Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ basketball teams in action Thursday. Truman/Neshaminy photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. Bensalem/Pennsbury photos courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos.
SOL National Conference
BENSALEM 38, PENNSBURY 35
The Owls averaged 65 points a game in their three straight wins heading into Thursday’s showdown against conference-leading Pennsbury. They scored just 38 points on Thursday, but no one was complaining as the Owls picked up their 10th win over the season.
“You know what – at this point in the season, you’ll take every big win you can get, with or without (Gary) Francis,” said coach Mike McCabe in reference to the absence of the Falcons’ leading scorer from Thursday’s lineup. “Those kids still played hard, and we played hard. It was a really great game to watch, too.”
The outcome wasn’t decided until the final horn sounded, although the Falcons got off to a good start. They led 12-5 after one quarter but saw that lead slip away in a second quarter that saw them manage just three points. The two teams went into halftime deadlocked 15-15.
“It was back and forth,” McCabe said. “Both teams struggled to score a little bit, but overall, defensively, we were able to lock it down.”
The Falcons took a 30-29 lead into the fourth quarter and still led late. A three-point play by Lamont Hasker gave the Owls a lead they would not lose.
“Coming down the stretch, we missed seven or eight layups, and we missed 10 foul shots again, but our kids are resilient,” McCabe said. “We scored 72 points, 66 points and now tonight 38. They were holding the ball, running their offense. We switched it up a little bit. It was a really, really good game.”
Nasir Williams led the Owls with 10 points, TJ Igielski and Hasker both added eight, and Jeremiah Alexander had six. Hasker also had a game-high eight rebounds, and Alexander added five.
For the Falcons, Collin Connor’s 14 points led the way. Cooper Arnold added nine, and Kyrie Miller had six. Charlie Nuschke led the Falcons with seven rebounds, and Arnold had five.
“(Collin) Connor played so well – that kid plays so hard,” McCabe said. “He’s an unbelievable player.
“They did a nice job. It was back and forth, and we’re still on a four-game roll. We just want to keep it going.”
The Owls connected on 12-of-31 shots from the field (38 percent) and 11-of-22 from the foul line. Pennsbury was good on 13-of-35 shots (37 percent).
Bensalem is 24th in the most recent District One 6A rankings. Pennsbury is 17th.
Bensalem (10-7, 6-3 SOL) will host Glen Mills in a non-league game on Saturday, and Pennsbury (9-7, 7-1) will host Lower Moreland in a non-league game on Saturday.
Bensalem 5-10-14-9 38
Pennsbury 12-3-15-5 35
Bensalem (38) – Nasir Williams 10, Jeremiah Alexander 6, Shane Simmons 1, TJ Igielski 8, Lamont Hasker 8, Aaron Sanders 5.
Pennsbury (35) – Kyrie Miller 6, Collin Connor 14, Amir Johnson 4, Cooper Arnold 9, Charlie Nuschke 2.
HARRY S TRUMAN 66, NESHAMINY 50
The Tigers are looking very much like the SOL’s most improved team. After winning just one game in their first 11, they have won three of their last four. Some changes by coach Tyrone Lewis have paid dividends.
“We had personnel changes – we had some guys leave the program, and we moved some younger guys up, and they’ve been huge for us,” the Tigers’ first-year coach said.
Topping the list of young contributors is sophomore Jordan Fant.
“I think every game he’s played for us so far he’s scored in double figures,” Lewis said. “Jon Maloney is a senior, and he didn’t play much in the beginning of the year, but since we started winning, he’s started. He’s been huge making three-point shots.”
Fant led the Tigers with 16 points, which included three three-pointers, and Maloney had 10, including a pair of thrrees. TJ Rogers also was in double figures with 14.
The Tigers’ lineup has not only included new faces but a new configuration.
“I changed the lineup from your traditional two bigs and three guards to four guards and one big,” Lewis said. “That has made a big difference for us.
“Also, they had to adjust – it was both players and coaches. As coaches, we had to change the way we practice, do some different things to help them understand the game better. They had to get used to my style of coaching and just understand their roles as individuals.
“It’s hard for a young kid – you tell them, ‘You have to do this.’ Sometimes they think they can do more when all I need you to do is one thing. They get it now that the game is simplified for them. Like ‘Hey, all I have to do is get every rebound,’ and they play better because of that.”
In Thursday’s win, the Redskins kept it close for a while and trailed by just four at halftime, 23-19. It was still a 42-35 game at the end of three quarters, but the Tigers put it away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Redskins 24-15
“We just started hitting shots in the second half,” Lewis said. “In the first half, we had a lot of great looks, but Jon Maloney hit three in the second half, and Jordan Fant went perfect from the field. That was a big difference in the second half, and our defense has been great the last five or six games.”
The Tigers’ coach credited the strong play of senior Treszon Chapman.
“He’s been great all year and even better now down the stretch,” Lewis said. “They’ve gotten better every single game. The (Council Rock) North game we took a step back in the second half. We kind of had a mental meltdown as a whole team and lost it at the end.
“Other than that, these guys that stuck it out thus far – it’s been getting better and better every day.”
Chapman had seven points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. He also had a pair of blocks. Rogers and Fernando Vargas added five rebounds each. Vargas also had a team-high five assists to go along with nine points. Mike Leonhauser added six points.
Harry S Truman (4-11, 4-5 SOL) will host Chester Charter School in a non-league game on Monday, and Neshaminy (3-13, 1-8) will travel to Council Rock South on Tuesday.
Harry S Truman 12-9-19-24 66
Neshaminy 6-13-16-15 50
Harry S Truman (66) – TJ Rogers 14, Donald Imo 4, Treszon Chapman 7, Jordan Fant 16, Jon Maloney 10, Mike Leonhauser 6, Fernando Vargas 9.
SOL American Conference
CHELTENHAM 66, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 57
In a key conference battle, Jaelin McGlone had a big night for the Panthers, finishing with an impressive double-double that included 21 points and 10 rebounds.
“I think all of our guys were finding joy in his success,” Cheltenham coach Patrick Fleury said. “Zahree Harrison did a good job as they doubled and tried to get the ball out of his hands and gave (McGlone) an opportunity to make plays.
“As a leading scorer sometimes who’s not getting their average, especially a young athlete, there’s a tendency to force or push the envelope. Zahree found a good balance in understanding that though he had eight points and eight assists – it gave him a total of almost 30 points.
“Jaelin (McGlone) himself just came into his own. He was very aggressive, very decisive. When he’s like that, he gives us a different element. I just think the guys were happy and celebrating his success, and he continued to play.”
The Panthers led 17-9 after one quarter and took a 34-27 advantage into halftime. They added to their lead with a 20-13 third quarter, taking a 54-40 lead into the final frame.
Tim Myarick also finished in double figures for the Panthers with 10 points. Harrison had eight points and eight assists. Jalen Mickens had seven points and three steals, and Justin Moore had seven points and three assists. Kyin Healey added six points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
For the Colonials, Caelin Peters shared game scoring honors with 21 points. Naheem McLeod added 12 points, and Mark Kalala had 10. Jaden Pryce chipped in eight points.
The win gave the Panthers a season sweep of the Colonials.
“I think the last time we did that might have been when I was playing,” Fleury said. “In recent years, they had a stranglehold on the league.
“Jim (Donofrio) is a hall of fame coach. They brought (former PW star) Chuck Moore back, so for us, it’s definitely a builder. The main thing is the next game.”
Cheltenham (12-5, 9-1 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Tuesday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (10-6, 6-3) will host Wissahickon on Saturday.
Cheltenham 17-17-20-12 66
Plymouth Whitemarsh 9-19-13-16 57
Cheltenham (66) – Zahree Harrison 8, Jalen Mickens 7, Tim Myarick 10, Justin Moore 7, Jaaelen McGlone 21, Mike McClain 2, Sean Emfinger 5, Kyin Healey.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (57) – Jaden Pryce 8, Ray Tomassetti 2, Caelin Peters 21, Naheem McLeod 12, Luke Dicianno 2, Mark Kalala 10, Rocco Mazzei 2.
Non-league
HATBORO-HORSHAM 51, QUAKERTOWN 48
The Hatters – after winning just two of their first 11 games – have won three of their last five, including their last two.
A key to Thursday’s win was unquestionably the team’s torrid start. Jack Marvin ignited the Hatters, connecting on four three-pointers and scoring 14 points in the opening frame. Khalid Johnson also had a hot hand, burying a pair of threes and scoring eight points as the Hatters raced to a 24-13 lead over their hosts.
“We didn’t miss a lot,” Hatboro-Horsham coach Ed Enoch said. “The shots that we were making in the first quarter – we didn’t make them as consistently as the game went on. They just kept battling, and the game got close at the end.”
The Panthers – behind seven points from freshman Bobby Rosenberger – outscored the Hatters 12-5 in the second quarter to make it a 29-25 game at the intermission. The Hatters came out of the halftime locker room and outscored their hosts 14-8 to go into the final quarter with a 43-33 advantage.
“We had an 8-10 point lead with about four minutes left in the game and then we held on,” Enoch said. “We missed a couple of foul shots. They kept battling and they made a little bit of a run at us, but we did hold on.”
A pair of Jake Shalki foul shots gave the Hatters a 51-48 lead. The Panthers’ shot for the tie fell short, the Hatters came up with the rebound, and the hard-earned win was in the books.
“I was really proud of the kids tonight,” Enoch said. “Quakertown’s a nice team. They can score.
“We battled defensively, we rebounded the ball very, very well, and we competed hard.”
Johnson led all scorers with 17 points and Marvin added 15. Schalki also was in double figures with 10 points and was a force on the boards.
“It makes such a difference, it really doe,” Enoch said of having Shalki back in the lineup. “He had 10 points, and he had to have double figure rebounds too, so I’m sure he had a double-double. We can throw it in to him, and they have to guard him. He’s a good passer and gets the ball to open guys, and he’s a great leader. He’s such a good kid.”
For the Panthers, Rosenberger and Eli Ortiz led the way with 11 points each. Jimmy Case added 10 points, Matt Tulley had seven and Tyler Merwarth added six.
Hatboro-Horsham (5-12, 1-8 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Friday, and Quakertown (4-12, 2-7) will travel to Allentown Central Catholic on Saturday for a non-league game.
Hatboro-Horsham 24-5-14-8 51
Quakertown 13-12-8-15 48
Hatboro-Horsham (51) – Khalid Johnson 17, Solomon McNair 4, Jake Schalki 10, Zeheir Cheeze 2, Jack Marvin 15, Jackson Treski 1, N’Gianni Cerisier 2.
Quakertown (48) – Matt Catalano 3, Tyler Merwarth 6, Matt Tulley 7, Jimmy Casey 10, Bobby Rosenberger 11, Eli Ortiz 11.
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