It was a rough night for SOL boys’ basketball teams as all four teams in action saw their seasons come to an end. Check out the recaps. UD/WC Rustin photos courtesy of Michael Rice, Pennridge/WC Henderson photos courtesy of Tracy Valko, and William Tennent/Haverford photos courtesy of Kadi Schenk. Check back for galleries of all three games: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f582224377
Class 6A
#17 WC HENDERSON 66, #16 PENNRIDGE 52
The Rams exceeded perhaps even their own expectations this season, not only earning a spot in districts but a home game. Friday night’s outcome wasn’t what they’d hoped, but that couldn’t diminish the team’s accomplishments.
“It was a great group of student-athletes that we coached this year,” Pennridge coach Dean Behrens said. “The boys represented the school and the community with class all season long.
“I could not be prouder of this group. It was a pleasure coaching each and every one of them.”
The Warriors took a 26-23 lead into the locker room after an evenly played first half but then outscored the Rams 21-12 in the third quarter. That proved to be the difference in the game.
Three players finished in double figures for the Rams. Tommy Cramer’s 16 points – which included a pair of 3s – led the way. Matt Campione added 14 points, and Xavier Peters, who also had a pair of 2s, contributed 12 points. Caden Fisher added eight points for the Rams.
The Warriors were led by the 27-point effort of Connor Fleet, which included three 3-pointers. Nyle Ralph-Beyer added 17 with three 3s, and Kmari Smith had 14.
Pennridge closed out its season with a 15-9 record overall, 10-6 in the SOL.
WC Henderson 14-12-21-19 66
Pennridge 11-12-12-17 52
WC Henderson (66) – Nyle Ralph-Beyer 7 0-0 17; Kmari Smith 5 4-5 14; Connor Fleet 10 4-4 27; Danny Surawicz 1 2-2 4; Evan McFadden 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 25 8-9 66.
Pennridge (52) – Caden Fisher 4 0-0 8; Jake Buesing 1 0-0 2; Matt Campione 6 1-1 14; Xavier Peters 4 2-2 12; Tommy Cramer 6 2-3 16; TOTALS 21 5-6 52.
3-point goals: WCH – Nyle Ralph-Beyer 3, Connor Fleet 3; Pennridge – Xavier Peters 2, Tommy Cramer 2, Matt Campione.
#23 HAVERFORD 60, #12 WILLIAM TENNENT 46
The visiting Fords wasted no time before setting the tone, opening up a 22-12 lead after one quarter on their way to the upset win. The Panthers battled back but never could dig their way out of the early hole.
“It was an up and down game,” Tennent coach Robert Mulville said. “We fell behind but were able to get it to 51-46 with two minutes left, but they closed it out at the foul line.
“I’m proud of the team. These guys were able to accomplish some things that we haven’t been able to do for a long time. It’s a disappointing loss, but it was a very special season.”
Haverford led 30-24 at halftime. George Marion and Kirby Mooney kept the Panthers in it with 13 and nine points, respectively, in the half.
Mooney accounted for all nine of the Panthers points in the third quarter, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the Fords, who outscored their hosts 30-22 after the intermission.
Mooney’s 21 points led the Panthers while Marion added 15.
Googie Seidman had the hot hand for the Fords, finishing with a game-high 29 points that included 18 points after halftime. Seidman was 14-for-16 at the foul line, 10-for-12 in the fourth quarter.
William Tennent closed its successful season with a 16-8 record. The Panthers were 11-5 in league play and captured the SOL Freedom Division title.
Haverford 22-8-15-15 60
William Tennent 12-12-9-13 46
Haverford (60) – Brian Wiener 5 0-0 12; Tom Wright 4 2-4 11; Gorman Bright 2 0-0 5; Googie Seidman 7 14-16 29; Kevin Gannon 0 1-2 1; Andrew Steigleman 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 19 17-22 60.
William Tennent (46) – Kirby Mooney 9 2-3 21; Isiah Dawsono 0 2-2 2; George Marion 5 4-4 15; Sean Devine 1 0-1 2; Danny Scheller 1 1-2 3; Evan Devor 1 0-0 3; TOTALS 17 9-12 46.
3-point goals: Haverford – Brian Weiner 2, Tom Wright, Gorman Bright, Googie Seidman; WT – Kirby Mooney, George Marion, Evan Devor.
Class 5A
#12 WC RUSTIN 58, #5 UPPER DUBLIN 51
The ending came quickly and without warning for an Upper Dublin squad that entered the postseason with high expectations. The Golden Knights trailed by one entering the final quarter and then outscored their hosts 22-13 to earn the come-from-behind win.
“It was a very, very tough scene in the locker room – we have so many seniors, and everyone is disappointed,” UD coach Derek Brooks said. “Our regular season with what we had to go through with injuries and missing football (players) – to win 13 in a row and 15 of our last 17, and to have it end so abruptly, it’s very, very bittersweet. I have nothing but good things to say about our kids.
“If you win tonight, you have a chance to be playing until March 10 in the first round of states. It’s just wild how abruptly it can come to an end.”
The Cardinals trailed 14-11 after one quarter, but behind seven points from Griffin Pensabene and six from Ryan Mulroy, they outscored their visitors 16-11 to go into halftime with a 27-25 lead.
The second half was a struggle for the Cardinals, who were outscored 12-11 in the third quarter and 33-24 in the half.
Rustin did most of its damage in the fourth quarter at the foul line. The Golden Knights buried 15 of 20 shots at the charity stripe in the quarter, 17 of 24 for the game. The Flying Cardinals were just 3-for-5 at the line.
“It was about as tough a shooting night as we could have,” Brooks said. “We made three 3s in the fourth quarter, but we were down by six points, eight points when it happened.
“It’s tough when a team plays zone., and you can’t knock down any outside shots. You’re in a tough situation because they packed the middle, and unless you’re getting offensive rebounds, it’s tough to beat.
“Our defense should have been a lot better too. We were not very good defensively tonight, but you know what – you learn from it the best you can.”
Mulroy’s 17 points – 10 in the first half – led the Cardinals. Pensabene added 10 points, and Colin O’Sullivan had nine on three second-half 3-pointers. Seaton Kukla finished with seven – all in the first quarter.
Brooks bids farewell to eight seniors.
“In the locker room, I said to the seniors – they’ve got to be one of the greatest athletic classes in the history of Upper Dublin,” the UD first-year coach said. “Many multi-sport athletes with a ton of success in both sports. They won 17 games last year and 18 this year, and that’s got to be the best two-year win total in 20 years, I’d guess, for Upper Dublin.
“Nothing but great things to say about them. I couldn’t be happier to have coached them. We’ll miss them. It’s disappointing, but we love every one of them. This is our first year with them, so we kind of adopted them, in a way. Since getting to know them in June, I can’t say enough good things about them. They’re a great group of kids, great competitors – it was a very, very sad scene in the locker room.”
Upper Dublin closed out a successful season with an 18-7 record overall. The Cardinals were 13-3 in the SOL.
WC Rustin 14-11-12-21 58
Upper Dublin 11-16-11-13 51
WC Rustin (58) – Jake Crispino 2 4-5 8; Ryan Jaross 0 4-4 4; Tyler Giunta 4 3-4 11; Matt Nochumson 5 3-4 13; Chase Hatton 3 0-0 6; Samuel Sproull 3 0-1 7; Ian Schlesinger 2 3-6 9; TOTALS 19 17-24 58
Upper Dublin (51) – DJ Cerisier 1 1-2 3; Ryan Mulroy 8 0-0 17; Brady Fogle 1 0-0 3; Griffin Pensabene 4 2-3 10; Seaton Kukla 3 0-0 7; Terrell Turner 1 0-0 2; Colin O’Sullivan 3 0-0 9; TOTALS 21 3-5 51.
3-point goals: WCR – Ian Schlesinger 2, Sam Sproull; UD – Colin O’Sullivan 3, Ryan Mulroy, Brady Fogle, Seaton Kukla.
#7 HOLY GHOST PREP 54, #10 UPPER MORELAND 36
The Golden Bears took a 28-23 lead into halftime, and things looked promising for the visitors, but things changed in a hurry in the second half as the Firebirds seized control of the game on their way to the win.
Sparked by seven points from Jon Clark, the Golden Bears led 12-10 after one quarter and stretched that lead to five by halftime. Clark led the charge with 14 first-half points.
In the second half, the Golden Bears managed just two field goals – one in each quarter.
Clark’s 18 points led UM. Colson Campbell added six points for the Golden Bears, who connected on just 6 of 21 at the foul line.
For the Firebiards, Adrien Varella led the way with 16 points, and Colin Lucas also finished in double figures with 12.
Upper Moreland (7-9 SOL) closed out its season with a 13-10 record overall.
Upper Moreland 12-16-4-4 36
Holy Ghost Prep 10-13-16-15 54
Upper Moreland (36) – Nigel Adamson 1 0-2 2; Jon Clark 7 3-9 18; Ralph Tyler 1 1-2 3; Nate Best 0 1-2 1; Jimmy Pierce 1 0-0 2; Colson Campbell 2 1-4 6; Corey Ellison 2 0-2 4; TOTALS 14 6-21 36.
Holy Ghost Prep (54) – Noah McDermott 3 0-0 8; Mark Tomasetti 1 3-5 5; Adrien Varella 6 3-4 16; Spencer Wert 2 1-2 5; Mel Lindsey 1 3-4 5; Colin Lucas 5 1-2 12; Colin Todd 1 1-3 3; TOTALS 19 12-19 54.
3-point goals: UM – Jon Clark, Coson Campbell; HGP – Noah McDermott 2, Adrien Varella, Colin Lucas.
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