Abington senior Eric Dixon reached the elusive 2,000-point mark on Thursday night. Check out the recaps for Thursday’s games. Abington/Springfield Township photos provided courtesy of Geanine Jamison, Neshaminy/Bensalem photos courtesy of John Gleeson. CLICK HERE for galleries of both games. (Postgame Abington photos provided by Abington basketball)
SOL American Conference
ABINGTON 94, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 69
At the 5:39 mark of the fourth quarter, Eric Dixon buried the first of two foul shots. There’s nothing especially noteworthy about Dixon making a foul shot except that this one made history, vaulting the senior standout to the 2,000-point plateau and delighting the sellout crowd at Thursday night’s contest.
Dixon sank the second foul shot and then – after a timeout to acknowledge the accomplishment – watched the rest of the game from the bench. His two foul shots represented the 49th and 50th points of an unforgettable night, and according to his coach, Dixon – while an elite basketball player – is an even better person.
“Eric just wants to win, he loves the game, he respects the game,” coach Charles Grasty said. “He loves his teammates, he loves the community. His teachers love him.
“He’s the big man on campus, but he’s not the boastful big man. We’re honored to have him in our community. He’s definitely a huge asset in our community and not because of the 2,000 points but just the person he is and just all the positive things he’s brought to the community.
“He has kids looking up to him, wanting to be like him. It’s just great. I could go on and on. I’m happy for him.”
Dixon’s 50 points ties Richard Wright – who accomplished that feat in the final game of the regular season in 1975 – for the all-time high single game record.
Dixon’s dazzling line included 50 points, 14 rebounds, two blocked shots and five steals. He connected on 22-of-35 shots from the field and was 6-for-9 from the foul line. He now has 2,001 points, 385 in 13 games this season. The senior standout, who is averaging 29.6 ppg, had 22 points and 11 boards in the opening half and then erupted for 21 points in the third quarter.
“We’re going to Pittsburgh tomorrow, and he had 22 in the first half, so it was like, ‘Why not go for it?’” Grasty said. “All day in school, kids were talking about it, and Eric was very uncomfortable with it, and that’s the type of kid he is.
“We had to let him know, ‘Listen, the community is out here for you, you worked your tail off for it. Just embrace it, enjoy it, let everyone appreciate your hard work and just show the type of character you have.’ He understood, and he went after it. It was just awesome. It’s a credit to his hard work and his family.”
The Ghosts, who led 18-8 after one quarter, took a 42-20 lead into halftime and then erupted for 52 points in the second half, 34 in the fourth quarter. The Spartans had a big half of their own, scoring 49 points after the intermission.
Also for Abington, Lucas Monroe finished the night with 12 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Maurice Henry added six assists to go along with five points.
The Ghosts connected on 41-of-78 shots from the field (52.5 percent). Defensively, the Ghosts came up with 18 steals and committed just six turnovers in 32 minutes.
Grasty had high praise for the Spartans and their coaching staff.
“We definitely take our hats off to Springfield and their coach – he showed a lot of class,” Grasty said of coach Chris Cole. “I feel like he understood what we were doing in the fourth quarter and even earlier.”
Ben Rittenhouse scored 14 points to lead the Spartans, and Amir Williams added 12. DeJaun Waters and Jordan Pauls both had eight points while Jay Joseph and Wilson Krewson had six each.
Abington (12-1, 8-0 SOL) will travel to Pittsburgh to play a pair of games in the 2018 MLK Weekend Stand 
Against Violence Basketball Showcase at Woodland Hills High School. The Ghosts will take on South County High School (Va.) on Saturday at 3 p.m. Springfield Township (6-9, 1-7) will be on the road a the Christian Academy for a non-league game on Saturday.
Springfield Township8-12-21-28 69
Abington 18-24-34-18 94
Springfield Township (69) – Austin Maggioncalda 3, Jordan Pauls 8, Jay Joseph 6, Wilson Krewson 6, Zach Edmonds 2, Max Perry 3, Ben Rittenhouse 14, Sully Shackleford 5, Amir Williams 12, DeJaun Waters 8. Woods 2.
Abington (94) – Darius Brown 3, Lucas Monroe 12, Eric Dixon 50, Manir Waller 4, Maurice Henry 5, Jason Scott 4, Zyeir Olasewere 2, Justin Brooks 2, Oreck Frazier 2, Howie Burrell 4, Jack Moynihan 6.
SOL Continental Conference
SOUDERTON 57, NORTH PENN 46
The Indians raced out of the gate to an 18-12 lead after one quarter and stretched that lead to 29-18 by halftime. They took a 46-31 lead into the final quarter on their way to a win that halted a three-game skid.
“I was saying to the guys – ‘These good wins only make the bad losses hurt even more,’ but we still have some life,” coach Tim Brown said. “We’re getting the energy aspect down. We just have to make sure of the execution aspect.
“Tonight we were clicking on both cylinders, but that’s kind of been our problem all year. We’re missing one of those. If you’re missing one, it’s really tough to win ball games. When we’re putting those two together, we’re a really good team.”
Andrew Vince led a balanced Indian attack with 14 points while Mekhi Williams added 12. Sami Chouiraf also finished in double figures with 10. Dom Natale added eight points, Brian Reiner had seven and Zach Thatcher had six.
“Honestly, it was a really good team effort,” Brown said. “We had pretty balanced scoring throughout.
“Andrew Vince always has a great game for us, and he did that again. Again, as far as energy is concerned, Dom Natale brought a different type of energy, and I think the guys really follow his lead when he’s playing like that. He was diving on the floor, he’s always a great offensive rebounder, and he’s really hard to keep off the boards.”
AJ Mitchell led the Knights with 19 points, and Rob Carangi added 10. Mike Chaffee had nine points, and Chris Caputo had eight in a contest that saw just four Knights put their names in the scoring column.
“We always have to have that defensive focus, and we had that today,” Brown said. “North Penn is a tough team to guard. Between Tali McIver and AJ Mitchell – they’re two really good guards that you can’t help off of because they have shooters everywhere.
“I think everyone locked in on their matchup. We had great help whenever we needed it, and we closed out possessions, which was huge. I think they’re starting to buy into how much every possession matters and how much every little box out or whatever it might be really matters.
“If we play the way we did today, I don’t think there’s a team in our league that we can’t beat, but we just have to continue to get the execution and energy down.
Souderton (5-11, 2-5 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Tuesday, and North Penn (8-7, 3-4) will host Bensalem in a non-league game Saturday.
North Penn 12-6-13-15 46
Souderton 18-11-17-11 57
North Penn (46) – AJ Mitchell 19, Rob Carangi 10, Mike Chaffee 9, Chris Caputo 8.
Souderton (57) – Andrew Vince 14, Mekhi Williams 12, Sami Chouiraf 10, Dom Natale 8, Brian Reiner 7, Zach Thatcher 6.
SOL National Conference
PENNSBURY 39, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 36
The Falcons found themselves trailing by two late in Thursday’s contest. With a minute and a half remaining, Gary Francis delivered a play that resulted in the game-winner for the conference leading Falcons.
“We got Gary Francis (isolated) on the post, and he powered through two or three people for an and-one,” coach Bill Coleman. “We had a nine-point lead, and we had a questionable turnover on a layup that would have stretched it to 11. I felt if we got to 11 we would be able to expand the lead a little more.
“Immediately after that turnover, they hit a three. We had some self-inflicted wounds, and as the game closed out, they were able to get the lead. We were able to run a little quick hitter for Gary. Their two defenders gave Gary some breathing room for a half second, he was able to power through and get us the lead. We closed it with some free throws.”
The Falcons took an 18-14 lead into intermission, and the two teams exchanged baskets in the third.
“When you play Council Rock North, they’re going to be very disciplined defensively, and they were,” Coleman said. “We play a certain way – we’re kind of in your face the entire game. We’re trying to speed you up where Jesse (Krasna) has them very disciplined, and it was a good game plan.
“It’s just so hard to replicate it because that’s not how our guys are used to playing. We knew exactly what they were going to do. A credit to them – they fought back and took the lead. We feel Gary (Francis) is one of the best players in the league, and he was able to prove it tonight.”
Francis and Collin Connor shared team scoring honors with 12 points each. Cooper Arnold added six. Connor and Charlie Nuschke led the Falcons with four rebounds each.
For the Indians. Luke Vliet led the way with 12 points while James Durry had 10. Parker Ehlin added six points. Mischak and Duffy each had four rebounds to lead the Indians.
Pennsbury (8-6, 7-0 SOL) will travel to Chichester for a non-league game on Saturday, and Council Rock North (10-5, 4-3) will travel to Harry S Truman on Thursday.
Pennsbury 7-11-14-7 39
Council Rock North 6-8-14-8 36
Pennsbury (39) – Kyrie Miller 5, Collin Connor 12, Gary Francis 12, Cooper Arnold 6,
Charlie Nuschke 2, Reichard 2.
Council Rock North (36) – DJ Mishak 3, Luke Vliet 12, Parker Ehlin 6, James Duffy 10, Trent Fisher 5.
BENSALEM 57, NESHAMINY 40
The Owls managed just 13 points in the opening half and trailed the visiting Redskins 18-13 at halftime. Their offense exploded for 44 points in the second half to win going away.
“It looked pretty dismal in the first half,” coach Mike McCabe said. “In the second half, we defended better, we rebounded and we got out and we ran.
“We just picked up the pace, and the pace suited us.”
Nasir Williams scored all 12 of his points in a 23-point third quarter. Lamont Hasker also had a big quarter.
“Nasir came out and hit two threes, and Lamont hit a couple of foul shots and had a few baskets,” McCabe said. “We got it going, we went after it.
“We were emotional – it’s the first time I’ve seen us with that much emotion. This was an important game for our kids. Neshaminy against us is always another backyard brawl.”
McCabe was pleased with his team’s defense.
“Reuben Jean-Phillips pressured the ball, he got after it,” the Owls’ coach said. “Our freshman, Aaron Sanders, played well, and we finally got James Ashford back.
“I thought overall we had a lot of people contributing tonight. It was a really nice team win. I just wish we could play like that for a whole game because that’s been our Achilles heel. We either get off to a good start and fizzle, or we get off to a bad start and come back. I said to the kids, ‘This is the way we have to play if we want to make a run.’”
Ashford – returning from an injury – saw his first game action since the season opener, and he contributed four points.
Hasker led the Owls with 17 points while Jeremiah Alexander added 15 and Williams had 12.
For the Redskins, Evan Brooks had a team-high 12 points. Damon McGovern added eight while Matt Drapkin and Mike Murray both added six.
Bensalem (7-7, 4-3 SOL) will travel to North Penn on Saturday for a non-league game, and Neshaminy (3-10, 1-6) will host New Hope-Solebury School on Monday in a non-league contest.
Neshaminy 8-10-13-9 40
Bensalem 6-7-23-21 57
Neshaminy (40) – Ian Deduro 3, Kyle Saglimben 3, Brandon Belton 2, Matt Drapkin 6, Damon McGovern 8, Mike Murray 6, Evan Brooks 12.
Bensalem (57) – Nasir Williams 12, Jeremiah Alexander 15, Shane Simmons 3, James Ashford 4, Lamont Hasker 17, DeShawn Hicks 2, Aaron Sanders 4.
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