SOL Boys’ Basketball PIAA Preview (3-8-19)

Abington and Pennridge will begin play in the PIAA 6A Tournament on Saturday. Check out the previews.

#1-1 ABINGTON vs. #3-6 CUMBERLAND VALLEY (Saturday, March 9, 4 p.m., Council Rock South High School)
Abington Ghosts
Led by Villanova-bound Eric Dixon and Penn recruit Lucas Monroe, the Ghosts are as postseason tested as any team in the field. Abington, undefeated in its first season in the SOL American, won the SOL Tournament title and captured the program’s third consecutive District 1 6A title.

27-1 overall
14-0 SOL American (Conference champions)
Won four of last five district titles
Senior forward Eric Dixon is program's all-time leading scorer. The 6-foot-7 Villanova recruit has a program record 2,409 career points (a program record 793 this season) and is averaging 28.3 points per game. He also averages 11.9 rebounds.
Senior guard Lucas Monroe surpassed the 1,000-point mark in the regular season finale. The 6-foot-6 Penn recruit averages 16.1 points and 7.9 rebounds, and he has over 100 assists this season.
Guard Darius Brown averages 7.6 points and has 37 3-pointers.
Senior Maurice Henry and junior Manir Waller round out the starting five. Both average close to six points a game. Henry has 108 assists for the season.

How they got here: In the District 1 6A title game, Abington defeated second-seeded Coatesville 74-71 in an overtime thriller. Eric Dixon had a monster performance, leading the Ghosts with 38 points and 16 rebounds. Lucas Monroe had 18 points and 11 rebounds in a standout effort.
In a semifinal contest, Abington upended fourth-seeded Pennridge 50-38. Lucas Monroe (16 points) and Maurice Henry (15 points) led the Ghosts.
In a quarterfinal game, Abington defeated eighth-seeded Perkiomen Valley 53-37. Eric Dixon (17 points) and Lucas Monroe (10 points) led the Ghosts.
After an opening round bye, Abington downed 17^th-seeded Downingtown West 72-47. Eric Dixon led the Ghosts with 28 points, and Lucas Monroe had 19.

Cumberland Valley

17-9 overall
10-6 Mid-Penn Commonwealth Conference fourth place
Won 10 of 11 to open season but 7-8 since then.
Ninth seed entering the District 3 6A Tournament
Led by Ty Banach (11.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg), Omar Tandir (10.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Dylan Buzalka (10.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and Ethan Levis (10.0 ppg).

How they got here: In the fifth place game, Cumberland Valley lost to 11^th-seeded Manheim Township 74-69 in overtime.
In a consolation semifinal, Cumberland Valley defeated Cedar Crest 65-57. Ethan Levis scored 27 points, Omar Tindir added 12 and Dylan Buzalka had 11.
In a quarterfinal contest, Cumberland Valley lost to top-seeded Wilson 60-53. Dylan Buzalka (15 points) and Ty Banach (12 points) led CV.
In an opening round game, Cumberland Valley defeated #8 Waynesboro 55-52. Omar Tandir had 14 points, Ty Banach, 12, and Harris Vorwald, 11 points.

#1-4 PENNRIDGE vs. #12-3 ABRAHAM LINCOLN (Saturday, March 9, 5 p.m., South Philadelphia High School)
Pennridge Rams
Despite graduating three starters from last year, Pennridge finds itself right back in the top echelon of District 1. Returning starters Sean Yoder and Jon Post, anchor the Rams. Pennridge saw its school record 17-game winning streak snapped in the SOL title game.

23-5 overall
11-1 SOL Continental (Conference champion)
Senior Sean Yoder, a Navy recruit, is Pennridge’s all-time leading scorer.
Senior Jon Post, the Rams’ 6-6 forward, can score at the rim but also has a consistent shot and is a rugged interior defender and rebounder.
Guards Luke Yoder, John Dominic, Nick Dunn and Jack Gillespie along with forward Trent Fisher round out the rotation for the Rams. Dominic set a school record for 3-pointers made in a single game with eight in a win over North Penn.

How they got here: In the district’s third place game, Pennridge fell to fourth-seeded Lower Merion 67-58. Sean Yoder (18 points) and Jon Post (14 points) led the Rams.
In a district semifinal, Pennridge fell to top-seeded Abington 50-38. Sean Yoder’s 11 points led the Rams.
In a quarterfinal contest, Pennridge upended fifth-seeded Norristown 51-36. Sean Yoder scored 26 points lead the Rams while Jon Post added 10.
After an opening round bye, Pennridge defeated 13^th-seeded Spring-Ford 71-48 in a second round game.

Abraham Lincoln

10-16 overall
3-7 Philadelphia Public League
Led by junior Shaquil Bender (13.0 ppg), senior Emeuel Charleston (11.3 ppg) and senior Aseem Lucky (9.7 ppg)

How they got here: In the District 12 6A contest, Lincoln fell to Boys Latin Charter 67-64 in overtime.
In a district seeding game, Lincoln defeated Simon Gratz 54-43.