TOWAMENCIN- The Suburban One Colonial Division champs made it clear that they are a force to be reckoned with in the postseason, after a dominant performance on both sides of the ball last night..

The North Penn Knights girls’ basketball team (22-3) punched their ticket to the District 1 Quarterfinals and the State Tournament after a 51-27 win over the Kennett Blue Demons Wednesday night. 

Caleigh Sperling scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Her dominance on the court was particularly evident in the first half, where she contributed 18 points, showcasing her scoring prowess early in the game. 

“I think my teammates were giving me the ball and seeing the floor well. And our boxing out and getting rebounds were feeding into our offense. Shooting from the outside helped us down the stretch,” Sperling stated. 

Sperling’s performance was not surprising, given her track record and the importance of the game, showcasing her ability to rise to the occasion in critical moments.

“Caleigh has been excellent all year; this performance was nothing short of the season she was having. I think being a senior in your last home game, especially in a playoff situation, she rose to the occasion,” Knights head coach Bri Cullen stated. 

During the second quarter, the Knights scored three consecutive three-pointers thanks to Sperling and Cameron Crowley. The team’s ball movement kept the defense on their toes, leading to several open shots. They took a commanding 35-15 lead at halftime, setting the tone for their dominance throughout the game.

“On offense, they were just willing to push the ball in transition, and we geared away from that at the end of the season. We are trying to get it back, so seeing it was nice,” Cullen explained.

The Knights’ defense was rock-solid throughout the game, limiting the Blue Demons to 27 points over four quarters. Their defensive dominance intensified in the second half, as they allowed only 12 points, securing a formidable victory.

“Communication has helped us defensively, and we adjusted our plan, which showed in the second half of the game,” Cullen said.

“Something we’ve been working on a lot, especially since our loss last week, is our defense; just being able to box them out well played a massive part in the game,” Sperling added. 

The District 1 Quarterfinals will feature a game between the fourth-seeded Haverford Fords and the fifth-seeded North Penn Knights on Saturday at Haverford High School. 

“We are super capable of playing to our total capacity. Haverford is a great team, so I am excited to play them and have a good matchup,” Cullen concluded.

PIAA District 1 Girls Basketball Playoff Bracket, Courtesy of suburbanonesports.com