Brodie leads C.B. South girls past Neshaminy, 51-34, in season opener
For the first game last season, Alexa Brodie described herself as being under the wing of the Central Bucks South senior class.
For the first game last season, Alexa Brodie described herself as being under the wing of the Central Bucks South senior class.
Then a freshman who came off the bench, Brodie picked up a lot from the Titans' girls' basketball team that first year.
She learned.
She grew.
She became a leader.
It was all because of that senior class, the point guard said. She developed from watching those players.
This year, it's her turn.
On Friday, Brodie emerged from under that wing to score a game-high 20 points as Central Bucks South beat Neshaminy, 51-34, in the season opener.
"Being a point guard I need to lead our team, and I need to spark our intensity," Brodie said. "When we lost our seniors, when we lost [Mackenzie Ehresman to injury], I knew I needed to bring that even more to the game. That's why I wanted to make sure I was talking on defense. When someone missed a shot I needed to keep them going, keep their confidence up."
Whatever her team needed against Neshaminy (0-1), Brodie brought. A case in point was the final 1 minute, 41 seconds of the third quarter.
After leading by five at halftime, the Titans (1-0) clung to a two-point advantage as Neshaminy had the momentum.
But Brodie hit a three-pointer and on the next possession forced a five-second violation. With five seconds remaining in the period, she drove to her left and scored.
Suddenly the lead became seven.
Brodie jump-started her squad and let the stingy team defense do the rest.
"We really didn't want them to get their shots off because early they were making them from beyond the three-point line," teammate Haley Meinel said. "We knew that was going to hurt us, so we had to close out hard."
Closing out hard meant allowing only 12 second-half points.
With the game safely in the Titans' command, Brodie was subbed out in the fourth quarter. She turned to Melissa Veal, who was sitting beside her as just 30 seconds remained.
"Let's go," they said to one another.
The first one was over, Central Bucks South had a win under its belt.
As for Brodie's wings? A crowd is sure to form underneath.
Neshaminy 7 15 7 5 - 34
Central Bucks South 16 11 9 15 - 51
N: Brooke Mullin 15, Allison Harvey 8, Devon Storms 6, Kristin Curley 3, Hannah Stonkus 2
CBS: Alexa Brodie 20, Haley Meinel 13, Lexi Edwards 8, Meghan Kuypers 3, Maddie McShane 3, Lindsay Scott 3, Sofia Sonnet 1
@ka_harman