By Scott Huff
Mission accomplished??
Plymouth Whitemarsh (18-4, 12-0) can check its first goal off the preseason list as the Colonials swept through the Suburban One League American Conference unbeaten with a 60-37 victory over visiting Norristown (18-3, 10-2) and collected its eighth consecutive conference title.
“Winning (the title) is nice, but we still have a lot more to accomplish this year,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh senior guard Stephon Baker who torched the Eagles for a game-high 24 points. “We can’t give up any intensity, we can’t stop here, and we won’t stop here.”
Baker was basically a bench player for last season’s wonderful PIAA Quad-A state champion Colonials. That role has radically changed for the 2010-2011 season.
“Stephon has evolved into a player that demands the ball the entire game,” said Plymouth Whitemash head coach Jim Donofrio. “His jump shot is so good now, it is like he is taking a lay-up. He has been great with the pull-up from 10-12 feet. He is an offensive threat.”
On this night, however, it was the swarming Plymouth Whitemarsh defense that earned the rave reviews.
“We respect Norristown, and we decided that we wanted to show them something that we haven’t done all year defensively,” said Donofrio. “What’s old in new again – and we played a lot of match up zone that we played last year.
“To hold a team that is as explosive as Norristown to 18 points in the first half, and 37 points for an entire game, tells you all you need to know about how you are playing defense,” added Donofrio. “We played with a great deal of energy on the defensive end.”
Both teams struggled on the offensive end in the first half as PW led 22-18 at intermission.
PW senior captain Jaylen Bond – the 6-foot, 7-inch man-child – took over the game in the third period scoring 11 of his 13 points and dominating the paint defensively. Bond – who hauled in 16 rebounds – rejected five Eagle shots as the Colonials stretched the lead to 40-27.
“Jaylen turned into a beast in the third period,” said Donofrio. “He showed everyone why he is going to the University of Pittsburgh next year.”
“When you play Plymouth Whitemarsh you have to pick your poison,” said Norristown head coach Michael Evans. “I felt that when Bond hurt us in the third period, we didn’t do a good job of responding to that run.
“Baker is an excellent basketball player,” added Evans. “He is a good shooter, and he was making shots tonight.
“We didn’t capitalize on anything that they gave us, and we didn’t make shots,” continued Evans. “We have a few days to figure it out before district playoffs.”
Norristown 6 12 9 10 * 37
Plymouth Whitemrsh 11 11 18 20 * 60
Norristown: Tevin Bush 2; Maleek Williams 9; Tyreese White 9; Aaron Webb 3; Rasheed Johnson 7; Jahquan Hargrove 5; Jahbri Hargrove 2. Total – 37.
Plymouth Whitemarsh: Marcus Badger 7; Stephon Baker 24; Jaylen Bond 13; Brandon Johnson 6; Sam Pygatt 10. Total – 60.
Rams Earn SOL Continental Title (barely)
Pennridge (17-5, 11-3) came into its contest with host Quakertown (1-21, 0-14) as a prohibitive favorite to win not only the game, but the first conference boys basketball championship in the history of Pennridge High School.
The Rams needed a buzzer beating three-pointer by senior Kyle Peters in the final moments to defeat the pesky Panthers – 50-47 – to earn both the victory and the title.
Peters – who scored 11 critical points in the final period – finished in twin digits with 13 points. Point guard Mike Guldin scored a game-high 16 points for the Rams, while Rocky Ferrier also scored in twin digits with 11 points.
Quakertown was led in scoring by junior guard Corey Jorgensen with a team-high 15 points. Kenny Cuadrado – who scored 10 points in the fourth period – finished in double digits with 13 points.
The next time when someone tells you that in those rivalry games – which Pennridge and Quakertown qualifies - you can throw out the records – maybe you can actually believe them.
Pennridge 2 12 15 21 * 50
Quakertown 7 7 13 20 * 47
Pennridge: Tim Abruzzo 3; Rocky Ferrier 11; Mike Guldin 16; Andrew Lyons 3; Kyle Peters 13; Jared Schaffer 3. Total – 50.
Quakertown: John Landis 2; Corey Jorgensen 15; Spencer Gysi 8; Kenny Cuadrado 13; Steffan Spieker 2. Total – 47.
Knights Earn SOL Continental Title
North Penn (18-4, 11-3) won their piece of the championship with a grind-it-out 37-23 victory over host Hatboro-Horsham (9-12, 5-9).
The Knights were led in scoring by Janeus Somers with a game-high 12 points. The Brooks brothers – Wes and Sean – each scored eight points for the winners. North Penn will await its invitation to the PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs – hopefully as a top eight seed.
Hatboro-Horsham was led in scoring by Chris Hobbs with a team-high nine points. Zach Quattro scored six points for the Hatters.
North Penn 17 3 5 12 * 37
Hatboro-Horsham 3 8 2 10 * 23
Owls fly to SOL National Conference Victory
Bensalem (17-5, 11-3) secured third place in the conference standings with a 46-32 victory over host Council Rock South (7-14, 4-10).
The Owls were led in scoring by 6-foot, 8-inch center Calvin Brown who scored a game-high 11 points. Alex Agyedu and Chris McMullin each scored eight points for the Owls. Bensalem will await its invitation to the PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs on Sunday.
Council Rock South was led in scoring by Justin Thomas with seven points. Jim Ivers scored six points for the Hawks.
Bensalem 16 5 13 12 * 46
Council Rock South 8 7 10 7 * 32
Ghosts Tame Tigers
Abington (9-13, 5-9) scored a season-high 78 points as the Ghosts defeated host Truman (8-13, 4-10) – 78-64 – in an SOL National Conference contest.
Abington was led by the senior DJ McFadden and sophomore Jordan Simmons who scored 17 points each for the winners. Jordan Monroe, Julian Keys, and Jiere Morrisey each scored eight points for the Ghosts.
Shaun Miller had a double/double for the Tigers with a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds. Dequan Ashley scored in twin digits for Truman with 10 points.
Abington 15 28 9 26 * 78
Truman 15 7 24 18 * 64
Falcons Fly to SOL National Conference Win
Pennsbury (8-13, 6-8) concluded its season with a 61-43 SOL National Conference victory over host William Tennent (6-16, 1-13).
Zach Sibel recorded a double/double for the Falcons with a game-high 17 points and 13 rebounds. Kieran Bolger added nine points for the winners.
Jack Rauchut led William Tennent with a team-high 15 points. Tyler Wuensche scored in twin digits for the Panthers with 10 points.
Pennsbury 9 20 13 19 * 61
William Tennent 11 11 6 15 * 43
Trojans March to SOL American Conference win
Wissahickon (13-8, 7-5) swept Cheltenham (14-8, 6-6) for the second season in a row as the Trojans edged the visiting Panthers – 44-40.
Jordan Reed was the fuel to the Wissy fire as he scorched Cheltenham for a game-high 21 points. Reed – who scored 12 crucial points in the fourth period for the Trojans – also collected 12 rebounds. Wissahickon will await its invitation to the PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs on Sunday.
Cheltenham – which will also await its invite to the PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs – was led in scoring by Lamont McLaurin with 12 points. Nafis Walker scored in twin digits for the Panthers with 11 points.
Cheltenham 10 11 7 12 * 40
Wissahickon 11 9 13 11 * 44
‘Other’ Suburban One League Friday Scores
Upper Merion (10-12, 4-8) rallied to defeat Upper Moreland (2-19, 0-12) – 50-47 – in SOL American Conference play. Check SuburbanOneSports.com for complete game story.
Council Rock North (20-1, 12-0) remained unbeaten in the SOL National Conference with a 38-34 victory over Neshaminy (18-4, 11-3). Check SuburbanOneSports.com for complete game story.
Souderton (14-8, 9-5) closed out its Suburban One League Continental Conference schedule with a 53-43 victory over visiting Central Bucks East (11-11, 7-7).
Thursday Night Basketball
2/10/11
Central Bucks West (14-8, 9-5) finished its regular season with a 57-42 Suburban One League Continental Conference victory over visiting Central Bucks South (5-17, 4-10).
The Bucks – who will await an invitation to the PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs – led 29-15 at the half and cruised to the win. Kevin Sweet and Derek Dyer led CB West in scoring with 11 points each, while Tyler Schechter scored in twin digits with 10 points.
CB South – who will not get that invite to the district dance – was led in scoring by Steve Schneider and James Delgato with eight points each. Matt Johns scored seven points for the Titans.
Central Bucks South 4 11 8 19 * 42
Central Bucks West 13 16 14 14 * 57
Central Bucks East (11-10) had to work three overtimes to defeat host Phoenixville (8-11) in a non-league contest – 70-67. The Patriots had to rally from a seven point fourth quarter deficit to force the first overtime.
Matt Stauffer scored a game-high 21 points for the Patriots, while DJ Beausejour added 16 points for the winners. Ryan O’Neil scored in double digits with 12 points for CBE.
Central Bucks East 13 12 16 14 4 4 7 * 70
Phoenixville 17 15 16 7 4 4 4 * 67
Wednesday Night Basketball
2/9/11
North Penn (17-4) added to its district one resume with a 54-30 non-league victory over host Perkiomen Valley (10-12).
It was the Sean Brooks Show for the Knights as Brooks scored a game-high 17 points that included five 3-point field goals. Brooks also scored 12 of the 14 North Penn points in the first period.
North Penn 14 12 22 6 * 54
Perkiomen Valley 5 6 11 8 * 30
Plymouth Whitemarsh (17-4) added another victory to the win column as the Colonials rolled to a 53-20 victory over West Catholic (6-11).
The Colonials were led in scoring by Marcus Glover and Stephon Baker with 10 points each. Jaylen Bond and Jake Silver scored eight points apiece for PW.
West Catholic 4 3 7 6 * 20
Plymouth Whitemarsh 13 17 11 12 * 53
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