night. Rauh shadowed DiFebbo just about everywhere on the court, which necessitated contributions from other players on Michele Dunleavy's roster.

Gabrielle Stokes and sophomore Bliss led the charge in the third quarter with several inside baskets. A jumper in the corner from Amy Hennessy off a pass from DiFebbo narrowed the PJP lead to 29-26 at the end of the third quarter.

Chants of DE-FENSE erupted from the bleachers as the Phantoms controlled the defensive glass and initiated their full-court press.

Stokes, a junior who finished with three points, went down with about six minutes remaining with what appeared to be a right knee injury. She did not return to the game.

Trailing by two points, Bliss connected on a hook shot in the paint to tie the game at 31 apiece. Casey responded for PJP with a jumper from the free throw line.

On the ensuing possession for Phoenixville, Keys earned the loudest cheers of the night when she muscled her way into the lane and made a difficult reverse layup - plus the foul. However, she missed the free throw.

A crucial series for the Phantoms came with just over one minute remaining in the final stanza. DiFebbo mis-fired on a drive. Bliss, who finished with a team-high nine points, missed the put back attempt and then committed a foul while chasing the rebound.

With the visitors up 36-33, Hennessy committed a turnover on the inbounds pass after a time-out. DiFebbo then exited the game after committing her fifth foul.

PJP would make four of their next six free throws to ice the contest, 40-35. Next up for the Phantoms is a non-league matchup Dec. 16 with Conrad Weiser. Tip-off at home is 7:30 p.m.

Mike Hays, the reporter, is a member of Spring City Borough Council.