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GIRLS BASKETBALL: Westtown to Face Friends' Central in Friends League Girls Basketball Final

By Marc Narducci. Photos: Kathy Leister & James Williamson, 02/08/23, 8:45PM EST

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Photos/Videos: Kathy Leister & James Williamson

By: Marc Narducci

“One Game at a Time” Mentality for Westtown

This season Westtown hasn’t been seriously challenged in the Friends League, but the Moose are taking nothing for granted. Coach Fran Burbidge has his team on the seemingly boring but truly necessary one-game-at-a-time mindset.

It’s been working all season, where no opponent gets overlooked.

Top seeded Westtown was surely on its game with Tuesday’s 82-37 semifinal win over No. 4 seeded Shipley. Westtown (17-4) will now face No. 2 seeded Friends' Central (23-5) in Friday’s 6:30 p.m. champion at La Salle University.

(The boys’ title game between George School and Academy of the New Church, will be the second game of the doubleheader, beginning at 8).

Friends' Central earned its trip to the championship with a 48-45 win over No. 3 seeded George School.

“We try not to get too far ahead of ourselves,” Burbidge said. “We put all of our effort and energy into the game with Shipley and now we will come to the gym and prepare for Friends' Central.”

On Jan. 20, Westtown earned a 55-37 win over Friends' Central, its closest Friends League game.

“They gave us a good game,” Burbidge said about Friends' Central. “It’s not going to be easy.”

Neither is stopping Westtown.

Westtown vs. Shipley - 2023 FSL semifinal Highlights by PSD's KAthy Leister:

The Moose were led in the semifinal by 5-10 Delaware commit Grace Sundback, who scored 18 points. One of the area’s top long-range shooters, Sundback hit four three-pointers.

Zahra King, a 5-9 junior, scored 14 points and sophomore Aidan Langley added 11. Jordyn Palmer the 6-1 eighth grade sensation, and 5-10 senior Joniyah Bland-Fitzpatrick, a Seton Hall commit, each scored eight points.

It’s this type of balance that has helped make Westtown so successful. The Moose share the ball well and have several players who can dissect defenses.

And they do it one game at a time.

Best of the semifinals

The closest semifinal (including the boys) was Friends' Central’s 48-45 win over George School. Friends' Central coach Vinny Simpson, in his first full season after taking over last January, says he felt fortunate to come out with the W against a young and talented George School team.

“We were up by 15 and in the second half we ran out of gas and got a little tired,” Simpson said.

Still, his team is in the championship and for that, he is extremely grateful for the effort of his players.

“I am so happy for our team, but I am trying to figure out a way we can get better,” he said.

Going up against Westtown can seem like a daunting task.

The Moose are attempting to win their third consecutive Friends League title (there was no championship in 2021 due to COVID).

Friends' Central School vs. George School in FSL semifinal game. Highlights by James Williamson for PSD.

Against George School, Friends' Central 5-8 senior Sana’a Garrett led the way with 14 points. Garrett, one of two seniors on the team along with 6-0 Amani Savage (who scored five points), is the engine that drives the Phoenix.

“She has bene everything,” Simpson said of Garrett. “In the first half, she was the reason we got a big lead with four to five steals in a row and she made some good passes and controlled the game. She did everything she had to help us win the game and I am proud of her.”

FCS senior Sana’a Garrett talks about closing out the game & preparing for the championship - PSD Video by James Williamson

FCS senior Amani Savage feels really good about making it to the championship - PSD Video by James Williamson

Sydney Williams, a 5-4 sophomore, chipped in with 12 points.

“She was the unsung hero, hitting a couple of fast break layups when we got steals,” Simpson said. “We got a lot of transition buckets and she was a big part of it.”

Logyn Greer, a 6-3 sophomore, scored 10 points.

“Logyn Greer was great, she hit the big shot to seal the game,” Simpson said.

Sophia Martinez, a 5-6 junior, led the George School with 14 points, including two three-pointers, while 6-5 junior Gianna Johnson added 13 points.

Playing at home, Simpson said the players fed off the atmosphere of the enthusiastic crowd.

“The students really came out today,” he said. “It was loud and they did a great job.”

He also mentioned that there were some college coaches in attendance.

There will likely be more on Friday.

“I was really excited,” Simpson said. “I always thought this was a place we could be.”