SOL Boys' Basketball District Preview (2-14-20)

02/14/20 4:07am Posted by editor

Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ basketball teams in the District 1 Tournament. Check back for recaps of the games.

Class 6A
#3 CHELTENHAM (Opening round bye)

  • 21-3 overall
  • 14-0 SOL American Conference champions
  • Lost to #8 Pennridge 54-52 in the SOL Tournament title game, snapping a nine-game win streak, after beating #9 CB West (52-43) in the semifinals.
  • Regrouped after a season-ending injury to top player Zahree Harrison early in the season. Top players include 6-foot-4 seniors Jaelen McGlone and Sean Emfinger, as well as senior guard Brandon Scott and sophomore point guard Justin Moore. McGlone has signed a letter of intent to continue his basketball career at Rider University.
  • The Panthers boast a deep and talented bench.
  • Top wins this season over #6 Coatesville (63-56) and Downingtown West (75-71), as well as sweeping league foes #17 Abington (71-65, 2 OT and 70-67), #22 Plymouth Whitemarsh (68-39, 64-59) and #23 Wissahickon (56-44, 59-48). Only two regular-season losses were to Philadelphia Catholic League power Bishop McDevitt and Inter-Ac power Malvern Prep.

Will face the winner of #19 Upper Darby at #14 Souderton in the second round on Tuesday

#7 BENSALEM (Opening round bye)

  • 17-6 overall
  • 11-1 SOL National Conference champions
  • Lost to #8 Pennridge (56-39), its fourth loss in six games to end the season, in the SOL Tournament semifinals.
  • Won its first out-right conference title since 1992, led by 6-foot-1 junior guard James Ashford (18.0 ppg) and 5-11 sophomore point guard Aaron Sanders (11.7 ppg), while 6-4 senior forward Jeremiah Alexander (9.0 ppg) is the team leader and top player in the paint.
  • Owns nonleague wins over the likes of #23 Wissahickon (70-61), Class 5A #2 Holy Ghost Prep (54-49), Class 5A #7 Penn Wood (67-57) and #13 CB East (63-59). Won twice in the conference over #16 Council Rock South (61-52, 63-49) and #21 William Tennent (56-47, 54-51). Regular-season losses were to #6 Coatesville, #24 North Penn, #17 Abington, #20 Ridley and Council Rock North (50-42).

Will face the winner of #23 Wissahickon at #10 Spring-Ford in the second round on Tuesday

#8 PENNRIDGE (Opening round bye)

  • 18-6 overall
  • 9-3 SOL Continental Conference champions (second straight)
  • Won the SOL Tournament title with 54-52 win over Cheltenham on Monday, after beating Bensalem (56-39) in the semifinals.
  • A state finalist a year ago, the Rams rebuilt around 6-foot-6 senior center Trent Fisher (13.5 ppg). Point guard Christian Guldin (13.0 ppg) had a breakout senior season and is a top 3-point shooting threat, while juniors Luke Yoder (7.4 ppg) and Colin Post (6.2 ppg) play key roles as well.
  • Top wins this season were over #11 Boyertown (45-44) and #21 William Tennent (57-46) out of the league, while the Rams beat #9 CB West (50-35), #14 Souderton (53-38, 48-40), #12 CB East (54-47, 65-50), and #24 North Penn (52-44). Losses were to CB West, CB South and North Penn in the conference, as well #10 Spring-Ford, Governor Mifflin and Liberty in nonleague games.

Will play the winner of #24 North Penn at #9 CB West in the second-round on Tuesday

#24 NORTH PENN at #9 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST (Friday, Feb. 14, 7 p.m.)
North Penn

  • 9-13 overall
  • 5-7 SOL Continental Conference, sixth place
  • Key players include 6-5 junior forward Josh Jones (12.3), 6-7 senior center Matt Swanson (9.9 ppg) and 6-6 junior forward Rob Carangi (9.2 ppg). Senior guard Mike Chaffee (8.4 ppg) is the team’s top 3-point threat and defensive player.
  • After a 2-7 start to season in December, rebounded with key wins over the likes of #7 Bensalem (44-42), #8 Pennridge (57-54) and #9 CB West (48-43) to garner the final seed in the tournament. It also owns a win over Class 2A #1 Dock Mennonite. Notable losses include #1 Methacton, #11 Boyertown, #18 Downingtown East in nonleague games. Also lost twice to #12 CB East and #14 Souderton and split with Pennridge and CB West.

CB West

  • 15-8
  • 8-4 SOL Continental Conference, second place
  • Key players include 6-foot-1 senior point guard Mika Munari (11.3 ppg), a three-year starter, as well as 6-foot-3 forward Jack Neri (9.0). Senior Danny Miller (5.8) is the other top player in the paint, while senior Owen Haney and junior Teddy Spratt both have had big scoring games as well as on the defensive end.
  • It’s best nonleague win came in December over #10 Spring-Ford (56-53), while it also defeated top District Two team Crestwood (43-39) on the road. In the conference, it split with #8 Pennridge, #12 CB East, #14 Souderton and #24 North Penn. Notable losses include to #3 Cheltenham in the SOL Tournament semifinals, #1 Methacton and Class 5A #10 Academy Park.

Winner will travel to #8 Pennridge for a second round game Tuesday.

#21 WILLIAM TENNENT at #12 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST (Friday, Feb. 14, 7 p.m.)
William Tennent

  • 12-10
  • 6-6 SOL National Conference, tied for fourth place
  • Junior Derrik Cosenza, a 6-foot-4 forward, makes the Panthers go at 14.9 points a game, but he is also is key defensively and on the glass. Senior guards Josiah Johnson, Sean Haus and Daulton Zeaman all can score too, and Haus was one of the conference’s top 3-point shooting threats.
  • At one point, the Panthers were 9-3 and winners of seven straight, including over the likes of #14 Souderton (42-38) and #16 Council Rock South (58-45), then went 2-7 and needed to win the regular-season finale to Harry S. Truman (55-40) to earn its spot into districts. Notable losses include #19 Upper Darby, #8 Pennridge, #7 Bensalem (twice) and #16 CR South in rematch later in the season.

CB East

  • 13-9
  • 7-5 SOL Continental Conference, tied for third place
  • Junior guard Joe Jackman (18.2 ppg) emerged as one of the area’s top scorers from 3-point range or off the dribble, while 6-8 junior center Jack Hamilton (9.3 ppg) had a breakout season, and can score either from the outside or in the paint. His shot-blocking ability is a difference-maker on defense. Guards Jason Markowitz (8.2 ppg), Chris Charlton (7.3 ppg) and Tyler Young (6.5 ppg) are also scoring threats as well.
  • Out of the league, the Patriots own a win over #16 Council Rock South (60-40), while in conference, it split with #9 CB West and #14 Souderton and beat #24 North Penn twice (70-47, 50-45). Other notable losses include to #8 Bensalem, #11 Boyertown, and #17 Abington.

The winner will travel to #5 Lower Merion for a second round game Tuesday.

#19 UPPER DARBY at #14 SOUDERTON (Friday, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.)
Souderton

  • 13-9
  • 7-5 SOL Continental Conference, tied for third place
  • After key injuries to seniors Andrew Vince and Dom Natale, 6-foot-3 junior Jason Price emerged as the Indians’ go-to player, averaging 12.1 points-per-game on the season. Senior Brian Reiner (9.5 ppg) and Jack Towsen (6.3 ppg) both saw their roles increase too, emerging as the season progressed.
  • After starting the season 6-0, the Indians had a 1-5 stretch and then late went 5-3 as their new lineup emerged. Souderton owns wins over the likes of Class 2A #1 Dock Mennonite (58-49) and Class 5A #10 Academy Park (68-65) out of the league, and in the league it swept #24 North Penn (52-39, 45-43) and split with #9 CB West and #12 CB East. Other notable losses were to #5 Lower Merion, Class 5A #5 Bayard Rustin, and #21 William Tennent 

Upper Darby

  • 11-11
  • 6-10 Central League
  • A quick team with only one player over 6-foot-2, UD is led by junior 5-11 point guard Shareef Jones, who averages 12.1 points per-game.
  • The Royals picked up early season nonleague wins over eventual #16 Council Rock South (46-44), #21 William Tennent (60-49), and #22 Wissahickon (62-48), with another of their wins coming over Class 5A #8 Radnor (56-51). But down the stretch, they lost five straight to end the season. Notable losses were twice to #2 Garnet Valley, #5 Lower Merion and #20 Ridley in Central League games.

The winner will travel to #3 Cheltenham for a second round game Tuesday.

#17 ABINGTON at #16 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH (Friday, Feb. 14, 7 p.m.)
Abington

  • 12-10
  • 10-4 SOL American, tied for second
  • Completely rebuilt from a team that three-peated as District One champs, the Ghosts have received contributions from many different sources throughout the season. Senior Manir Waller has been their most consistent player, leading the team at 11.8 points per-game, but he’s also good on the backboards and solid defensively. Juniors Robert Bell (10.1 ppg), Caleb Baker (10.1 ppg) and Oreck Frazier (9.2 ppg) are all capable of breakout games as well.
  • Playing a difficult nonleague schedule more suited for previous Abington teams, the Ghosts did pick up wins over #12 CB East (66-63) and #7 Bensalem (50-49) out of the league and beat #21 Plymouth Whitemarsh twice (68-64, 50-41) and split with #22 Wissahickon. Other notable losses included #5 Lower Merion, Academy Park and private schools Archbishop Carroll, La Salle and Shipley School.

CR South

  • 15-7
  • 8-4 SOL National, second place
  • Senior point guard Jack Rebholz (14.2 ppg) makes things go for the Golden Hawks and can score from outside or off the dribble. Backcourt-mate Michael Stewart (12.3 ppg) is a dangerous 3-point shooting threat, while Kevin McNamee (8.0 ppg) does most of the dirty work in the paint.
  • In going from 9-13 a year to 15-7 this season, CR South has won out of the league over the likes of Lower Moreland (65-51), Chichester (55-49), Haverford (57-56), Upper Dublin (50-47) and Downingtown West. In the SOL Nation, it has split with #21 William Tennent, as well as sweeping Pennsbury and Neshaminy. Notable losses include to #20 Upper Darby, #12 CB East and two times in the league to #7 Bensalem.

The winner will travel to #1 Methacton for a second round game Tuesday.

#22 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH at #11 BOYERTOWN (Friday, Feb. 14, 7 p.m.)
Plymouth Whitemarsh

  • 11-11
  • 9-5 SOL American, fourth-place
  • The ability of 6-foot-2 senior point guard Caelin Peters (17.3 ppg, 4.3 apg) to take over a game is one of the keys if PW hopes to get on a playoff run, because otherwise, this is a very young team. Junior Luke DiCianno (13.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg) is also an offensive threat and key contributor.
  • The starting lineup is rounded out by Jayden Pryce, who has provided a steady double point guard/scoring guard scenario and is strong off the dribble, sophomore guard Zende Hubbard, who brings defensive and transition energy, and senor forward Jayden Glover, who brings high energy and defensive toughness.
  • Also expected to contribute are junior point guard David Harris, who provides both an offensive and defensive spark, as well as freshman Quidire Bennett and sophomore Trey Jones and Ray Tomassetti.
  • The Colonials were 3-8 at one point in the season, but played much better down the stretch, including three straight wins to close it out and clinch a spot in the postseason. Conference sweeps of Class 5A #9 Upper Moreland, Hatboro-Horsham, Upper Dublin and Springfield helped in terms of putting wins on the board, and the Colonials also split with #22 Wissahickon. They took their lumps in nonleague games, losing to the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Simon Gratz and Archbishop Ryan, and also were swept in the SOL American by #3 Cheltenham and #17 Abington.

Boyertown

  • 16-7
  • 6-4, third place Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division
  • Junior guard Tre DiGuglielmo is the top scoring threat for the Bears at 12.7 points per-game with 39 3-pointers. Others to watch out for include junior Aarick Salata (9.4 ppg) and senior Mason Marinello (8.3 ppg).
  • Out of league, the Bears own wins over the likes of #12 CB East (53-50), Governor Mifflin (57-45) and #24 North Penn (44-35). They’ve also split with the #10 Spring-Ford, Phoenixville and Norristown in PAC-10 play. Losses include to #8 Pennridge, and #1 Methacton twice.

The winner will travel to #6 Coatesville for a second round game Tuesday.

#23 WISSAHICKON at #10 SPRING-FORD (Friday, Feb. 14, 7 p.m.)
Wissahickon

  • 12-10
  • 10-4 SOL American, tied for second place
  • Junior Matt Compas is the Trojans’ top scoring threat, while senior guards D’Shan Love and Harrison Williams can also make things happen, as well as senior forward Carmen Ostroski.
  • After starting the season 1-4, the Trojans played solid basketball down the stretch to earn their spot in district. Their biggest wins were over the likes of Germantown Academy (66-59) and Central (67-35) in nonleague games, while they split with #17 Abington and #22 PW in the league. Notable losses were to #1 Methacton, #3 Cheltenham (twice), Class 5A #5 Bayard Rustin and #7 Bensalem.  

Spring-Ford

  • 15-7
  • 7-3 Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division
  • The Rams rely on balanced scoring, as seniors Tre Medearis and Pat Kovaleski average just over 11 points per-game, and Zack Skrocki is right behind them at 10.3.
  • A nonleague win over #8 Pennridge is impressive, but SF also had two wins over Pope John Paul II and wins over the likes of #11 Boyertown, Norristown and Phoenixville as well. Also, in one of its two losses to #1 Methacton was by just two points. 

Class 5A
#9 UPPER MORELAND at #8 RADNOR (Wednesday, Feb. 19), 7 p.m.
Upper Moreland

  • 15-7
  • 7-7 SOL American, fifth-place
  • Injuries to starters Beau Woolens and Jahaire Johnson forced UM to reshuffle the deck and it has seen the emergence of sophomore Byron Hopkins (11.8 ppg) at point guard, senior outside shooting threat Tyler Ibbotson (8.2 ppg) and sophomore Jourdan Gregg (8.5 ppg).
  • The Golden Bears racked up a perfect 8-0 record in nonleague games including a win over #15 Sun Valley (60-43) in the regular-season finale. Other wins include Upper Perkiomen, New Hope-Solebury, Morrisville, Calvary Christian, Lower Moreland, Interboro and Class 6A #21 William Tennent (53-50). In the SOL, they took care of business with sweeps of Hatboro-Horsham, Upper Dublin and Springfield, and split with Abington.

Radnor

  • 14-8
  • 8-8 Central League, sixth-place
  • The team’s leading scorer, 6-foot-6 senior Jack D’Entremont (17.3 ppg) can scoring from inside or out, while junior Lew Robinson is also a threat at 13.9 per-game.
  • Like UM, playing in a league with mostly Class 6A schools, the Red Raiders were up-and-down. They own wins over Penncrest (32-30), Upper Merion (54-30), Harriton (66-63, 69-58), Marple Newtown (42-40) and Strath Haven (48-46).

The winner will play the winner of the #16 Sun Valley at #1 West Chester East.

Class 4A

#3 SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP at #2 LOWER MORELAND (Wednesday, Feb. 19), 7:30 p.m.
Springfield Township

  • 6-16
  • 2-12 SOL American, seventh-place
  • Top Springfield players include a pair of senior 6-foot-5 forwards in Jay Joseph and Ethan Hamilton, as well as 6-7 junior Gabe Harris.
  • The Spartans struggled in the SOL American, but against schools closer to their own school size, they do have wins over the likes of Class 6A schools Hatboro-Horsham (twice) and Quakertown (54-48) as well as Jenkintown (51-48) and Bristol (39-37). They did lose to Lower Moreland (50-41) in their previous meeting.

Lower Moreland

  • 9-13
  • 7-8 BAL Independence Division, third place
  • Senior John Przybylinski was the top player for the Lions, earning BAL Independents Division MVP in a division with the likes of Holy Ghost Prep and New Hope-Solebury. Other top players include Jack Doneker and Brian Grant.
  • Despite going 1-4 in its previous five games, LM has played better late, earning wins over the likes of Conwell-Egan (74-68), Collegium Charter (64-58), Springfield (50-41) and Church Farm in the 2020 portion of its schedule.

 The winner will face top-seeded Pope John Paul II.

 

 

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