Plymouth Whitemarsh defeated Central Bucks West 62-41 in Monday’s SOL Tournament Championship game. Photos provided courtesy of Larry Small. CLICK HERE to go directly to the BOYS' BASKETBALL GALLERY.
By Scott Huff
Franconia – Plymouth Whitemarsh is undefeated this season for a reason. The greatest reason is that the talented Colonials are an extremely unselfish team that plays exceedingly well with each other.
This time it was guard Ahmin Williams’ turn to lead PW to victory as his 19 points came on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-4 on the foul line as the Colonials captured a 62-41 victory over Central Bucks West in the Suburban One League championship game played at Souderton Area High School.
“We know each other very well and know how to play off each other,” said Williams – a twin that plays in the backcourt with brother Ahmad and Ish Horn. “We have played a lot together all year long – from right after last season – to summer ball – to now.
“We stick together and will do whatever it takes to win,” added Williams. “We see who can help us win on any given night, and that’s who we go to.”
“Ahmin had some big baskets at the end of the first half,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Jim Donofrio. “It put us in a much better place to begin the second half.”
The game was tied at 20-20 with 2:22 left in the second period, but the Colonials went on an 11-4 tear to close out the period and take a 31-24 lead into halftime. Williams hit the final three PW buckets in the final minute of the first half – one from beyond the arc – to fuel the run.
“Sometimes you just have a good feel about your shot,” said Williams.
“We were able to play with them for most of the game,” said Central Bucks West head coach Adam Sherman as three Bucks – Jake Reichwein, Mika Munari and Jack Neri – scored in double figures. “But there were windows in the game – for about two or three minutes stretches – that really hurt us.”
The Bucks – who played the game without the services of Collin MacAdams (illness) – would get as close as 42-35 with 1:58 left in the third period, but the sharp shooting Williams scored the final four points of the period to stretch the Colonial lead to 46-35.
Horn – who scored 18 points in the game on slashing drives to the hoop – took over the offensive load in the fourth period for the winners. He scored seven points in a little over a minute – including a trey – as the PW lead swelled to 55-35.
The contest was a true learning tool for both the winning Colonials and the losing Bucks.
“Playing Pennridge and CB West back to back in this tournament is like taking a master’s class,” said Donofrio. “Both teams run a beautiful offense with the cutting and the passing – it was a great learning experience for our kids.
“When we get into districts and into states – we are going to face more teams like that,” added Donofrio. “Teams are going to want to control pace on us – and we can’t let them. We have to go into another gear on defense.
“Adam Sherman is a coach that knows his business,” continued Donofrio. “Playing against them is like playing a chess match.
“You don’t want the game to go down to two or four points in the fourth quarter coaching against him,” added Donofrio. “If you do – all bets are off.”
“Playing them is a great opportunity for our kids to learn,” said Sherman. “We really can’t simulate that team (with a 7-footer and speed) in practice.
“In a dream season we might get to play them again,” added Sherman. “They beat us – but I thought we were competitive for most of the game.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh junior center Naheem McLeod finished the game with six points and was not the dominant force that he had been in the Colonials big win over Pennridge in the tournament’s semifinal contest.
“CB West did some different things against Naheem and it was effective,” said Donofrio. “But I thought our guys did a great job of trapping and recovering, and we were able to close out and makes good things happen.”
It was McLeod’s time against Pennridge with a brilliant 26-point effort – but it was Ahmin Williams’ time against CB West – and now Plymouth Whitemarsh can add the 2018 SOL championship trophy to its already crowded trophy case in Plymouth Meeting.
SOL Championship Tournament Notebook:
Plymouth Whitemarsh entered the SOL championship as the top seed from District One and will open the PIAA 6A District One tournament with a home game on Tuesday (2/20/18) against the winner of the game between No. 16 Bensalem and No. 17 Pennsbury…Central Bucks West entered the SOL championship as the No. 4 seed from District One and will open the PIAA 6A District One tournament with a home game on Tuesday (2/20/18) against the winner of the game between No. 13 Owen J Roberts and No. 20 Central Bucks East…Pennridge entered the SOL championship as the No. 6 seed from District One and will open the PIAA 6A District One tournament on Tuesday (2/20/18) against the winner of the game between No. 11 Spring-Ford and No. 22 North Penn…Abington entered the SOL championship tournament as the No. 2 seed from District One and will open the PIAA 6A District One tournament on Tuesday (2/20/18) against the winner of the game between No. 15 Central Bucks South and No. 18 Neshaminy.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 12 19 15 16 * 62
Central Bucks West 10 14 7 6 * 41
Plymouth Whitemarsh: Ahmin Williams 19, Ish Horn 18, Alan Glover 7, Naheem McLeod 6, Ahmad Williams 6, Danny Cooper 4, Jordan Evans 2.
Central Bucks West: Jake Reichwein 12, Mika Munari 12, Jack Neri 10, Chase Heller 3, Davis Zerweck 3, Shane McCuster 2, Jack Mulhearn 2.
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