BRYN MAWR, PA – For Springside Chestnut Hill junior, Nya Searight, Tuesday’s match-up against Baldwin started out as just any other game, but ended with a career highlight and celebration.
“I wouldn’t be here without my teammates, they really pushed me to get where I am today,” said Searight, who scored her 1,000th point in the second quarter in front of her family and friends.
SCH'S Nya Searight talks about what it meant to score her 1,000th basket
SCH's 1,000th point celebration
Searight led her team on the floor, scoring 17 points in Springside Chestnut Hill’s 39-31 win over Baldwin.
“To have an 1,000-point scorer, it’s our third in school’s history, it’s a big deal,” said Blue Devils head coach Matthew Paul. “Nya is the best scorer on our team and somebody who we need to score in order to win.”
Although the Blue Devils came out on top with the road victory, the Bears held their ground and led 18-10 at halftime. Eighth grader, Amaris Baker, led Baldwin in the first half, tallying 12 of the Bears 18 first half points.
“We played tough defensively, but struggled to rebound the ball, especially with our senior post Morgan Montoute out,” said Bears head coach Danny Furey. “On offense, if we knocked down a few of those jumpers, it would have changed the game.”
This win marked SCH’s fourth consecutive victory. The Blue Devils look to continue their streak tomorrow afternoon as they play host to Germantown Academy at 4 PM.
“Danny did a tremendous job with her team. They (Baldwin) were missing two key players and they got back on defense and took away our first half. We missed a bunch of easy shots early on, but they played great defense and we didn’t get frustrated,” said Paul. “It was a tremendous team effort. Our two guards Stephanie DiAngelis and Emily McNesby really did a great job covering their (Baldwin’s) best player…We have come from behind more than once. So that belief that you can do it even when the chips are down will carry with us.”
In her third year at the helm of Baldwin’s basketball program, coach Furey is excited about what the future holds for her energetic squad.
Baldwin’s team is packed with budding young talent that will certainly shine in the coming years. For starters, the Bears roster contains 10 (out of 15) young ladies who range from 8th graders to high school sophomores. Their starting line-up against SCH, featured THREE eighth graders Baker, Taylor Levinson and Anajah Brown, freshman, Alexandra Loomis and sophomore Simi Bleznak.
Baldwin vs. Springside Chestnut Hill Highlight Video
With such a young team, Furey explains that her girls are learning and growing together everyday.
“Our team has been improving every practice and every game, and we have been challenging teams in the Inter-Ac the second time around. We definitely surprised teams! Our goals are to continue to play tough and challenge every team we face,” said Furey. “We need to be aggressive on defense, do a better job of controlling the boards, and work on executing our offense. We are taking big steps forward and that's due to their determination and hard work the girls put in every day. They don't give up and they don't get intimidated by any team.”
Baldwin currently has two league games left this season – tomorrow afternoon against Agnes Irwin and Tuesday, Feb. 7 against Episcopal Academy. Starting eighth grader, Anajah Brown, would love to see one of her season goals get accomplished during her teams' remaining two games.
“We have progressed throughout the year and I just want to get a win,” said Brown. “We are going to miss our seniors but I’m looking forward to playing with these girls next year.”