This week's notebook features CB South, Wissahickon & Truman.
By Scott Huff
Central Bucks South is playing for a share of first place in the Suburban One League Continental Conference on Tuesday when the Titans (7-5, 5-1) host district rival Central Bucks West (11-1, 6-0).
“Central Bucks West has great team chemistry and has a number of players that can step up and make big plays for them,” said Central Bucks South head coach Jason Campbell. “We have to be able to limit them to one shot on defense, and our defense must get us into transition to get some easy baskets.
“The teams in our league are pretty defensive minded and we don’t hope to just outscore the other team,” added Campbell. “There are not many division one or division two players in the league, and you have to be able to play good defense and be physical.”
Central Bucks South may be just a shade of .500 for the season, but the Titans played an extremely strong non-conference schedule. CB South has lost to Spring-Ford (8-7), Father Judge (10-3), Souderton (9-3), Council Rock North (9-3) and St. Paul’s (Maryland).
“We felt that it would be helpful for us to allow this team to see what was out there come district playoff time,” said Campbell. “We want to compete against some of the high level teams both in the district (and out of state).
“We knew that we were going to walk out of some of those gyms with a loss,” added Campbell. “But we also knew that it would prepare us for what might come down the road.”
Central Bucks South has gotten solid performances up and down its roster – and from each class.
Seniors Dave Knox (6-foot, 3-inches) and John Flaherty (6-3) have been a force inside the paint. Juniors Kevin Raymond (5-6), Brennan Rudnick (5-9) and Chase Vonder Schmalz (5-10) - along with sophomores Matt Scamuffo (5-11) and Bryce Dobisch (5-11) – have made significant contributions this season.
“Dave and John have been strong, and our junior group is a good core group,” said Campbell. “And Matt (Scamuffo) gave us some firepower off the bench against Hatboro-Horsham with three 3-pointers in the first half.
“We are looking forward to playing West, but then we have to get ready for the second half of the season,” added Campbell. “The second time through the league is much harder – but we will be ready.”
Wissahickon has won 13 straight games, and the first place Trojans have three straight SOL American Conference challenges on the schedule in the near future. Wissahickon (13-1, 5-0) plays Cheltenham (9-5, 3-2), Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-5, 4-1), and Norristown (8-4, 4-1) in its next trio of conference contests.
“This is a unique spot for us being the team that is being chased and not the team chasing,” said Wissahickon head coach Kyle Wilson. “I’m not shy about telling people that we play in one of the most competitive leagues with teams like Plymouth Whitemarsh, Norristown, Cheltenham, and Upper Dublin. Playing that schedule really lets you know what to look forward to when you play in districts.
“We have shown that we are a team that has the right pieces,” added Wilson. “We have some size, some quickness, and some scorers.”
Tanoh Kpassagnon at 6-foot, 8 inches provides the size and has controlled both the offensive and defensive backboards for the Trojans, while Chase Wilson provides the quickness with his good decision making at point guard. And then there is Jordan Reed to provide the scoring.
“Jordan was just relentless in our last game,” said Wilson as Reed torched Perkiomen Valley for 42 points in the Trojans 72-40 win. “He scored from the outside, he scored driving to the rim, and he scored on offensive rebounds and putbacks. And he did that without playing the last five minutes of the game.
“He plays the game with a great amount of energy,” added Wilson. “We are trying to see if that 42 points is a school record – it could be a record, but we are not sure. He has some schools really interested in him, but right now he is keeping his options open.”
Harry S Truman is slowly building momentum in the SOL National Conference as the Tigers (6-6, 3-3) have won three in a row – four out of five – and five out of seven – in recent weeks. The only loss in the last five games has come against first place Council Rock North (75-54).
The last three conference wins have come against Neshaminy (69-68), Pennsbury (65-51), and William Tennent (43-38). The Tigers lost their first three conference games of the season, and now HST might just be that team that nobody wants to play in the second half of the season.
Mike Mintah had a double/double in the win over Neshaminy. Mintah – who scored 10 points and hauled in 10 rebounds – sank the two game winning free throws in the waning moments of the game. Ironically, Mintah had missed his first seven free throw attempts against the Skins.
Merdic Green has been one of the most consistent scorers in the SOL this season. Green has scored in twin digits in 11 of the 12 Tiger games this season, and in his eleven double figure games, he has scored anywhere between 12 and 18 points. No huge scoring binges – no scoring droughts – for the talented Green who owns a 14.4 points per game average.
Truman will close out the first half to the SOL National Conference schedule on Tuesday as the Tigers host Abington (10-3, 3-2).
In the Rear View Mirror
On Saturday, Wissahickon (10-1) raced to a 44-20 first half lead as the Trojans routed visiting Perkiomen Valley, 72-40, in a non-conference game. Senior Jordan Reed scored 42 – yes 42 – points to lead Wissahickon in scoring. Chase Wilson added nine points for the Trojans, while Tahoh Kpassagnon tallied eight points for the winners.
Perkiomen Valley Vikings10 10 10 10 - 40
Wissahickon Trojans 21 23 17 11 - 72
On Saturday, Council Rock North (9-3) received a balanced scoring attack as the Indians handled visiting Glen Mills, 63-56, in a non-conference game. Senior guard Aaron Morgan scored a game-high 16 points and dished out five assists. Rip Engel (12), Kyle McCloskey (11), and Alex Jordan (10) also scored in twin digits for the Indians. Arron Goodman tallied nine points and collected 13 rebounds for Rock North.
Glen Mills Bulls 14 10 15 17 - 56
Council Rock North 17 12 14 20 - 63
On Saturday, Souderton (9-3) outscored visiting Methacton (10-4) by a 23-5 margin in the first period as the Big Red cruised to a 51-27 victory. Souderton had a pair of players score in double figures and were led by John Kanas with a game-high 14 points, while Mark Wonderling added 12 points for the winners. The game marked the return of Ryan Connolly who missed a month of games with pneumonia.
Methacton Warriors 5 8 2 12 - 37
Souderton Big Red 23 6 8 14 - 51
On Saturday, Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-5) snatched a 12-point first quarter lead as the Colonials marched to a 71-50 victory over World Communications (4-7). Anthony McKie led PW in scoring with a game-high 18 points, while Jake Silvers scored in twin digits with 16 points. Russhon Phillips added nine points for the winners.
World Communications 8 8 11 23 - 50
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 20 14 20 17 - 71
On Saturday, North Penn (3-7) could not overcome a 10-point first quarter deficit as the Knights fell to host Spring-Ford (8-7) – 52-37. North Penn only had three players score in the game as Javi Alvarino torched the nets for a game-high 21 points and Wes Brooks scored in double figures with 14 markers.
North Penn Knights 8 14 5 10 - 37
Spring-Ford Rams 18 12 7 15 - 52
**On Tap in the Suburban One League**
*Tuesday * January 17, 2012*
American Conference:
Norristown Eagles (8-4, 4-1) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (7-5, 4-1)
Upper Merion Vikings (4-8, 0-5) @ Upper Moreland Golden Bears (4-8, 0-5)
Cheltenham Panthers (9-5, 3-2) @ Wissahickon Trojans (11-1, 5-0)
Continental Conference:
Central Bucks East Patriots (6-6, 4-2) @ Souderton Big Red (9-3, 5-1)
North Penn Knights (3-7, 2-4) @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (3-9, 2-4)
Pennridge Rams (5-7, 0-6) @ Quakertown Panthers (1-11, 0-6)
Central Bucks West (11-1, 6-0) @ Central Bucks South Titans (7-5, 5-1)
National Conference:
Bensalem Owls (4-6, 4-2) @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks (4-8, 1-5)
Pennsbury Falcons (6-5, 3-3) @ William Tennent Panthers (3-9, 2-4)
Abington Ghosts (10-3, 4-2) @ Truman Tigers (6-6, 3-3)
Neshaminy Redskins (3-10, 2-4) @ Council Rock North Indians (9-3, 5-1)
*Friday Nite Lights * January 20, 2012*
American Conference:
Upper Dublin Cardinals @ Cheltenham Panthers
Norristown Eagles @ Upper Merion Vikings
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials @ Wissahickon Trojans
Continental Conference:
North Penn Knights @ Central Bucks East
Central Bucks West @ Souderton Big Red
Central Bucks South @ Pennridge Rams
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters @ Quakertown Panthers
National Conference:
Neshaminy Redskins @ Abington Ghosts
Council Rock North Indians @ William Tennent Panthers
Bensalem Owls @ Pennsbury Falcons
Council Rock South Golden Hawks @ Truman Tigers
****Suburban One League Challenge****
**Saturday**January 21, 2012
@ Cheltenham High School
William Tennent Panthers vs. Upper Moreland Golden Bears – 3 pm
Cheltenham Panthers vs. Central Bucks East Patriots – 7 pm
@ Wissahickon High School
Council Rock North Indians vs. Norristown Eagles – 2 pm
Wissahickon Trojans vs. Pennridge Rams – 5 pm
@ Bensalem High School
Truman Tigers vs. Central Bucks West Bucks – 2 pm
Bensalem Owls vs. Central Bucks South Titans – 6:30 pm
@ Pennsbury High School
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters vs. Council Rock South Golden Hawks – 2 pm
Pennsbury Falcons vs. Souderton Big Red – 5 pm
@ North Penn High School
North Penn Knights vs. Abington Ghosts – 3:30 pm
@ Upper Dublin High School
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals vs. Quakertown Panthers – 5 pm
*******Suburban One Sports.com*******
*******Super Seven*******
1. Wissahickon Trojans (13-1)
2. Central Bucks West Bucks (11-1)
3. Council Rock North Indians (9-3)
4. Abington Ghosts (10-3)
5. Souderton Big Red (9-3)
6. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (7-5)
7. Norristown Eagles (8-4)
- Log in to post comments
