CR North defeated Tennent in Friday’s SOL Featured Game sponsored by the CR North Booster Club. To view photos of the game action, please visit the Photo Gallery.
NEWTOWN - The Council Rock North boys basketball team is continuing to roll.
The Indians defeated William Tennent, 70-47, in a Suburban One League National Conference game on Friday night at Council Rock North.
They are riding a 10-game win streak, dating back to a 64-51 loss to SOL National rival Abington, 64-51, on Dec. 18 at CR North.
Chris Rowland got things going for the Indians, starting the game off by hitting a pair of three-point shots to pace CR North to a 24-7 lead after the first quarter.
By halftime the Indians led, 43-25, and sealed the win in the third quarter, when they held Tennent to just four points while scoring 14.
Rowland led all scorers with 19 points, including six three-pointers, while Kyle McCloskey had 15 points and Rip Engel added 12 for the Indians.
Horace Spencer had 15 points to lead Tennent.
“They were focused and ready to go,” CR North coach Derek Wright said. “They were very mature and played every possession like it was the most important one. This is what we talked about, and we’re really grateful that they handled it so well.”
The game is particularly interesting because Abington lost to Council Rock South, 67-54, on Thursday, so CR North and Abington are tied for first place in the league with records of 7-1.
“That game is going to be on our minds because it is Abington, but we take it one game at a time,” CR North senior captain Ryan Baker said. “Tennent was our opponent tonight and we knew we had to get the job done and that’s what we did.
“So yes, it’s on our minds, but Tennent was here tonight and I thought we did what we needed to do.
“We had to get another win in the league. Tennent has some good players in (Matt) Alden and Horace (Spencer), and we had to contain both of them. I thought we did a good job on them and I thought our defense was unbelievable tonight. There’s nothing better than that.
“We have Wissahickon next but tonight was an SOL game, and league games are huge for us especially because it’s a clean slate now that Abington lost.”
In between Friday’s win over Tennent and Tuesday’s date at Abington, the Indians are playing Wissahickon on Saturday as part of the SOL Basketball Challenge. The game is at Wissahickon at 6:30 p.m.
Baker, a 6-2 forward, saw limited action on the varsity last year but is now a starter.
“I was on JV last year but last year was an incredible team,” he said. “Those seniors were amazing. I was just waiting for my time to shine and that’s right now.”
He is making the most of his opportunity.
“It’s fun being with these guys,” he said. “I’ve been with them since my sophomore year. The chemistry we’ve gained through those three years is undeniable. We’re so good together and though I haven’t been on the varsity team for that long and it feels like it’s just my time, those guys have been inspirational and it’s good to play with them.
“I had fun watching those other guys in front of me. It was inspirational to watch them and they taught me a lot. Watching them being successful was a good education for me.”
It is the dream of many an athlete to go from the junior varsity to captain on the varsity.
“Being a co-captain (along with McCloskey) of this team is an honor and one I’m happy to have,” he said.
He is excited about this year’s squad.
“The team’s chemistry is off the charts,” said Baker, who is also a pitcher and outfielder on the CR North baseball team. “We’re playing real well defensively and offensively. I think this season’s going to be a good one.
“I’m looking forward to Rip, Kyle, Josh (McWilliams) and Chris shooting the lights out again and taking it one game at a time,” he said. “Every game is important and we are looking forward to every single game.”
Baker has been accepted at James Madison, George Mason and Indiana University (Bloomington) but has not made a final choice. He plans to major in business or finance and sees himself playing basketball, but not for the college team.
“I’ll play intramural,” he said. “I’m not that 6-8 guy so I won’t be playing any DI basketball but I want to continue to play.
“High school basketball is so much fun and just to be a part of a team in high school is the best thing possible for any teenager. Taking that to college would be fun and taking it to college even at the intramural level is just going to continue that fun. It’s a great way to stay active and in shape and to meet new people.”
In addition to his athletic endeavors, Baker is the president of two school organizations; KOM and Athletes Helping Athletes.
KOM is the Kick-Off Mentor Program, a national program where juniors and seniors mentor freshmen.
“We give them advice and make sure they make the transition from eighth grade to ninth grade smoothly,” he said.
CR North participates in Athletes Helping Athletes and a special needs athlete serves as an honorary captain at every home game.
“We get other varsity athletes who aren’t in season to sit down with our honorary captains during the game,” he said. “They have a great time and it’s just a great program to be a part of.”
Wright has watched Baker blossom.
“He’s a real program kid,’ Wright said. “He came up through our freshman program, played a little JV as sophomore and last year he was up and down between JV and varsity.
“He’s extremely coachable. He does everything we ask him to do. It’s great to see the fruits of his labor carried out this year I think every team needs a kid like him.”
William Tennent 7 18 4 18 – 47
Council Rock North 24 19 14 13 – 70
William Tennent (47): Matt Alden 4 1-1 10; Horace Spencer 7 1-1 15; Vinnie Case 2 0-1 4; Connor Spornak 2 0-0 4; Mike Wasserleben 0 0-0 0; Joe Beck 0 2-2 2; Mike Shields 2 0-0 5; Colin Hatala 2 0-0 6. Totals: 19 4-5 47.
Council Rock North (70): Josh McWilliams 4 1-1 9; Rip Engel 5 0-0 12; Ryan Baker 4 0-0 8; Chris Rowland 6 1-1 19; Brandon Knotts 3 0-0 7; Kyle McCloskey 6 0-0 15; Matt Margolis 0 0-0 0; Nate Kardos 0 0-0 0; Steve Nowmos 1 0-0 2; Quinn Johnson 0 0-0 0; Will Desautelle 0 0-0 0; Tyler Madison 0 0-0 0. Totals: 28 2-2 70.
Three-point goals: Alden, Shields, Hatala 2, Engel 2, Knotts, McCloskey 3, Rowland 6.
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