By Scott Huff
Someone once said – “You play to have fun. But it is no fun losing.”
Pennridge, William Tennent, and Springfield have done their share of losing this year, but those Suburban One League teams have proven the above quote to be false.
By the way, that quote is mine.
Suburban One American Conference
Springfield (1-13, 0-8) saw the shot – heard the buzzer – and watched the ball drop into the basket as the Spartans dropped a gut wrenching 45-44 loss to Phoenixville.“We played a real good game with the same result,” said Springfield coach Jack Spinella as his Spartans have now dropped six straight games. “But we are learning, and it really is trial by combat.
“We came into the season with only two players with limited varsity experience,” added Spinella in reference to Christian Ross and Rich Acierno. “And you can’t rush experience – you have to be patient.”
Patience is something that Spinella would know something about. He has been on the bench for 37 consecutive years, and this is his second stint with the Spartans.
Spinella – who coached the Spartans from 1972-1989 – won a district title in 1984. He moved on to coach at Ursinus College for four years and then held various assistant coaching jobs at Hatboro-Horsham, Upper Dublin, and last season at Christopher Dock.
“I really thought I might be ready to retire,” said Spinella, who has retired from teaching American History at Springfield for 35 years. “But I am very happy to back at Springfield. It is nice to be wanted.
“This has been a great group of kids to work with and we enjoy coming to practice every day,” added Spinella. “We should have a good group of kids coming back, but we’re hoping to get another win this year.”
Norristown (11-2, 8-0) continues to be the king of the mountain in the SOL American with a pair of conference victories last week.
The Eagles notched a key conference win over Cheltenham [48-41] to open the week. James Ramsey scored 17 points to lead N-town to a 64-43 win over Upper Moreland.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (12-3, 7-1) won three games by impressive scores as the Colonials prepare for the stretch run.
PW routed Springfield [68-38], Upper Merion [61-37], and Abington [69-28]. C.J. Aiken led the team in scoring in all three games.
Cheltenham (7-7, 6-2) split its conference games last week to remain in third place in conference standings.
Rob Mansel scored 19 points and Naseer Khalid added 11 points as the Panthers bested Upper Dublin 53-50. Cheltenham had opened the week with a 48-41 loss to first place Norristown, and also lost a non-league game to Glen Mills [57-40].
Wissahickon (9-6, 4-4) won a pair of conference games last week to move into sole possession of fourth place in the conference standings.
The Trojans whipped Upper Moreland 58-45 and also defeated Springfield 76-46. Jordan Reed and Tom Sweeney led the team with 16 points each in the win over the Spartans.
Upper Merion (5-10, 3-5) won two of three games last week.
The Vikings opened the week with a 46-42 conference win over Upper Dublin and followed with a 61-37 setback to Plymouth Whitemarsh. The week closed with a 49-47 non-league win over Octorara as the Vikes were led by Dexter Bridge with 15 points.
Upper Dublin (3-11, 2-5) suffered a pair of close conference losses last week.
The Flying Cardinals dropped a four-point loss to Upper Merion [46-42] and a three-point loss to Cheltenham [53-50]. Jamil Brown led the team in scoring in the Panther loss with 22 points, while Ethan Gregg added 11 points.
Upper Moreland (4-9, 1-6) could not find the win column in its three games last week.
The Golden Bears opened the week with a 58-45 loss to Wissahickon and followed with a 49-39 non-league loss to Council Rock South. The week ended with a 64-43 loss to first place Norristown.
Suburban One Continental Conference
Pennridge (1-12, 0-8) were the road warriors last week as the Rams had to play four conference games – all on the road – with all four contests ending in a loss.
The Rams opened the week with a 59-40 loss to North Penn, followed by a 63-42 setback to Quakertown, followed by a 63-29 loss to Central Bucks West, and concluded the week with a 59-27 defeat to Hatboro-Horsham.
“I think the kids handled it well,” said Pennridge coach Dean Behrens of the travel and late nights. “Because we are in the league we’re in this year, we didn’t get back to school too late. If we had to go the Bensalem, Pennsbury, and Neshaminy, it would have been much tougher on the kids.
“You might think that the losing would ruin a season,” added Behrens as the Rams have now lost 12 straight games. “But it’s not like we can’t wait for the season to be over.
“We come to practice every day and we practice hard,” continued Behrens. “Not a single player has given up, nobody hangs a head, and we coach them hard on every possession.”
Pennridge has been competitive in recent games – in the first period. The Rams led CB West 7-2 but scored just one point in the second period. Pennridge trailed Hatboro-Horsham 15-11 after the first period – but was outscored 20-2 in the second period.
“It was like ground hog day,” said Behrens. “We had some trouble with turnovers, and we missed too many shots in the paint.
“I would look up at the scoreboard in the third quarter, and the score was always like 43-15,” added Behrens. “And that’s a tough way to play in this league.”
The play of both sophomore point guard Mike Gulden and sophomore Dylan Tice has encouraged Behrens. He was somewhat surprised at the play of leading scorer Pete Roberts.
“To be honest, we didn’t even know that Pete was ready to a varsity player this year,” said Behrens of his 6-foot, 3-inch senior. “But he has stepped up and been great.
“Our goal the last two-and-a-half weeks is to come up with a win over a conference team,” added Behrens. “We could make a difference as to who is going to win our conference.”
Central Bucks South (12-2, 7-1) has been the hottest of the Suburban One League teams as the Titans have now won 11 consecutive games.
South won all three of its game last week that included victories over rivals CB East [53-49] and CB West [55-43]. The Titans finished the week avenging an early conference loss to Quakertown, 58-52. South was led in scoring over the Panthers by Mike Pincus with 20 while Will Barrett added 15 markers.
Central Bucks West (12-2, 7-1) fell into a first place conference tie with CB South when the Bucks lost that 55-43 game against the Titans.
West did, however, win two of three conference games last week. The Bucks bested both Hatboro-Horsham [55-39] and Pennridge [63-29]. In the win over the Rams, West was led in scoring by Pat Furst with 15 points.
Souderton (10-5, 6-2) is currently on a five-game winning streak that included three conference wins last week.
The Indians defeated CB East [60-43], Quakertown [58-49] and Hatboro-Horsham [70-63] to move to within a game of the conference leaders. The Big Red had two 20-point scorers in the win over the Hatters as A.J. Picard scored 23 and Jim Connolly added 21.
North Penn (8-7, 3-5) has quietly won four of its last five games – including three straight victories last week.
The Knights won a 59-40 conference win over Pennridge and followed with a 62-51 non-league win over Spring-Ford. North Penn captured a double overtime win over CB East, 73-71. NPHS had four players in double figures in the win over East as Matt Possanza had a team-high 18 points.
Central Bucks East (7-6, 4-4) suffered through a tortuous week that saw the Patriots lose four games against quality opponents.
The Patriots – who won their first seven games and have now lost six straight – lost to Souderton [60-43], CB South [53-49], Pennsbury [59-33], and North Penn [73-71 in double overtime]. In the loss to North Penn, East received twin digit scoring from Tim McLaughlin (16), Chris Harmon (14), Brandon Boekel (14), and Skylar Scrivano.
Quakertown (8-7, 3-5) split its four games last week and continues to have a winning record this season.
The Panthers opened the week with a loss to Souderton [58-49], followed with a win over Pennridge [63-42], followed by a loss to CB South [58-52], and concluded the week with a 57-54 non-league win over Council Rock North [57-54]. Dalton Nice led Q-town in the Rock North win with 24 points.
Hatboro-Horsham (5-9, 2-6) was able to capture one conference win last week in the highly competitive SOL Continental.
The Hatters behind the scoring of Mike Marvin and Eric Daley defeated Pennridge, 59-27. Hatboro opened the week with conference losses to both CB West [55-39] and Souderton [70-63].
Suburban One National Conference
William Tennent (1-12, 0-8) played a terrific first quarter and held 24-19 lead over Bensalem last Friday, but the game ended the way the last eight games have ended for the Panthers – with a loss.
“It’s frustrating whether you lose by two or lose by 20,” said William Tennent head coach Rob Mulville. “I told our point guard, Jeff Pio, that if we don’t turn the ball over we would be in the game.”
And the coach was right, as the game was not decided until the fourth quarter. However, the final score showed a 70-61 Bensalem victory.
“We have some games that were heartbreakers to lose,” said Mulville in reference to the double overtime loss to Council Rock South earlier in the year. “That South game was tough, and so were the two games we lost in the State College Tournament.”
William Tennnet lost to host State College by a 48-44 score, and followed with an equally difficult 56-53 setback against George Republic.
“This team has had a positive attitude all season,” said Mulville. “We work hard, and even though we had higher expectations at the beginning of the season, we haven’t quit.”
Mulville praised the recent play of 5-foot, 10-inch guard Eugene Bell. Bell – a senior – scored 18 points in the loss to Bensalem.
“Eugene’s game has really come around,” said Mulville. “He has improved tremendously in the fundamentals, and he has been scoring points.”
Back in the lineup for the Panthers is junior Sawyer Waugh. Waugh has missed a month with illness.
“Sawyer brings so much intensity to both the games and the practices,” said Mulville. “And we missed that.
“We have eight games left in the season,” added Mulville. “Our role is to play all the teams tough in our league and make them earn shots at the playoffs.”
Pennsbury (10-2, 7-0) remained unbeaten in the conference and also captured a non-league victory last week.
The Falcons toppled Neshaminy [50-40] to open the week and followed with a non-league win over Central Bucks East [59-33]. Dalton Pepper scored 36 points as Pennsbury flew to a 67-54 victory over Council Rock North.
Bensalem (12-2, 6-1) kept pace with Pennsbury with a pair of conference wins last week.
The Owls opened the week with a 50-34 victory at Abington and followed with a 70-61 win over William Tennent. Nick Christian scored 20 points in the Tennent win, while Dyron Edwards added 11 points.
Council Rock South (10-3, 5-2) is on an eight-game win streak – a school record.
The Golden Hawks defeated rival Council Rock North [47-44] and followed with a non-league win over Upper Moreland [49-39]. John Thomas scored 21 points to spark the Hawks to a 64-54 victory over visiting Harry S Truman.
Council Rock North (7-7, 4-3) suffered three losses last week – two by a margin of just three points.
The Indians were edged by both Rock South [47-44] and Pennsbury [67-54] in conference play. Rock North – despite the fine play of Andrew Stress and Arron Goodman – lost a non-league game to Quakertown.
Neshaminy (7-7, 4-4) played a great game in defeat and a not-so-great game in defeat last week.
The Redskins dropped a 50-40 contest to powerful Pennsbury to open the week. And the Skins dropped a 49-47 setback to a not-too-powerful Abington. Justin Deeter scored 18 points in the loss to the Ghosts, while Ryan Arcidialano added 17 points.
Harry S Truman (5-9, 2-6) played – and lost – to a pair of quality teams last week.
The Tigers – who opened the week with a 64-46 win over William Tennent – lost to both Council Rock South [64-54] and Glen Mills [57-31]. Keith Jones, Phil Griffin, and Ramiesh Roberts all played well in defeat.
Abington (5-10, 2-6) lost two of the three games it played last week.
The Ghosts defeated Neshaminy, 49-47, behind an 18-point scoring effort by Jaymes Miller. Abington lost a conference game to Bensalem [50-34] and a non-league game to Plymouth Whitemarsh [69-28].
SuburbanOneSports.Com Super Seven + One
1. Pennsbury Falcons (10-2)
2. Norristown Eagles (11-2)
3. CB South Titans (12-2)
4. CB West Bucks (12-2)
5. Bensalem Owls (12-2)
6. Plymouth Whitemarash Colonials (12-3)
7. CR South Golden Hawks (10-3)
Souderton Indians (10-5)
- Log in to post comments
0
