Girls' Basketball Falls to Sterling in Quarterfinals

SOMERDALE–The West Deptford High School girls' basketball team put together one of the greatest seasons in program history this winter, and has a lot of reasons to be proud of what it accomplished the last two months.

However, Wednesday night belonged to the top team in Group II.

No. 1 Sterling controlled the flow of the game and dominated the glass in a 49-30 win over No. 9 West Deptford in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group II quarterfinals. The Knights will take on Delran in the semifinals.

The Eagles knew the challenge they faced entering the contest, having lost to the Knights by over 20 points twice during the regular season. West Deptford hung tough for most of the game, but was never able to overcome Sterling’s size and saw the game get out of reach in the second half.

“We came out and tried our hardest,” said West Deptford junior Megan Kirschling. “We knew it would be tough and we would have to battle uphill, but we never gave up, so I am proud of that.”

“We hung in, we were just too small,” said West Deptford first-year coach J McKeown. “We were afraid to drive sometimes and that’s what I wanted us to do, to drive and kick. Their size, with rebounding and intimidation on defense inside, is what dominated the game.”

The game was played at a quick tempo in the first quarter, with Sterling senior Kylie O’Donnell putting on a shooting clinic. O’Donnell hit a trio of three-pointers to help the Knights close the quarter in front 15-11. The pace slowed in the second as each team struggled from the field, but the Knights were able to build their lead to 25-15 at the half, thanks largely to eight offensive rebounds in the frame.

Sterling opened the third quarter with nine-straight points as it looked like the game might turn into a rout, but West Deptford stayed competitive and trailed 40-27 entering the fourth.

“The one thing I liked today was that even when they got way ahead we chomped away a little bit,” J McKeown said. “We didn’t just fold completely, which happened both times (during the regulation). We didn’t let the floodgates open.”

In the final session, the Eagles managed only three points as their season came to a close. Kelly Brewster led the team with nine points, while McKeown and Kirschling had eight and five points, respectively.         

“They’re a good team,” said junior guard Danielle McKeown. “They are hard to beat. We had to rebound better, but other than that we played out hearts out.”

Sterling finished with 22 offensive rebounds, but Kirschling said it wasn’t due to lack of effort on the Eagles’ part.

“It was a fight the whole time,” Kirschling said. “I was really proud, that everyone tried and doubled down whenever they could.”

Although Wednesday’s loss was tough on the players it didn’t change the fact that the team tied a school record with 18 wins and won a playoff game for the first time in recent memory.

“I’m extremely proud,” said Danielle McKeown, with tears in her eyes. “This is the best season we’ve had.”

Group II playoffs

Sterling 49, West Deptford 30

West Deptford  11           4              12           3              -30

Sterling 15           10           15           9              -49

West Deptford: Knoblock 2, Kirschling 5, D’Aiutolo 2, Brewster 9, Boegly 4, Mckeown 8.

Sterling: Burch 8, Hodge 5, Lewis 11, O’Donnell 12, Sanchez 7, Satchell 6.