By John Knebels
PHILADELPHIA – As league champion William Penn Charter prepares to lift a new banner atop its expansive new gymnasium (click here) and four of the seven teams prepare for the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) that begins this weekend, the Inter-Academic League supplied numerous noteworthy accomplishments over the final two weeks of the regular season.
The Inter-Academic teams were chosen yesterday, and Penn Charter dominated with three of the six first-team selections – junior Aleah Snead, junior Bella Toomey, and freshman Kaylinn Bethea.
"These girls support each other unbelievably, they sacrifice for the betterment of the team, and they don’t care who gets the credit," said Penn Charter coach Joe Maguire. "They just wanted to win for each other and do it all together."
At Baldwin School, senior Kaya Weiser joined the quadruple digit club.
Needing 10 points and ultimately finishing with 26, Weiser reached 1,000 career points on a three-point swish late in the first quarter during a 44-32 win over visiting Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy.
Immediately after drilling the trey, Weiser’s sophomore sister Allie Weiser, who assisted on the historic basket, accidentally knocked the wind out of Kaya when the two siblings leapt into an embrace celebrating the marquee moment of Kaya’s high school experience.
Not being able to collect her breath for a few seconds never felt so good.
“It was super exciting,” said Weiser. “I’ve waited for this moment since I stepped on the court in eighth grade, so it truly felt like a weight being lifted off my shoulders that I had finally achieved that goal.”
Already committed to play hoops at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the second-team All-Inter-Ac selection Weiser lauded Baldwin’s community for its support, describing the energy in the gym as “unmatched.”
“My teammates have been my biggest supporters throughout this season, especially my co-captain, Gabi Pritzker, who I’ve had the fortune to play with the last couple of years,” said Weiser. “My sister, Allie, has always been my biggest supporter, so having her with me to reach this goal was a moment I’ll truly never forget.”
Baldwin senior Kaya Weiser with her 1000th point ball (photo/Baldwin Athletics)
In a loss to powerful Germantown Academy five days later, Kaya netted 24 and Allie added eight.
“We performed much better than our game against them in December,” said Weiser. “Our team has been through a lot this season with COVID and injuries, but I’m proud of their perseverance and effort.
“I’m sad to be leaving this program but excited to see what Baldwin will do in the future.”
Weiser isn’t the only person sad that she’s leaving the land of Polar Bears.
“Kaya Weiser is a great person before she is anything,” said Baldwin coach Devin Walker. “As a basketball player, her skills are evident in the way she is able to impact the game.
“When you look at our game versus (Springside-Chestnut Hill), she scored 26 of our 44. Her leadership ability doesn’t get enough credit, though. She juggles being a leader in the school community, athletic society, and basketball with ease.
“Players like her are hard to find, but people like her are even more rare. I’m excited to watch her continue to flourish as she takes on the challenges of attending and playing at MIT. I’m confident she will impact that community the same way she has impacted the Baldwin community for the better.”
Baldwin's Kaya Weiser scores 1000th point and was immediately embraced by her sister Allie. (Video Courtesy/Rebecca McCurdy Baldwin '22
Germantown Academy finished the regular season in a second-place tie at 9-3 with a 60-55 win at Notre Dame Academy, avenging an earlier loss to the Irish. First-team All-Inter-Ac junior Kendall Bennett and second-team sophomore Jess Aponik both scored 19 points while sophomore Jenna Aponik added 10 points, four assists, and four steals. Bennett and sophomore Izzy Casey grabbed 10 rebounds apiece.
“Coming into this season, our biggest goal was to build chemistry and come together as a team,” said Casey, a second-team All-Inter-Ac selection. “After having a strange season last year, we knew we needed to regroup. Over the last few months, our team has grown in numerous ways. Though we still aren’t perfect, we have grown immensely on and off the court.
“Our communication and leadership has much improved since November and that will continue to play an important role in playoffs. We are focusing in on locking down on defense and taking care of the ball. We believe if we accomplish these tasks, we will be super successful during the next few weeks.”
Germantown Academy (photos by Colleen Claggett and Kathy Leister for PSD)
For the first time since 2014, Germantown Academy did not capture the Inter-Ac title. The Patriots nabbed six straight from 2015 through 2020, then there was no official title given last year because of the pandemic.
Head coach Sherri Retif, whose legendary resume includes 20 titles since her first season in 1998-99, was asked to assess this campaign.
She labeled the program’s biggest win as “the breakout leadership” of aforementioned Bennett, Jess Aponik, and Casey. With 12 games of double digits in both points and rebounds – including a whopping 20 boards against Imhotep – Bennett has averaged 13 points and 11 boards.
Bennett is closing in on 250 rebounds and 50 blocks. For single-season production, that’s ninth best in rebounding and fourth best in blocks.
“They’re quite impressive numbers for a junior,” said Retif.
Retif cited Casey as GA’s “defensive stopper” while pointing out that Casey also averages 11 points per game. Jess Aponik leads the Pats in assists with three per game and field goal percentage at a 53-percent clip.
“Another huge win for us was the breakout game of freshman Gabby Bowes, who led the team in our victory over Penn Charter,” said Retif, referring to Bowes’ 26 points – a team high for the season thus far.
Retif also lauded sophs Jenna Aponik and Sam Wade, as well as freshman CeeJay Thomas.
Germantown Academy in Game vs. Penn Charter, (video/Colleen Claggett for PSD)
“Our core seven understand their roles and are honing their gifts,” said Retif.
As for GA’s three league defeats?
“Our mantra all year has been, ‘Don’t lose the lesson in the loss,'” said Retif, “and that has made us a better team.”
The Patriots will host Perkiomen School 4:00 Friday.
Academy of Notre Dame tied with Germantown Academy for second place with a 9-3 mark. The Irish will host Episcopal Academy 4:00 Friday in a PAISAA quarterfinal.
When the Irish lost to Penn Charter, 49-39, back on Feb. 1, it basically knocked Notre Dame out of the running for a share of the league crown. Worse, ND’s best player, senior Maeve McErlane, injured her knee and it turned out that it was a season-ending blow.
An MRI revealed a tear in her meniscus, and the DePaul University-bound McErlane had surgery this week. According to the 1,018-point career scorer, “all went well and I should be back to running in about four weeks or so.”
Assuaging the disappointment a bit was McErlane being named the Inter-Academic League Most Valuable Player.
McErlane, however, would trade her MVP award for a league championship. The Irish and Penn Charter both only had one loss last winter, but the Inter-Ac already had determined that no champion would be crowned because of the pandemic.
“Although we never were able to come out with an Inter-Ac title, Notre Dame has prepared me for the next level both academically and athletically,” said McErlane. “I have made friendships and relationships that will last a lifetime, and for that I’m grateful.”
Notre Dame coach Lauren Power has never coached a better player.
“Maeve is one of the most complete players I’ve ever been around-from her skill set to her tireless work ethic,” said Power. “When I look back on her career, she has had so many incredible performances, from the day she hit 1,000 to the countless times she willed us to victory. She’s one of the greatest to ever wear an Irish uniform.
“There is no replacing her, but I know she’s left a legacy of inspiration for our younger girls to follow. She has been incredible for us, and I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to coach her.”
Academy of Notre Dame senior Maeve McErlane scored her 1000th career point in game vs. Episcopal Academy on Jan. 25 (photo/courtesy Linda Genther)
Academy of Notre Dame vs. Penn Charter in Game on 1/19 (Video/James Williamson for PSD)
Academy of Notre Dame vs. Springside Chestnut Hill - PSD Photos by Kathy Leister
Notre Dame junior Annie Greek didn’t hesitate when asked to divulge the best moment of her season.
“Assisting Maeve’s 1,000th point was super special and a great feeling,” said Greek. “She works so hard and has given so much to this program. I’m really lucky to have a teammate like her, and I’m really proud I got to contribute to her big accomplishment. It’s a moment I will never forget.
“In the end I’m really proud of all the team has accomplished through hard work and determination and through all the adversity we have faced.”
Episcopal Academy rarely received mention of being a championship contender, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying.
Among EA’s highlights was stunning Germantown Academy, 49-39, on Feb. 11, along with seizing a 12-1 first-quarter lead in an ultimate loss to league champion Penn Charter two weeks earlier.
The Churchwomen had a chance to play spoiler in their season finale against Penn Charter, but the Quakers dominated the second half, leaving Episcopal with a 7-5, fourth-place league record. EA visits Notre Dame 4:00 Friday in a PAISAA quarterfinal.
Episcopal senior co-captains Riley Cassidy and Amanda Purcell are both proud of their team’s achievements.
“Going into the season, there were a list of teams we had never beat in my four years before beating them this year – Friends’ Central, Bishop Shanahan, and Germantown Academy,” said Cassidy, a first-team All-Inter-Ac selection and a Muhlenberg College signee. “I’m also proud that all games outside the Inter-Ac with the exception of Archbishop Carroll and Cardinal O’Hara, who are on a whole other level, that we beat in quality wins: Marple-Newtown, Shanahan, Friends Central, Germantown Friends, Springfield, Villa Maria, Merion Mercy, and Harriton. I’m proud of the entire year and how we fought every game.
Episcopal Academy Senior Day Feb. 1 (photo by EA senior Nick Schreder for PSD)
Episcopal Academy Senior Day. (Photo gallery by EA senior Nick Schreder for PSD)
“I’m also thrilled that we had the opportunity to play a full season. I have awesome teammates and to finish the regular season with 17 wins is a great accomplishment.”
Purcell, a second-team selection, echoed Cassidy.
“I think that our win against Germantown Academy showed that we could compete and pull out a great team win against the top teams in the Inter-Ac,” said Purcell. “Compared to previous seasons, I’d say that this is our best season of competing, and we definitely wanted to grab a couple more wins.
“Our overall season, including games against some Central League teams, and against Villa Maria and Bishop Shanahan, showed our ability to work together and get some great wins as well.”
(Contact John Knebels at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)