Upper Dublin & Upper Moreland were winners in Friday’s opening round of the PIAA 5A State Tournament. Photos provided courtesy of Greg Lindsay. Check back for a gallery of photos. CLICK HERE to go directly to Suburban One Sports’ BOYS’ BASKETBALL GALLERIES.
PIAA 5A opening round
#1-1 UPPER DUBLIN 73, #3-6 OCTORARA 39
It’s been one year and one day since the then district runner-up Cardinals saw their season end in a heartbreaking 67-60 loss to Exeter in the opening round of the state tournament.
“Last year, that one hurt,” junior Noah Cohen said. “And we never forget that. We were the two seed in District 1. We played against Exeter, the five seed in District 3. We really got hit early – we were down almost 18 and we came back, but it was just too late.
“It reminded us – yesterday could have been the last practice of the season, and that gave us such a pit in our stomach. We were never going to let that happen. We had another year of just amazing coaching. We’re very unselfish and coming off the district win, we feel confident, and we’re moving on to the next round.”
There was, according to UD coach Derek Brooks, a decided difference this time around.
“Losing districts last year versus winning districts – last year we were on a 15-game winning streak, we were kind of exceeding expectations a tad,” the UD coach said. “You get popped in the district championship game, a big comedown.
“We did not have a great practice last year, and we had Imhotep the next round, and it was like the perfect storm. We got punched in the mouth in the first half last year. We made a big comeback, but it was too late. This year we think we have a chance to win this, and it’s just a huge difference mentally. I was happy with how we attacked. I wanted to see our energy.”
Friday’s game was close for a while, but with just over a minute remaining in the opening quarter, Ryan Mulroy scored on a drive that put UD on top 10-9. Back-to-back 3s.by Horace Jackson IV and Brandon Altman put the Cards on top 16-9 after one quarter, and they were just getting started.
–Ragsdale leads the charge: A Justin Ragsdale 3-pointer capped a 22-6 second quarter that sent UD into halftime with a 38-15 lead. Ragsdale’s 12 points led the Cardinals in the first half.
“He is playing awesome,” Brooks said. “He’s able to finish at the rim. He has great size. He’s knocking down his 3s.
“He rarely forces anything. He doesn’t turn 15 until May. His physical gifts and his decision making right now – he has been huge, and he’s never afraid of the moment. He’s playing in a state playoff game tonight, and he’s like, ‘Okay, I’m fine.’
“Twenty points in the second half of the district championship game – ‘All right, no big deal. I’ll go out and play.’ He’s been phenomenal this year for us.”
Ragsdale’s 17 points – which included a pair of 3s – led all scorers in Friday’s game.
–Jackson IV provides spark: Horace Jackson IV gave the Cards a big lift off the bench, scoring 10 first-half points.
“He was like that the last two days in practice too,” Brooks said. “He has been playing really hard. It’s been great. You could see the talent that he has. He is budding with potential, and for him to play with that effort and to be able to knock down shots – he was making plays everywhere, rebounding,
defending, attacking the basket, getting shots. It was great to see.”
–Seniors fond farewell: As farewell performances go, the Cardinals’ final home game of a magical season was a good one. “There have been some great classes of the past, but this has to be one of the best ever and one of the most decorated,” Brooks said of the seniors. “It was good for them to go out with an undefeated home record this year. I think they’ve only lost two games at home over the last two years.
“It was definitely great to give them one last go. I tried to give them two or three minutes in the fourth quarter just one last time together. This gym is special to these guys – playing in front of this crowd. We love playing here. It’s sad we won’t be here anymore, but it was good to end on a high note.”
–Another milestone: Friday’s win was the program’s first in state tournament play since 1985 and the 28th win in a row for the Cards since losing their season opener.
“We talked about it a lot this whole past year – we had a whole bunch of goals,” Brooks said. “When we made the schedule, in no world did I think we would be 28-1.
“I was hoping we could check off a couple of things the ’85 team did. I love the ’85 team. Coach Hud (Jeff Huddleston) has been phenomenal. He comes to a bunch of games. That team has been very supportive. We do use them as a carrot to kind of chase.
“Maybe in 40 years they talk about the ’25 team. We’re just so grateful to have this type of season that we’re having.”
–A night to remember for Cohen: This is the stuff dreams are made of.
With 2:02 remaining in the third quarter of Friday’s state opener, UD’s Noah Cohen entered the game to a rousing ovation. It was the first time the junior guard stepped onto the court since he went down with an injury in UD’s home game against Plymouth Whitemarsh on Jan. 7.
“It was the best feeling in the world,” Cohen said. “I’m so grateful for all my friends and family. It was so nice. I’m going to remember that for the rest of my life.”
The injury – a break of the ulna and radius bones in his left arm – required surgery, and Cohen was told he’d be out for the season, but the junior sharpshooter had other ideas.
“They said maybe if we make it to the state championship, but I said – March 7, that’s when I’m going to play,” Cohen said. “Every day I went to the gym, and I just worked the hardest I could and gave myself an opportunity to play.
“I’m so grateful for the amount of support I got from my friends, my family, my coaches, my teammates and my friends’ parents. They were sending us flowers, sending us all these messages, and it made it so much easier for me. I’m so grateful.”
If being back on the court wasn’t enough, less than a minute after entering the game, Cohen – his left arm in a soft wrap – delighted the home crowd when he hit nothing but net on a 3-pointer.
“That first shot – my brothers are both home from college, my family – my grandparents came,” Cohen said. “You’re never going to forget that moment.
“I play how I play and I’m not going to change that. I’m going out there and play ball. I’ve been doing it my whole life. I go out there and shoot the ball.”
The UD student section wasn’t satisfied with just one 3 – they wanted more, and Cohen gave it to them, burying four 3-pointers on seven shots from the floor in a dazzling outing.
“My friends started out – just hit a 3,” Cohen said. “I hit a 3, and they were like – one more, and then I hit another, and they were like – one more. I was like – I’m going to keep going until I get taken out. It felt great that I was able to play against competition.
“I’ve been watching basketball my whole life, but I love the balance between being able to play it and watch it. These past two months I’ve only been able to watch it, and so it feels amazing that I can play again.
“I would pray that I would be able to step on the same floor with my teammates again, especially the seniors. Just being able to practice with them this week – it was more than I could have ever asked for. To be on the court, I’m so grateful.”
As for the fall that was projected to end the season, Cohen admits there wasn’t anything unusual about it.
“I’d fallen a thousand times like that, and it never happened like that,” he said. “But I just thought – ‘Everything happens for a reason, and I’m just going
to be positive and make the best of it.’ I’m just grateful I could come back and contribute.
“After that injury, everything felt like it was falling, and I couldn’t do anything, but I just stayed positive. I said, ‘I’m just going to move on. What can I take from this?’
“My teammates have been doing an amazing job,. It’s been awesome being able to cheer them on. It feels even better being able to contribute. Even being on the sidelines, I still felt a part of it. That’s just the culture of our team. My coaches – they kept me a part of it the whole time. My teammates were giving me high fives throughout the games. That just made it so much easier. When I came in, I was able to enjoy it, but I was always enjoying it even when I was out.”
Sharing in the excitement of Cohen’s remarkable return was his coach.
“It’s awesome,” Brooks said. “I’ll be honest. I’m not so surprised because of how he prepares.
“When his injury first happened, we talked and said, ‘There’s a chance – mid-March. We’ll do our job, you do your job.’ He did absolutely everything he could just to be able to play in this game.
“He got cleared Monday for full court. It’s remarkable how quickly he was able to progress. For him to step on the court, he’s been fearless. He hasn’t been playing timid. For him to be able to knock down a couple of shots is such a fun, awesome moment he deserves. This game – the crowd honestly reminded me so much of when he got hurt the PW game. It was a ‘white out’ with the student section, it was a packed house. It was a little surreal looking around and seeing it – ‘Boy, this is almost like the game he left.’ It was like divine intervention.”
“Any of this – it was all a dream,” Cohen said. “Every night I’d pray that I would just have a chance. I said, ‘I’m just going to come every day to the gym just to give myself a shot.’ Even if it doesn’t happen, I know that I did the best I possibly could.
“The fact that I was able to do it is remarkable. I’m so grateful and thankful I was able to contribute, and now I’m even more excited to move on to the next round.”
Next up: Upper Dublin (28-1) will face District 12’s third place team – Bonner Prendergast – a 67-56 winner over District 11 runner-up Bangor.
Octorara 9-6-18-6 39
Upper Dublin 16-22-16-19 73
Octorara (39) Mehkai Lambert 4 3-4 11; Lazo Christou 1 0-0 2; Karter Lambert 1 0-0 3; Noah Wise 1 2-3 4; Vito Vespe 1 1-2 4; Vincent Thaler 3 1-1 7; Chase Fetrow 2 2-2 6; Elijah Robinson 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 14 9-12 39.
Upper Dublin (73) – Kobe Bazemore 3 1-1 7; Ryan Mulroy 3 0-0 7; Idris Rines 5 0-0 11; Justin Ragsdale 6 3-6 17; James Castronuovo 2 0-0 4; Brandon Altman 2 0-0 5; Horace Jackson IV 3 3-2-2 10; Noah Cohen 4 0-0 12; TOTALS 28 6-9 73.
3-point goals: O – Karter Lambert, Vito Vespe; UD – Noah Cohen 4, Justin Ragsdale 2, Horace Jackson 2, Ryan Mulroy, Idris Rines, Brandon Altman.
#1-4 UPPER MORELAND 60, #2-1 ABINGTON HEIGHTS 57
The Golden Bears made history in Friday’s opening round of the PIAA 5A Tournament Friday night, winning the program’s first ever state game.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment as a program, and to be a part of it, I feel very lucky,” UM coach Dan Heiland said. “It comes with tremendous support from the school and the community, all the players and the coaches that give all that time back to the program.
“It takes a village. It’s not one person or one thing in particular. It’s everybody. We’re just very happy and grateful to be a part of it and be able to achieve a lot of incredible things this season and be able to continue to check off boxes of history for Upper Moreland basketball that haven’t really happened in the program history or in a very long time in program history.
“It’s definitely something that myself, the staff and these kids, especially the seniors, will remember forever, and we’ll always have their name attached to it. It’s a very cool experience.”
The two teams took turns exchanging baskets in the first half. UM – behind seven points from Larry Hughes – opened up a 16-11 lead after one quarter. Abington Heights flipped the tables and knotted the score 27-27 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Jadon Cybok torched the Comets for 15 points on five 3-pointers, and the Golden Bears opened up a 47-43 lead heading into the final quarter. The Comets pulled to within one late, but the Bears held on for the win.
Key players: Jadon Cybok led the Golden Bears with 20 points – all in the second half. He buried six 3s. Larry Hughes added 16 points and also led the Bears on the backboards. Colson Campbell added 12 points, and Nate Best had nine.
UM coach Dan Heiland on the game: “Abington Heights had the lead to start the game with a couple of baskets. At that point, it was back and forth the whole first half. We ended up tied up 27-27 at halftime. It was a really even matchup. They’re a very good team. Their record doesn’t really show how good they are and how well they were playing coming into this game. This is the third year in a row they won the District 2 championship. They’re a very good program, they have some very talented individuals.
“Their coach knew everything and anything about us. He did a very good job scouting us. We feel like we did the same. It was a pretty balanced matchup. We were very comparable player to player, and it was really just a matter of – I told my kids they needed to be focused and locked in for 32 minutes and do whatever it takes to win. My guys did that, and we executed. We did enough. We always said – we made enough winning plays in 32 minutes to come out victorious.”
–The ending: “Jadon Cybok had a nice drive to the basket and made a tough layup. With a minute 40 left in the game, we had a timeout, and I told them in the huddle – ‘Right now, we have to know time and score. We can only shoot it if we’re wide open.’ That was only really talking to Jadon. Everyone else is nothing but a layup. They tried to rush the ball out of Colson Campbell’s hands off the first pass. They blitzed him, and he made a nice read and hit Jadon wide open in the corner. He knocked down a huge 3 that, I believe, put us up five. At that point, they were in scramble mode. They had to hurry up down the floor. They scored to cut it to one, they got a timeout. We were able to hold the ball. Colson Campbell got to the foul line and knocked down two big free throws to put us back up three. With under 15 seconds, they got in the halfcourt, and they ran a set. They got a shot off. It was a contested shot by our team. We did a nice job boxing out. One of their kids tipped it back out to their teammate, and he took a running corner 3 attempt that missed. Larry Hughes was able to secure the rebound, and we were able to celebrate in a very tough gym. It was a great crowd, a great atmosphere. It was very exciting.”
Props: “Jadon (Cybok) was held scoreless in the first half, and then he scored 15 of his 20 in the third on five 3s.
“I don’t know how many rebounds Larry Hughes had, but he was unbelievable tonight. He did a really nice job scoring the basketball. We forced them to take off whoever they had on him – they had a player on him that he was just owning, and they had to put a better defender on him, which allowed our other guys to create for themselves and others and get us better looks. He was just such an impact around the basket, rebounding and scoring.
“Colson Campbell was again very solid as he always is, and then Jadon knocking down shots. Nate Best had nine points, he had a couple steals, a couple of big plays in big moments defensively – contesting shots or just being a pain in the butt defensively. He was relentless tonight, and we needed it. It was awesome. It was a great group effort.”
Next up: Upper Moreland (22-7, 9-1 SOL) will face District 3’s fourth place team, Suburban York, in a second round game on Tuesday.
Upper Moreland 16-11-20-13 60
Abington Heights 11-16-16-14 57
Upper Moreland (60) – Alex Costanzo 0 1-2 1; Nate Best 3 2-2 9; Colson Campbell 4 3-3 12; Larry Hughes 7 2-3 16; Jadon Cybok 7 0-0 20; Cannon Campbell 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 22 8-10 60.
Abington Heights (57) – Andrew Kettel 3 0-0 8; Finn Goldberg 2 0-0 4;Jordan Schaffer 8 0-0 20; Billy Johnson 3 0-3 6; Robby Lucas 5 5-6 17; Carter Plantz 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 22 5-9 57.
3-point goals: UM – Jadon Cybok 6, Colson Campbell, Nate Best; AH – Jordan Shaffer 4, Robby Lucas 2, Andrew Kettel 2.
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