By Scott Huff
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!
Where were you at midnight when 2009 morphed into 2010 – and by the way - is that two thousand ten or twenty ten?
Maybe you were among the thousands at Times Square in New York? Or perhaps you were snuggled up in front of the TV watching Dick Clark attempt to count down the New Year.
“My team and I were in a yellow school bus – in the pouring rain – riding on the Blue Route,” said Souderton head coach Perry Engard as the Indians where headed home from a trip to Florida. “Our flight was delayed leaving, and we didn’t make it home by midnight.”
The 2009 portion of the 2009-2010 Suburban One League basketball season is in the history books. But it is the 2010 piece of the schedule that will determine conference championships.
Congrats to Souderton, Wissahickon, North Penn, Council Rock North, North Penn, William Tennent, and Upper Dublin for winning various Holiday Tournaments. Those respective trophies will be placed in trophy cases to be dusted off for years to come. However, all teams have their collective eyes on the prize – the SOL conference titles – that will be hotly contested in the upcoming weeks.
Suburban One League
Continental Conference
Souderton (8-0) won all three of its games in impressive fashion in a holiday tournament held in Orlando, Florida.
“We went down a little shorthanded – three of our players didn’t make the trip – and we were placed in the Gray bracket,” said Souderton head coach Perry Engard. “And the teams in that bracket – the second highest tier of the four brackets – all were teams that hadn’t lost more than two games all season.
“In fact, of the teams that we beat, none of them lost to anyone else in our bracket,” added Engard. “I thought we played very well.”
The scores would indicate that.
Souderton opened with a 69-48 victory over Tottenville (New York) as AJ Picard scored 36 points and Anthony Sergio added 16 points. The Indians then routed Orangewood (Florida) by a 76-40 margin with Picard scoring 22 points and Sergio adding 17.
In the “championship” game of the Gray Division, Souderton hammered Freedom (Florida), 65-44. Picard once again led the Indians with 22 points, while Nathan Moyer (18) and Mark Wonderling (10) also scored in double figures for the Big Red.
“AJ was voted MVP of the Gray Bracket,” said Engard. “And really it just wasn’t for his scoring. He averaged seven assists and six rebounds over the three games.
“And I thought that Nate Moyer (point guard) and Jeff Bishop (center) stepped up and played big time for us,” continued Engard. “As a team, they all played some exceptional minutes.”
Central Bucks West (4-3) also made the trek to the Sunshine State over the holiday and split a pair of games.
The Bucks opened with a 61-54 lost to Park Vista (Florida) but followed with a 65-56 overtime victory over Lake Worth (Florida). Patrick Furst led West in the win with 24 points, while Anthony Salvitti drained four 3-pointers and added 21 points.
North Penn (4-3) captured its own Chris Smith Holiday Tournament with a pair of wins over Methacton (39-33) and Downingtown West (47-38). Both Matt Possanza and Wes Brooks were selected to the all-tournament team.
The Knights followed the tournament victory with a tough overtime loss to Spring Ford, 41-39. Possanza had a double-double for North Penn with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Quakertown (5-2) split a pair of games in the Allentown Allen Tournament with a loss to host Allentown Allen and a win over Springfield (Delco).
The Panthers lost to AAHS 61-48 but a balanced attack led Q-town to a 54-49 win over Springfield. Kenny Gula (20), Dalton Nice (19), and Rick Kivela (13) all scored in twin digits in the victory.
Pennridge (3-6) – which has now played an incredible four consecutive overtime games – split its pair of games in the Boyertown Bear Classic.
The Rams lost in OT to Boyertown, 66-63, despite a 22-point scoring effort by Mike Guldin. And Pennridge won in OT against Governor Mifflin, 74-63 – as sophomore Tim Abruzzo put on a spectacular 30-point performance.
Hatboro-Horsham (2-6) split its pair of games in the Harriton Holiday Classic – and also lost a game in the Walt Ostrowski Classic.
The win for the Hatters came with a 62-53 overtime victory over Mastery Charter South. Mike Marvin scored a game-high 37 points in the win.
H-H lost to Abington Friends, 74-56, in the Harriton tourney and lost 65-41 to powerful Germantown Academy in the Ostrowski Classic.
Central Bucks East (2-3) played in the Wissahickon Holiday Tournament and split a pair of games. The Patriots lost to host Wissahickon in the opener, but followed with a 46-37 win over Lansdale Catholic.
David Kiersnowski led East with 19 points. Skyler Scrivano added 11 points – including a seven-of-nine performance from the free throw line in the fourth period. Both Kiersnowski and Scrivano were named to the all-tournament team.
Central Bucks South (4-4) split its pair of games in the Athletes Helping Athletes Tournament held at Council Rock North.
The Titans – who were led in both games by all-tournament selection Mike Pincus – lost to host Rock North, 39-37. South rebounded with a 44-36 win over Massapequa in the consolation game.
Suburban One League
National Conference
Pennsbury (6-2) accepted an invite to the prestigious Benedictine Capital City Classic held at Benedictine High School in Virginia.
“It is always a great opportunity for your program to get invited to a tournament that gets both regional and national recognition,” said Pennsbury head coach Frank Sciola. “There is no question that this tournament has one of the best atmospheres around.
“It is a great experience to play people that come from great programs,” added Sciola. “These are teams that we don’t normally play, and we might not see teams like this the rest of the season.”
The Falcons flew south to play three games – winning one.
Pennsbury opened its trip with a 52-39 victory over Deep Run (Virginia). Jesse Krasna led the Falcons with a 17-point scoring effort, while Kiernan Bolger added nine points.
“Deep Run had been undefeated before we played them,” said Sciola. “We shot the basketball very well against them.”
Pennsbury then dropped a 43-35 contest to Calvert Hall (Maryland). Senior Zak Kumor led the team in scoring with 12 points, while Krasna chipped in with 10 markers.
“It was a tough loss for us,” said Sciola. “Dante (Devine) missed the games with a stomach virus, and they went 6-foot 8-inches, and 6-foot 7-inches up front. We just don’t have that kind of size, and it was a very tough matchup for us.”
The final game was against host Benedictine (Virginia) and the Falcons were shot down – 60-41. Krasna led Pennsbury with 15 points, while Kumor scored in double figures with 10 points.
“You have to give them credit – they shot the ball very well,” said Sciola. “All our games are going to be close this year, and this tournament really gave us great preparation to play the rest of the schedule.”
William Tennent (4-2) won the Over The River Tournament with victories over both South Hunterdon and host New Hope Solebury.
The Panthers bested South Hunterdon 67-62 behind a 17-point scoring performance by Dan Eckhart. Tennent did not have a single player in double figures but captured the title with a 48-22 win over New Hope.
Council Rock North (4-3) captured its own Athletes Helping Athletes Tournament with wins over Central Bucks South and Archbishop Ryan.
The Indians – who welcomed back head coach Derek Wright after a brief absence – bested South, 39-37. Rock North captured the championship trophy with a 52-43 win over Ryan as sophomore Arron Goodman scored a game-high 21 points.
Neshaminy (6-2) split its pair of games in the Holy Ghost Prep - Jack Schott Tournament. The Redskins defeated Ridley in the opener, but lost to host Holy Ghost Prep in the championship final.
In the 54-35 win over Ridley, Ryan Arcidiacono and Mike McGarry led the Skins with 12 points each. Both Arcidiacono and McGarry made the all-tournament team for Neshaminy.
Truman (5-3) split its pair of games in the Wissahickon Holiday Tournament with a win over Central Bucks East and a loss to host Wissahickon.
Eddie Valentine and Quincy Palmer both made the all-tournament team for the Tigers. Valentine scored 39 points in the win over East and added 17 points in the loss to the Trojans.
Bensalem (3-2) also split its pair of tournament games in the Bensalem Holiday Tournament with a win over New Media Charter and a loss in the title final against Strath Haven.
The Owls flew by NMC by a 59-56 score and were led by Nick Christian’s 24 points. Bensalem lost to SH 56-53 as Christian again led the Owls with 18 points.
Council Rock South (3-4) also split its pair of tournament games as the Golden Hawks traveled to Hazelton to play in the Hazelton Holiday Tournament.
Rock South opened the tournament with a 53-40 win over Bangor and followed with a 66-47 loss in the championship final against host Hazelton. Cody Nowlin led the Golden Hawks in the setback with a 17-point outing.
Abington (3-4) made the trek to Florida and split its pair of games played in Orlando.
The Ghosts opened the tournament with a 51-35 victory over Whiteboro (New York), but lost in the championship final to Plum (Florida), 61-37.
Suburban One League
American Conference
Upper Dublin (4-3) headed north for its holiday tournament as the Flying Cardinals played in the Emmaus Holiday Classic and came home with a championship trophy.
“This was the first time we played in this tournament,” said Upper Dublin head coach Josh Adleman, “It was a nice tournament, and it should get us ready for the tough challenge we have ahead with our league schedule.”
In the title game with host Emmaus, the game was deadlocked at 48-48 with Upper Dublin in possession of the ball and 14 seconds left in the game.
“We talked in our huddle and decided that we would run a play for Jamil (Brown),” said Adelman of his star senior who was selected MVP of the tournament. “We have run the same play many times in practice, and it seems like he always makes that shot.”
Brown came off a screen – caught the ball – and released it with just two ticks left on the clock. The shot fell and the Flying Cardinals left with their third straight win – 50-48.
Brown finished the game with 26 points while James Newman added 12 points. Brown scored 24 points – and Newman 20 – in the Cardinals 87-75 win over Bethlehem Catholic in the tournament opener.
“That game was a real shootout from the beginning,” said Adelman. “Both teams shot the ball very well, and it went back and forth the entire game.
“I think we have rebuilt our confidence,” added Adelman. “We have to play confident against the teams in our league.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-0) played in the prestigious Jameer/Pete Nelson Classic the last two weeks and claimed huge wins over both Chester and Academy of the New Church.
The Colonials defeated ANC, 57-46, behind the 21-point scoring of C.J. Aiken. Jaylen Bond added 12 while Whis Grant scored 11. Aiken scored 19 to lead PW to its 65-46 win over Chester. Grant scored 17 against the Clippers, while Bond scored 15.
Wissahickon (6-2) captured its own Wissahickon Holiday Tournament trophy with wins over both Lansdale Catholic and Truman.
The Trojans – behind the 20-point effort by Jack O’Neill and a 14-point performance by Jordan Reed – beat LC, 58-43. Wissy – behind the 25-point effort by O’Neill and a 16-point performance by Michael Bundy – beat Truman, 72-51.
Norristown (6-1) split a pair of games at the Triangle Club Tournament that it hosted. The Eagles lost the opener to La Salle, but held on for a win over Conestoga in the consolation game.
Aaron Webb led N-town in scoring in the 45-35 setback to La Salle with 15 points, while Rasheed McCray led the Eagles with 14 points in their 50-48 win over Conestoga.
Upper Moreland (1-6) won its first game of the season in the opener of the Great Valley Holiday Tournament over host Great Valley. The Golden Bears lost in the championship final to Church Farm.
In the UMHS win, Ryan Burnick led the team in scoring with 15 points, while Matt Worley added nine points. In the UMHS loss, Burnick scored 18 points, while Ben Pflaumer scored 16.
Springfield (3-5) hosted the Stan Novack Tournament and split a pair of tourney games against Friends Select and Devon Prep.
The Spartans defeated Friends Select, 55-30, to advance to the tournament final against Devon Prep. Ryan Lightcap scored 13 and Chris Crudele 10, but Springfield lost to the Prep, 49-42.
Cheltenham (3-4) ventured into a pair of well-respected tournaments – the Jameer/Pete Nelson Classic and the Walt Ostrowski Classic.
The Panthers gained valuable experience, but lost both games. Cheltenham – behind a 25-point effort by Rob Mansell – lost to La Salle 69-56 in the Nelson Classic. The Panthers outscored Hazelton 21-8 in the fourth quarter, but suffered a tough 48-47 loss.
SuburbanOneSports.Com
Super Seven
1. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (7-0)
2. Souderton Indians (8-0)
3. Pennsbury Falcons (5-2)
4. Neshaminy Redskins (6-2)
5. Norristown Eagles (6-1)
6. Wissahickon Trojans (6-2)
7. Quakertown Panthers (5-2)
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