The Panthers of Cheltenham, Quakertown & Tennent are highlighted this week.
By Scott Huff
Panther Pride
The success of the Panthers this Suburban One League season has been diverse in terms of wins and losses.
The Cheltenham Panthers (12-6, 5-3) of the SOL American Conference are headed for the PIAA District One playoffsas the Black Cats prepare for the final two weeks of the conference season. Cheltenham goes into the final four games of the season with four wins in five games with the only loss an overtime setback to first place Wissahickon (16-2, 7-1).
“We want to peak at the right time of the season, and this is the right time,” said Cheltenham head coach Brian Johnson. “We have two very tough games coming up this week with Plymouth Whitemarsh (10-8, 6-3) and Norristown (11-5, 7-2). Playing those teams like them will give us a great idea of what the playoffs look like.
“Both Plymouth Whitemarsh and Norristown have great programs, and to be able to play them tough will show us that we are moving in the right direction,” added Johnson. “It is great for us to be in the position we are in right now.”
Cheltenham has competed with the best in the area with a nucleus of three senior guards. Nafis Walker, Toyon Wynder, and Jarrell Haywood have all made significant contributions in the Panthers recent success.
“Nafis has played very well for us all season, and Toyon has come on strong in recent games,” said Johnson. “And although Jarrell hasn’t scored as many points, he has defended very well and has played huge parts in us winning games.
“I tell these seniors almost every day to work hard,” continued Johnson. “You are seniors, you won’t get a chance to get this time back. Make the most of the time you have left in the season.”
The William Tennent Panthers (5-13, 3-8) of the SOL National Conference are not headed for the playoffs as these Black Cats prepare for the final two weeks of the conference season. William Tennent, though, has the number of conference rival Bensalem (9-8, 6-4) as WT stopped a four game losing streak with a 59-56 win over the Owls last Friday.
“We have had two very close games against them,” said William Tennent head coach Rob Mulville in reference to the 66-64 Panther win over Bensalem earlier in the year. “Our big men – Jack Rauchut and Horace Spencer – really stepped up in both Bensalem games and played very well.
“We had two tough losses against Upper Moreland (6-11) and Council Rock South (5-12) prior to the Bensalem game,” added Mulville. “We talked to the players about making sure that we finish the season strong. We have two games this week [against Truman (8-9, 5-5) on Tuesday and Neshaminy (4-14, 3-7) on Friday] and we want to go into the games with the idea of winning.
“The coaching staff told the seniors that they should enjoy every minute of their final season,” continued Mulville. “They need to focus on the final two weeks of the season.”
The Quakertown Panthers (1-17, 0-10) of the SOL Continental Conference are also not headed for the playoffs as these Black Cats prepare for the final two weeks of the conference season. Quakertown may not have won a conference game this season, but the Panther have given the conference co-leaders – Central Bucks West (16-2, 9-1) and Souderton (13-4, 9-1) – all those teams could handle this season.
“We were leading West at halftime of our last game,” said Quakertown head coach Kevin Keeler in reference to Q-towns’s 21-15 intermission advantage. “But we had a poor third period (outscored 16-2), but we were able to come back and only lose by six (42-36). I was ecstatic with the way that we played – with the exception of that third period.
“And we were only down two points against Souderton with about 20 seconds left in the game,” added Keeler in reference to the Panthers 66-61 loss to the Indians. “But we just haven’t been able to come up with wins. It is hard to explain, and we approach each game like it is a championship game. We practice hard, the players keep on fighting, and they have learned some tough life lessons.
“Our seniors are playing with a mental toughness,” continued Keeler in reference to a senior group that includes Corey Jorgensen, Steffan Spieker, and Jon Landis. “They have hung tough together, and it would be great to come up with a win or two in these final games. We don’t lose from lack of effort.”
All three SOL programs – Cheltenham, William Tennent, and Quakertown - play with a pride.
Panther Pride.
Who’s On Top in District One?
District One Playoff time is quickly approaching and this is where teams that comprise District One stand to date:
Delaware Valley League: Chester (17-0, 6-0); Penn Wood (10-5, 5-1); Glen Mills (7-9, 3-3).
Central League: Lower Merion (17-2, 13-0); Upper Darby (11-8, 11-2); Conestoga (12-6, 9-4).
Ches-Mont National: Coatesville (15-2, 9-0); West Chester Henderson (12-7, 7-2); Downingtown West (10-8, 5-3).
Ches-Mont American: Octorara (14-3, 8-1); Great Valley (14-3, 7-1); West Chester Rustin (9-8, 6-2).
Pioneer Athletic Conference: Methacton (12-7, 9-2); Spring-Ford (11-9, 9-2); Pope John Paul II (13-6, 8-2).
Suburban One American Conference: Wissahickon (16-2, 7-1); Norristown (11-5, 7-2); Plymouth Whitemarsh (10-8, 6-3).
Suburban One Continental Conference: Central Bucks West (16-2, 9-1); Souderton (13-4, 9-1); CB South (9-9, 7-3).
Suburban One National Conference: Council Rock North (13-3, 9-1); Abington (13-5, 6-4); Pennsbury (11-6, 6-4); Bensalem (9-8, 6-4).
Weekend Warriors
On Saturday, Central Bucks East (9-9) came up with a huge non-conference victory as the Patriots improved their district playoff hopes with a 60-57 victory over host Spring-Ford (11-9). CB East had a trio of players reach double figures and were led by Matt Stauffer and Steve Topley with 16 points each. Ryan O’Neil also scored in twin digits for the Patriots with 14 points.
Central Bucks East Patriots 17 10 19 14 - 60
Spring-Ford Rams 10 13 13 21 - 57
On Saturday, Central Bucks West (16-2) darted out to a 25 point first quarter as the Bucks captured a 65-41 non-conference victory over visiting Methacton (12-7). CB West – which converted on 22 of 24 free throw attempts – was led in scoring by Tyler Schechter with 14 points. Jack Rogers (12) and Shane Kellar (11) also scored in double figures for the winners.
Methacton Warriors 11 8 13 9 - 41
Central Bucks West Bucks 25 16 12 12 - 65
On Saturday, Bensalem (9-8) rebounded from a Friday night loss as the Owls soared to a 68-45 non-conference victory over Telecommunications (NY). Bensalem featured a 24-point scoring effort by Julian Hyden to lead all scorers. Leo Vincent (13) and Stephen Johnson (12) also scored in twin digits for the Owls, while Deion Jones handed out nine assists.
Telecommunications 10 15 12 8 - 45
Bensalem Owls 19 21 19 9 - 68
On Saturday, North Penn (4-13) rebound from a Friday night loss as the Knights marched to a 50-35 non-conference victory over Automotive (NY). Wes Brooks connected on three 3-point field goals in the first period as NP raced to a 15-4 lead. Brooks finished with a game-high 17 points, while Larry Roane added nine points for the Knights.
Automotive (NY) 4 12 9 10 - 35
North Penn Knights 15 14 7 14 - 50
On Saturday, Plymouth Whitemarsh (10-8) suffered a tough non-conference loss as the Colonials fell to host Washington (7-11) – 54-48. PW was led in scoring by Anthony McKie with a team-high 17 points, while Russhon Phillips also scored in double digits for the Colonials with 10 points.
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 11 9 4 24 - 48
Washington 12 11 15 16 - 54
Tuesday ‘Nite’ Lights in the Suburban One League
American Conference:
Upper Dublin Cardinals (10-7, 4-5) @ Norristown Eagles (11-5, 7-2)
Upper Moreland Golden Bears (6-11, 0-8) @ Wissahickon Trojans (16-2, 7-1)
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (10-8, 6-2) @ Cheltenham Panthers (12-6, 5-3)
Continental Conference:
Central Bucks West Bucks (16-2, 9-1) @ Central Bucks East Patriots (9-9, 6-4)
North Penn Knights (4-13, 2-8) @ Central Bucks South Titans (9-9, 7-3)
Quakertown Panthers (1-17, 0-10) @ Souderton Indians (13-4, 9-1)
Pennridge Rams (7-10, 2-8) @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (7-10, 5-5)
National Conference:
William Tennent Panthers (5-13, 3-8) @ Truman Tigers (8-9, 5-5)
Neshaminy Redskins (4-14, 3-7) @ Bensalem Owls (9-8, 6-4)
Council Rock South Hawks (5-12, 2-8) @ Abington Ghosts (13-5, 6-4)
Council North Indians (13-3, 9-1) @ Pennsbury Falcons (11-6, 6-4)
Thursday ‘Nite’ Lights in the Suburban One League
American Conference:
Upper Moreland Golden Bears @ Upper Dublin Cardinals
Friday ‘Nite’ Lights in the Suburban One League
American Conference:
Cheltenham Panthers @ Norristown Eagles
Wissahickon Trojans @ Upper Merion Vikings
Continental Conference:
Central Bucks East Patriots @ Central Bucks South Titans
Central Bucks West Bucks @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
Souderton Indians @ Pennridge Rams
Quakertown Panthers @ North Penn Knights
National Conference:
William Tennent Panthers @ Neshaminy Redskins
Abington Ghosts @ Bensalem Owls
Truman Tigers @ Pennsbury Falcons
Council Rock North Indians @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks
SuburbanOneSports.com
Super Seven
1. Council Rock North Indians (13-3)
2. Wissahickon Trojans (16-2)
3. Central Bucks West Bucks (16-2)
4. Souderton Indians (13-4)
5. Abington Ghosts (13-5)
6. Norristown Eagles (11-5)
7. Pennsbury Falcons (11-6)
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