Bensalem & Cheltenham were winners in Monday’s SOL Tournament semifinals. CB West also notched a non-league win. Bensalem/Upper Dublin photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson, and Cheltenham/CB East photos courtesy of Geanine Jamison Photography. Check back for galleries of both games. All SOS photo galleries for BOYS’ BASKETBALL can be viewed by clicking HERE.
SOL TOURNAMENT (Semifinals)
#1 Cheltenham 62, #5 Central Bucks East 54
Josiah Hutson led all scorers with 21 points while Rasheem Dearry added 16 to lead the Panthers to a win over a pesky East squad in Monday’s SOL semifinal contest.
“It was a game of cohesion,” Cheltenham coach Patrick Fleury said. “Josiah (Hutson) ended up with 21, but a lot of those were plays off his teammates.
“It was a game of runs. Early on, we were up 10, and they stormed back and took the lead. We were able to make some adjustments and take the lead back. For our guys to come in and stay together in the midst of adversity and a run was amazing.”
The Panthers, who led 16-9 after one quarter, took a 30-28 lead into halftime. The Patriots refused to go away, and it was still a two-point game after three quarters. The Panthers closed it out with a 21-point fourth quarter.
In addition to scoring 16 points, Dearry also had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Justin Savage finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. Elias Walker had six points, including a 4-for-4 effort at the foul line, to go along with three steals, five rebounds and three assists. Brandon Bush had five assists and five rebounds and four points. Nasir Edens contributed two blocks, four rebounds and three assists.
When it was over, there was plenty of praise to go around.
“Brandon Bush again was a monster defensively along with Nasir Edens,” Fleury said. “Kamani Healey and Kevin Addison-Anderson came in – Kevin is a monster on defense, and Kamani gave us a big three in the midst of their run where he responded. It just put our team on an even keel, and that was very, very good for us.
“Justin Savage again defensively was all around, and he was very solid in a lot of aspects. Sheem (Dearry) was very, very efficient tonight along with Josiah (Hutson). Elias (Walker) found his teammates well, and Nasir Edens, defensively – we always say he’s our best perimeter guy, and he’s just very, very savvy. Our guys on the bench, even those that didn’t get in, just provided a lot of energy and wisdom tonight. We just live by the credo that every night it’s going to be somebody different most likely. Them buying into that in the midst of the wins and finding joy no matter who is ‘completing’ the play for the basket – we recognize all the guys who do all small things that add up to a lot of good plays for our team.”
Liam Cummiskey’s 14-point effort led a balanced Patriot attack. Brett Young added 10 points while Tyriq Toney-Bailey, Jacob Cummiskey and Ryan Lenahan each had eight points.
Cheltenham (24-0, 16-0 SOL) will host Bensalem in Tuesday’s SOL Tournament final. The Panthers will be playing their seventh game in nine days.
“Ron (Morris) – just in my time as head coach, we’ve kind of befriended one another,” Fleury said of the Bensalem head coach. “I believe he’s from Bensalem, so he has a very similar story and passion for Bensalem that I do for Cheltenham.
“We text once in a while, and I’m definitely elated for him. They’re a very good team. Everyone is trying to solidify a culture in the Suburban One. It’s good we get to go at it again. I know his guys will be prepared.”
Central Bucks East (16-8, 11-5) will host 19th ranked Perkiomen Valley in Friday’s opening round of the District One 6A Tournament. The Patriots are the 14th seed.
Central Bucks East 9-19-11-15 54
Cheltenham 16-14-11-21 62
Central Bucks East (54) – Tyriq Toney-Bailey 8, Jacob Cummiskey 8, Liam Cummiskey 14, Brett Young 10, Aidan Weaver 4, Ryan Lenahan 8, Joey Giordano 2.
Cheltenham (62) – Rasheem Dearry 16, Josiah Hutson 21, Elias Walker 6, Kamani Healey 3, Brandon Bush 4, Justin Savage 12.
#2 Bensalem 62, #3 Upper Dublin 54
Aaron Sanders scored 19 points and Allen Myers added 17 to lead the Owls to a win over the Flying Cardinals that earned the team a spot in the SOL Tournament final against Cheltenham.
“We get to see another new opponent,” Bensalem coach Ron Morris said. “I told the kids – ‘This is a fun time of year. It’s like the NCAA Tournament. You get to play the next day, you don’t have much preparation, but you go out and play Bensalem basketball and give yourselves a chance.’”
The Owls took a 30-20 lead into halftime only to watch the Flying Cardinals – behind the hot hand of Colin O’Sullivan – battle back.
“The third quarter they cut into that lead, and we were up five,” Morris said. “We got it up to 12 in the fourth, and they hit some big shots and got some offensive rebounds. They wouldn’t go away. They’re a good team. They’re in the SOL semis for a reason, and they showed that.”
Myers scored seven of his points in the pivotal fourth quarter when the Owls put the game out of reach.
“Allen just continues to get better and better,” Morris said. “He had 11 rebounds to go with his 17 points. He had three blocks. His presence alone in the middle is a game changer, and it just makes our team so much better.”
Also for the Owls, Eric Gonzalez had nine points, and Jeremy Rodriguez had eight.
“We shot the ball really well from the foul line in the fourth quarter,” Morris said. “We were 5-for-5. Allen (Myers) was 3-for-3, which was great to see because a few games ago he was struggling. It looks like he’s got his touch from the foul line back after being out a week.
“Aaron (Sanders) continues to do what Aaron does. He’ll get buckets when we need them. I have to give him and Jeremy (Rodriguez) credit and even Antonio (Morris) at the end – they held DJ Cerisier to single digit points. We knew he was the engine of the team, and we were able to stay in front of him and not let him get in the paint as much as he’d like. We also knew (Colin) O’Sullivan is a super athlete – he’s a two-sport player and a really good quarterback. He can shoot the ball.
“Eric Gonzalez controlled the floor in the fourth quarter. He had a big three, and he was 2-for-2 from the line. Jack Wineburg had two big 3s in the second quarter which gave us the big lead. His shot looked really nice. Antonio (Morris) played defense. We were able to get Jake DeLange going again after coming back from his injuries. It was nice to see Tra (Edwards) hit a three. He’s a really good shooter. When he’s able to hit that shot, it makes us that much more dangerous. It was a true team effort, and now that we’re getting all our guys back, we have some more depth and are ready to make a run.”
O’Sullivan’s 14 points led the Cardinals while Griffin Pensabene added 10. Chris Kohlbrenner and Ryan Mulroy both contributed eight points. DJ Cerisier had six points.
Bensalem (19-5, 13-3 SOL) will travel to Cheltenham for Tuesday’s SOL Tournament title game. Upper Dublin (17-7, 12-4), the ninth seed in the District One 6A Tournament, will host #24 Garnet Valley in Friday’s opening round.
Upper Dublin 9-11-18-16 54
Bensalem 14-16-13-19 62
Upper Dublin (54) – DJ Cerisier 3 0-0 6; Chris Kohlbrenner 4 0-0 8; Colin O’Sullivan 5 1-8 14; Ryan Mulroy 3 0-0 8; Griffin Pensabene 4 2-3 10; Ellis Johnson 2 0-0 4; Seaton Kukla 2 0-0 4. TOTALS 23 3-11 54.
Bensalem (62) – Jeremy Rodriguez 3 2-2 8; Tra Edwards 1 0-0 3; Allen Myers 6 5-6 17; Eric Gonzalez 3 2-2 9; Aaron Sanders 7 3-4 19; Jack Wineburg 2 0-0 6; Jake DeLange 0 0-2 0. TOTALS 22 12-17 62.
3 point goals – UD – Colin O’Sullivan 3, Ryan Mulroy 2. Bensalem – Tra Edwards, Eric Gonzalez, Aaron Sanders 2, Jack Wineburg 2.
Non-league
Central Bucks West 50, William Tennent 42
Adam Sherman would have happily traded his team’s season-ending win for a spot in the District One 6a Tournament even though the Bucks – like most of their counterparts in districts – would have seen their season end on a loss.
“Honestly, I would have rather ended on a loss because that means I was in the district playoffs, which is where I want to be,” West coach Adam Sherman said. “We were able to play all our seniors again, giving them another opportunity to play, which was nice to see.
“We had a rough season – I don’t know how many, but I think we lost six or more games by three points or less, and I’d say five of them were one-possession games that ended up being more because we had to foul, but they were one-possession games, and they were winnable. For us, in the big picture – the kids developed some really good relationships. We saw guys grow as players and as of people, which is what it’s really all about.”
The Bucks, who were on the short end of a 22-18 score at halftime, found themselves trailing by seven in the third quarter but rallied to take a 33-31 lead into the final quarter when they outscored the Panthers 17-11 to notch the win.
“We made a strong run at the end of the third quarter,” Sherman said. “We had some really nice play from Kyle Kubit. Kyle hit three 3s and he defended really well. He stood out. Bowen Gugger and Michael Fountain gave us good time in the front court and got some big rebounds. John Lee hit a couple of big shots as well.
“They stuck together, they got stops, and they played defense when they needed to. They’ve done this in the last two games. It’s almost like we’re just hitting our stride now, as crazy as it sounds.”
There was no denying there were setbacks along the way this season.
“We hit a COVID stretch in the middle of the season, and we’ve had a couple of kids with injuries, which has kind of set us back,” Sherman said. “We have one kid who’s got a back fracture, another kid that’s got shin splints, and COVID is mixed in there. It was not a normal season.”
John Lee’s 16 points – which included four 3-pointers – led the Bucks. Kubit had 11 points with three 3s. Donte Mancini also finished in double figures with 11 points.
For the Panthers, Kirby Mooney’s 23 points led the way. Jeremy Henry added seven points.
Central Bucks West closed out its season with a 6-16 record (4-12 SOL).
William Tennent 14-8-9-11 42
Central Bucks West 14-4-15-17 50
William Tennent (42) – Kirby Mooney 23, Jeremy Henry 7, George Marion 3, Timmy Stanfield 4, Conner Fithian 3, Daniel Scheller.
Central Bucks West (50) – Kyle Kubit 11, Donte Mancini 11, John Lee 16, Matt Engle 2, Bowen Gugger 8, Michael Fountain 2.
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