This week’s notebook features Upper Dublin, Souderton and CR South and recaps last week’s SOL action.
By Scott Huff
And the beat goes on…
SOL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals
Upper Dublin head coach Josh Adelman did a lot of cheering – with very little breath – as the successful Cardinal football team moved deep into the playoffs.
“I love watching them play – but I love coaching them more,” admitted Adelman as the heart and soul of his basketball team was exchanging blows on the football field. “Here at Upper Dublin we share a lot of good athletes – and to be honest – I held my breath quite a bit.”
No less than six of Adelman’s top hoopsters are key members on the Cardinal football team. That impressive list includes Matt Thompson, Ryan Stover, John Barrett, Will Derr, Gary Fields, and Michael Cottom.
“Those players bring a lot of the football mentality on the basketball floor – and that is a good thing,” said Adelman. “They all love football – and they all love basketball – too. It’s a good situation.
“Matt Thompson is our point guard, and he began the season with all kinds of bumps and bruises,” added Adelman. “John Barrett has been shooting the lights out, and the other football players are all making important contributions. They are getting their basketball legs back.”
One valuable player that has sparked the Cardinals is Simeon Fryer.
“Simeon is a basketball ‘only’ player, and he has gotten off to a great start,” said Adelman. “He has been one of our scoring leaders, but really, we have had a very balanced scoring attack from everyone at the beginning of the season.”
Upper Dublin is unbeaten in the conference to date – and the Cardinals (4-2, 3-0) will put their unbeaten conference record on the line on Tuesday (12/23/14) with a huge road game against unbeaten Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-0, 3-0).
“PW is always the team that you measure your team against,” said Adelman. “Playing at their place is always interesting. There is the mystique of playing in that gym – with all the championship banners. If you can leave there with a win – you know that you have earned it.”
In the Rear View Mirror in the SOL American Conference
Plymouth Whitemarsh won a pair of conference games last week as the Colonials remained unbeaten with a 66-27 win over Upper Merion and a 53-35 win over Wissahickon. Andre Mitchell scored a game-high 26 points and Xzavier Malone added 16 in the victory over the Vikings, while Malone scored 17 and Mitchell scored 15 in the victory over the Trojans.
Upper Dublin won a pair of conference games last week as the Cardinals soared to a 67-43 win over Cheltenham and a 55-31 win over Upper Moreland. Simeon Fryer scored a game-high 15 points in the win over the Panthers, while John Barrett (13) and Ryan Stover (11) also scored in double figures. In the win over the Bears, Fryer scored a game-high 12 points.
Norristown won a pair of conferences games last week as the Eagles soared to a 61-40 win over Springfield and a 60-46 win over Upper Merion. In the win over the Spartans, Roy Green scored a game-high 20 points while Darryl Carr scored in twin digits with 11. In the win over the Vikings, Green scored a game-high 21 points while Carr scored in double figures with 15 points.
Cheltenham split its conference games last week as the Panthers lost to Upper Dublin 67-43 and rebounded with a 47-37 win over Springfield. In the loss to the Cardinals, Khalil White scored a game-high 16 points, and in the win over the Spartans, Anthony White scored a game-high 13 points.
Wissahickon split a pair of conference games with a 48-35 win over Upper Moreland and a 53-35 loss to Plymouth Whitemarsh. In the victory over the Bears – Brandon Pace (15), Todd Bentley (12), and Tre Holcomb (10) all scored in double digits. In the loss to the Colonials, Steve Driscoll scored a team-high 11 points.
Upper Moreland lost a pair of conference games last week as the Bears fell to Wissahickon 48-35 and to Upper Dublin 55-31. James Martin was the leading scorer in both games with 11 points against the Trojans and 12 points against the Cardinals.
Upper Merion lost a pair of conference games last week as the Vikings lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh 66-27 and to Norristown 60-46. Chris Carita scored a team-high 10 points in the loss to PW while Ethan Miller (16) and Matt Faw scored in twin digits in the loss to the Eagles.
Springfield lost a pair of conference games last week as the Spartans lost to Norristown 61-40 and to Cheltenham 47-37. In the loss to the Eagles, Christian Yoast scored a team-high 12 points – and in the loss to the Panthers Sean Stovall scored a team-high 15 points.
This Week in the SOL American Conference
Tuesday (12/23/14)
Upper Dublin Cardinals (3-0) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (3-0)
Upper Merion Vikings (0-3) @ Wissahickon Trojans (2-1)
Cheltenham Panthers (2-1) @ Norristown Eagles (2-1)
Upper Moreland Bears (0-3) @ Springfield Spartans (0-3)
SOL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Souderton Indians
Souderton head coach Pete Chimera is anxiously looking forward to the game with neighborhood rival Pennridge on Tuesday (12/23/14). The Indians and the Rams enter the critical SOL Continental Conference game with perfect 3-0 conference records.
“This is a big one – everyone is talking about how good Pennridge is this year,” said Chimera. “(Pennridge junior) Dan Long is one of the best players in the league, and he can control a game and he is going to be a real challenge for our team.
“Pennridge has been scoring a lot of points this year,” added Chimera. “They scored almost 70 points against CB West – and we scored 41. But West scored 59 points against them and only 23 against us. It is a real contrast in styles.
“We like to be deliberate on offense and play good defense,” continued Chimera. “If the score is in the 40’s or 50’s we should be fine. Anything higher than that and we could be in trouble.”
Souderton has had a trio of players cause trouble this year in Evan Slone, Tim Markow, and Tracy Simsick.
“Evan has been terrific all season,” said Chimera. “He shot 7-for-7 and 9-for-9 from the field in the first two games (Hatboro-Horsham & Quakertown), and in the West game he had 15 rebounds.
“Evan’s motor never stops,” added Chimera. “His best basketball in ahead of him when he plays on the college level.
“Tim has been very good as our combo point guard – # 3 man,” continued Chimera. “And Tracy has a mid-range jump shot that is unguardable.”
In the Rear View Mirror in the SOL Continental Conference
Pennridge won a pair of conference games as the Rams defeated Central Bucks West 69-59 and followed with a 62-49 win over Central Bucks South. Dan Long scored 25 points to pace the win over the Bucks, while Joe Molettiere added 16 points and Zach Muredda tallied 13 points. In the win over the Titans, Molettiere scored a game-high 19 points, while Kyle Lowry and Muredda each scored 16 points for the Rams.
Souderton won a pair of conference games as the Indians defeated both Quakertown (56-32) and Central Bucks West (41-23). In the win over the Panthers, Evan Slone scored a game-high 10 points and Tracy Simsick scored in twin digits with 15. In the win over the Bucks, Simsick scored a game-high 16 points while Slone scored in twin digits with 11 points.
North Penn won a pair of conference games last week as the Knights defeated Central Bucks East 55-33 and followed with a 67-59 win over Quakertown. In the win over the Patriots, Kyle Hulmes scored a team-high 14 points while both Jared Melone (12) and Joe Richards (10) also scored in double digits. In the win over the Panthers, Richards scored a game-high 21 points while Melone added 20 points and Cordell Lord scored 10 markers.
Hatboro-Horsham split a pair of conference games last week as the Hatters lost to Central Bucks South 38-35 and rebounded with a 37-34 win over Central Bucks East. In the loss to the Titans, Walter Kimble scored a team-high nine points. In the victory over the Patriots, Clifton Moore scored a game-high 11 points while Kimble added 10 points for the Hatters.
Central Bucks South split a pair of conference games last week as the Titans defeated Hatboro-Horsham 38-35 and followed with a 62-49 loss to Pennridge. In the win over the Hatters, Chris Hones scored a game-high 11 points. In the loss to the Rams, Hones scored a team-high 14 points – while Alex Karras (11) and Josh Brodie (10) also scored in double digits.
Central Bucks East lost a pair of conference games last week as the Patriots were defeated by North Penn 55-33 and Hatboro-Horsham 37-34. Justin O’Neil was the leading scorer for CB East in both games with a nine-point effort against the Knights and a 15-point effort against the Hatters.
Central Bucks West lost a pair of conference games last week as the Bucks fell to both Pennridge (69-59) and Souderton (41-23). In the loss to the Rams, Luke Irons scored a team-high 17 points and both Owen Cooney (13) and Cal Reichwein (12) scored in double figures. In the loss to the Indians, Irons scored a team-high eight points.
Quakertown lost a pair of conference games last week as the Panthers lost to both Souderton (56-32) and North Penn (67-59). In the loss to the Indians, Griffin Schmidt led the Black Cats with 11 points. In the loss to the Knights – Schmidt (19), Kevin Norvaisas (18), and Ryan Howard (10) all scored in twin digits.
This Week in the SOL Continental Conference
Tuesday (12/23/14)
Central Bucks East Patriots (0-3) @ Central Bucks South Titans (2-1)
North Penn Knights (2-1) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (1-2)
Quakertown Panthers (0-3) @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (1-2)
Pennridge Rams (3-0) @ Souderton Indians (3-0)
SOL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Council Rock South Golden Hawks
Council Rock South head coach John Easterly continues to put the pieces together for the 2014-2015 Golden Hawks.
“I am more than happy with the progress that we have made so far this year,” said Easterly as his Rock South team has posted a 2-1 SOL National Conference record. “We played very well at the end of the game to win the game against Truman, and we were able to hold off a Bensalem team that is much better than its record.
“We lost to Abington and they are an extremely talented team – but we played them tough for a while,” added Easterly. “And we get William Tennent next – and that is going to be a good test for us.”
Taking that test will be returning starters – senior Matt Stewart and junior Mike Stock.
“We knew coming into the season that we were going to have to count on both Matt and Mike for leadership,” said Easterly. “Matt is a captain – along with Mike Agasar and Dan Buchnik – and they have been trying to teach the younger players what it takes to win at this level. Dan Buchnik has had a great year so far.
“Austin Thomas is only a sophomore and has played well,” added Easterly. “And Kevin Newbert is another sophomore that is getting better with experience.
“This is a team that is going to have to be strong defensively for us to compete in our division,” continued Easterly. “We have such tough teams in our division, and you have to be ready to play every single game.”
In the Rear View Mirror in the SOL National Conference
Abington won a pair of conference games last week as the Ghosts defeated Neshaminy 53-43 and Council Rock South 64-44. In the win over the Redskins, Amir Hinton scored a game-high 26 points and Matt Penecale added 10 points. In the win over the Golden Hawks, Penecale and Hinton each scored 16 points to lead the winners, while Robby Heath added 15 points.
Pennsbury won a pair of conference games last week as the Falcons soared to a 56-43 win over Council Rock North and followed with a 67-22 win over Bensalem. In the win over the Indians, Cameron Jones scored a game-high 18 points while Derrick Woods scored in twin digits with 16 points. In the victory over the Owls, Woods scored a game-high 18 points and Mekhi Bryant scored in double digits with 16 points.
Council Rock North split its pair of conference games last week as the Indians lost to Pennsbury (56-43) and rebounded with a win over Truman (55-50). In the loss to the Falcons, Riley Thompson scored a team-high 15 points while Drew Glenn (11) and Matt Margolis (10) also scored in double figures. In the win over the Tigers, Will Desautelle scored a game-high 19 points while Thompson scored in twin digits with 12 points.
Council Rock South split its pair of conference games last week as the Golden Hawks defeated Bensalem 44-41 and lost to Abington 64-44. In the win over the Owls, Dan Buchnik (14) and Matt Stewart (13) led the scoring. In the loss to Abington, Austin Thomas scored a team-high eight points.
Truman split its pair of conference games last week as the Tigers defeated William Tennent 56-41 and followed with a 55-50 loss to CR North. In the victory over the Panthers, TyQuan Law scored a game-high 28 points while Lucas Waters scored in double digits with 12 points. In the loss to Rock North, Dan Snelling scored 13 points and Tramere Adams added 10 points.
William Tennent split its pair of conference games last week as the Panthers lost to Truman 56-41 and rebounded with a 62-56 overtime victory over Neshaminy. In the loss to the Tigers, John Ryan scored a team-high 18 points while Chalie Wodack scored in twin digits with 10 points. In the victory over the Redskins, Ryan scored a game-high 23 points while Wodack (15) and Kyle Lewicki (13) also scored in double figures.
Neshaminy lost a pair of conference games last week as the Redskins lost to Abington 53-43 and lost in overtime to William Tennent 62-56. Billy Warren was the leading scorer for the Skins in both games with a 10-point effort against the Ghosts and a 23-point performance against the Panthers.
Bensalem lost a pair of conference games last week as the Owls fell to both Council Rock South (44-41) and Pennsbury (67-22). Kevin Wade was the leading scorer for the Owls the loss to Rock South with a 10-point effort.
This Week in the SOL National Conference
Monday (12/22/14)
Neshaminy Redskins (1-2) @ Council Rock North Indians (2-1)
Tuesday (12/23/14)
Pennsbury Falcons (2-1) @ Truman Tigers (1-2)
William Tennent Panthers (1-2) @ Council Rock South (2-1)
Abington Ghosts (3-0) @ Bensalem Owls (0-3)
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