This week’s notebook features Cheltenham, Central Bucks East and Bensalem.
By Scott Huff
And the beat goes on…
SOL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Cheltenham Panthers
Cheltenham head coach John Timmshas an enormous SOL American Conference game on Friday (Jan. 8) when the Panthers (8-2, 4-0) invade Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-0, 4-0) for what could be for supremacy in the conference.
“We have a game on Tuesday against Upper Moreland (7-3, 3-1) and I have a great deal of respect for Upper Moreland,” said Timms. “They are a good team and they make me nervous. They are coming off a loss, and that coaching staff will make corrections for our game.
“But if we are fortunate enough to get by Upper Moreland, Plymouth Whitemarsh is the benchmark for how good your program is,” added Timms. “The conference championship goes through Plymouth Whitemarsh – and I mean through Plymouth Whitemarsh. They are extremely tough to beat at home.
“To be able to get them at their place in the first half of the season couldn’t be better for our team,” continued Timms. “It is a challenge that I want see if we can handle.”
Cheltenham is coming into the New Year with a championship trophy in its trophy case. The Panthers won the Penncrest Holiday Tournament with wins over both West Chester Henderson (70-35) and host Penncrest (55-46).
“We were down 17 in the third quarter – and we scored 13 points in the final minute to make it a game,” said Timms of the title game against Penncrest. “We were able to create turnovers and change momentum. We had a nice fourth quarter to close out the game.”
Cheltenham outscored the Lions 24-10 in the final period as senior Khalil White finished the contest with a game-high 21 points.
“Khalil plays the game with heart, intensity, and confidence,” said Timms. “He wants to play college ball next year (West Chester, East Stroudsburg and Kutztown have expressed interest) and that drives him to play the game extremely hard.”
Cheltenham loves to generate offense off its defensive pressure – but when the Panthers are forced to play a half-court game, the duo of senior Justin Sutton and junior Trevonn Pitts give them scoring options.
“Justin is a throwback to the Kareem Abdul Jabbar days with the hook shot,” said Timms. “Plus he protects the rim – he averages 3.5 blocks per game.
“Trevonn never played high school basketball until this year,” added Timms. “He lacks experience and sometimes plays like a freshman – but he has the athletic ability of a senior. He can rebound and shoot – and is very aggressive.”
SOL American Conference Standings
1. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 4 0
Cheltenham Panthers 4 0
3. Upper Moreland Golden Bears 3 1
4. Norristown Eagles 2 2
Upper Merion Vikings 2 2
6. Wissahickon Trojans 1 3
7. Springfield Spartans 0 4
Upper Dublin Cardinals 0 4
This Week in the SOL American Conference
Tuesday – 1/5/16
Upper Moreland @ Cheltenham
Springfield @ Plymouth Whitemarsh
Upper Merion @ Upper Dublin
Wissahickon @ Norristown
Wednesday – 1/6/16
Jenkintown @ Upper Merion
Wissahickon @ Northeast
Friday – 1/8/16
Cheltenham @ Plymouth Whitemarsh
Upper Dublin @ Wissahickon
Norristown @ Upper Moreland
Saturday – 1/9/16
Central Bucks South @ Upper Moreland
Upper Merion @ Pope John Paul II
Plymouth Whitemarsh @ Washington
SOL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Bensalem Owls
Bensalem head coach Mike McCabe and his Owls collected a trophy of their own as Bensalem captured the Dick Dougherty Memorial Tournament over the holiday break.
“We needed those wins,” said McCabe as the Owls flew by both Bristol (69-48) and Northeast (72-57). “We came into the tournament with a 1-5 record – and we needed to get over hump.
“To be able to win the tournament will give us confidence going back to the league season,” added McCabe. “We came into the season without a whole lot of varsity experience and we were able to gain some experience winning games.”
The nucleus of the 2015-2016 Owls is made up of three juniors and a sophomore.
Junior Ward Roberts was voted the MVP of the Dick Dougherty tournament with a 21-point performance against Bristol followed by an 18-point effort in the title game against Northeast.
“Ward came into the season with really no varsity experience,” said McCabe. “But we knew that he was going to be a player.
“He is athletic, quick and has good instincts on the floor,” added McCabe. “Ward is really a raw talent, but he is going to become a really good player.”
Juniors Brian Quarterman and Richard Dean along with sophomore Taco Douglas have also made key contributions early this season.
“Brian is a very good shooter and is a very smart player,” said McCabe. “And both Richard and Taco continue to play well and improve.
“We had a brutal December schedule,” added McCabe in reference to playing teams like Pennsbury, Abington, CR South, and Frankford. “We have Truman and Tennent this week – and we hope we can translate our success in the tournament into more wins in the league.”
SOL National Conference Standings
1. Pennsbury Falcons 4 0
2. Abington Ghosts 3 1
3. Council Rock North 2 2
Council Rock South 2 2
Truman Tigers 2 2
William Tennent Panthers 2 2
7. Bensalem Owls 1 3
8. Neshaminy Redskins 0 4
This Week in the SOL National Conference
Tuesday – 1/5/16
William Tennent @ Abington
Council Rock North @ Council Rock South
Truman @ Bensalem
Pennsbury @ Neshaminy
Wednesday – 1/6/16
Neshaminy @ Pennridge
Thursday – 1/7/16
Pennsbury @ Council Rock South
Friday – 1/8/16
Pennsbury @ Constitution
Abington @ Council Rock North
Neshaminy @ Truman
Saturday – 1/9/16
Glen Mills @ Council Rock North
SOL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Central Bucks East Patriots
Central Bucks East head coach Erik Henrysen and his Patriots have returned from the sunny San Diego California over the holidays – winning two of three games in the Surf-N-Slam Holiday Tournament.
“We’re back safe and sound,” said Henrysen. “There is no doubt that we are a much closer team – living with each other for a few days and doing everything together makes you a closer unit.
“Plus we were down in a couple of those games and were able to battle back and win,” added Henrysen. “I hope that helps us turn a corner.”
CB East received a terrific performance from senior Tommy Strasburger – among others – in the three-game tournament.
“Tommy is coming off some leg issues from playing football,” said Henrysen. “He had some injury problems last year – and the last couple of games he looks like the Tommy that we saw play basketball his sophomore season.
“He is playing the game with the same explosiveness he played with then and making everyone around him that much better,” added Henrysen. “I still don’t think he is 100 percent – but he is close.”
The ‘everyone he makes better’ group includes Justin O’Neil, Blake Peterson, and Chris Reilly.
“Justin was perhaps our best player in the tournament,” said Henrysen. “And Blake has become such a presence inside with his shot blocking.
“Chris hasn’t started games for us, but he is there at the end of games,” added Henrysen. “We have gotten strong contributions from a lot of players this year.”
The Patriots (6-4, 1-3) have an interesting SOL Continental Conference schedule this week. CB East plays last place Quakertown (3-7, 0-4) on Tuesday and closes the week with first place Central Bucks West (8-2, 4-0).
“Quakertown with (Griffin) Schmidt is very dangerous, and our challenge is not to look ahead to West,” said Henrysen. “And CB West is always circled on our calendars with the rivalry. We have to continue to focus on playing each game just one quarter at a time.”
Welcome back Patriots.
SOL Continental Conference Standings
1. Central Bucks West Bucks 4 0
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 4 0
3. Pennridge Rams 3 1
4. Central Bucks South Titans 2 2
5. Central Bucks East Patriots 1 3
North Penn Knights 1 3
Souderton Indians 1 3
8. Quakertown Panthers 0 4
This Week in the SOL Continental Conference
Tuesday – 1/5/16
Quakertown @ Central Bucks East
Hatboro-Horsham @ Central Bucks West
Souderton @ Central Bucks South
Pennridge @ North Penn
Wednesday – 1/6/16
Neshaminy @ Pennridge
Friday – 1/8/16
Central Bucks East @ Central Bucks West
Central Bucks South @ Quakertown
North Penn @ Souderton
Pennridge @ Hatboro-Horsham
Saturday – 1/9/16
Central Bucks South @ Upper Moreland
Methacton @ Central Bucks West
Suburban One Sports.com
Super Six
1. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (9-0)
2. Pennsbury Falcons (7-2)
3. Abington Ghosts (7-3)
4. Central Bucks West Bucks (8-2)
5. Pennridge Rams (8-2)
6. Cheltenham Panthers (8-2)
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