Jarrad Saffren recaps all of Friday’s SOL boys’ basketball action.
By Jarrad Saffren
High school basketball season tipped off Friday night. Eighteen of 24 Suburban One League boys’ teams opened their seasons with non-conference games. Sixteen participated in season-opening tipoff tournaments. Two others played non-conference games. The results and recaps are below.
Central Bucks East 40, New Hope-Solebury 27
CB East suffocated New Hope-Solebury in a semifinal game in the four-team Rabberman Tipoff Tournament at Council Rock South.
The Patriots outscored the Lions 13-2 in the third quarter to turn a seven-point lead into an 38-20 advantage.
CB East junior guard Elijah Seger led all scorers with 13 points. The rest of the Patriots’ scoring was balanced, as seven other players contributed. Senior forward Justin O’Neill, senior center Blake Peterson, and senior guard Tommy Strasburger pitched in seven, six, and five, respectively.
Peterson was also the defensive anchor for the Patriots, blocking three shots.
CB East coach Erik Henrysen estimated that Peterson is 20-22 blocks away from the school record.
CB East went 6-16 last season and 1-13 in SOL Continental play, but the Patriots struggled mightily with injuries, as 18 of the program’s 24 players missed time, including Peterson and Strasburger.
Henrysen expects his experienced team to compete in 2015 if key players stay healthy. So far, so good.
The Patriots (1-0, 0-0) battle Jenkintown Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Rabberman Tipoff Tournament Championship.
CBE 14-11-13-2 40
NHS 8-10-2-7 27
Central Bucks South 67, Pottstown 40
CB South coach Jason Campbell said senior forward Tim Waddington “dedicated himself to the weight room” and “put on a lot of muscle” in the offseason.
The hard work paid off Friday night in the first game of the PAC-10/SOL Challenge. Waddington led all scorers with 16 points. The Third-Team All-SOL Continental player wants to play in college and is being scouted by some Division III schools. Friday’s performance could not have hurt.
Campbell also said that defense and rebounding would be CB South’s strengths in 2015. But the Titans lit up the scoreboard Friday as 10 players scored. Besides Waddington, junior guard Alex Karras, sophomore guard Nate Robinson, and senior guard Tom Doyle were the top scorers for the Titans. Karras and Doyle each had nine points and Robinson added eight.
CB South snuck into the playoffs last season with a 12-11 record. Five seniors on this year’s team contributed to the 2014 run, so Campbell expects to be competitive in the Continental Conference.
CB South (1-0, 0-0) finishes the PAC-10/SOL Challenge Saturday at 3 p.m. against Spring-Ford.
Episcopal Academy 68, Quakertown 54
Quakertown did not have a whole lot of time to build chemistry before Friday night’s season opener in the Radnor Tipoff Tournament at Radnor High School.
The Panthers were missing three key players—Charles Ervin, Rob Mestayer, and Tom Garlick— until Monday. All three play on Quakertown’s football team, which reached the second round of the district playoffs and played on Thanksgiving.
“We are trying to get them ready for the tournament,” said Quakertown coach Kevin Keeler. “It’s brutal. We are going to try to simplify it and let them be athletic. They pick things up as they go and that’s how you have to do things.”
In Friday’s season opener, Ervin scored eight points and Mestayer had two.
One Quakertown player was more than ready: leading scorer Griffin Schmidt. The four-year starter poured in 24 points and inched closer to the 1,000-point plateau. Schmidt came into Friday’s game with 800 career points.
Quakertown (0-1, 0-0) will play in the consolation game Saturday at 5:15 p.m.
Quakertown 20-11-14-9 54
Episcopal 16-15-21-16 68
Pennridge 76, Saucon Valley 32
Last season, Pennridge went 25-5, won the SOL Continental, and reached the state tournament.
“It’ll be tough to match the energy from last year, being 25-5,” said Pennridge coach Dean Behrens. “Our goal is to win the division again, but I think the league is very strong. We’ll have a better idea after today.”
After one game, the Rams look just as good, thanks to a returning scorer and a 6’7 newcomer. Senior Dan Long is the scorer. He averaged 16 points per game last season and picked up right where he left off in Friday night’s semifinal game in the Pennridge Memorial Tipoff Tournament.
The 6’7 newcomer is senior center Max Wagner. Long and Wagner combined for 35 points against Saucon Valley, Long with 17, Wagner with 18. Both showed a propensity for getting to the free throw line.
Long shot 5-for-6 from the line, Wagner was 6-for-9. Each also knocked down a pair of threes. Five players finished with six points for the Rams – Luke Nuneviller, Devon Balmer, Ryan Kinky AJ Demarco and Kyle Yoder.
Pennridge (1-0, 0-0) will play in the championship game Saturday at 7 p.m. versus Methacton.
Pennridge 26-17-17-16 76
Saucon Valley 8-12-6-6 32
North Penn 70, Perkiomen Valley 61
Both coaches focused on stopping the other team’s leading scorer. North Penn coach John Conrad put his best defender, Noah Kwortnik, on Perk Valley go-to guy Justin Jaworski. Offensively, the Knights sent go-to guy JJ Melchior around screens. But Perk Valley always had a defender ready to hedge.
The strategy worked for both teams. Jaworski scored just five points in the first half. “Noah played him well,” said Conrad.
Melchior netted just eight points in the game.
“They concentrated on him,” Conrad said.
Unlike Perkiomen Valley, North Penn found another go-to guy: Matt Pickford. Pickford dropped 21 points, including 12 in the second quarter, when North Penn pulled away. The Knights outscored the Vikings 23-12 in the second quarter to turn a 15-13 lead into a 38-25 halftime advantage.
“He had room to operate any time we ran JJ off screens,” said Conrad of PIckford. “Matt got out and scored in transition a few times. A couple putbacks.”
Conrad was happy with his team’s effort.
“Our kids played really well together, had a ton of energy, and were very unselfish,” he said.
Kwortnik and Derek Heiserman scored 10 points each to complement Pickford. Lance Lindsay-Ford added nine and Justin Cueto had eight.
North Penn (1-0, 0-0) hosts Conwell-Egan Monday at 7 p.m.
NP 15-23-14-19 70
PV 13-12-22-14 61
Hatboro-Horsham 58, William Tennent 10
Hatboro-Horsham stifled William Tennent, shutting out the Panthers in the first and fourth quarters.
Coach Ed Enoch was concerned that his team would have trouble replacing senior captain Brian McEachern, who bruised his thigh after taking a charge and landing in a pile under the basket in a scrimmage at CR South.
“When he’s around, we could be a really good basketball team. He’s our glue,” said Enoch. “Other kids have to step up now.”
On Friday, they did.
Clifton Moore and Jay Davis paced the Hatters’ offense with 18 and 15 points, respectively. Brandon Cruz added seven.
Hatboro-Horsham (1-0, 0-0) plays Lower Moreland in the title game of the Hatters’ Varsity Tipoff Tournament on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. William Tennent (0-1, 0-0) battles Upper Moreland in the consolation game at 3:45 p.m.
HH 21-18-15-4 58
WT 0-4-6-0 10
Central Bucks West 54, Spring-Ford 44
CB West outscored Spring-Ford by 15 in the second half and overcame a five-point halftime deficit, winning its first game in the PAC-10/SOL Challenge.
The Bucks trailed 21-16 at halftime but outscored the Rams 16-9 in the third quarter to go on top 32-30. They sealed the Rams’ fate with a 22-14 fourth quarter.
Three players—Connor Lynch (15 points), Cal Reichwein (11 points), and Erich Hohlenleitner (11 points)—scored in double figures. Lynch knocked down three threes. Luke Irons added nine points.
Lynch, Reichwein, and Hohlenleitner are returning starters. Irons has been on varsity for three years. CB West coach Adam Sherman said experience will carry the Bucks this season.
“We are not athletic or tall,” said Sherman. “But we handle, pass, and shoot well and are very senior-heavy. I am hoping that will make up the difference for the lack of size and speed.”
The Bucks (1-0, 0-0) will close out the PAC-10/SOL Challenge Saturday at 4:30 p.m. against Pottstown.
CBW 6-10-16-22 54
SF 6-15-9-14 44
Souderton 62, Lansdale Catholic 48
Souderton opened the Chuck Kornegay era with a win and a trip to the championship of the Souderton Tipoff Classic.
Kornegay, a former Villanova star, took over the program in the offseason and shifted the focus toward defense.
“Defensively, we are pretty tough,” said Kornegay. “It might not turn out that way but that’s how I’m trying to gear it.”
Tracey Simsick also proved the Indians are tough to handle offensively as well, torching the Crusaders for 22 points, which included four three-pointers. Ty Salone added 10 points while Michael Bealer had nine and Nick Horas, eight points.
The Indians – who opened up an early nine-point lead – led 21-15 at the end of one quarter and took a 34-28 advantage into halftime. They outscored the Crusaders 15-5 in the third quarter to seize command of the game.
Souderton will face its second test Saturday at 5 p.m., when Souderton (1-0, 0-0) takes on Simon Gratz in the championship.
LC 15-13-5-15 48
Souderton 21-13-15-13 62
Abington 62, Wissahickon 44
Abington led by 10 points late in the first half. But, on the Ghosts’ final two possessions, Wissahickon stole the ball and nailed back-to-back threes, cutting the Abington lead to four at intermission (26-22).
In the locker room, Abington’s coaches told their players how they could play better.
“We emphasized that we weren’t taking good shots,” said Abington assistant coach Michael Viscariello. “And that we just have to play better team basketball.”
The Ghosts outscored the Trojans 18-11 in the third quarter to push their lead back up to double digits.
“Our passing was better and the interior play was a lot better,” said Viscariello.
Abington freshman power forward Eric Dixon dropped 23 points and shot 10-for-11 from the field. It was a very auspicious start for the potential phenom, who was named the co-MVP of Philly USA Basketball’s Junior All-City Classic in the spring.
Sophomore Robbie Heath scored 11 points and Lucas Monroe added seven.
Abington reached the state tournament last season but lost its two leading scorers. Coach Charles Grasty is still confident because his team added something that it did not have in 2014.
“We are young but we are big,” Grasty said.
Wissahickon was led by the 10-point effort of Zach Zeiner. Noah Curran added nine points while Matteo Atkins and Zach Gelman each had six.
The young Ghosts (1-0, 0-0) will play for the championship of the Galloping Ghosts Classic at Abington Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Wissahickon (0-1, 0-0) will play in the consolation game at 12:30 p.m.
A 12-14-18-18 62
W 9-13-11-11 44
Glen Mills 55, Harry S. Truman 50
Truman lost to Glen Mills by 27 last season. For 24 minutes Friday night, the 2015 meeting was speeding toward a similar result.
Truman trailed 34-16 at halftime.
“The first half I think we were in Florida somewhere,” said Truman coach Byron Conover. The first-year coach inspired his team in the locker room.
“I told them, ‘Listen we didn’t compete in the first half It’s all about competing,’” he said. “Our shots weren’t falling and we were hanging our heads. I said, ‘Let’s show the community what we have, what kind of fight we have.”
The Tigers did just that in the second half, going on a 19-4 run in the third quarter to get back in the game. “
We went to a halfcourt zone press,” Conover said. “That’s not Truman-like. We are not a zone team. We worked on it for literally a minute in yesterday’s practice. I talked to my coaches at halftime and said, ‘Let’s try it.’
“We scored the first bucket of the second half and went right into it. Next thing I know we are down six and they are calling timeouts.”
Truman led 44-43 with 3:20 to play. Then the teams traded baskets for three possessions. Down the stretch, the Tigers faded because they missed foul shots. Truman went 1-6 from the line in the last two minutes and shot just 10-for-19 overall.
“It was two games,” said Conover. “In the second half, we came to play.”
The coach said his team can build off this win.
“I just got my football players back,” said Conover. “They got four days of practice. I said, ‘Fellas we play like that and the sky’s the limit.’”
The non-football players were in basketball shape and impressed Conover.
In his first varsity start, point guard Kelechi Ogboona dropped 13 points. Danell Snelling led the Tigers with 14. Senior James Clowney racked up nine rebounds.
Truman (0-1, 0-0) will try to build off its encouraging loss Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Chichester High School.
Truman 8-8-19-15 50
Glen Mills 23-11-4-17 55
Jenkintown 75, Council Rock South 64
Council Rock South was outscored by 17 in the second half as a six-point Golden Hawk halftime lead (32-25) turned into an 11-point loss. The Hawks were denied a chance to play in the championship game of the Rabberman Tipoff Tournament at South.
Austin Thomas and Alex Nordenholt combined for 32 points for the Golden Hawks, Thomas with 15, Nordenholt with 17. Three-year starter Mike Stock added 10. Thomas led the Hawks in scoring last season, averaging 14 points per game.
CR South (0-1, 0-0) will play in the consolation game against New Hope-Solebury Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Council Rock South 14-18-17-15 64
Jenkintown 11-15-23-26
North Allegheny 73, Norristown 66
Norristown fell to North Allegheny despite big nights from Darryl Carr and Roy Green.
Carr and Green combined for 37 points, Carr with 15, Green with 22. Carr and Green also had six and seven rebounds, respectively.
Reggie Collins also had a nice all-around game, scoring eight points and grabbing five rebounds.
Norristown led by one at halftime but North Allegheny regained the lead in the third quarter.
Norristown (0-1, 0-0) goes for its first win of the season Saturday in the consolation game of the State College Tipoff Tournament game.
Norristown 19-11-18-18 66
North Allegheny 20-9-21-23 73
New Foundations Charter 54, Springfield 37
Springfield dropped its season opener on its home floor in a semifinal game in the Oreland Lions Tournament. The Spartans trailed 14-5 after one quarter and spent the rest of the game playing catchup.
Larry Clark led the Spartans with 13 points while Ryan Daly added 10.
Springfield (0-1, 0-0) will face Bishop McDevitt in the consolation game Saturday at 5 p.m.
Lower Moreland 62, Upper Moreland 55
Upper Moreland lost Friday’s opener in the second and third quarters.
“We turned the ball over too much,” said Upper Moreland coach Matt Heiland. “They amped up the pressure and forced us into some bad passes and bad live ball turnovers.
“There was one possession where they had three or four offensive rebounds and got a basket.”
Lower Moreland’s Danny Duffy dropped 33 points in the game and nailed three threes during that stretch.
In addition to the second and third quarters, Upper Moreland lost this game on the foul line. Lower Moreland was 18-for-22 from the line, while UM shot just 2-for-6.
“That’s the difference in the game,” said Heiland.
Damian Washington made seven threes and scored 21 points for the Golden Bears. Shane Stone chipped in 14 points.
Upper Moreland (0-1, 0-0) will play in the consolation game of the Hatters’ Varsity Basketball Tipoff Tournament. The Golden Bears take on William Tennent at 3:45 p.m.
UM 12-12-9-22 55
LM 11-18-20-13 62
Cheltenham 58, Central 29
Cheltenham reached the championship of the Panther Tipoff Tournament behind big nights from Kahlil White and Justin Sutton.
White led Cheltenham with 19 points and Sutton racked up seven rebounds and five blocks. No other Panthers scored double digit points but 10 others scored. Trevonn Pitts netted eight points and four Panthers—Jack Clark, Maurice Valentine, Amir Lewis, and Sutton—scored six. Valentine and Pitts also had seven rebounds each.
Cheltenham (1-0, 0-0) will play in the championship Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Central 9-12-2-6 29
Cheltenham 16-20-15-7 58
Methacton 44, Upper Dublin 36
Upper Dublin was short-handed.
The Flying Cardinals’ football team is playing in the District One Class AAAA championship Saturday. Eight football players also play basketball. None were available for coach Josh Adelman’s team Friday night in a semifinal game in the Pennridge Memorial Tipoff Tournament.
John Barrett and Ryan Stover are the tight end and quarterback on the football team, respectively. Barrett was the basketball team’s leading scorer last season, Stover was its third-leading scorer and leading rebounder.
Adelman harbors no ill will toward the football team’s success.
“I like when they play multiple sports because it brings out competitiveness in them. Guys who have been through playoffs in football are going to come in hungry,” said Adelman. “But it’s tough because you want to go into battle with all of your weapons and you’re forced to wait.”
In Friday’s opener, the Cardinals led 7-4 at the end of one quarter and took a 15-14 lead into halftime. They went into the fourth quarter with a 29-27 lead but ran out of gas in the fourth as the Warriors closed it out with a 17-7 tear.
Jimmy Gallagher led the Cardinals with 11 points while Will Derr added nine.
If the football Cardinals beat North Penn Saturday, Adelman could be waiting a lot longer.
“If they go to the state finals they could miss four or five games,” Adelman said.
They will certainly miss Saturday’s consolation game against Saucon Valley. The basketball Cardinals (0-1, 0-0) tip off at 5:30 p.m.
Methacton 4-10-13-17 44
Upper Dublin 7-8-14-7 36
- Log in to post comments
