Seven SOL teams will be in action when the District One 6A Tournament begins. Check out Ed Morrone’s comprehensive preview, which includes capsules of all the SOL teams in the 6A and 5A fields as well as a feature about top-ranked Plymouth Whitemarsh.
By Ed Morrone
Seven SOL teams will be in action will be in action in Friday’s District 1 Class 6A first round, with two of those match-ups featuring all-SOL teams (Neshaminy at Central Bucks South and Pennsbury at Bensalem).
Additionally, four 6A teams earned first-round byes and won’t play until Tuesday’s second round. Two Class 5A squads will tip off their tournament on Wednesday.
One of those teams with a first-round bye, Plymouth Whitemarsh, is the talk of the town as the Colonials enter districts with an undefeated record of 24-0 and a number 24 ranking in USA Today’s Super 25. Head coach Jim Donofrio’s program is no stranger to success (the Colonials have won five straight SOL American Conference titles and 14 conference crowns under Donofrio and 26 overall), but the longtime coach is also imparting on to his team that its overall record is just a number that offers no guarantees this time of year.
“In my 27 years with the program, we’ve won two district and two state titles, so the odds are against us whether we’re 24-0 or not,” Donofrio said. “We were 26-0 in 2006 and lost in the second round of the state tournament, so the undefeated thing is the world’s biggest mirage.”
Donofrio said the background noise ratchets up to full volume come postseason time, especially with the rise of social media that has made the microscope “20 times worse” than it was as recently as five years ago.
With that being said, Donofrio is comfortable that this senior-laden, even-keeled group can handle the pressure and distractions flowing in from the outside.
Three of the team’s marquee players are senior guards — twin brothers Ahmin and Ahmad Williams, as well as Ish Horn — and key rotation members Alan Glover and Danny Cooper are also senior leaders. All five of them have helped 7-foot-2 junior center Naheem McLeod adjust to all of the attention swirling around him.
“If there was ever a high school team able to handle it, it’s this group,” Donofrio said. “Younger teams are excited just to get to Temple (where the district semifinals and championship are played), where the euphoria can take you out of focus and make you lose your edge. Undefeated, being nationally-ranked … it’s all a smokescreen, designed to make you feel like you’ve already won the race when there’s still 300 yards to go. Every team but one will end the season with a loss. It’s a weird dynamic, and you cannot lose that edge until the second it’s over.”
PW has constructed a closeness during this run that Donofrio said is unlike most teams he’s coached in his three decades with the program.
“We’ve always had great kids, but a number of these guys took it to another level this season,” he said. “They are comfortable with each other and they feel they deserve the success. It’s probably the group my assistants and I have spent the most time with and feel most connected to. They’re always looking to go hard.”
Donofrio said he and his assistants have tried to humble the group heading into the postseason. Despite a 62-41 win over Central Bucks West in the SOL final on Feb. 12, Donofrio said he showed his team “about 15 mistakes” they made to start the game and that “what I see in the game film is not pretty.”
As good as PW is and has been all season, Donofrio knows that there are always ways to improve; once a team thinks the opposite, they’re doomed to fall short.
The Colonials will carry a 49-game home win streak into Tuesday’s second round game against either Bensalem or Pennsbury. Donofrio said that while he always appreciates these types of wildly successful seasons, he also realizes the team cannot rest on its laurels simply because of its stature in the state and national rankings.
“There’s a level of satisfaction that we haven’t tasted that ‘L’ yet, but once the next game gets close, all the tensions and concerns rise back up,” he said. “It’s about staying mentally tough and calm in those big moments, and we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. It’s a daunting task to keep it all together, and there’s so much to do, so we just try to keep the positive energy flowing to keep it rolling.
“The kids are enjoying the heck out of it, and our only goal now is to get to Temple. That’s it. We don’t need to think beyond that. Let’s get there, and then we’ll talk about Phase 2.”
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Below is a closer look at the SOL teams participating in the District One Tournament, as well their first-round opponents:
Class 6A
#1 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH (Bye)
- 24-0 overall
- 14-0 SOL American Conference champion
- Beat #4 CB West 62-41 in SOL Tournament title game
- Beat #6 Pennridge 79-55 in SOL Tournament semifinals
- Led by senior guards Ahmad and Ahmin Williams, Ish Horn and Danny Cooper, as well as senior forward Alan Glover and 7-foot-3 junior center Naheem McLeod
- Of PW’s 24 victories, only four have come by a margin of under 10 points
- Regular season wins over #18 Neshaminy (88-54) and #19 Cheltenham (88-65 & 77-57). The Colonials swept PCL powers Neumann-Goretti (66-57), Bonner Prendergast (64-60), Archbishop Carroll 66-53 and Archbishop Wood (55-43).
- PW will host the Pennsbury-Bensalem winner in Tuesday’s second round, where the Colonials have won 49 straight games at home
#2 ABINGTON (Bye)
- 18-5 overall
- 12-0 SOL National Conference champion
- Defending District One 6A champion
- Lost to #4 CB West in SOL Tournament semifinals (with Eric Dixon sidelined), snapping a six-game win streak
- Led by junior forward Eric Dixon (24.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg), senior point guard Robbie Heath (18.5 ppg) and junior G/F Lucas Monroe (13.1 ppg)
- Heath (1,491 career points) and Dixon (1,450) are the third- and fourth-leading scorers in school history
- Dixon returned to practice on Tuesday after missing team’s previous two games with a finger injury
- The Ghosts are looking to capture their third district title in the last four seasons
- Regular season wins over #16 Bensalem (68-51 & 65-56) #17 Pennsbury (82-60 & 51-45), #18 Neshaminy (72-49 & 82-60), #19 Cheltenham (74-54), #20 Central Bucks East (74-47) and #22 North Penn (81-62)
- Abington will host the winner of CB South-Neshaminy on Tuesday
#4 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST (Bye)
- 19-5 overall
- 10-2 SOL Continental Conference champion
- Lost to #1 PW 62-41 in SOL Tournament title game
- Defeated #2 Abington 53-43 in SOL Tournament semifinals
- Led by senior G/F Collin MacAdams (14.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.1 apg), senior G Shane McCusker (8.9 ppg), senior F Jake Reichwein (8.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and junior G Jack Mulhearn (7.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.3 apg)
- MacAdams will miss Tuesday’s second-round game against the winner of CB East-Owen J. Roberts due to mononucleosis, the same illness that kept him out of the SOL Tournament title game vs. PW
- Bucks have won 11 of their last 12 games
- Regular season wins over #6 Pennridge (51-29 & 57-36), #10 Methacton (47-42), #15 CB South (56-38), #20 CB East (50-43 & 65-55) and #22 North Penn (67-51 & 58-43)
Head coach Adam Sherman says: “We are excited about hosting and playing in a district playoff game on Tuesday. This team has worked extremely hard and is focused on their next game at this time.”
#6 PENNRIDGE
- 17-6 overall
- 9-3 SOL Continental, second place
- Lost to #1 PW 79-55 in SOL Tournament semifinals
- Led by junior G Sean Yoder (16.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.0 apg), senior F Tyrese Lewis (11.0 ppg), junior PF/C Jonathan Post (11.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg), sophomore F Jake Pestrak, senior Mike Molettiere (leading three-point shooter)
- Sean Yoder’s younger brother, Luke, is a freshman for the Rams
- Pennridge has won 10 of its last 12 games
- Will host the winner of Spring-Ford vs. North Penn on Tuesday
- Regular season wins over #10 Methacton (52-51), #15 CB South (63-56), #20 CB East (63-54 & 52-51) and #22 North Penn (66-57 & 57-43)
Head coach Dean Behrens says: “The boys are excited about the opportunity to play either Spring-Ford or North Penn on Feb. 20. For many of the boys, this will be the first time playing in a playoff basketball atmosphere. We feel they are battle-tested, as we have played in a tough Continental League, as well as nonleague games against Neshaminy, at Wissahickon, at Reading, Conestoga, Methacton and PW.”
First-round match-ups: Friday, Feb 16:
#22 NORTH PENN AT #11 SPRING-FORD
North Penn
- 12-10 overall
- 6-6 SOL Continental, fourth place
- Led by David Robinson (12.8 ppg), Chris Coleman (11.5 ppg) and AJ Mitchell (10.0 ppg)
- Regular season wins over #15 CB South (47-44), #20 CB East (61-49) and #23 Perkiomen Valley (42-41)
- North Penn is 7-3 in its last 10 games
- Winner will play at #6 Pennridge on Tuesday (North Penn lost to Pennridge 57-43 on Feb. 8 and 66-57 on Jan. 16)
Head coach John Conrad says: “The team is excited to be playing in the district playoffs. Slow starts have been our Achilles heel all year; we cannot afford to get off to a slow start against Spring-Ford.”
Spring-Ford
- 15-6 overall
- 5-5 in Pioneer Athletic Conference (PAC) Liberty Division, third place
- Lost 72-60 to Methacton in PAC title game
- Led by junior Noah Baker (15.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and senior Nestor Diaz (12.7 ppg, 40 3’s)
- Like North Penn, Spring-Ford has won seven of its last 10 games and the team is as healthy as it’s been all season long, according to head coach Chris Talley
- Regular season wins over #4 CB West (50-30), #15 CB South (60-53) and #17 Pennsbury (64-56)
Head coach Chris Talley says: “We are looking forward to playing North Penn in a win-or-go-home atmosphere. We are excited to have the opportunity to play them at home in front of our fans and community. Coach Conrad is an excellent coach and will surely have his team prepared on Friday night.”
#20 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST AT #13 OWEN J. ROBERTS
Central Bucks East
- 12-10 overall
- 5-7 SOL Continental Conference, fifth place
- Led by Kyle Cassidy (DeSales commit — 14.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and Nick Roggio (12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 bpg)
- Eleven of the team’s 12 wins have come when holding its opponent to below 50 points
- Fourth trip to district playoffs in the last five years
- Regular season wins over #15 CB South (58-47), # 17 Pennsbury (56-41) and #22 North Penn (62-45)
- Winner will play at #4 CB West on Tuesday (CB East lost both regular season match-ups vs. the Bucks, 50-43 and 65-55).
Head coach Erik Henrysen says: “Owen J. Roberts is a well-balanced team that seems to thrive off having multiple guys contribute. They have had a great season and we are going to have to play our best to have a chance to advance this year.”
Owen J. Roberts
- 14-8 overall
- 4-6 PAC Liberty Division, tied fourth place
- Led by senior G Shyheed May (11.5 ppg), senior F Dawson Stuart (9.1 ppg), senior G Sean Praweckyj (8.5 ppg) and junior G Nick Massa (7.5 ppg)
- Lost in first round of PAC playoffs to #10 and eventual league champion Methacton (56-35)
- Regular season wins over #10 Methacton (55-44), #23 Perkiomen Valley (49-47)
Head coach Kevin Kirby says: “We are a balanced team that can be led in scoring by a number of different guys on any night. We are all excited not only be back in the district playoffs, but the opportunity to play at home is something special. We know that East is a very disciplined, well-coached team. They are also a balanced team with many guys who can hurt you. We are looking forward to a great game.”
#19 CHELTENHAM AT #14 CONESTOGA
Cheltenham
- 14-8 overall
- 10-4 SOL American Conference, third place
- Led by senior guards Amir Lewis and Ahmad Bickley
- Lost three of last four games heading into districts
- Playing without senior Jack Clark, a La Salle University commit whose final season was cut short by a knee injury
- Winner will play at #3 Lower Merion on Tuesday
Conestoga
- 14-8 overall
- 10-6 Central Athletic League, fifth place
- Lost final two games of regular season to Upper Darby and Garnet Valley, the latter of which came on a made three-pointer as time expired
- Prior to those losses, the Pioneers had won six of their previous seven contests
- Led by junior Zach Lezanic, senior Charlie Schappell and senior Mike Erickson
#18 NESHAMINY AT #15 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH
Neshaminy
- 13-9 overall
- 7-5 SOL National Conference, tied third place
- Led by Division-I recruit senior Chris Arcidiacono (25.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 4.0 apg), senior Anthony Papeo (10.0 ppg, 3.0 apg, D-III recruit), Danny Bodine (8.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, D-III recruit) and senior Charles Dominick (8.0 ppg)
- Regular season wins over #6 Pennridge (72-68), #16 Bensalem (56-42) and #17 Pennsbury (62-51)
- Redskins finished the regular season with a winning record for the first time since 2011
- Arcidiacono, younger brother of former Villanova University star and current Chicago Bulls guard Ryan, reached the 1,000-point club earlier this season. He also scored a school-record 43 points in a 71-70 overtime win over Truman on Feb. 6
Head coach Mark Tingle says: “Our guys have been playing well lately and are excited about carrying that momentum into the playoffs.”
Central Bucks South
- 14-8 overall
- 8-4 SOL Continental Conference, third place
- Led by Tommy Kuypers (14.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Nate Robinson (12.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.6 apg), Ian McCaw (7.9 ppg) and Jack Johns (4.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
- Regular season wins over #4 CB West (45-40), #6 Pennridge (67-59, 2OT), #20 CB East (45-39) and #22 North Penn (51-42)
- This marks the 12th district playoff appearance for the Titans in the school’s 14-year history
- Winner will play at #2 Abington on Tuesday
Head coach Jason Campbell says: “The playoffs are the most exciting time of the season and an opportunity to perform your best amongst the best teams in the district. Our team is preparing to rise to the challenge.”
#17 PENNSBURY AT #16 BENSALEM
Pennsbury
- 13-9 overall
- 8-4 SOL National Conference, second place
- Led by Raylil Winton (12.8 ppg), Gary Francis (10.2 ppg), Collin Connor (8.0 ppg), Chad Weldon (7.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.0 bpg), Josh Arruda (6.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.3 apg) and Jake Martell (6.0 ppg, 3.0 apg, 80% free throws)
- 12-4 in last 16 games
- Split two regular season meetings with #16 Bensalem (51-49 loss, 61-51 win)
- Regular season wins over # 18 Neshaminy (59-57) and #22 North Penn (63-39)
- No starters back from last year’s team (Falcons graduated nine seniors)
Head coach Bill Coleman says: “Around Christmas break, guys started to turn it around by really focusing and understanding what we wanted from our defensive philosophy. We want to create memories that last a lifetime by continuing to prove people wrong. We’re going to focus on our defense and do what it takes to be 1-0 by the end of the night.”
Bensalem
- 14-8 overall
- 7-5 SOL National Conference, third place
- Led by Ward Roberts (14.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.0 spg) and James Leible (11.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
- Split two regular season meetings with #17 Pennsbury (51-49 win, 61-51 loss)
- Regular season wins over #15 CB South (59-53), #18 Neshaminy (69-53) and #21 Penn Wood (49-42)
- Won seven of last eight games after starting the season 7-7
- Winner will play at #1 Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday
Head coach Mike McCabe says: “We are excited to host a home playoff game. We have been playing as a true team and it has helped our success down the stretch.”
Class 5A
16 UPPER MORELAND AT #1 PENNCREST (Tuesday, Feb. 20)
Upper Moreland
- 9-13 overall
- 5-9 SOL American Conference, fifth place
- Led by senior G Ryan Coyle, senior G/F Brett Brossman, senior F/C Jake Villanueva and junior G Christian O’Donnell
- Lost six of last seven regular season games
- This Upper Moreland senior class has been to the playoffs in each of their four seasons in the program
Head coach Sean Feeley says: “What I’ve been telling my kids this week is simply don’t be satisfied.”
Penncrest
- 21-3 overall
- 14-2 Central Athletic League, first place
- Led by senior Tyler Norwood (21 ppg, 7.0 apg), Malcolm Williams (9.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Chris Mills (7.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg), Matt Arbogast (9.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and Justin Heidig (8.2 ppg, 38 3’s)
- Norwood is the school’s all-time leading scorer
- Penncrest is the defending district champion in 5A
- Regular season wins over #3 Chester, #8 Upper Darby (6A), #9 Garnet Valley (6A) and #14 Conestoga (6A)
- Lost most recent game 52-48 to #11 Marple Newtown
Head coach Mike Doyle says: “Upper Moreland will be an extremely difficult opponent. They have played one of the toughest schedules in 5A and their seed and record does not reflect how good they are.”
WEDNESDAY: #13 STRATH HAVEN AT #4 WISSAHICKON (Wednesday, Feb. 21)
Wissahickon
- 16-6 overall
- 11-3 SOL American Conference, second place
- Led by senior G Max Rapoport (16.0 ppg), junior G Eddie Fortescue (15.0 ppg) and senior G/F Zach Reiner (11.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 7.0 apg)
- Regular season wins over #7 Norristown (6A), #15 Bensalem (6A), #10 Methacton (6A), #23 Perkiomen Valley (6A), #19 Cheltenham (6A) and #16 Upper Moreland (73-56 & 75-54)
- Came closest to knocking off 24-0 Plymouth Whitemarsh on Dec. 22, falling by a score of 67-66
- Has won seven of its last 10 games heading into the playoffs
Head coach Kyle Wilson says: “Strath Haven is a solid team that moves the ball around. They have a strong big guy in the middle and a solid cast of guards, so we’re excited to play a formidable opponent on our home court. Our trio of Max, Eddie and Zach have set the tone all year long and played unselfishly together as a team. It’s a group of hungry guys, and that starts with the leadership at the top. We’ve played some of the top teams in 6A to prepare ourselves for this 5A postseason.”
Strath Haven
- 10-12 overall
- 6-10 Central Athletic League, tied for eighth
- Led by Cooper Driscoll (leading scorer), Ryan Morris (leading three-point shooter) and Jordan Graves
- Won most recent game heading into the playoffs, a 59-49 win against Harriton on Feb. 9
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