Check out the results for SOL boys’ basketball teams in action Thursday.
FATHER JUDGE 55, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 54
Judge won a thriller against the visiting Titans, who saw a once nine-point lead slip away but still had a chance to win it at the end only to watch a pair of shots fall short.
“It was a really good basketball game to watch,” coach Jason Campbell said.
In a preview of things to come, Judge buried a three-pointer on its opening possession, but Alex Karras answered with a trey at the other end to knot the score. Judge’s first 12 points came on three three-pointers and a conventional three-point play.
“It was one of those back-and-forth things,” said Campbell, whose team led 15-14 after one quarter and took a 29-26 lead into halftime. “We had a good second quarter.
“In the second half, we had three or four possessions in a row where we had some unforced turnovers. Judge got back into it with some good shooting against our zone. We had a pretty good zone going for most of the game.”
The Titans took a 42-41 lead into the fourth quarter but found themselves trailing by four late. A three-pointer by Dan Tecce with 14.2 seconds remaining made it a 55-54 game.
“We got back into it with our 1-3-1 press,” Campbell said. “We wound up going fullcourt man-to-man, and Father Judge was inbounding the ball with 14 seconds left, and they turned the ball over on a five-second count.”
Campbell called a timeout and drew up an inbounds play to set up the potential game winner. A pair of South shots fell short, Judge regained possession but misfired on the front end of a one-and-one. Nate Johnston pulled down the rebound, but his desperation full-court shot bounced off the backboard.
“It was exciting,” Campbell said. “It was a pretty good effort by our guys because we went to Germantown Academy and played Judge in a 15-minute half scrimmage, and we got torched 22-2.
“Judge’s defense was great. They communicated, they were active, and the only two points we had in that scrimmage were at the foul line. My guys were looking to get a little bit of revenge. They knew they didn’t play their best basketball and were embarrassed.
“I thought we had a good scouting report, and the guys executed the game plan pretty well. I was proud of their effort. It was a little bit of a moral victory.”
The Titans were led by the 14-point efforts of Karras and Nate Robinson. Tecce, Johnston and Tommy Kuypers each added seven points.
Central Bucks South (1-2) will host Pennridge in its SOL opener on Friday.
Central Bucks South 15-14-13-12 54
Father Judge 14-12-15-14 55
Central Bucks South (54) – Alex Karras 14,Nate Robinson 14, Dan Tecce 7, Nate Johnston 7, Tommy Kuypers 7, Ian McCaw 3, Colin Kenney 2.
Father Judge (55) – Power 3, Rodriguez 21, Riely 2, O’Connor 17, Dooley 12.
ARCHBISHOP CARROLL 71, CHELTENHAM 66
A young and inexperienced Panther squad hung with Carroll for 32 minutes. It was a one-possession game coming down the stretch, but the Panthers couldn’t get over the hump.
“It was important to see that they could play with anyone,” coach John Timms said. “There’s not a team on the high school level that’s going to come in here and beat them by 30 points if they play hard and commit themselves to their responsibilities.”
Trevonn Pitts had a big night for the Panthers, contributing 15 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
“He had a complete game,” Timms said.
Clarke also finished with a double-double, scoring 15 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Ahmad Bickley added 16 points and eight assists, and Tim Spencer, a transfer from Academy of the New Church, contributed 17 points.
The Panthers led 15-14 after one quarter and took a 29-27 lead into halftime. Carroll began its comeback in the third quarter and went on to earn the win.
Cheltenham (2-1) will host Springfield Township in the conference opener for both teams on Friday night.
Archbishop Carroll 14-13-17-26 71
Cheltenham 15-14-15-22 66
Archbishop Carroll (71) – Butler 4, Williams 11, Bradshaw 2, Daly 12, Haggard 13, Anderson 16, House 3, McPherson 4, Deferrero 6.
Cheltenham (66) – Trevonn Pitts 15, Jack Clarke 15, Ahmad Bickley 16, Tim Spencer 17, Kyin Healey 2, Lonce Scott 1.
JENKINTOWN 60, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 34
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