This week’s notebook features Upper Merion, CB South and CR South.
By Scott Huff
And the beat goes on…
SOL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Upper Merion Vikings
Upper Merion head coach Jason Quenzer is coaching the Vikings in their final season in the Suburban One League – and the Blue & Gold is making the most of its concluding season. Upper Merion – along with Norristown – will exit the SOL and will compete next year in the Pioneer Athletic Conference.
“It’s hard to believe that it is the final go-round with teams like Plymouth Whitemarsh and Cheltenham,” said Quenzer who is in his third year of coaching the Vikings. “But I think the move is going to be a good thing for our program.
“We just played Pope John Paul in a non-league game, and it was fun place to play,” added Quenzer in reference to the 59-49 win on Saturday. “But the wins over both Norristown (61-43) and Wissahickon (54-48) were probably our signature wins this year – it had been a very long time since we beat either of those two teams.”
Last year Upper Merion struggled to a 3-19 overall mark – 2-12 in the SOL American Conference. This year the Vikings are 6-4 overall with a 2-3 mark in the conference.
“We have made a huge improvement from last year – especially on defense,” said Quenzer. “We are holding teams in the 40’s this year – last year teams scored 60 points or more against us.”
The maturation of 6-foot, 8-inch junior Matt Faw has been a huge part of the Viking turnaround. Faw – who scored 24 points in the win over JPJ in the last Upper Merion game – has led the Vikings in scoring all season.
“Matt can score the ball in a lot of different ways,” said Quenzer. “He has a natural jumper – but he can also finish strong around the rim and get himself to the foul line. He has been playing better with his back to the basket – and he has been a great defender.
“We want to finish the second half of our league season strong,” added Quenzer. “And we hope to be playing in the playoffs when it’s over.”
SOL American Conference Standings
1. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 6 0
2. Cheltenham Panthers 5 1
3. Norristown Eagles 3 3
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 3 3
5. Upper Merion Vikings 2 3
6. Upper Dublin Cardinals 2 4
Wissahickon Trojans 2 4
8. Springfield Spartans 0 6
This Week in the SOL American Conference
Tuesday (1/12/16)
Wissahickon Trojans @ Cheltenham Panthers
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials @ Norristown Eagles
Springfield Spartans @ Upper Dublin Cardinals
Thursday (1/14/16)
Upper Merion Vikings @ Cheltenham Panthers
Upper Dublin Cardinals @ Norristown Eagles
Friday (1/15/16)
Upper Moreland Bears @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
Springfield Spartans @ Wissahickon Trojans
Saturday (1/16/16)
Springfield Spartans @ Upper Merion Vikings
SOL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Central Bucks South Titans
Central Bucks South head coach Jason Campbell and his Titans are looking forward to their date with first place Central Bucks West on Tuesday.
“There is no question that the players on both teams get hyped up for this game,” said Campbell. “The adrenalin will be flowing, and it is always great to play the game before a large crowd.
“Plus the game is a Coaches versus Cancer game,” added Campbell. “It is a great cause – and both teams get a lot more than basketball out of the game.
“CB West is one of the top programs in the conference every year,” continued Campbell. “They have a quality team – but our players know that we can play with them.”
CB South once again features a very balanced scoring attack getting significant contributions from a number of players. However, Tim Waddington has been the marquee player this season.
“Tim is playing the best basketball of his career right now,” said Campbell of his 6-5 senior. “He is playing with a great deal of confidence – and I guess you could say that he is our go-to guy.
“(Senior) Ian Vogt doesn’t light up the box score with offensive numbers, but he has been great for us in other ways,” added Campbell. “And (sophomore) Nate Robinson has been a nice addition and has played very well.
“Our focus right now is West,” continued Campbell. “It really is one of those ‘it doesn’t matter about the record’ games.”
SOL Continental Conference Standings
1. Central Bucks West Bucks 6 0
2. Pennridge Rams 5 1
3. Central Bucks South Titans 4 2
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 4 2
5. Central Bucks East Patriots 2 4
North Penn Knights 2 4
7. Souderton Indians 1 5
8. Quakertown Panthers 0 6
This Week in the SOL Continental Conference
Tuesday (1/12/16)
Souderton Indians @ Central Bucks East Patriots
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters @ North Penn Knights
Quakertown Panthers @ Pennridge Rams
Central Bucks West Bucks @ Central Bucks South Titans
Thursday (1/14/16)
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters @ Souderton Indians
Friday (1/15/16)
Pennridge Rams @ Central Bucks East Patriots
Quakertown Panthers @ Central Bucks West Bucks
North Penn Knights @ Central Bucks South Titans
SOL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Council Rock South Golden Hawks
Council Rock South head coach John Easterly and his Golden Hawks split a pair of exhilarating conference games last week. CR South opened the conference week with a heartbreaking 60-59 loss to district rival Council Rock North but followed with a stunning 57-56 victory over previously unbeaten (conference) Pennsbury.
“I think that the players saw how we lost to North in a close game and didn’t want to repeat that against Pennsbury,” said Easterly. “We realized that to win the close games you have to get the loose balls and secure the rebounds.”
In the victory over the high-flying Falcons – junior Austin Thomas beat the buzzer to put the game in the win column.
“Kevin Newbert hit a huge three pointer to get us close with six seconds left in the game,” said Easterly. “We called timeout – fouled them – and Austin came up the big shot at the end to win the game.
“Kevin, Austin, and Alex (Nordenholt) have all stepped up in recent games and have played well,” added Easterly of his trio of guards. “We still have a lot of work to do the second half of the year if we want to be a playoff team. We still have a losing record overall (5-6), and really each game for us the rest of the season is like a playoff game.
“To be able to beat Pennsbury should give us the confidence that we need to play with the best teams in our league,” continued Easterly. “We have Neshaminy to close out the first half of the season, and then we open up the second half of the season on Friday.
“We know what we have to do,” added Easterly. “And we need to focus on each game and win as many as we can.”
SOL National Conference Standings
1. Abington Ghosts 5 1
Pennsbury Falcons 5 1
3. Council Rock North Indians 3 3
Council Rock South Hawks 3 3
Truman Tigers 3 3
6. Bensalem Owls 2 4
William Tennent Panthers 2 4
8. Neshaminy Redskins 1 5
This Week in the SOL National Conference
Tuesday (1/12/16)
Truman Tigers @ Abington Ghosts
William Tennent Panthers @ Pennsbury Falcons
Council Rock South Hawks @ Neshaminy Redskins
Council Rock North Indians @ Bensalem Owls
Thursday (1/14/16)
Pennsbury Falcons @ Abington Ghosts
William Tennent Panthers @ Council Rock North Indians
Friday (1/15/16)
Council Rock South Hawks @ Truman Tigers
Bensalem Owls @ Neshaminy Redskins
Suburban One Sports.com
Super SiX
1. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (12-0, 6-0)
2. Abington Ghosts (9-3, 5-1)
3. Central Bucks West Bucks (11-2, 6-0)
4. Pennridge Rams (11-2, 5-1)
5. Pennsbury Falcons (8-4, 5-1)
6. Cheltenham Panthers (9-3, 5-1)
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