By Scott Huff
Round Two
The first round of the PIAA District One Quad-A Playoffs began with 16 teams from the Suburban One League.
There were 10 survivors who will continue to play Tuesday night for a berth in the state tournament.
A win in the second round guarantees a spot in the coveted PIAA playoffs. A loss – and, well, that’s a story for another day.
How about next Tuesday?
All Games Tuesday (2/23)
(#10) Wissahickon at (# 7) Neshaminy 7 pm
Records:
Neshaminy Redskins 17-6
Wissahickon Trojans 18-5
Common opponents: Wissahickon defeated Norristown twice – 54-48 and 49-41. Neshaminy defeated Norristown 42-40. Neshaminy defeated Truman twice – 68-42 and 57-48. Wissahickon defeated Truman 72-51.
Last game: Wissahickon advanced to the second round with a 47-44 win over #23 seed Central Bucks West. The Trojans were led by Jordan Reed with 13 points, while Jack O’Neill added 12 and Tom Sweeney scored 11.
Neshaminy advanced to the second round with a 59-41 win over #26 seed Abington. The Redskins were led by sophomore Ryan Arcidiacono with a team-high 26 points.
Wissahickon Head Coach Kyle Wilson says –
“(Neshaminy’s) Ryan Arcidiacono is one of the most talented players in the area,” said Wilson. “And he has some really nice talent surrounding him.
“Steve Warhola gives them great leadership as a senior,” added Wilson. “We are going to have our hands full – that’s for sure.”
Neshaminy Head Coach Jerry Devine says –
“This is the game that will help us fill in that big picture of going to the states,” said Devine. “A win and we’re in. One of our goals at the beginning of the season was to get into the state playoffs.
“Kyle Wilson does such a great job with Wissahickon,” added Devine. “We have seen a lot of tape on them, and they are very good. We’re excited and feel very good about the game.”
(# 17) Upper Dublin at (# 1) Plymouth Whitemarsh 7 pm
Records:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (22-1)
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (15-7)
Season Records: Plymouth Whitemarsh and Upper Dublin both played in the Suburban One League American Conference. The Colonials defeated UD in their first meeting 74-45 behind a 21-point scoring effort by C.J. Aiken. The Colonials followed with 73-60 victory in the second meeting behind Jaylen Bond’s 28 points. Jamil Brown led the Flying Cardinals in both games with 25 and 28 points respectively.
Last game: Plymouth Whitemarsh blasted visiting West Chester East – the #32 seed – in its first round game – 70-28. Aiken led the Colonials with 20 points, while Bond added 16 markers. Upper Dublin ‘upset’ host Spring Ford – the #16 seed - 56-42. Brown led the Cardinals with 23 points while John DeCamara scored nine points and James Newman added eight points.
Plymouth Whitemarsh Head Coach Jim Donofrio says –
“We remind the players that this is the playoffs and that makes all the difference,” said Donofrio. “Upper Dublin is a different team than the one we played earlier this year, and so are we.
“Jamil Brown is one of the best players in the area, and that is a concern,” added Donofrio. “We should have another big crowd, and it is exciting to play in that environment.”
Upper Dublin Head Coach Josh Adelman says –
“We will be ready, we know what they are all about,” said Adelman. “We won’t go in there scared. We are going in there to win.
“Plymouth Whitemarsh is an extremely talented team, and we have a tough time matching up with them,” added Adelman. “We will have to give them all we have. We can’t do anymore than that.”
(#14) Central Bucks South at (# 3) Souderton 7 pm
Records:
Souderton Indians (21-2)
Central Bucks South Titans (15-8)
Season Record: Souderton and Central Bucks South both play in the Suburban One League Continental Conference. The Indians – who have now won 14 straight games – lost to the Titans in the first meeting – 56-49. A.J. Picard led the Indians with 25 points, while Nick Joerger scored a team-high 17 for South. The Titans – the last team to beat the Big Red – edged Souderton in the rematch – 32-28. In that game, no players scored in double figures for either team.
Last game: Souderton went on a 29-1 run to defeat the #30 seed – Glen Mills – 60-33. Picard led the Big Red with a 17-point scoring performance, while Nathan Moyer chipped in with 13 points and Jeffrey Bishop added 12 points.
Central Bucks South defeated the #19 seed – Ridley – 41-32. The Titans had two players in twin digits as Mike Pincus and Joerger each scored 10 points.
Souderton Head Coach Perry Engard says –
“Once you get into the playoffs, you can’t be a one trick pony,” said Engard. “We think that we can run with anyone, or we can play at a little slower tempo.
“We know a lot about South after playing them twice,” continued Engard. “There will be no surprises.”
Central Bucks South Head Coach Jason Campbell says –
“Souderton is an excellent basketball team – conference champions,” said Campbell. “They are very well coached and play very well together as a team.
“It will be difficult for us to beat them at their place,” added Campbell. “They haven’t lost there all season.”
(#11) Chester at (#6) Council Rock North 7pm
Records:
Council Rock North Indians (19-4)
Chester Clippers (15-7)
Common opponents: The only common opponent between the two teams was Glen Mills. North – which has now won 11 straight games – lost to Glen Mills very early in the season – 49-47. Chester has beaten Glen Mills twice this season by scores of 60-45 and 59-45.
Last game: Council Rock North moved into the second round with a 64-47 victory over Quakertown. The Indians balanced attack was led by John Raymon with 15 points, while Aaron Morgan and Arron Goodman each scored 14 points. Charlie Anastasi also scored in double figures with 10 points.
Chester moved into the second round with a 57-39 win over Conestoga. Errik Wright with 21 points and Akeem Waters with 14 markers led the Clippers.
Council Rock Head Coach Derek Wright says –
“We know how big a game this is going to be,” said Wright. “It is a big game because it is Chester, and a big game because it gets us to where we want to be – playing in the state tournament.
“But we have to remain focused on just this game,” added Wright. “And we are going to have to play well to win.”
(# 13) Pennsbury at (# 4) Coatesville 7 pm
Records:
Coatesville Red Raiders (19-4)
Pennsbury Falcons (14-9)
Common opponent: The only common opponent for the two teams was Hatboro-Horsham from the SOL Continental Conference. Pennsbury defeated the Hatters 58-31 early in the season, while Coatesville bested the Hatters just last week – 70-51.
Last game: Pennsbury won its fifth straight game with a 40-28 victory over North Penn in the first round of the district playoffs. The Falcons – who have been led all season by Jesse Krasna – had top scoring honors go to Kiernan Bolger with 13 points.
Coatesville featured a balanced scoring attack in its win over Hatboro-Horsham, 70-51. The Red Raider leading scorer was Kris Miller with 13 points, while Pat Brewer added 11 markers.
Pennsbury Head Coach Frank Sciolla says –
“This was a team that nobody thought would be very successful,” said Sciolla. “But we are one game away from being in the state playoffs.
“Coatesville is a very athletic team, and they are a lot bigger than we are,” added Sciolla. “But we will be there.”
(# 12 Norristown @ (# 5) West Chester Rustin 7 pm
Records:
West Chester Rustin (20-3)
Norristown Eagles (16-7)
Season Record: Norristown played West Chester Rustin and defeated Rustin by a 67-62 score on December 26. That game was played at Widener University as part of a holiday tournament.
Norristown defeated Coatesville 53-50 on February 14, and two days later, Rustin lost to Coatesville 104-98 in triple overtime.
Last game: Norristown was not at its best in a 50-41 win over Boyertown in its first round game. The Eagles – who were led in scoring by Aaron Webb with 15 points – shot an anemic 7-of-24 from the free throw line.
West Chester Rustin won its first round game, 53-41, over Cheltenham. WCR was led by in scoring by Cory Blake with 17 points and Anthony Nash with 16 points.
Norristown Head Coach Michael Evans says –
“We can’t play the way we played in the first round and expect to beat a team like Rustin,” said Evans. “You can’t shoot 7-for-24 on the foul line and beat a team that has 20 wins.
“But I still feel good about our chances,” added Evans. “We beat them the first time, so the players know we can compete with them.”
(# 15) Bensalem at (# 2) Penn Wood 7pm
Records:
Penn Wood Patriots 19-3
Bensalem Owls 14-8
Common opponent: Both Bensalem and Penn Wood played Holy Ghost Prep (21-3) and handed Prep two of its three losses. The Owls played one of their best games of the season in a 63-51 win, while Penn Wood edged Holy Ghost – 44-42.
Last game: Bensalem advanced to the second round with a 66-44 victory over West Chester Henderson. The Owls were led by Nick Christian with 23 points, while Calvin Brown scored 12 points and had eight blocked shots.
Penn Wood stormed by Oxford by an 80-36 margin. DeQuan Pelzer with 20 points and Aaron Brown with 17 points led the Patriots.
Bensalem Head Coach John Mullin says –
“We played very well against West Chester Henderson, but we are even going to have to play better against Penn Wood,” said Mullin. “They are one of the best teams in the state.
“Nick Christian and Calvin Brown stepped up in the first game,” added Mullin. “They are going to have to make an even bigger step against Penn Wood.”
Round One
The PIAA District One Triple-A tournament will begin this Wednesday. And there will be one Suburban One League representative in the playoffs – Upper Merion.
(#12) Upper Merion at (#5) Upper Perkiomen 7 pm
Records:
Upper Perkiomen Indians 11-11
Upper Merion Vikings 6-15
Season record: Upper Merion played Upper Perkiomen on December 21st and bested the Indians – 52-48. The Vikings had four players in double figures that day – Francis Rafferty (14), Patrick Belford (12), Robbie Griffith (11), and Paul Kubler (10).
Last game: Upper Merion – which has lost eight of its last nine games – lost in its SOL American Conference finale to Upper Dublin – 64-37. Upper Perkiomen is on a three-game winning streak and defeated Pottsgrove, 57-51, in its last contest.
SuburbanOneSports.com
Top Ten
1. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
2. Souderton Indians
3. Council Rock North Indians
4. Neshmainy Redskins
5. Wissahickon Trojans
6. Norristown Eagles
7. Pennsbury Falcons
8. Central Bucks South Titans
9. Bensalem Owls
10. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals
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