Scott Huff recaps Friday night's SOL openers.
By Scott Huff
“It ain’t over till it’s over” – Yogi Berra
Cheltenham (4-0, 1-0) trailed Upper Dublin (2-2, 0-1) by eight points with less than a minute to play,but the Panthers used suffocating full court pressure to generate a 60-59 victory over the Flying Cardinals. It was the Suburban One League American Conference for both teams.
“To be very honest, it was a weird game with no real flow,” said Cheltenham head coach Brian Johnson. “We tried to speed the game up in the second half, and as a result we were able to force them into some turnovers and tough shots. Down the stretch we were able to do some things that we hadn’t done too well for most of the game. We were able to make some free throws and hit some clutch three pointers.”
Cheltenham scored just two points in the entire second period – but scored 28 points in the frantic fourth period comeback.
“Jarrell Haywood hit a big three under a minute,” said Johnson. “And we were able to create a lot of pressure by changing defenses. We were faced with some adversity, and I was proud of how the players came back and performed under that adversity.”
Nafis Walker scored a game-high 21 points for the Panthers, while Toyon Wynder scored in twin digits for the winners with 11 points. Upper Dublin was led in scoring by John DeCamara with a team-high 20 points, while Tyreek Magruder (14) and Andrew Carber (10) also scored in double figures.
“We get to play Abington (Saturday), and that is always a huge game for the school,” said Johnson as the Panthers meet the unbeaten (3-0, 1-0) Ghosts. “The players always get excited when we get to compete against them.”
Cheltenham Panthers 12 2 18 28 - 60
Upper Dublin Cardinals 12 14 16 17 - 59
Wissahickon (3-1, 1-0) snapped a 35-game SOL American Conference win streak by Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-2, 0-1)as the Trojans collected a 52-41 victory in the SOL American opener for both teams.
“There was a lot of tension in the building with the streak about to be broken,” said Wissahickon head coach Kyle Wilson. “Plus our guard from last year (Anthony McKie) was in their uniform, and it seemed like the crowd was really up for the game on both sides.
“Jordan (Reed) was in foul trouble in the first half, and we were a little out of sync without him on the floor,” added Wilson of his high-scoring senior who has averaged over 30 points this season. “But we were able to play good defense in the first half and that kept us in the game.”
Wissahickon led 15-14 at the close of the first half but went on a 20-9 run in the third period to extend the lead. Jordan would shake off his foul problems to score a game-high 21 points, while Kyle Garrett added 13 points for the Trojans. McKie would finish as the leading scorer for the Colonials with 11 points.
“We are off to a good start this season, but we will be at practice at 8 o’clock (Saturday) to get ready for our next game,” said Wilson. “We can’t have any let downs. We have to remain focused.”
Wissahickon Trojans 11 4 20 17 - 52
Plymouth Whitemarsh 10 4 9 18 - 41
Norristown (2-1, 1-0) bolted to a 23-point first half leadand won its SOL American Conference opener with a 64-26 victory over Upper Merion (0-2, 0-1).
The Eagles had 10 players score in the contest and were led in scoring by Bernard Gordon with a game-high 14 points. The only other twin digit scorer for Norristown was Marquis Bryant with 12 points. Upper Merion was led in scoring by Justin Lewis with a team-high 11 points, while Trent Carroll also scored in double figures with 10 points.
Upper Merion Vikings 6 6 8 6 - 26
Norristown Eagles 21 14 14 15 - 64
Upper Moreland (3-1) won a non-conference gameas the Golden Bears snatched a 48-38 victory over Lansdale Catholic (1-3).
Upper Moreland had three players score in double figures in the win. Matt Kohn scored a game-high 18 points for the Bears, while Kevin McFall (14) ad Nick Corbett (10) also scored in double digits for the winners.
Lansdale Catholic 8 8 14 8 - 38
Upper Moreland Bears 13 12 7 16 - 48
CB West Bucks gore Big Red
Central Bucks West (3-1, 1-0) notched a key SOL Continental Conference victorywith a 56-49 win over the Big Red of Souderton (2-2, 0-1).
“The kids were really excited to beat a team that has the weapons that Souderton has,” said Central Bucks West head coach Adam Sherman. “(Souderton senior) Mark Wonderling hit four three-pointers, and I swear that two of them came from half court. It was a game of runs with ours coming in the first and third quarters and Souderton’s in the second and fourth.
“It was a very good basketball game,” added Sherman. “I thought that Tyler Schechter (21 points and 14 rebounds) and Jared Kelly (nine points and no turnovers) played great games for us.”
Wonderling scored a team-high 20 points to pace the Big Red, while point guard Luke Moyer added 11 points for Souderton.
“It was a great way to start our conference schedule,” said Sherman. “Souderton is a very good basketball team.”
Souderton Big Red 3 20 5 21 - 49
CB West Bucks 12 11 16 17 - 56
Central Bucks South (2-2, 1-0) handed Pennridge (3-1, 0-1) its first loss of the seasonas the Titans gunned down the Rams – 64-56. It was the SOL Continental opener for both teams.
South was led by Chase Vonder Schmalz who nailed four treys and finished with a game-high 17 points. Dave Knox also scored in twin digits for the Titans with 12 points. Pennridge was led in scoring by Zach Muredda with 14 points, while Tim Abruzzo and Shane Schmidt each scored 11 points for the Rams.
Pennridge Rams 11 16 9 20 - 56
CB South Titans 20 12 15 17 - 64
Central Bucks East (1-1, 1-0) won its first game of the seasonas the Patriots held off winless North Penn (0-2, 0-1) – 49-48. It was the conference opener for both teams.
The Patriots were led in scoring by Ryan O’Neil with 18 points, while Steve Topley chipped in with 17 points for East. Wes Brooks led North Penn with 18 points, while Javi Alvarino finished in twin digits with 12 points.
North Penn Knights 14 12 9 13 - 48
CB East Patriots 18 9 11 11 - 49
Hatboro-Horsham (1-2, 1-0) won its first game of the seasonas the Hatters captured a 65-55 victory over visiting Quakertown (1-3, 0-1). It was the SOL Continental Conference opener for both teams.
Mike Brown scored a game-high 25 points for the Hatters, while Brian Kelly (20) and Zach Quattro (11) each scored in double figures for the winners. Corey Jorgensen scored a team-high 18 points for Quakertown, while Mike Ciccarone scored in twin digits for the Black Cats with 12 points.
Quakertown Panthers 8 9 14 24 - 55
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 16 14 16 19 - 65
CR South Getting Stronger Every Day
Council Rock South (3-1, 1-0) has welcomed back its football players to its hoop rosteras the Golden Hawks soared to a 57-52 SOL National Conference victory over Truman (1-3, 0-1).
“We have had only three practices as a full team,” said Council Rock head coach John Easterly. “We were off to a little rough start with the football players just coming back, but we have come up with three quality wins counting this one. The game went back and forth, but we hit some clutch shots and made some stops down the stretch.”
Sophomore point guard Will Facenda led the Hawks in scoring with 16 points, while Christian Crane added 14 points for the winners. PJ Gallo collected 10 rebounds for Rock South. Truman was led in scoring by Merdic Green with a game-high 17 points. Daiquan Ashley and Tyrice Harris each scored 10 points for the Tigers.
“Facenda put together a great game for us at the point,” said Easterly. “Truman has a very athletic team that plays well in transition, and I thought we did a pretty good job of defending them. It was a nice win.”
Truman Tigers 12 10 14 16 - 52
CR South Golden Hawks 14 10 13 20 - 57
Bensalem (1-2, 1-0) won its first game of the seasonas the Owls edged Pennsbury (1-2, 0-1) in a thriller – 53-51. It was the conference opener for both teams.
Julian Hyden – who scored the game-winning basket with 25 seconds left in the game – scored a game high 23 points for Bensalem. Leo Vincent added 16 points for the Owls. Ryan Charity scored a team-high 15 points for Pennsbury, while Jerrell Burke and Kieran Bolger each scored 11 points for the Falcons.
Pennsbury Falcons 17 6 9 19 - 51
Bensalem Owls 14 14 14 11 - 53
Council Rock North (1-1, 1-0) won its first game of the seasonas the Indians caged the Panthers of William Tennent (1-2, 0-1) – 58-40. It was the conference opener for both teams.
Aaron Morgan scored a game-high 20 points to pace Rock North, while Arron Goodman added 16 points. The best of the Tennent scorers were Mike Wasserleden (nine points), Jack Rauchut (eight points) and Horace Spencer (seven points). Rock North held a commanding 21-point lead at intermission.
William Tennent Panthers 7 6 12 15 - 40
CR North Indians 20 14 8 16 - 58
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