What’s better than watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve? Watching these basketball players drop big-time points in holiday tournaments. Whether they traveled near or far, these players took advantage of the opportunity to show what they can do on the big stage. 

See which players left a lasting impression in the last week of 2022, and be sure to vote for the Boys and Girls Athletes of the Week!

Boys Poll:Which boys basketball player impressed the most? Vote for Athlete of the Week!

Girls Poll:Poll! Which girls basketball player gets your vote for Athlete of the Week?

GIRLS:

Teya McConnaha, Souderton

Teya McConnaha had a Tournament to remember at the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational. The Indians swept the three-game series, with McConnaha posting double-doubles in each game. The senior dominated with 24 points and 20 rebounds (11 offensive) in a win over Luella, Georgia, and she had 16 points and 17 boards against Middle Tennessee Christian. In the championship game, McConnaha posted 15 points and 12 rebounds in the 47-42 victory and was named tournament MVP. McConnaha did take home an unwanted souvenir from Tampa, as she suffered a broken nose in the final game. 

Sofia Vitucci, Pennsbury: The junior guard went on a scoring spree at the Ridley Holiday Classic. Vitucci scored 19 points in a win against Unionville, and in the championship game against Ridley she had 22 points, including 9-for-10 from the foul line, to lead the Falcons to a 41-33 victory. 

Layla Matthias, Pennsbury: The Falcons’ forward tallied eight rebounds and five steals in a win against Unionville at the Ridley Holiday Classic. 

YoYo Samayoa, Central Bucks South: Samayoa came up big when her team needed her during the Garnet Valley Holiday Classic. In the Titans’ first game against Downingtown East, Samayoa had five crucial points, all coming in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer with 1:30 to go to seal the 35-32 win. In the championship game against Garnet Valley, Samayoa scored a team-high 14 points in the 47-39 victory and was named tournament MVP. 

Anna Barry, Central Bucks East: The Titans’ junior posted 11 points in a win against Freire Charter at the Interboro Holiday Classic, and followed that with a 20-point performance in a 55-17 victory over the host team in the championship game. 

Mary Beck, Grace McShane, Bensalem: The Owls’ freshmen scored the first varsity points of their careers in a blowout win over Oakcrest at the Boardwalk Basketball Classic in Wildwood. McShane scored five points while Beck finished with six points.

Amber Howard, Bensalem: The Owls’ junior scored a career-high 23 points in a 52-41 win against Archbishop Ryan at the Wildwood Boardwalk Classic. 

Gabby Casey, Lansdale Catholic: In two wins at the Boyertown Holiday Tournament, Casey posted games with 17 and 18 points.

Jaida Helm, Lansdale Catholic: Helm led the Crusaders with 20 points in a win over Pennridge in the Boyertown Holiday Tournament championship game. 

Hannah Griffin, Gwynedd Mercy: Griffin’s performance in the James M. Akens Tournament at North Pocono earned her tournament MVP honors. The senior guard led the Monarchs with 18 points in their first-round win, and had eight points in limited duty in the championship match. Griffin scored five of her points in the first quarter, the same amount scored by all of North Pocono in that period, en route to a 44-17 victory. 

Bailey Balkir, Gwynedd Mercy: The freshman had a game-high 10 points in the Monarchs’ win over North Pocono in the James M. Akens Tournament championship game. 

Morgan Volz, William Tennent: Volz led the Panthers with 11 points in both games at the Upper Merion Holiday tournament. The Panthers defeated Upper Merion 39-32 before falling to Oxford 52-43.

Delaney McCaffrey, Council Rock North: McCaffrey erupted for 22 points in the first half of the Indians’ 49-23 win over Harry S. Truman. She finished with a game-high 25 points. 

More:Ryan Zuckerman gives Pennsbury basketball big boost after committing to Pitt for baseball

BOYS:

Nathan Lapp, Dock Mennonite

Nathan Lapp scored his 1,000th career point at home in the first game of the Tim Ehst Holiday Tournament. Entering the Christmas break with 979 points, Lapp reached the milestone in the third quarter of Wednesday’s win and finished the game with 24 points as well as six assists. In the championship game against Souderton, Lapp scored or assisted on 20 of the Pioneers’ first 22 points. He finished with 19 points in the 53-44 victory. The senior is a Millersville commit for baseball. 

Nate Hemsing, Souderton: The Indians’ senior hit eight 3-pointers in a win over Dobbins in a Tim Ehst Holiday Tournament game. Hemsing finished the game with 26 points, a career high for the senior.  

Kirby Mooney, William Tennent: The junior guard has been having one of the best seasons in the SOL, and that continued at the Jack Schott Basketball Tournament. In a 71-67 win over Neshaminy, Mooney tallied 26 points and eight rebounds. In the championship game, Mooney erupted for 28 points, along with eight rebounds and six assists, to lead the Panthers over Holy Ghost 78-75. Mooney sank two free throws with six seconds left to secure the win, and was named tournament MVP. 

Jack Wineburg, Bensalem: The senior guard led the Owls in scoring in both games at the Dick Dougherty Tournament. Wineburg scored 17 points in a win over Lower Moreland, and 18 points in a loss to Executive Education. It was a career-high for Wineburg, who also plays volleyball and golf for Bensalem. 

Alex Best, Upper Moreland: The Golden Bears’ junior guard saved his best for last. In the Robert Hopf Memorial Tournament championship game against undefeated Samuel Fels, Best opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer and a layup on a fastbreak to tie the game. Best, who had 10 points in the tournament opener, finished with nine points as the Golden Bears won the championship game 61-56.

Matt Engle, Central Bucks West: Engle took over in the fourth quarter of the Bucks’ game against West Ashley in the Modie Risher Holiday Tournament. Engle scored 10 of his game-high 19 points in the fourth, helping the Bucks rebound from a 30-20 halftime deficit to take the 48-33 win. Engle had 10 points in the Bucks’ first-round victory as well. 

More:Three local players land spots on All-State football team for 2022 season

Morris Ivery, Bristol: Ivery erupted for 28 points as the Warriors battled back to take Springfield to OT in the Over the River Holiday Classic. Ivery went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the game, which ended in a 52-47 Springfield win. 

Ethan Tomlinson, Quakertown:  At the Salisbury Holiday Tournament, Tomlinson scored 18 points in a victory over Salisbury, and 10 points in a win over Saucon Valley. Tomlinson’s efforts earned him tournament MVP honors. 

Ryan Zeltt, North Penn: Zeltt scored eight points in the first quarter in a game against Methacton at the Perkiomen Valley Holiday Tournament, getting the Knights off to a fast start in the eventual win. Zeltt finished with a team-high 16 points. 

Bryce Rollerson, Germantown Academy: Rollerson posted 20 points to help the Patriots edge Abington Friends 55-53 in the Abington Friends Tournament championship game. Rollerson had 16 points in a win against Carver E & S in the tournament opener. 

Teddy Mangan, Pennsbury: Mangan was the catalyst for the Falcons winning the Boardwalk Classic’s Ray Martin Memorial championship. The junior guard scored nine points in the first half of the title game against Pope John Paul II, helping the Falcons to a 22-11 lead. He finished with a team-high 13 points, going 6-for-6 at the free throw line, in the 56-42 win. In their tournament opener, Mangan had a game-high 16 points. 

Joey Giordano, Central Bucks East: With 20 seconds remaining, Giordano hit a pair of free throws to give the Patriots a 56-55 win over Skyview, Washington, at the Cactus Jam Holiday Tournament. Giordano finished with seven points.

Jacob Cummiskey, Central Bucks East: Cummiskey scored all 15 of his points in the second half, igniting a comeback victory for the Patriots, who trailed 32-24 at halftime to Skyview at the Cactus Jam in Arizona. 

Adam Mahtat, Council Rock North: Mahtat scored 15 points to lead the Indians to a 43-39 win in overtime against Haverford in the Haverford Holiday Tournament. The senior captain also had 12 points in the victory over Kennett. 

Jack Blum, Council Rock North: The Indians’ senior captain had a game-high 19 points in a win over Kennett at the Haverford Holiday Tournament. 

Noah Schlosser, Hatboro-Horsham: Schlosser scored eight of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime against Phillipsburg in the Phillipsburg Holiday Tournament. In a second OT game for the Hatters, Schlosser had 20 points in a 66-57 win over Bangor. 

Jake Grier, Hatboro-Horsham: Grier had six of his team-high 21 points in the fourth quarter to tie the game, and four points in overtime to lead the Hatters to a 66-57 victory over Bangor in the Phillipsburg Holiday Tournament.

Kachi Nzeh, George School: Nzeh tallied 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a block in the Cougars win over Springside Chestnut-Hill at the Play-by-Play Classic. 

Luke Bevilacqua, George School: Bevilacqua, who transferred from Neumann-Goretti, made his presence known at the Play-by-Play Classic. Against Chestnut Hill, Bevilacqua dominated the third quarter, scoring eight points as the Cougars went on an 11-0 run. He finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and one block in the 63-41 win.

Horace Simmons, La Salle: Simmons reached double digits in all three games at the Benedictine Capital City Classic in Richmond, highlighted by a 26-point performance against Life Christian Academy. He had 17 points against Benedictine and 13 against Archbishop Spalding, both wins. 

James Bartchak, La Salle: Bartchak had a team-high 17 points to help the Explorers edge Archbishop Spalding 49-48 at the Benedictine Capital City Classic. 

Jalil Bethea, Archbishop Wood: Bethea and the Vikings had a busy week playing in four games at the prestigious Made Hoops Jordan Holiday Classic and the Central Valley Holiday Classic. Bethea scored 17 of his team-leadling 19 points in the second half against Penn Hills, leading the Vikings to a 57-55 win. In the three other games, Bethea posted 27 points, 19 points and 13 points. The Vikings went 2-2. 

Xavier Peters, Pennridge: Peters had a game-high 21 points in the Rams’ 62-54 win over Governor Mifflin in the Boyertown Holiday Tournament. In the championship game, Peters contributed 13 points in the Rams’ victory.

Matt Campione, Pennridge: In the Boyertown Holiday Tournament championship game, Campione scored seven points in the fourth quarter, going 4-for-4 from the free throw line, in a 69-57 win over Avon Grove. Campione led all scorers with 19 points.