Summer league can often be a tough situation to gauge a team with AAU basketball taking center stage.

That was evident for the Bethlehem Catholic girls' basketball team in last week's Stellar "Catch A Rising Star Basketball Showcase" at Cedar Beach. The Lady Hawks were without a number of their top varsity players from a year ago, and only two varsity regulars took part in the tournament.

"We have Jordan [Jones] and Maggie [Melhem] those are our varsity players that are back," newly-acquired head coach Megan Dellegrotti said. "We're missing about four or five.

"With that being said, we'll take what we can get. The younger kids are getting some good experience. We have three freshmen out there that this is their first varsity experience. It's a process. It's a work in progress. The kids are learning each game and getting better."

A tough loss to Owen J. Roberts on the first day of the tournament placed the Lady Hawks into the loser's bracket in a matter of hours. But the way Dellegrotti's team responded on Saturday was certainly pleasing.

The Golden Hawks first downed Northwestern in an early morning contest, and their 39-33 victory over Boyertown's B team guaranteed them a third game on Saturday.

"I'm very proud of the girls coming back and winning two today [Saturday]," Dellegrotti said.

Melhem and Jones, both who started at some point during last season, had key roles in their win over Boyertown. Melhem scored a game-high 22 points, and Jones' undeniable ball penetration led to 10 points for the Lady Hawks.

"They have been good leaders," Dellegrotti said. "Maggie, today, really helped us. She is helping the younger kids, and putting them in their spots.

"Jordan is doing Jordan. Really no one can stop her off the dribble. She is making plays with that. The younger kids have to get used to playing with that."

Much of the summer has produced a tough go-around for the Lady Hawks, who are looking to get accustomed to Dellegrotti's style. With limited time together as a team, the Stellar tournament and upcoming SportsFest "American Arch" Basketball Tournament are key in gaining that experience together.

"Just to get better," Dellegrotti said of her team's goals for the tournament. "To get better, to gain some experience [and] to improve our chemistry as a team. We just have continue to get to know each other. For me to get to know them as players, and for them to get to know me as a coach.

"We really haven't had our whole team together. That part has been difficult. But again, the kids are learning each day and they are improving each day."

Freedom saw its tournament lives take a quick hit on Wednesday night as well with its loss to Southern Lehigh.

But the Lady Patriots turned around that loss in a matter of a few hours over the weekend.

Pitted against South Seneca on Saturday morning, the Lady Patriots used a 45-32 win to begin a string of three consecutive wins. After victories over Emmaus and Owen J. Roberts, the Lady Patriots' run came to an end against eventual champion Boyertown A on Sunday morning.

Boyertown downed Parkland in a 23-22 overtime loss in the championship game.