Check out the results for SOL boys’ basketball teams in action Tuesday. To view photos of the Pennridge/Tennent and Pennsbury/Souderton games, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Central Bucks West 48, Cheltenham 45
A slow start was nothing Central Bucks West – a team that is having anything but a slow start to the season – couldn’t handle.
Despite opening the game with some poor play offensively and trailing by six at halftime (17-11), the Bucks came storming back in the second half, eventually defeating Cheltenham by three in a non-conference meeting at Central Bucks West High School.
“We were able to find our stride offensively in the second half and we got some stops, and I think that was the difference in the game,” CB West coach Adam Sherman said. “Our guys caught fire, and that’s what helped us to catch our stride offensively.”
Sherman said his team was getting opportunities in the opening 16 minutes, but they just couldn’t execute.
“We were getting open looks, but we just weren’t knocking them down,” he said. “We were just able to find a better rhythm offensively, and the guys were making the extra pass in the second half.”
CB West was able to outscore the Panthers by eight in the third quarter and take a 30-28 lead into the fourth where the Bucks would hold on.
Cal Reichwein knocked down five three-pointers and led CB West with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Owen Cooney added 16 points while draining four threes, and Connor Lynch came off the bench to score eight points.
Luke Irons added two points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
“Luke really did a great job defensively for us,” Sherman said. “It was a good team effort and the guys got hot and did some things defensively.”
Cheltenham was led by Justin Sutton’s 13 points and Fatir Al-Ahad’s 11.
Sherman, whose team will open conference play on Friday, credits the Bucks’ perfect start to several different things.
“We have nice chemistry,” he said. “The kids are sharing the ball. They are playing together. They worked really hard in the offseason and their improvement is starting to show.”
Cheltenham 9 8 11 17—45
Central Bucks West 8 3 19 18—48
Pennridge 59, William Tennent 51
Pennridge was looking for a nice boost before it had to visit Central Bucks East and begin conference play on Friday night.
The Rams got that boost against William Tennent, as Pennridge went into the Panthers’ house and came away with the win.
Zach Muredda had a big night, scoring 26 points to lead the way for Pennridge (2-1), which also got 11 points apiece from Dan Long and Joe Molettiere.
“I thought it was a big win for us on the road,” Pennridge coach Dean Behrens said. “Playing at Tennent in that huge gym is tough and there’s a ton of energy, if not just because the stands are so darn big. Tennent is tough and we got out on them, but every time we made a run, they came at us.”
Tennent went on top at one in the second quarter, but Pennridge had an answer and took a 23-20 lead into halftime
Although they are typically a big three-point shooting team, the Rams hit zero shots from beyond the arc on the night. Muredda was an uncharacteristic 9-of-16 from the charity stripe.
“He could’ve easily had 30 points tonight,” Behrens said. “I thought he propelled us not just offensively, but defensively.
“We didn’t hit one three tonight and that’s a rarity. We didn’t shoot many either, so give Tennent credit for closing down on us and keeping us from shooting three’s. I thought we did go strong to the basket and we did that well.”
Tennent (0-3) was led by Kevni Simonsen’s 24 points. John Ryan added 17.
Pennridge 15 8 18 18-59
William Tennent 10 10 15 16-51
Central Bucks East 57, Upper Dublin 49
In Erik Henrysen’s five years as the head coach at Central Bucks East, no Patriot team had started the season a perfect 3-0. That changed on Tuesday night when CB East went into Upper Dublin High School and came out with the victory.
Justin O’Neil and Tommy Strasburger hit four three-pointers apiece, and both scored 20 points to lead CB East to a win in its final game before conference play begins on Friday.
“It was a good win,” Henrysen said. “Upper Dublin definitely has some talent with Simeon Fryer and John Barrett, and we were able to grind out a win. It’s definitely something that we can build off of. Justin and Tommy are really big, strong and physical kids, and they played well.
“Upper Dublin has some great interior passing and they’re a tough team. I think they’re going to win some games.”
Jeff Circuit and Cooper Fink each brought down seven rebounds for CB East, which got to the line 30 times. Upper Dublin was led by Barrett’s 17 points and Fryer’s 11.
CB East will look to remain unbeaten this Friday night at home against Pennridge
“We had been holding teams to less than 40 points in our first couple games, and it has been in our defensive end where we were able to stick it out with character,” Henrysen said. “Our guys are really locking up and tonight we had to get a bit more creative.”
Central Bucks East 10 12 17 18—57
Upper Dublin 13 7 15 14—49
Plymouth Whitemarsh 70, North Penn 47
Andre Mitchell finished with 22 points and Xzavier Malone poured in another 20 as Plymouth Whitemarsh rolled to the big win over visiting North Penn in a non-conference meeting.
Mitchell helped the Colonials (2-0) to a commanding 16-point lead after one quarter, 18-2. The Colonials, who took a 37-20 lead into the intermission, came out in the second half and continued to add to its lead, which proved to be insurmountable for the Knights (0-3).
Jimmy Murray added eight points for PW, while North Penn was led by Ricky Johns’ 10 points and Joe Richards’ nine. Jared Malone, Cordell Lord and Derek Heiserman each added seven in the losing effort.
North Penn 2 18 8 19—47
Plymouth Whitemarsh 18 19 17 16—70
Pennsbury 68, Souderton 42
Souderton dropped a non-conference game at home, falling to the defending district runner-up Falcons.
For Pennsbury, Cameron Jones led the way with 19 points while Derrick Woods added 17. Mekhi Bryant chipped in with 15, knocking down three triples. Jones also hit three shots from beyond the arc.
In a losing effort, Tracy Simsick led the way for the Indians with 13 points. Connor Lennon and Evan Slone added nine and eight, respectively. Souderton (1-2) trailed 19-10 after one quarter and never recovered.
Pennsbury 19 15 21 13—68
Souderton 10 9 8 13—42
Harry S. Truman 64, Chichester 55
Harry S. Truman defeated Chichester by nine points in a non-conference meeting at Truman. The win evens the Tigers’ record at 1-1 on the young season.
Council Rock North 62, New Foundations Charter 43 (Monday, Dec. 8)
The Indians opened their season with a no-doubt-about-it win, opening up a 12-4 lead after one quarter and extending that to 32-18 by halftime.
Riley Thompson led the Indians with 20 points and four assists. Matt Margolis had 14, and Will Desautelle had nine points and nine rebounds.
New Foundations 4 14 13 12-43
Council Rock North 12 20 17 13-62
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