Girls Basketball: With heavy heart, Abbonizio delivers for Springfield in Central League semifinal

NEWTOWN SQUARE >> In the days and weeks ahead, Springfield freshman Alexa Abbonizio and her family will tell stories and share memories about her late grandfather. Robert J. Abbonizio, affectionately known as “Big Bob,” passed away Feb. 6. He was 80. Alexa is one of Mr. Abbonizio’s nine grandchildren. And he was a big fan of his granddaughter, the basketball player. Abbonizio was in the starting lineup for Springfield in its regular-season finale Friday. She had the best game of her young high school career when she scored 29 points to lead the Cougars to victory over Radnor. She dedicated that game to her grandfather.

Sunday at Marple Newtown, mere hours before she would attend her grandfather’s viewing service, Abbonizio helped Springfield defeat Haverford, 37-27, in the semifinals of the Central League playoffs. The Cougars will play reigning league champion Garnet Valley in the final Tuesday night at Harriton. Abbonizio paid tribute to her grandfather the best way she knew how.

“I played for him,” said Abbonizio, who scored a game-high 12 points. “Everything was for him tonight. The win two nights ago, that was for him. It was all for him.”
Abbonizio’s ability to keep her focus on basketball during trying times was not lost on her teammates and coaches.

“She showed a lot of mental toughness,” junior Jordan D’Ambrosio said.

“Especially because she’s only a freshman and she hasn’t been (in big games) before,” junior Belle Mastropietro said. “She played really well.”

Springfield coach Ky McNichol couldn’t have asked for more from Abbonizio in Sunday’s win. Abbonizio hit two field goals, including her second 3-pointer of the day, to help Springfield expand its lead to nine points in the third quarter.

“It has not been an easy week for her or her family and she’s really stepped up for us,’’ McNichol said. “She put her emotions on the floor. She told us that she was going to dedicate these games to her grandfather and she really put her heart into these games and did it for him.”

Abbonizio shot 3-for-7 from the floor and 4-for-4 at the free-throw line. In addition, she grabbed two rebounds, made one steal and dished out one assist. Thanks in large part to her performance, Springfield (17-6) avenged a regular season setback to Haverford (15-8) and will play in the Central League final for the second time in three seasons.

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