Lady Hawks' Historic Year Rolls On

This was likely going to be a good season for Council Rock South.

Few, if anyone, though, could have predicted what is still unfolding for the Golden Hawks. For the second time in school history, Council Rock South has clinched a spot in the PIAA Class AAAA playoffs.

That was taken care of Feb. 22 thanks to a dominant 66-37 home victory over Central Bucks West in the second round of the District I Class AAAA tournament.

However, the Hawks proved to be far from satisfied with that.

On Saturday afternoon, with a large student section cheering them on, the Hawks again took care of business, this time to the tune of a 44-32 home win over seventh-seeded Upper Darby.

“It’s actually unbelievable,” said junior Courtney Brown. “We work hard and everyone gets along on the team.”

Saturday's victory puts them in the district semifinals for the first time ever and improved them to 25-0 on the year.

“I mean, I knew we were going to be a great team, but I didn’t think we’d be undefeated right now,” she added.

Not even four-year coach Monica Stolic thought that was possible. Given that the Hawks play in the Suburban One League’s (SOL) National Conference, which sent four other schools to the district playoffs, going 14-0 for their first ever league championship was an accomplishment in itself. But South also faced a tough non-league schedule and ran through that, and has now won its first three postseason contests.

“I don’t think anyone really expected this,” said forward Alex Wheatley. “Hof [starting point guard Alexis Hofstaedter] was saying it’s surreal and we have to keep it going.”

Wheatley, one of three seniors along with Rachel Jacob and Taylor Hunt, has been one of the biggest reasons for the success, though she’d probably never tell you that if you asked her. After an all-state campaign as a junior, she has again starred this season and now in the playoffs. She is averaging over 18 points per game in victories over Interboro, CB-West and now Upper Darby, the last of which included 23 points and 16 rebounds.

“She gets us motivated,” said Hofstaedter. “She really helps us getting those key rebounds.”

Wheatley will continue her basketball career at Princeton University next year.

“I’m really in South mode right now,” Wheatley said. “I am excited for Princeton, but right now, it’s all Lady Hawks.”

Her teammates are aware of her value though.

“It doesn’t hurt to have a player named Alex Wheatley,” Stolic praised.

She isn’t the only college prospect either, as Hofstaedter, the team’s starting point guard, has verbally committed to William and Mary College. She finished with six points in the Upper Darby win.

The game itself was rarely in doubt, as the Hawks held the Royals to two points in the first quarter and took a 22-13 lead at halftime. Wheatley then exploded in the third period with some great play on both ends of the floor and 11 points. Her performance all but put the game out of reach by the time the final period began.

“We stayed focus,” said Stolic about her team’s success. “We take one game at a time.”

This has also been a year of redemption after the Hawks lost by a single point to Downingtown West, in overtime nonetheless, in the ninth-place district game last season, which would have given them a second straight trip to states.

Instead, they had to wait until now, but perhaps it will be well worth it. After Cheltenham lost to North Penn on Saturday, South is the top remaining seed in districts. Next up will be a trip to Norristown for a spot in the finals.

Regardless of what happens, though, the Hawks will be playing into next months for another first, namely a state title.

“We’ve gotta play great defense still, run the offense, run the floor and play one game at a time,” said Stolic.