Pennsbury and Abington advanced to Monday night’s SOL Tournament championship game at Souderton Area High School (7 p.m.).
By Scott Huff
The Inaugural Suburban One League championship semifinals were truly un-American – but remarkably entertaining just the same on a Saturday afternoon at Council Rock North High School.
Pennsbury (SOL National Conference runner-up) moved on to the championship finals at Souderton Area High School on Monday (2/9/15 – 7 pm) with a 78-67 victory over Pennridge (SOL Continental Conference champion). Abington (SOL National Conference champion) advanced to the title game with a 58-49 win over Central Bucks West (SOL Continental Conference runner-up).
Plymouth Whitemarsh (SOL American Conference champion) disappointed many and opted out of the first-ever SOL Final Four Tournament.
“The league is trying to start something that is going to be a very big deal 10 years from now,” said Pennsbury head coach Bill Coleman. “To be able to play in this championship tournament is something we were very excited to do.
“It gives us a chance to play teams that play at a high level,” added Coleman. “We want our seniors to be able to say that they won the first ever championship tournament – it would be a great legacy for them.”
“Win or lose this was a great experience for our players,” said Pennridge head coach Dean Behrens. “It is great for the league – and it is great for the kids. And really, it should all be about the kids.”
“Some people might say that because PW wasn’t here, there isn’t going to be a true champion,” said Abington head coach Charles Grasty. “I don’t care if they were here or not – we are excited to be here and play some great teams.”
“You teach kids to cherish every opportunity to play basketball,” said Central Bucks West head coach Adam Sherman. “And this was a great opportunity to play basketball and gave the players an experience to remember for the rest of their lives.”
Amen.
Falcons Soar to Victory Over Rams
The senior Pennsbury backcourt of Cameron Jones and Mekhi Bryant were spectacular from the opening tap to the final horn and fueled the Falcons (19-4) to a 78-67 win over Pennridge (20-3). Jones scored 18 points in the first period alone (26 in the first half) and finished with a game-high 37 points, while Bryant was terrific with a 23-point performance.
“Both Cameron and Mekhi played the game with a lot of energy,” said Pennsbury head coach Bill Coleman. “That might be the best that Cameron has shot the ball all year – and Mekhi was really hyped to play this game.
“This is the time of year where you have to play the game with effort, intensity, focus, and execution,” added Coleman. “We did that for most of the first half, but we still need to step it up in the next few games.”
“We really only had one day to prepare – but we haven’t seen the quickness and speed that we saw today all year,” said Pennridge head coach Dean Behrens. “Jones and Bryant really went off on us – but as a fan you really liked what you saw in (junior) Danny Long. He had a tremendous game.”
Long – along with talented senior Joey Molettiere – led the pesky Rams in scoring with 22 points each.
Both Pennsbury and Pennridge like to play the game up-tempo – and the fans took in the frenetic pace of the contest in the first period. The Falcons led 14-6 early – but Pennridge rallied to close to 14-13 on a Long bucket. However, Jones stole the spotlight as he buried four consecutive 3-point bombs in the final 1:28 seconds to propel Pennsbury to its 27-18 lead.
“When I made those shots early, it did a lot for my confidence,” said Jones. “Pennridge is a very good offensive team, and we knew that we were going to score some points.”
Pennsbury expanded its lead to 48-31 by the close of the first half as Jones kept his scorching hot hand and would score 10 more points in the period.
“Once we got the big lead – we got a little sloppy,” said Jones. “But in the second half both Mekhi and myself wanted the ball in our hands – and things turned out well.”
The loss might have ended SOL championship aspirations for Pennridge – but the Rams will be more than ready for the upcoming PIAA Quad-A District One playoffs.
“I think we played with a lot of moxie today – they could have scored 100 points and we could have been blown out by 35 points,” said Behrens. “This loss doesn’t do anything to hurt us – the players believe in what they are doing – and we’re excited about districts.”
Pennsbury will take on an Abington program in the SOL championship final that has been a thorn in its successful side in recent years. This will be the third meeting this season between the Falcons and the Ghosts – Abington won both contests by a razor thin 58-57 margin and an equally razor thin 52-50 win.
“We haven’t beaten Abington since my freshman year,” said Jones. “I’m glad to have another chance.”
Pennsbury Falcons 27 21 13 17 – 78
Pennridge Rams 18 13 13 23 – 67
Pennsbury: Cameron Jones 37; Mekhi Bryant 23; Derrick Woods 11; Nick Cereby 4; Juan Perez-Jones 2; Mark Flagg 1. Totals 26 14-18 78.
Pennridge: Danny Long 22; Joey Molettiere 22; Zach Muredda 13; Joe Unangst 6; Steve Lowry 2; and Kyle Yoder 2. Totals 22 16-21 67.
Hinton and Penecale Rescue Ghosts in win over Bucks
Abington combined the awesome physical talent of senior Amir Hinton and the leadership quality of senior Matt Penecale as the Ghosts (20-3) held off a gutsy Central Bucks West squad (17-6) by a 58-49 score.
“Hinton had a great game for them and scored a lot of points,” said Central Bucks West head coach Adam Sherman in reference to the glittering 34-point performance by Hinton. “But I thought that Penecale really helped them win the game with his composure and decision making. He has great court vision.”
“Matt and Amir know what it takes to play at this high level,” said Abington head coach Charles Grasty. “Both of them talk to the younger players all the time, and after 23 games we are beginning to know what it takes to win.”
And what it took to win was Hinton’s scoring prowess and Penecale’s knowledge of the game.
Abington led at the half 27-17 as Hinton was electric, scoring a ridiculous 23 of the Ghosts first 25 points. But CB West refused to fold and made a charge at Abington at the outset of the third period.
The Bucks scored 13 of the first 15 points in the third period – eight of those points scored by junior Cal Reichwein – and actually took a 30-29 lead with 4:06 left in the period.
“CB West is feisty – scrappy – and they weren’t going anywhere,” said Grasty. “Adam (Sherman) knows what it takes to get the job done – but we were able to respond.”
Abington scored the next 11 points and led 40-30 by the close of the third period. A thunderous Hinton dunk – one of three slams in the game – concluded the third quarter.
The Ghosts stretched the lead to 46-30 early in the fourth quarter – and West could only get as close as 58-49 by the close of the game.
“Now we get to play Pennsbury again – but we have to treat it like any other big game,” said Hinton. “I feel like our team is up for the challenge – we like to play in big games like this.”
“I like where we are – I really do,” said Grasty. “To play Pennsbury is always exciting – and to play them for this championship makes it even more exciting.”
Central Buck West Bucks 9 8 13 19 – 49
Abington Ghosts 11 16 13 18 – 58
Central Bucks West: Owen Cooney 13; Cal Reichwein 12; Nico Munari 10; Bill Power 6; Luke Irons 4; Enrich Hohenleitner 2; Connor Lynch 2. Totals 16 6-9 49.
Abington: Amir Hinton 34; Matt Penecale 13; Brendan Gallagher 4; Jack Steinman 4; Robbie Heath 2; and Brian Close 2. Totals 22 9-11 58.
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