Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ basketball teams in action Saturday.
Modie Risher Holiday Tournament
Semifinal
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 47, COLLINS HILL (GA) 28
Defense was the story of this one.
The Bucks’ suffocating defense allowed just 11 first-half points while their offense – sparked by six 3-pointers – put 34 points on the board to take an insurmountable 23-point lead into halftime. The win vaulted West into Saturday’s championship game.
“We defended and rebounded well,” West coach Adam Sherman said. “It was good team defense.”
The Bucks – behind eight points from Julian Phillips, which included two 3s – opened up an 18-7 lead at the end of one quarter. They added to their lead with a 16-4 second quarter that was highlighted by eight points from Roman Kulsea, including a pair of 3s.
Phillips led the Bucks with 15 points, one of three West players in double figures. Bowen Gugger added 11 points, and Kulsea had 10 points, including three 3s. Matt Engle contributed seven points.
Central Bucks West (7-3, 3-3 SOL) will face Byrnes High School (SC) in Saturday’s title game at 6:30 p.m.
Central Bucks West 18-16-3-10 47
Collins Hill (GA) 7-4-7-10 28
Central Bucks West (47) – Matt Engle 3 0-0 7; Roman Kulsea 4 0-0 10; Julian Phillips 4 4-4 15; Bowen Gugger 5 0-0 11; Sam Jankowski 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 18 4-4 47.
Collins Hall (GA) (28) – Neal 5 0-0 10; Johnson 1 2-2 4; Baumgardner 2 0-0 5; Richards 4 0-0 9; TOTALS 12 2-2 28.
3-point goals: CBW – Julian Phillips 3, Roman Kulsea 3, Matt Engle; Collins Hill – Baumgardner, Richards.
Boardwalk Classic (Ray Martin Memorial Bracket)
Round 2
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 50, ATLANTIC CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 39
Timmy Rahill might have had an idea it was going to be a good day.
The senior came out of the gate on fire, connecting on a pair of 3s and scoring 10 points in just one quarter. He finished with a game high 24 points, which included five 3-pointers.
Behind Rahill’s hot hand, the Golden Hawks opened up a 17-7 lead after one quarter.
“We were able to get a lead early, which was a good response compared to last night where we looked like we were not ready to play right away,” Rock South coach Andrew Rogers said. “We did a better job today not letting missed shots affect us. We had a few opportunities to really extend the lead, but credit to Atlantic Christian, they kept fighting back.”
The Golden Hawks took a 25-16 lead into halftime and extended that lead with a 17-9 third quarter surge that included eight points – and a pair of 3s – from Rahill. They took a 42-25 lead into the final quarter on the way to the win.
Also for the Golden Hawks, Ryan Wekluk added eight points, and according to their coach, the Hawks have taken turns stepping to the fore.
“We are getting really good minutes from everyone,” Rogers said. “Ryan Delp led us in scoring last night and came in today and led us in rebounding with nine. Jordan Getz added four assists. Ryan Wekluk added three assists. Gabe Cerulli took three charges and had eight rebounds, and three assists. MJ Thompson, George O’Brien, and Liam Wekluk did a great job giving us a big lift in different spots.
“We have a lot of guys that are doing really good things, and it will continue to be important for us to value all of the little things and small details that help win games. It was great to get away and travel for the tournament and we were able to take away some things we need to work on and clean up as we head into the New Year.”
Council Rock South (7-4, 4-2 SOL) will return to action Saturday, Jan. 6, 3 p.m., at Central Bucks West.
Council Rock South 17-8-17-8 50
Atlantic Christian 7-14-14-4 39
Council Rock South (50) – Timmy Rahill 7 4-5 24; Gabe Cerulli 1 2-2 4; Mike Burns 1 1-2 4; George O’Brien 2 0-0 5; Ryan Wekluk 4 0-0 8; Ryan Delp 1 0-0 3; MJ Thompson 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 17 7-9 50.
Atlantic Christian (39) – Noah Gibbs 5 0-1 10; Noah Stokes 4 5-7 15; Charlie Costello 1 0-0 2; Judah Dawkins 1 0-0 2; Caden Kim 2 0-0 5; Ethan Costello 2 0-0 5; TOTALS 15 5-8 39.
3-point goals: CRS – Timmy Rahill 6, Mike Burns, George O’Brien, Ryan Delp; Atlantic Christian – Noah Stokes 2, Capen Kim, Ethan Costello.
PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC 48, PENNSBURY 31
The Falcons took an early lead and – after a low-scoring first half – went into halftime deadlocked 16-16. The Vikings’ offense came to life in the second half, erupting for 16 points in both the third and fourth quarters to outscore the Falcons 32-15 on their way to the win.
Connor Taddei’s seven points led the Falcons. Danny Cohen and Grayson Gozum both had six points.
Pennsbury (6-5, 3-3 SOL) will be on the road at Pennridge on Friday for a crossover game.
Pennsbury 7-9-9-6 31
Pittsburgh Central Catholic 3-13-16-16 48
Pennsbury (31) – Teddy Mangan 1 1-2 3; Mike Roccograndi 0 4-4 4; Danny Cohen 3 0-0 6; Grayson Gozum 2 2-2 6; Sam Callahan 0 1-2 1; Connor Taddei 3 0-0 7; Eric David 0 2-4 2; Max Manga 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 10 10-14 31.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic (48) – Payton Wehner 2 3-3 7; Vernon Settles 7 7-8 21; Calvin Vento 1 0-0 2; Bradley Gompers 3 2-2 9; Jaydan Brown 1 0-0 3; Xavier 1 0-0 2; Enzo Khalil 1 2-4 4; TOTALS 16 14-17 48.
3-point goals: Pennsbury – Connor Taddei; PCC – Bradley Gompers, Jaydan Brown.
Non-league
CHESTER 67, ABINGTON 51
The visiting Ghosts trailed by just two at halftime, and it was still anybody’s game heading into the fourth quarter with the Clippers on top 46-42. The fourth quarter, however, belonged to the home team with Chester outscoring the Ghosts 21-9 to win by 16.
Jeremiah Lee led the Ghosts with 13 points and eight rebounds. Jaden Fournoy scored 10 points off the bench, and Aaron Jones added eight points, eight rebounds and four steals. Damon Rawls finished with six points. Khalid Jenkins contributed five assists.
Abington connected on 18 of 48 from the field (37.5 percent). The Ghosts did most of their damage in the first half when they shot 12-for-21 but were 6-for-21 after the intermission. They connected on just 4 of 21 from beyond the arc (19 percent).
The Ghosts had 13 turnovers, and they were whistled for 24 team fouls.
Abington (8-3, 4-2 SOL) will host Cheltenham in a crossover game on Saturday Jan 6 at 12:30 p.m.
Abington 13-16-13-9 51
Chester 14-17-15-21 67
Abington (51) – Damon Rawls 2 2-2 6; Lathan Miller 1 0-0 3; Aaron Jones 3 2-2 8; Jaden Flournoy 3 3-4 10; Jeremiah Lee 5 1-6 13; Paul Glants 1 0-0 2; Kamari Brasher 1 1-2 3; Kellen Ingram 1 1-2 3; Xander Grasty 0 1-2 1; Khalid Jenkins 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 18 11-20 51.
Chester (67) – Andre Brown 2 0-0 6; Dallas Thompson 0 6-9 6; Jaseir Thompson 1 0-0 2; Dominic Toy 6 2-2 14; Dante Atkinson 5 5-6 16; Vincent Coleman 1 0-0 2; Calvin Williams 4 3-6 11; Daron Harris 3 0-0 6; Jalen Harris 1 2-2 4; TOTALS 23 18-25 67.
3-point goals: Abington – Jeremiah Lee 2, Lathan Miller, Jaden Flournoy; Chester – Andre Brown 2, Dante Atkinson.
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