Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ basketball teams in action Saturday. Upper Dublin/Upper Merion photos provided courtesy of Geanine Jamison. Check back for a gallery of photos.
WISSAHICKON 51, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 49
If the Trojans were looking for a bounce-back win after Friday’s disappointing loss to archrival Upper Dublin, they got it, defeating a Patriot squad that brought a 9-3 record into the game.
“It was just a crazy back and forth game,” coach Kyle Wilson said. “It was one of those things where I’m like, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to pull this thing out.’
“It was such a drastic difference from our game the night before. I was very excited for the kids. We needed this one. I said to the guys, ‘As much as the loss to Upper Dublin the night before stung, this is a big win because that’s a team that’s going to win a bunch of games.’”
The Trojans, who led by two at the end of one quarter, outscored their visitors 19-9 in the second quarter to go into halftime with a 33-25 lead.
“They played really good defense, but we had a stretch where Matt Compas scored seven points in that quarter, Carmen Ostroski had five and Eddie (Fortescue) had four, but they key on Eddie all the time,” Wilson said. “It was nice to see some of the other guys make nice plays. Tyler Caso hit a jump shot. We spread the ball around, and guys played within their roles and made shots within their game. They just really played well.”
The Patriots trimmed the Trojans’ lead to two heading into the final quarter (40-38), and this one wasn’t decided until the closing moments.
“There was a unique play in the game. Eddie Fortescue had a breakaway, and they intentionally fouled him,” Wilson said. “I don’t think any of the officials saw it was just a straight out grab, and it really would have been a big change in the game because it would have been two shots and the ball back.
“They called a regular foul, he went to the line and missed the front end of a one-and-one. I think they got a steal and scored, but our guys just continued to dig in and play hard. They just continued to make plays.”
Fortescue led all scorers with 20 points and also had four rebounds, three steals and two assists. Carmen Ostroski added 10 points, Matt Compas finished with seven, and D’Shan Love had six.
The Trojans held a 32-20 advantage on the boards. Ostroski led the way with eight and Caso had seven. Willis added five.
“One of the things we said because they shoot the ball so well – a team that shoots threes so well, we can’t give them multiple opportunities, and they’re going to be long rebounds, so you’ve got to box out, get back and make them pay for their long shots,” Wilson said. “The kids really did a solid job.”
Ben Markowitz led three Patriots in double figures with 14. Nick Roggio added 13, and Joe Jackman had 10. Leo Masterson finished with nine. The Patriots had eight three-pointers, connecting on 8-of-19.
Wissahickon (6-8, 2-4 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Tuesday, and Central Bucks East (9-4, 3-3) will be on the road at Central Bucks West on Friday.
Central Bucks East 16-9-13-11 49
Wissahickon 14-19-7-11 51
Central Bucks East (49) – Jacob Rotondo 3, Leo Masterson 9, Ben Markowitz 14, Joe Jackman 10, Nick Roggio 13.
Wissahickon (51) – Eddie Fortescue 20, Carmen Ostroski 10, Matt Compas 7, D’Shan Love 6, Maurice Willis 4, Tyler Caso 4.
QUAKERTOWN 55, BOYERTOWN 51
The Panthers needed some late-game heroics to eke out the non-league win over the visiting Bears.
“We really needed that one,” coach Mike DeCarolis said. “It was a really great game. We were up five going into the fourth quarter, and Boyertown hit two threes in a row to start the fourth quarter, and we were down one.
“It was a back and forth game all the way up until the last minute. Matt Catalano hit a three to put us up five. They were fouling us, and we were making our foul shots, and that’s how the game ended.”
Catalano’s 16 points led the Panthers. The sophomore guard buried five threes.
“Matt had a really big game,” DeCarolis said. “He’s been struggling the last three or four games.
“He’s one of the guys that can really shoot the ball for us, and the ball hasn’t been going in for him. Tonight I felt really happy for him because he got his confidence back.”
Eli Ortiz, a senior captain, added 12 points – 10 in the second half.
“In the three games that we’ve won, he’s played really well,” DeCarolis said. “He played defense for us, he rebounded, he made timely baskets. He’s kind of the straw that stirs the drink for us.”
Jimmy Casey contributed eight points, and Bobby Rosenberger had seven.
Quakertown (3-8, 1-5 SOL) will host Souderton on Tuesday.
Boyertown 10-11-11-19 51
Quakertown 10-12-15-18 55
Boyertown (51) – Dawson Smith 6 Aarick Salata 11, Mason Marinello 21, Alex Obarow 5, Hunter Borgman 6, Matt Martin 2.
Quakertown (55) – Matt Catalano 16, Sean Harrison 5, Jimmy Casey 8, Bobby Rosenberger 7, Matt Lucas 4, Al Amandon 3, Eli Ortiz 12.
UPPER DUBLIN 54, UPPER MERION 39
The Flying Cardinals picked up their second win in as many days, this time handling former SOL foe Upper Merion. The Cardinals, who led by one after one quarter, took a tenuous 21-20 lead into halftime but put some distance between themselves and the visiting Vikings with a 15-5 third quarter to go on top 36-25.
“This was another tough game,” said coach Chris Monahan, whose team was coming off a hard fought win over Wissahickon. “Upper Merion does a good job making things tough on the offensive end.
“They are quick and aggressive defensively and made things difficult for us in the first half. We were able to get some looks in the third quarter. Brian Klammer had a personal 5-0 spurt, and we were able to get stops. That helped us gain a separation that we held onto for the remainder of the game.”
Corby Watkins led the Flying Cardinals with 16 points, and Klammer finished with nine. Drew Stover had eight points, and Micah Bootman contributed six. Bazel Brady led the Cardinals under the boards..
Upper Dublin (8-5, 2-4 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township on Tuesday.
Upper Merion9-11-5-14 39
Upper Dublin 10-11-15-18 54
Upper Merion (39) – Ty Jones 10, Lukas Kim 3, Matt Choi 2, Collin Bowman 3, Nick Shepperd 13, Chris Clark 8.
Upper Dublin (54) – Drew Stover 8, Corby Watkins 16, Bazel Brady 5, Brian Klammer 9, Cory Ladov 3, Mike Slivka 4, Micah Bootman 6, Amare Johnson 3.
DOWNINGTOWN WEST 68, NORTH PENN 67 (OT)
There’s no arguing the Knights have the corner of the market when it comes to close games. Seven of their games have been decided by four points or less, three by one point.
Less than 24 hours after losing a heartbreaker to Central Bucks South by two, the Knights – without AJ Mitchell – fell in double overtime by one to the visiting Whippets, and after winning four of their first five close games, they have dropped the last two.
The Knights trailed 13-6 after one quarter but outscored the Whippets 22-10 in the second to go into halftime with a 28-23 lead. Rob Carangi gave the Knights a huge lift off the bench, scoring nine points in the frame. Mike Chaffee had a pair of threes in the second quarter.
The Knights took a double-digit lead into the final quarter, 46-35, only to watch it disappear as the Whippets closed out regulation with a 21-11 tear. Both teams scored six in the first OT, and the Whippets edged the Knights 6-5 in the second OT with all five of the Knights’ points coming at the foul line.
Tali McGiver’s 19 points led the Knights. Mike Chaffee added 13 and Carangi finished with nine. Kolby Barrow had eight points.
North Penn (8-5, 3-2 SOL) will travel to Pennridge on Tuesday.
Downingtown West 13-10-12-21-6-6 68
North Penn 6-22-17-11-6-5 67
Downingtown West (68) – Naseem Robinson 9, Sean Kasier 4, Hunter Blair 12, Griffin Hillsinger 2, Cam McCole 19, Matt Walter 22.
North Penn (67) – Tali McIver 19, Kolby Barrow 8, Chris Caputo 3, Joe Larkins 5, Mike Chaffee 13, Rob Carangi 9, Solomon Robinson 5, Matt Swanson 5.
RIDLEY 57, BENSALEM 47
The Owls took a 27-20 lead into halftime and still led by two heading into the final quarter when Ridley’s press and some unforced errors took their toll. The Green Raiders outscored the Owls 25-13 in the final frame to earn the non-league win.
Lamont Hasker had a big game, leading all scorers with 18 points. Jeremiah Alexander added nine, and Nasir Williams had six.
Bensalem (6-7, 3-3 SOL) will host Neshaminy on Thursday.
Bensalem 13-14-7-13 47
Ridley 11-9-12-25 57
Bensalem (47) – Nasir Williams 6, Jeremiah Alexander 9, TJ Igielski 5, Lamont Hasker 18, Adam Beck 5, Aaron Sanders 4.
Ridley (57) – Santiago 4, Malachi Williams 16, Howard 15, Tobey 2, Jack Grace 6, Clark 12, Hudson 2.
METHACTON 58, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 36
The Bucks fell behind early, trailing by 10 at the end of one quarter, and they were outscored in all three quarters of Saturday’s non-league game.
Jack Neri’s 16 points led the Bucks while Jack Mulhearn added 11.
Central Bucks West (6-7, 2-3 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South on Tuesday.
Central Bucks West 5-10-15-6 36
Methacton 15-17-18-8 58
Central Bucks West (36) – Jack Mulhearn 11, Mika Munari 5, Jack Neri 16, Reed Zerweck 2, Danny Miller 2.
Methacton (58) – Jeff Woodward 18, David Duda 17, Erik Timko 10, Owen Kropp 6, Brett Eberly 5, Ben Christian 2.
POCONO MOUNTAIN WEST 45, PENNSBURY 37
The visiting Falcons took an 18-16 lead into halftime and still led by two heading into the fourth quarter when Pocono Valley West erupted for 21 points and the non-league win.
Pennsbury (6-6, 5-0 SOL) will travel to Neshaminy on Tuesday.
Pennsbury 11-7-8-11 37
Pocono Mountain West 10-6-8-21 45
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