Eight SOL basketball teams – five girls and three boys – will be in action this weekend in the PIAA 6A Tournament. Check out the preview capsules, and check back for recaps of the games.
Sixteen teams in Pennsylvania are still playing basketball at the Class 6A level. Eight of those squads – five girls’ teams and three boys – are from the Suburban One League.
The SOL has ensured itself a representative in the state title game since four SOL squads fill out the entire upper half of the girls’ 6A bracket (the east). On Friday, (1-5) Abington will face (1-9) Upper Dublin at Bensalem High School at 6:30 p.m. That game will be followed by another all-SOL quarterfinal when (1-1) Souderton takes on (1-8) Neshaminy at 8 p.m. In the western half of the bracket, (1-2) Central Bucks South will face (11-4) William Allen at Spring-Ford at 6 p.m.
On the boys’ side, there are no all-SOL contests. On Saturday, (1-1) Abington will face (2-1) Hazleton at Liberty (1 p.m.). Also on Saturday, (1-4) Central Bucks West will face #12-2 Roman Catholic at Bensalem at 2 p.m., and (1-8) Neshaminy will take on (12-1) Abraham Lincoln at Archbishop Ryan (2 p.m.).
Abington and Neshaminy have the rare distinction of having both their boys and girls teams in the eight-team state field.
PIAA 6A (Girls)
#1-1 SOUDERTON vs. #1-8 NESHAMINY at Bensalem (Friday, March 16, 8 p.m.)
Souderton
- 28-2 overall
- 11-1 SOL Continental Conference champions
- First conference title since 2004
- SOL Tournament champions with 48-29 win over #2 Central Bucks South
- Won program’s first ever District One 6A championship with a 52-48 triple overtime win over #2 Central Bucks South.
- Balanced attack directed by point guard Tori Dowd and led by Alana Cardona (11.5 ppg), Kate Connolly (10.8 ppg), Megan Walbrandt (10.2 ppg) and Megan Bealer (8.0 ppg)
- How they got here: In Tuesday’s second round, Souderton defeated #1-3 Easton 55-41, opening up a 16-2 lead after one quarter and leading wire to wire. Megan Bealer’s 22 points led the Indians. Kate Connolly added 16 points, nine rebounds, five blocks and five steals.
- In an opening round contest, Souderton defeated #3-7 Manheim Township 58-34. Junior Megan Bealer led the Indians with 18 points, which included five threes, and 10 rebounds. Kate Connolly added 17 points, and Megan Walbrandt contributed 13. Tori Dowd had a team-high 11 boards.
Neshaminy
- 20-8 overall
- 10-2 SOL National Conference tri-champions with Council Rock North & Abington
- Redskins have won a share of conference title in four of last seven years
- Led by captains Brooke Mullin, Allison Harvey and Kristin Curley.
- Second trip to state quarterfinals in three years for Redskins.
- How they got here: In Tuesday’s second round, Neshaminy defeated #1-6 Plymouth Whitemarsh 43-37, avenging a loss to the Colonials two weeks earlier in a district playback game. Brooke Mullin, who led the ‘Skins with 20 points and 14 rebounds, scored 11 first-half points as the Redskins opened up a 24-7 halftime lead.
- In an opening round game, Neshaminy sent #2-1 Hazleton home for the season with a 41-28 win. Emily Tantala’s 12 points led the Redskins. Allison Harvey and Brooke Mullin each had eight points.
- Coach Joe Lally says: “Two years ago in this round, we met a monster called North Penn, and now we have to meet a monster called Souderton. We seem to find the monsters in this round, and obviously, I mean that in a very, very complimentary way. We found the beast, but the teams we’ve played have been very, very good teams too. You just have to prepare, do your best and see what happens when you get out there on the floor. Everyone was trying to tell me from our AD to our principal - ‘Next year is really the year for you.’ I’m not a next year kind of guy. A lot can happen. You have to be thankful for the moment and just living it.”
#1-2 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH vs. #11-4 WILLIAM ALLEN at Spring-Ford (Friday, March 16, 6 p.m.)
Central Bucks South
- 26-4 overall
- 10-2 SOL Continental Conference second place
- Lost to Souderton 48-29 in SOL Tournament title game
- District One 6A runner-up after falling to top-ranked Souderton 52-48 in triple overtime.
- Program’s first trip to Elite 8
- Three of four losses this season were to Souderton
- Led offensively by Jefferson University-bound senior Haley Meinel (15.0 ppg) and junior point guard Alexa Brodie (12.5 ppg).
- How they got here: In Tuesday’s second round, Central Bucks South defeated #1-7 Council Rock North 48-31. Alexa Brodie led the Titans with 16, and Haley Meinel added 13 points.
- In an opening round game, CB South defeated #3-5 Cedar Cliff 43-40. Hailey Meinel, who became the program’s all-time leading scorer, led the Titans with 18 points. Alexa Brodie added 11 points.
William Allen
- 19-8 overall
- 12-6 EPC Steel Division fourth place
- Lost to Freedom 56-33 in District 11 semifinals
- Led offensively by Kion Andrews (17.6 ppg), Jakayla Wise (9 ppg), Asha Talib (8.5 ppg) and Miriam Rodriguez (8.0 ppg).
- Team averages 50 points a game and has connected on 61 threes
- How they got here: In Tuesday’s second round, William Allen opened up a 25-19 halftime lead and – despite trailing by one late – held on for a 42-39 win over #3-1 Central Dauphin. Asha Talib (13 points), and Jakayla Wise (11 points) led the Canaries, who connected on 18-of-32 from the foul line.
- In an opening round game. William Allen defeated #1-4 Spring-Ford 50-35. The Canaries trailed by one at halftime but outscored the Rams 29-13 in the second half. Kion Andrews (16 points) and Miriam Rodriguez (15 points) led the way.
#1-5 ABINGTON vs. #1-9 UPPER DUBLIN at Bensalem (Friday, March 16, 6:30 p.m.)
Abington
- 22-7 overall
- 10-2 SOL National Conference tri-champions with Council Rock North & Neshaminy
- Junior Kassondra Brown leads the Ghosts in scoring (18.2 ppg) and under the backboards (11.4 rpg).
- Point guard Britney James averages 6.3 assists a game while directing an offense that includes Millersville-bound Sam Brusha (16.4 ppg) and Cam Lexow (8.9 ppg).
- Fifth trip to states in five years for the Ghosts
- How they got here: In a second round game, Abington defeated #11-1 Freedom 63-55. Four Ghosts finished the game in double figures: Kassondra Brown (19), Sam Brusha (16), Cam Lexow (11) and Britney James (10).
- In an opening round game, Abington defeated #3-3 Wilson 59-44. Kassondra Brown controlled the paint, finishing with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Sam Brusha had 10 points.
Upper Dublin
- 23-5 overall
- 12-2 SOL American Conference second place behind Plymouth Whitemarsh
- Young Cardinals’ offense led by sophomore Jackie Vargas (12.6 ppg), senior Nicole Kaiser (11.3 ppg) and freshman Dayna Balasa (7.9 ppg)
- Program’s second ever trip to the state quarterfinals and first since 2007
- How they got here: In Tuesday’s second round, Upper Dublin knocked off #1-3 Garnet Valley 39-29. The Cardinals used a 17-0 second-half tear to turn a 22-16 deficit into a 33-22 lead. Dayna Balasa buried four threes and led the Cards with 14 points. Jackie Vargas added 10.
- In an opening round shocker, Upper Dublin defeated #12-1 Cardinal O’Hara 42-35 in double overtime. Senior Maggie Weglos (13 points) and freshman Jess Polin (12 points) led the Cardinals.
- Coach Morgan Funsten says: “Kassondra Brown is an absolute monster down low. She can pretty much do it all. She’s extremely aggressive. She attacks the basket whether she’s trying to score or rebound with an absolute vengeance. Sam Brusha has turned into a great overall scorer. She’s not just a great shooter – she’s also a great scorer now. Britney James keeps their team together, and then they have some really nice athletic role players who can come in and make big shots. They’re extremely athletic across the board.
“They’re coming into our league next year, and I’m anticipating some major battles with them over the years. I think this is a nice little preview, and one of us will have a spot in the state semis, which I think is pretty cool. The day I got the job (at Upper Dublin) six years ago, Dan (Marsh) emailed me and congratulated me, so he’s always been extremely supportive, and I have a lot of respect for Dan as a coach.”
PIAA 6A TOURNAMENT (Boys)
#1-1 ABINGTON vs. #2-1 HAZLETON at Liberty (Saturday, March 17, 1 p.m.)
Abington
- 24-5 overall
- 12-0 SOL National Conference, first place
- Defeated top-seeded Plymouth Whitemarsh 73-71 in the District One 6A title game, capturing the program’s third district title in four years.
- Led by senior G Robbie Heath, junior F Eric Dixon, junior G/F Lucas Monroe and senior G JP Nolan
- Ghosts have won 12 of their last 13 games
- How they got here: In Wednesday’s second round, Abington defeated #1-3 St. Joseph’s Prep 66-61. Robbie Heath’s 27 points led the Ghosts. Eric Dixon added 16 points, and Darius Brown had 12 on four three-pointers.
- In an opening round game, Abington upended #3-6 Harrisburg 61-57. Eric Dixon (26 points) and Robbie Heath (23 points) led the Ghosts.
Hazleton
- 25-1 overall
- Only loss at the hands of Reading (65-56) on Jan. 20
- Captured District 2 title with 61-51 win over Scranton
- Led by four-year players Josh Samec, Joey Grula and Jeff Planutis, who have led Cougars to 83-15 record in that time.
- Planutis averages 15.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals. Samec, a 6-8 forward/center, averages 14.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists, and Grula averages 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds.
- Sophomore Da’mir Faison averages 12.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
- Cougars have connected on 151 three-pointers, led by Josh Samic with 46.
- How they got here: In Wednesday’s second round, Hazleton sent #11-3 Pocono Mountain West home for the season with a 69-50 win. Joey Planutis (21 points) and Da’mir Faison (17 points) led the Cougars.
- In an opening round game, Hazleton defeated #1-7 Norristown 62-45. Joey Grula led the Cougars with 19 points. Da'mir Faison (16 points) and Jeff Panutis (15 points) also made major contributions.
#1-4 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST vs. #12-2 ROMAN CATHOLIC at Bensalem (Saturday, March 17, 2 p.m.)
Central Bucks West
- 23-7 overall
- 10-2 SOL Continental Conference, first place
- Led by senior F Collin MacAdams, senior G Shane McCusker, senior F Jake Reichwein and junior G Jack Mulhearn
- Program’s first ever trip to state quarterfinals
- In 2016, Roman Catholic sent West home for the season in a second round state game with a 60-41 win.
- How they got here: In Wednesday’s opening round, Central Bucks West upset #3-1 Reading, the defending state champion, 60-47 in overtime. The Bucks rallied from nine down with just over two minutes remaining in regulation to knot the score. Jake Reichwein and Collin MacAdams both scored 18 points to lead the Bucks to the historic win.
- In an opening round game, Central Bucks West defeated #11-4 Emmaus 53-35. Shane McCusker (16 points) and Jake Reichwein (10 points) led the Bucks.
Roman Catholic
- 21-6 overall
- 11-2 PCL
- Philadelphia Catholic League champions with 51-49 win over Bonner-Prendergast
- Fell to Lincoln 86-76 in District 12 title game.
- Led by Towson commit Allen Betrand, junior Seth Lundy and sophomores Hakim Hart and Lynn Greer III. All four are averaging double figures.
- How they got here: In Wednesday’s second round, Roman Catholic sent Plymouth Whitemarsh home for the season, thanks to its 75-71 win. Allen Betrand (26 points) and Hakim Hart (18 points) led the way. Seth Lundy and Lynn Greer III each added 13 points.
- In an opening round game, Roman Catholic defeated #1-6 Pennridge 58-56. The Cahilittes led 49-38 heading into the fourth quarter and then withstood a Ram comeback. Hakim Hart (22), Lynn Greer III (16) and Seth Lundy (15) led Roman.
1-9 NEHSAMINY vs. #12-1 LINCOLN at Archbishop Ryan (Saturday, March 17, 2 p.m.)
Neshaminy
- 19-10 overall
- 7-5 SOL National Conference, tied third place
- Led by senior G Chris Arcidiacono, senior Anthony Papeo, senior Charles Dominick and senior Danny Bodine
- Program’s first ever trip to the state’s Elite 8
- How they got here: In Wednesday’s second round, Neshaminy won a double overtime thriller, defeating #1-3 Lower Merion 88-87 when Greg Deluca scored his only basket of the game on a putback in closing seconds of the second OT. Chris Arcidiacono set a program record with 51 points in a dazzling individual effort. Charles Dominick added 11 while Pat Campbell and Anthony Papeo each had nine.
- In an opening round game, Neshaminy defeated #11-1 East Stroudsburg 62-47. Chris Arcidiacono’s 27 points led the Redskins. Anthony Papeo added 15.
Lincoln
- 23-6 overall
- Won the District 12 title with 86-76 win over Roman Catholic, ending the Cahillites’ 5-year reign as district champions. Jahi Randall’s 20-point effort led Lincoln.
- First Public League district champion since 2011
- Nine or 10 players routinely see action.
- How they got here: In Wednesday’s second round, Lincoln defeated #3-3 Hempfield 65-55 but needed double overtime to do it. Khalif Meares (16 points), Sahnu Day (14 points) and Jahi Randall (11 points) led the way.
- In an opening round game, Lincoln – which led by as many as 37 points - rolled to a 67-46 win over #1-8 Upper Darby. Tyree Corbett (16 points, 14 rebounds.) and Shakier Morrison (21 points) led Lincoln.
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