To relive Saturday's championship, visit the Photo Gallery by clicking on the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
By Scott Huff
STATE COLLEGE – There were a number of precious snapshots that were taken after Plymouth Whitemarsh hoisted the PIAA state Quad-A championship trophy aloft after the 58-51 win over Penn Wood.Click.
Assistant coach George Wadlin began coaching at PW under the legendary Hank Stofko in 1990-91. Stofko – who coached the Colonials to their first state title in 1963 – is the winningest coach in school history.
Wadlin also assisted Al Angelos when PW captured the state title in 1997 as the Colonials rolled to a 30-3 record. And of course, Wadlin was on the bench with head coach Jim Donofrio when PW (30-2) secured the title against Penn Wood on Saturday.
The one constant – other than Wadlin’s 
outstanding leadership – has been a thin mustache that covered the upper lip on his face. Wadlin grew the whiskers back in 1971 as a sophomore at Northern Michigan University.
outstanding leadership – has been a thin mustache that covered the upper lip on his face. Wadlin grew the whiskers back in 1971 as a sophomore at Northern Michigan University.After the state title win, the mustache was gone.
Wadlin had the facial hair shaved – by senior Brandon Brown – as a result of a ‘bet’ Wadlin had with the team.
Win the title – lose the mustache.
“My wife, Jill, has never seen me without a mustache,” smiled Wadlin. “I don’t know that she is going to be too happy with my new look.
“This group of kids have been so much fun to be around,” added Wadlin. “They have been extremely coachable, and they have grown up quite a bit this season.
“It isn’t easy when everyone expects you to win,” continued Wadlin. “The last two weeks the entire team was under a lot of pressure, and they handled it extremely well.”
And now can Coach Wadlin handle the pressure from Mrs. Wadlin?
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Senior guard T.J. Clancy and senior forward Brandon Brown did not play a single second in the championship game against Penn Wood, but each richly deserved the gold medal that was hung around their necks during the post game ceremony.“I don’t think that either one of them has stopped smiling since the game was over,” said Wadlin. “T.J. and Brandon both accepted their roles without a complaint, and both were a huge part of this team.
“They are both throwback players in that their goal was to be part of a team,” added Wadlin. “Coach D made sure that everyone realizes their value to the team. There is not one kid that is better or more important than another.”
Clancy – a sharpshooter who has shown the ability to knock down the 3-pointer from outside the arc – will always be an enormous piece of PW basketball history.
“My name will be on that championship banner they hang on the gym wall forever,” said Clancy. “For the next 20 or 30 years, I can go back to the gym and point to that banner.
“This whole experience has been pretty crazy,” added Clancy. “I admit that sometimes I wish I could have played more, but I wouldn’t trade the opportunity to play for a state championship for anything.”
Clancy – certainly no slouch in the classroom - plans to go to Northeastern University as an Engineering Major.
“Some people have encouraged me to walk on the basketball team,” said Clancy. “I think I might give it a chance.”
Brown – a muscular 6-foot, 2-inch forward – has no intentions of playing college basketball.College football – that’s another story.
“I will be playing football at either Ursinus or Albright,” said Brown – a first team all-league Suburban One League American Conference defensive end. “But playing on this basketball team – and being the best team in the entire state – is something I will always remember.
“I didn’t get a whole lot of time in the games, but I felt that I got the team ready for the teams we played against,” added Brown. “I got to be (Penn Wood’s Shawn) Oakman in practice, and got to bully C.J. (Aiken) around.
“This has just been a wild – amazing experience,” continued Brown. “We all worked hard, and we all deserved the medals we got.”
Amen.
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Random ramblings.
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“Growing up in the community, playing in the community, and now coaching in the community can be an emotional thing,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Jim Donofrio. “We often talk about the success of the program, and now we can add this year’s team to that discussion.”
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“This has been such a special bunch of guys to play with,” said PW senior guard Whis Grant. “When we were in the team huddle after we came back to tie the game, we knew that it was our time, our time to be champions.”
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“This wasn’t just a basketball team that I played on,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh senior C.J. Aiken. “This was my family. And we won as a family.”
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“We came out here with the idea of winning this,” said PW junior guard Brandon Dixon with his hand clutching his gold medal. “They (Penn Wood) can have the district one gold – I want this one.”
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It was not just some face in the crowd that greeted the Colonials back at Plymouth Meeting on Sunday afternoon.
That mug belonged to Joe Hughes – PW Class of ’09.
“I was thrilled for the players on this year’s team,” said Hughes – a starter for the 08-09 Colonials that lost last season in the PIAA state Quad-A semifinals. “When the game was over, I called C.J. and Whis to congratulate them, and I texted Coach.
“I couldn’t go to the game because I had a lacrosse game with Cabrini,” added Hughes a midfielder for the 14th nationally ranked Divison III team. “But I made sure I was here to welcome them back.
“I hope that I had a part of the success they had this season,” continued Hughes. “We had some great times last season, and I think that I had a small part in making them better basketball players.”
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Neshaminy head coach Jerry Devine might be ready for an analyst job on ESPN.
Devine stated prior to the game that his keys to the game would be – the ability for the Colonials to limit the Penn Wood guards – and the ability for PW to take full advantage of C.J. Aiken.
“C.J. was just crazy good inside the paint – he is really an NBA caliber shot blocker,” said Devine. “St. Joseph’s got a steal signing him. (Head coach) Phil Martelli had to be thrilled with what he saw.
“And Whis Grant was extremely poised in the big game,” added Devine. “He is going to be an excellent Division II guard somewhere. He did the job against their guards defensively as well as offensively.”
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The storied basketball history at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School has had another memorable chapter written with the 2010 PIAA state Quad-A championship.
And the snapshots weren’t bad either.
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