Seven SOL boys’ basketball teams will be in action Tuesday’s District One 6A second round. Two more will see action Wednesday. Check out the previews capsules.
Class 6A
#19 UPPER DARBY at #3 CHELTENHAM (Tuesday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m.)
Cheltenham
- 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.
How they got here: Opening round bye
Upper Darby
- 12-11 overall
- 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 #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.
How they got here: In an opening round game, Upper Darby upset #14 Souderton 52-40. Kachi Nzeh and AJ Tucker led a balanced attack with 11 points each.
#10 SPRING-FORD at #7 BENSALEM (Tuesday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m.)
Bensalem
- 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).
How they got here: Opening round bye
Spring-Ford
- 16-7 overall
- 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, one of its two losses to #1 Methacton was by just two points.
How they got here: In the opening round, Spring-Ford escaped with a 58-56 win over #23 Wissahickon. The Rams’ Ted Medearis led all scorers with 23 points.
#24 NORTH PENN at #8 PENNRIDGE (Tuesday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m.)
Pennridge
- 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.
How they got here: Opening round bye
North Penn
- 10-13 overall
- 5-7 SOL Continental Conference, sixth place
- Key players include 6-5 junior forward Josh Jones (12.3 ppg), 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.
How they got here: In an opening round upset, North Penn defeated #9 Central Bucks West 57-47. Matt Swanson’s 15-point effort led the Knights. Josh Jones scored nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, including a 6-for-6 effort at the foul line. Joe Larkins added 10 points for the Knights, who took control of the game with a 16-6 third quarter.
#12 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST at #5 LOWER MERION (Tuesday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m.)
CB East
- 14-9 overall
- 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.
How they got here: In an opening round game, Central Bucks East edged #21 William Tennent 50-49. Joe Jackman, whose 18 points led the Patriots, buried a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to give East the dramatic win. Jack Hamilton & Jason Markowitz both added 12 points for the Patriots, who led by as many as 11 in the second half.
Lower Merion
- 17-6 overall
- Aces lost 11 seniors and all five starters from last year’s Central League championship squad to graduation
- Led by senior guard/forward James Simples and 6-9 sophomore center Demetrius Lilley
- Regular season wins over Class 6A #14 Souderton (42-37), #15 Conestoga (46-43, 43-39), #17 Abington (61-55), #19 Upper Darby (66-58, 48-44), #20 Ridley (82-81, 44-37) as well as Class 5A #3 Penncrest (64-40), #6 Strath Haven (64-43) and #8 Radnor (58-50).
- Split with Class 6A #2 Garnet Valley (69-56, 32-78)
How they got here: Opening round bye
#16 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH at #1 METHACTON (Tuesday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m.)
CR South
- 16-7 overall
- 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.
How they got here: In an opening round contest, Council Rock South defeated #17 Abington 62-41, blowing open a close game with a 25-10 fourth-quarter burst. Jack Rebholz’s 24-point effort led the Golden Hawks. Michael Stewart (17 points) and Luca Baratta (11 points) also finished in double figures.
Methacton
- 22-2 overall
- 10-0 PAC Liberty Division regular season champions
- Defeated second-seeded Pope John Paul II 74-39 in PAC Tournament title game. Jeff Woodward (15 points, 14 rebounds), Erik Timko (18 points) & Brett Byrne (18 points) led the Warriors.
- Warriors score an average of 67.5 points and allow 41.8.
- 6-9 senior center Jeff Woodward – a Colgate signee - averages 13.5 points a game
- 6-3 senior shooting guard Erik Timko averages 19.6 points a game and has 63 3-pointers on the season.
- Also making important contributions are guards Owen Kropp (11.5 ppg) and Brett Eberly (8.2 ppg). Eberly has 44 3-pointers and Kropp has 36.
- Regular season wins over Class 6A #9 Central Bucks West (54-34), #10 Spring-Ford (44-42, 73-40), #11 Boyertown (64-37, 50-41), #23 Wissahickon (67-40) and #24 North Penn (74-42) as well as Inter-Ac power Malvern Prep (69-60). Only losses came at the hands of PCL power Roman Catholic (52-59) and Wilson (56-58).
How they got here: Opening round bye.
#PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH at #6 COATESVILLE (Tuesday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m.)
Plymouth Whitemarsh
- 12-11 overall
- 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 sophomores 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.
How they got here: In an opening round contest, Plymouth Whitemarsh upset #11 Boyertown 59-53. Caelin Peters (15 points) and Luke DiCianno (15 points) led the Colonials.
Coatesville
- 17-6 overall
- 12-1 Ches-Mont
- Fell to Unionville 70-62 in Ches-Mont Tournament semifinals
- Led by Jhamir Brickus, a Division I recruit who entered his senior year with 1,877 points and surpassed the 2,000-point milestone in late December.
- Jaeden Brickus and Dapree Bryant are also key contributors.
- Regular season wins over Class 6A #7 Bensalem (64-39), #18 Downingtown East (73-64, 86-65) as well as Class 5A # 4 Unionville (52-51).
- Split season series with Class 5A #1 (64-40, 55-64).
How they got here: Opening round bye.
Class 5A
#9 UPPER MORELAND at #8 RADNOR (Wednesday, Feb. 19), 7 p.m.
Upper Moreland
- 15-7 overall
- 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 overall
- 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 overall
- 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 overall
- 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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