By Scott Huff
The carousel that is the reality of the PIAA District One Quad-A basketball playoffs continues on Tuesday night at various venues.From Villanova University to Norristown High School to Council Rock North High School to Coatesville High School – Suburban One League teams are going to experience their respective ups and downs.
And desperately hope they can hang on for the electrifying playoff ride.
Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. West Chester Rustin
District Quad-A One Semifinal
Plymouth Whitemarsh junior guard Sam Pygatt is poised to make a difference as the Colonials are in the midst of its possible PIAA district and state Quad-A title run.
“Sometimes it seems that Sam is in the chorus with some of the other players, while C.J. (Aiken) and Jaylen (Bond) are the lead singers,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Jim Donofrio. “When some teams try to take either C.J. or Jaylen away with a junk defense, Sam is gold.
“He can shoot from the perimeter, and he can also attack the rim,” added Donofrio. “And he always draws the best guard when we match up defensively.”Pygatt – who started every game for PW as a sophomore in its state title bid that ended with a semi-final state loss to York last season – did not begin this season in the best of health.
“Sam had some pain in his knee, and also had a muscle pull in the hip,” said Donofrio as Pygatt missed a week and a half during the season with injuries. “He really flew under the radar. With the injuries, he really wasn’t able to show how good he can be.”
That was then – this is now.
“I had some therapy, and now I’m doing good,” said Pygatt. “Fortunately I had teammates and coaches that supported me.
“This team wants to prove something this year,” added Pygatt. “Playing at this level is very exciting, and this team wants to compete for district and state championships.”
And along the way, Pygatt is hopeful that the college scouts will take notice.
“Playing with C.J. and Jaylen gets you a lot of exposure,” said Pygatt. “I would hope that I get some college interest, but that can wait.”
“Last year he opened some eyes and showed people at the lower D-1 level that he can play,” said Donofrio. “But with the injuries, he lost some of that interest.
“He will get that interest back, no question,” continued Donofrio. “He is very athletic, has proven that he can share the ball, and is a team player.”
And that team is one of the elite in the state.
(#1) Plymouth Whitemarsh (24-1) vs. (#5) West Chester Rustin (22-3)
Tuesday, March 2, 7:30 p.m., at Villanova University
Common Opponent: Norristown.
Plymouth Whitemarsh played the Eagles twice during the SOL American Conference season. The Colonials defeated Norristown 59-56 at Norristown and bested the Eagles 60-47 at home.
West Chester Rustin also played Norristown twice. Rustin lost to the Eagles 67-62 in a game played at Widener University and beat Norristown at home 66-43 in a PIAA Quad-A playoff game.
Last game:
Plymouth Whitemarsh advanced to the PIAA District One Quad-A semi-finals with a 39-22 snooze fest win against Penncrest. The Colonials were led in scoring by Whis Grant with 11 points and Jaylen Bond with 10 points.
West Chester Rustin advanced to the PIAA District One Quad-A semi-finals with a 57-45 victory over Pennsbury. The Golden Knights were led by its talented trio of Anthony Nash (17 points), Rondell White (13), and Cory Blake (12).
PW head coach Jim Donofrio says – “This game will be a total 180 degree difference from the game we played against Penncrest,” said Donofrio of the slow-paced contest against the Lions. “Seeing Rustin on film is like watching us – they are aggressive and like to attack.
“The team that can make adjustments during the game is going to win,” added Donofrio. “It is going to be a chess match – a very fast chess match.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh
Projected starters:
#1 – C.J. Aiken (6-10, Sr., F)
#10 – Brandon Dixon (5-10, Jr., G)
#11 – Whis Grant (6-0, Sr., G)
#15 – Jaylen Bond (6-7, Jr., F)
#24 – Sam Pygatt (6-1, Jr., F)
The rest of the Colonials:
#3 – Marcus Badger (6-1, Jr., G)
#4 – TJ Clancy (6-4, Sr., G)
#13 – Julian Bond (6-0, Sr., G)
#22 – Brandon Johnson (6-3, Soph., F)
#25 – Stephon Baker (6-1, Jr., G)
#34 – Brandon Brown (6-2, Sr., F)
#44 – Jake Silvers (6-6, Soph., F)
Souderton vs. Penn Wood
District One Quad-A Semifinal
Nate Moyer and Jeff Bishop were wide-eyed freshmen watching from the stands when Souderton faced Chester in the District One AAAA semifinals in 2007.“I remember they got killed,” Moyer said of an 85-57 Souderton loss. “I remember the big atmosphere.”
“I just remember there were so many people there,” Bishop said. “It was such a big deal.”
Both athletes dreamed of one day stepping onto that same court as members of Souderton’s varsity.
“That definitely went through my mind,” Bishop said. “That made me strive even harder to play and just be able to get back there as a senior and have my own chance.”
On Tuesday night, Bishop and Moyer will have that opportunity when Souderton takes on second-seeded Penn Wood in a district semifinal contest.
“Every day I realize we’re going to a new step, and it doesn’t even feel real,” Bishop said. “Beating Chester (in Saturday’s quarterfinal round) was crazy, and now we’re going to Villanova to play another great team.”
The Indians will take on a Patriot squad that is ranked second in the state to only PW and boasts a pair of inside players who will make the 6-4 Bishop – Souderton’s tallest player - dwarf by comparison.
Junior Darian Barnes measures in at 6-8 while junior Shawn Oakman is even more imposing at 6-9, 250 pounds. The duo combines to average 17 points and 15 rebounds. Between the two, they have 104 blocked shots.
“As always, we just have to play together and make sure everybody has a good game,” Bishop said. “We need to play the way we usually do and not be scared of anything.”
Moyer, meanwhile, will be going against the Patriots’ guard tandem of Will Brown (13.4 PPG) and Tyree Johnson (9.3 PPG).
“We just have to play the way we know how to play,” the Indians’ senior point guard said. “We’ll just have to move the ball around and get guys open.”
Moyer – better known as ‘Nasty’ to Souderton fans – brings energy and leadership to the point guard position.
“He does instill a bit of a fear factor in a lot of other coaches,” coach Perry Engard said. “He puts defenses back on their heels on almost every possession. He’s rushing the ball down the floor.”
If teams focus their attention on senior sharpshooter A.J. Picard, Moyer will take advantage of the opportunity and go to the hole.
“He also has the ability to put the ball on people’s hands and makes other players better,” Engard said. “He’s a fearless player. He wants the ball, and he wants to be in the game.
“He jokingly told me after the Chester game that if he would have had a chance to play last year when we played Chester, it would have been more of the same, but he never got off the bench in that game.”
Moyer is a natural athlete. He still has the trophy he won for winning a local home run derby, and he was part of Souderton’s Pop Warner football team that advanced to Florida, but basketball has always been his passion.
“I played other sports, but I just always liked basketball more,” Moyer said. “Basketball was always my favorite sport. It was always basketball”
Bishop also went through a baseball phase as a youngster, and he played doubles for the tennis team through his junior year. Like Moyer, basketball has been a clear winner for Bishop, who has turned in one workmanlike performance after another in the paint for the Indians.
“He realizes his strengths and weaknesses, and what he might lack in physical stature – he makes up for with guile,” Engard said. “He has great floor presence and floor savvy.
“He such a great student – he listens to coach (Mike) Stadnycki and coach (Tom) Doughty religiously at every practice. I think it’s great for the younger players to see –‘ If Jeff is listening and he’s a starter, I better listen or I’m not going to see the floor.’”
The Indians’ senior center, who averages close to two blocks a game, has the kind of discipline that is rare for big players under the basket.
“Jeff’s just got terrific timing,” Engard said. “One thing you always tell the better shot blockers is that you should never leave your feet until a player whose shot you’re going to block leaves his feet.
“Jeff is the first player I’ve had who truly understands that. He always is the second guy off his feet, and that’s why he doesn’t commit fouls when he blocks shots, and that’s big.”
Both Bishop and Moyer waited for their opportunity to excel, and neither is taking it for granted.“It’s definitely exciting,” Bishop said. “I always just wanted to be one of those team guys that was somebody you liked having on the bench, someone that was always there to keep you focused on the game.
“Now that I’m getting my chance – I’m just loving it because I know how it feels to be on the bench, and I’m trying to keep everybody with it and keep everybody just as excited as I am.”
Both are looking forward to their team’s night in the spotlight at Villanova.
“The crowd’s going to be a blur,” Moyer said. “I’m just going to be in a zone on the court.”
“Coach said we’re going to try and get there early,” Bishop said, “and, of course, going into a stadium like that is such a big deal, and he wants us to get used to the atmosphere.
“Once the game starts, most players get in a zone. They don’t know what’s going on around them. They just play. The court’s the same size. Everything is the same. There’s just more people watching, and that just makes everything more fun, and that’s what we want to do is go out have fun, play hard and hopefully win.”
(#3) Souderton (23-2) vs. (#2) Penn Wood (21-3)
Tuesday, March 2, 6 p.m., at Villanova University
Common Opponents: Chester and Glen Mills
Penn Wood defeated Glen Mills twice during the regular season, 73-40 and 73-49. Souderton downed Glen Mills 60-33 in the opening round of districts.
Penn Wood defeated Chester 66-47 while Souderton earned a 60-55 win over Chester in Saturday’s quarterfinal round.
Last game:
Souderton rallied from a double-digit first half deficit to down Chester 60-55. It is the first win in program history over the Clippers. A.J. Picard led the Indians with 19 points – 12 in a fourth quarter that saw the Indians outscore the Clippers 21-13. Kyle Connolly added 13 points and Jeff Bishop, 11 points.
Penn Wood held a tenuous 30-28 halftime lead over Neshaminy but outscored the Redskins 44-24 in the second half on its way to a 74-52 win. Aaron Brown led all scorers with 26 points. The 6-5, 205-pound wing averages almost 20 points a game for the Patriots. Shawn Oakman – who is 6-9 and weighs 250 pounds – added 14 points. Guards Will Brown and Tyree Johnson each added 11 points for a Patriot squad that averages 69 points a game and allows just 48.
Souderton head coach Perry Engard says: “We’re not going to be able to make the kind of mistakes we made in the Chester game and have an opportunity to win the Penn Wood game. It starts with making our layups and free throws and next limiting turnovers.
“Those three elements are going to be major because basically against Penn Wood – if you don’t turn the ball over, you will get layups, and you’re going to have to make those layups. If you get fouled, you need to make the free throws because they force the issue a lot, and why not? They have 6-8 and 6-9 under the basket to make up for any mistakes.
“Watching them play – about 75 percent of the time, you’re not going to be running a set offense. Your offense is going to be ‘here comes pressure, do what you need to do to beat pressure – be in the right spots and attack it.’ They do it because they think you won’t attack because of the guys they have back, but you can’t let that hinder you. You have to go at them, and you can’t have a weak link against them as far as handling the ball.”
“People talk about their bigs, and their guards are terrific, but Aaron Brown is the glue that holds that team together.”
Souderton
Projected starters and season averages:
#10 – Jeff Bishop (Sr., F/C) 6.1 PPG, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocked shots
#11 – Nate Moyer (Sr., G) 9.2 PPG, 3.6 assists, 1.9 steals
#24 – Nate Lewis (Sr., F) 6.2 PPG, 5.1 rebounds
#25 – A.J. Picard (Sr., G) 19.0 PPG, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 steals, 5.0 assists
#32 – Kyle Connolly (Sr., G/F) 8.1 PPG, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists
The rest of the Indians:
#1 – Greg Mendrzycki (Soph., G)
#3 – Derek Brown (Sr., G/F)
#5 – Joseph Plank (Sr., G)
#12 – Daniel Falencki (Soph., G/F)
#15 – Anthony Sergio (Jr., G) 7.5 PPG (46 percent 3-point field goals)
#20 – Ryan Connolly (Soph., C)
#21 – Mark Wonderling (Soph., G/F) 7.0 PPG, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists
#22 – Sam Wonderling (Sr., F)
#23 – Ryan O’Connor (Sr., G)
#30 – Korrey Council (Sr., F/C)
Neshaminy vs. Chester
District One Quad-A 5-8 ‘Playback’
(# 7) Neshaminy (18-7) vs. (# 11) Chester
Tuesday, March 2, 7:30 p.m., at Norristown High School
Common Opponents: Council Rock North, Plymouth Whitemarsh & Penn Wood.
Neshaminy lost both of its SOL National Conference games to Rock North – 49-43 and 64-60. The Redskins lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh 79-59 and lost to Penn Wood 74-52.
Chester defeated Rock North 50-42 in a playoff game. The Clippers lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh 65-46, and dropped both contests against Penn Wood – 69-55 and 57-40.
Last game:
Neshaminy played a game that was much closer than the score would indicate in its 74-52 loss in the quarterfinals to Penn Wood. Ryan Arcidiacono led the Skins with 19 points, while Tyler Katz (14) and Dwight Williams (12 points) also scored in double figures.
Chester shot just 2 of 17 from the free throw line in a 60-55 loss to Souderton in the PIAA Quad-A quarterfinals. The Clippers were led in scoring by Erikk Wright with 15 points, while Maurice Nelson posted 13 points.
Neshaminy head coach Jerry Devine says – “Chester is very quick, very athletic,” said Devine. “They try and make you play the game faster then you want to play.
“They are very similar to Norristown,” added Devine. “The fact that we played a Norristown and a Plymouth Whitemarsh and a Penn Wood this year makes playing a Chester a little easier. They have history and tradition, but so do those other teams.”
Pennsbury vs. Penncrest
District One Quad-A 5-8 ‘Playback’
(# 13) Pennsbury (15-10) vs. (# 8) Penncrest (23-4)
Tuesday, March 2, 6 p.m., at Norristown High School
Common Opponents: None
Last game:
Pennsbury had its collective hands full in a 57-45 loss against West Chester Rustin in a quarterfinal game. The Falcons never seriously challenged in the game and were led in scoring by Zak Kumor with 16 points. Kieran Bolger scored 11 points for the Falcons, while Jesse Krasna had eight points.
Penncrest not only let the air out of the ball – but the entire building – in a 39-22 loss to Plymouth Whitemarsh in its quarterfinal game. The Lions outscored the Colonials in the second period – 3-2. Andrew Radomicki led Penncrest in scoring against PW with 12 points.
Pennsbury head coach Frank Sciolla says – “Penncrest is going to run a deliberate offense and work to get the good shot,” said Sciolla. “They are Central League champions – have 23 wins – and senior leadership.
“We will be without both Kris Hassell (illness) and Dante Devine (left team for personal reasons), and that is going to be a big hurdle,” added Sciola. “But we will have to overcome adversity.”
Bensalem vs. Council Rock North
District One Quad-A #9 seed ‘Playback’
(#15) Bensalem (15-9) at (# 6) Council Rock North (20-5)
Tuesday, March 2, 7 p.m., at Council Rock North
Common Opponent: Each other.
Both Bensalem and Council Rock North played in the Suburban One National Conference. North was the conference champion, while the Owls finished fourth in the standings.
Rock North won the first meeting on Jan. 12 by a 62-57 score and followed with a 51-45 victory over Bensalem in the second meeting on Feb. 5.
Last game:
Bensalem played very well in a 57-47 victory over Wissahickon. The Owls were led in scoring by Ivan Flores with 22 points while Liam Kirgan and Alex Agyedu each scored 10 points for the winners. Nick Christian played a fine floor game, while Calvin Brown played well in the paint.
Council Rock North showcased a balanced attack in a 62-45 victory over Central Bucks South. The Indians were led in scoring by John Raymon with 15 points. Arron Goodman scored in double figures with 13 points, while Tim Filer scored in twin digits with 12 points.
Bensalem head coach John Mullin says – “It was great to see the players bounce back from that tough loss to Penn Wood (56-55) and beat a good Wissahickon team,” said Mullin. “We know all about Council Rock North – now we have to figure out a way to beat them.”
Council Rock North head coach Derek Wright says – “Bensalem is playing great basketball, and that makes you very uncomfortable,” said Wright. “We worked hard all season to get as many home playoff games as possible, and I hope that it helps playing in front of a home crowd.”
Upper Dublin at Coatesville
District One Quad-A #9 ‘Playback’
(# 17) Upper Dublin (16-8) at (# 4) Coatesville (21-5)
Tuesday, March 2, 7 p.m., at Coatesville High School
Common Opponent: Downingtown West & Norristown.
Upper Dublin defeated Downingtown West 74-57 to advance to this game. The Flying Cardinals lost twice to Norristown – 70-65 and 68-42.
Coatesville defeated Downingtown West twice – 61-43 and 62-38. The Red Raiders lost to Norristown 53-50 and defeated the Eagles in the rematch – 75-59.
Last game:
Upper Dublin had little trouble in besting Downingtown West, 74-57. Jamil Brown led the Flying Cardinals with a 23-point, 10-rebound effort. James Newman scored 16 points for the winners while John DeCamara added 12 points.
Coatesville had little trouble in besting Norristown, 75-59. Kenneth Thompson led the Red Raiders with 21 points, while Tymier Miller also scored in twin digits for the Red Raiders with 17 points.
Upper Dublin head coach Josh Adelman says – “We have been playing very good basketball the last few games,” said Adelman. “And we are going to have to play good basketball to beat a team like Coatesville.”
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