Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ basketball teams in action Thursday. Wissahickon/Springfield photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko, and Neshaminy/CR South photos courtesy of Jon Sklut. Check back for a photo gallery of both games.
SOL American Conference
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 71, QUAKERTOWN 25
The Colonials closed out a perfect regular season with a convincing road win. PW led 22-7 after one quarter and took a commanding 36-14 lead into halftime. They outscored the Panthers 30-11 in the second half.
Ish Horn led a balanced PW attack with 16 points, which included a pair of threes. Naheem McLeod added 14. The duo combined for 22 first-half points to lead the Colonials. Ahmad Williams also finished in double figures with 12 points. Alan Glover scored seven points, and Ahmin Williams chipped in six.
For the Panthers, Eli Ortiz led the way with 13 points.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (22-0, 14-0 SOL) – the number one seed in District One 6A – will be in action on Saturday in the SOL Tournament at Bensalem. Quakertown (4-10 SOL) closed out its season with a 6-16 record.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 22-14-19-11 71
Quakertown 7-7-7-4 25
Plymouth Whitemarsh (71) – Ish Horn 16, Dan Farrer 2, Naheem McLeod 14, Danny Cooper 2, Kyree Pendleton 3, Ahmin Williams 6, Brendan Sullivan 5, Ahmad Williams 12, Danny Green 3, Alan Glover 7, Jordan Evans 1.
Quakertown (25) – Jon Rey 2, Eli Ortiz 13, Matt Lucas 3, Grey Mitchell 5, Matt Tuley 2.
WISSSAHICKON 76, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 32
Alec Catterton had a big night in the Trojans’ Senior Night win, scoring a game-high 22 points. He shot an efficient 8-for-11 from the field and was 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Max Rapoport added 20 points and was 7-for-11 from the floor and 4-of-7 from 3-point land. Anthony Lawrence also finished the game in double figures with 12 points on a 5-for-7 effort from the floor. Zach Reiner had nine points and eight assists. He also led the Trojans under the boards with 12 rebounds. Carmen Ostroski had seven rebounds.
The Trojans, who connected on 28-of-53 shots, took a commanding 27-5 lead after one quarter and never looked back. For the game, they scored 36 points in the paint and held a 35-20 rebounding advantage.
Ben Rittenhouse’s 10 points led the Spartans. Jordan Pauls and Ryan Deal each had six points.
Wissahickon (11-3 SOL) closed out the regular season with a 16-6 record. The Trojans are the third seed in the latest District One 5A power rankings. Springfield (3-16, 1-13) will close out its regular season on Saturday with a home game against The Christian Academy. The Spartans are the 11th seed in the latest Class 4A power rankings.
Springfield Township (32) – Wilson Krewson 5, Jordan Pauls 6, DeJaun Waters 2, Ben Rittenhouse 10, James Joseph 2, G.Bea 2, Ryan Deal 6.
Wissahickon (76) – Alec Catterton 22, Max Rapoport 20, Anthony Lawrence 12, Zach Reiner 9, Eddie Fortescue 5, Ethan Saffier 3, Cole Hirsch 3, Donovan Oliphant 2.
SOL Continental Conference
PENNRIDGE 57, NORTH PENN 43
John Post was a one-man wrecking crew in the first half of Thursday’s regular season finale, scoring 18 of his game-high 25 points by halftime and propelling the visiting Rams to a 31-19 halftime lead. The two teams exchanged baskets in the second half as the Rams notched a win that ensured them a berth as the “wild card” team in this weekend’s SOL Tournament.
“Any time you get to play an extra game, it’s good news,” coach Dean Behrens said. “We’re going to be there, we’re going to do the best we can, we’re going to play hard, and that’s the way it’s going to be.
“I’m not sure I thought we were going to be 17-5 this year. Obviously, we’re disappointed by the way we played CB West (in a pair of losses) this year. We didn’t win the division and they did – congratulations to them. They deserved it, but 17-5 is a heck of a record.”
Making the record even more impressive is the fact that the Rams were 13-2 after a 4-3 start that saw them lose three straight to Neshaminy, Central Bucks South and Conestoga.
In Saturday’s opening round game at Bensalem, the Rams will face SOL American Conference champion Plymouth Whitemarsh. The Colonials are 22-0 and ranked number one in the state.
“One thing we have – we played a tough schedule,” Behrens said. “I told the guys on the bus when we were coming home from Reading (a 55-50 win on Feb. 3) that we were going to play Reading and PW in eight days. Not many teams have done that.
“It’s a great atmosphere. I’m excited to coach at Bensalem – I haven’t been there yet. Since we have a bye (in the District One 6A Tournament), we won’t play again for 10 days, so it’s good for us to play.”
In addition to Post, the Rams received 13 points – which included three 3-pointers – from Jake Pestrack. Point guard Luke Yoder added 10 points and Mike Molettiere had six.
For the Knights, Chris Coleman had 11 points. Three players – Joey Lindsay, AJ Catanzaro and David Robinson – had eight each, and AJ Mitchell chipped in with six.
Pennridge (9-3 SOL) closed out the regular season with a 17-5 record. The Rams are currently the number six seed in the District One 6A power rankings.
“The fact that we’re sixth – I feel as though that’s pretty good, so we’re proud of that.” Behrens said. “It’s something no one can take away from them. They earned it. No one gave them the wins.
“I felt as though sweeping CB East, North Penn and Souderton was big. Obviously, beating Reading at Reading was a huge win. I feel like our schedule was a tough schedule. It’s a credit to the kids. Players win games. They went out and performed.”
North Penn (6-6 SOL) closed out its regular season with a 12-10 record. As of Thursday night, the Knights were the 20th seed in the latest power rankings.
Pennridge 13-18-14-12 57
North Penn 8-11-14-10 43
Pennridge (57) – Sean Yoder 10, Jake Pestrak 13, Mike Molettiere 6, Jon Post 26, Tyrese Lewis 2.
North Penn (43) – Tali McIver 1, AJ Mitchell 6, Joey Lindsay 8, A Catanzaro 8, David Robinson 8, Chris Coleman 11, Swanson 1.
SOL National Conference
PENNSBURY 55, HARRY S TRUMAN 32
The Falcons opened up a 19-8 lead after one quarter, and although they managed just five points in the second quarter, the Tigers trimmed just three points off their lead by halftime (24-16). The Falcons controlled play in the second half, outscoring the Tigers 31-16.
Gary Francis led the Falcons with 16 points. He also had three steals. Collin Connor added 14 points, and Chad Weldon had nine points to go along with seven rebounds. Josh Arruda led the Falcons under the boards with nine rebounds.
Jeff Nixon’s nine points led the Tigers, who also received six points from both Kashun Holden and Cam Culver.
Pennsbury (8-4 SOL) closed out its regular season with a 13-9 record. The Falcons are the 18th seed in the latest District One 6A power rankings. Harry S Truman (7-14, 2-9 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South for its season finale on Friday.
Pennsbury 19-5-19-12 55
Harry S Truman 8-8-8-8 32
Pennsbury (55) – Jake Marell 4, Colin Connor 14, Raylil Winton 3, Josh Arruda 5, Chad Weldon 9, Kyrie Miller 4, Gary Francis 16.
Harry S Truman (32) – Jeff Nixon 9, Carter Kelley 2, Kashun Holden 6, Javeer Peterson 1, Cam Culver 6, Steven Zielinski 2, Treszon Chapman 2, Gabe Gipli 2, Brandon Coaxum 2.
NESHAMINY 57, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 34
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