Bucks County Courier Times sportswriter Kevin Cooney and former Pennsbury coach Frank Sciolla share their interesting insights about the district playoffs. Click on the following link to view the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2-7ga1j86g&feature=player_embedded .
By Scott HuffThere is the ‘Villanova University’ Final Four, and then there is the ‘Bus Ride’ Final Four, and then there is the ‘Survivor’ Final Four.
And all three of those final fours will take place Tuesday in a PIAA Quad-A District One gymnasium near you – or at Villanova University.
The ‘VU’ Final Four is the District One semifinal battles – winners go to the Friday championship final. That title has been vacated by Penn Wood which has been eliminated from the ‘VU’ final four – more on that later. The losing teams meet to determine the district’s # 3 and # 4 seeds.
The Suburban One League is well represented in the district semifinals as #3 seed Plymouth Whitemarsh will meet # 2 seed Council Rock North with a 6 pm tip off. # 1 Chester will battle # 5 Neshaminy in the late game at the Pavilion.
The ‘Bus Ride’ final four is a bracket that will determine the numbers five through eight seeds in the district. The lower the seed – the longer the bus ride. Some real big time motivation there.
The Suburban One League has a pair of teams in that bracket. # 7 Norristown will travel to # 6 West Chester Rustin to play the Golden Knights. The winner plays in the five-six game – the loser plays in the seven-eight game. # 9 Bensalem will play for the same ‘prize’ as the Owls host # 13 Lower Merion.
And then we have the ‘Survivor’ final four bracket. Only the winner of that bracket will earn a state berth – and the # 9 seed at that.
The Suburban One League has a pair of teams in that bracket. # 8 North Penn will be on the road at # 4 Upper Darby. The loser’s season is over while the winner moves on to play again. #15 Wissahickon will also be the road warriors as the Trojans play # 11 Penn Wood – that Penn Wood – defending District One champion. The loser of the Wissy-PW game also goes home while the winner meets the winner of the North Penn-Upper Darby game for the final state slot.
Got it? Sure you do.
PIAA Quad-A District One Semifinal Games
@ The Pavilion – Villanova University
#2 Council Rock North Indians (24-1) vs. # 3 Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (21-4)
6 pm
Road To The Final Four:
Council Rock North opened the district playoffs with a 43-28 victory over # 31 Great Valley and followed that with a 50-44 win over # 15 Wissahickon. The Indians were pressed to the limit before beating # 7 Norristown 56-55 in double overtime. Aaron Morgan was spectacular in the Norristown win with 27 points including a three-point field goal with three seconds left in the game to send the game into the first overtime. Charlie Anastasi scored in double figures for the Indians with 11 points.Plymouth Whitemarsh opened the district playoffs with a 78-42 rout of # 30 Interboro and followed that with a 50-27 clubbing of # 14 Pennridge. Plymouth Whitemarsh was impressive in its 63-47 victory over # 6 West Chester Rustin. In the win over the Golden Knights, Sam Pygatt scored a game-high 26 points for the Colonials. Jaylen Bond had a double/double with 14 points and a dozen rebounds. Bond also has seven steals. Marcus Badger had eight assists for PW.
Players To Watch:
Council Rock North: Aaron Morgan, Arron Goodman, Charlie Anastasi, John Raymon and Hunter Stevens.
Plymouth Whitemarsh: Jaylen Bond, Sam Pygatt, Stephon Baker, Marcus Badger, Brandon Johnson.
Council Rock head coach Derek Wright says: “It is going to be a special night – playing at ‘Nova means a lot to the guys. Any time you can reach the Final Four of district playoffs – it is a big deal. We scrimmaged Plymouth Whitemarsh at the beginning of the season, and we know what they are about.”Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Jim Donofrio says: “Council Rock North is a very interesting team. Aaron Morgan is a very talented guy and he can put you in very bad positions. This is a team that really put me to work this week to get ready for them. Council Rock is a very intelligent team that can either play an up tempo game or a half-court game.”
Prediction: Council Rock North has struggled somewhat in the last few games, but the talented Indians have been able to overcome those struggles to win important games. The Indians had a loss in starting guard Matt McCloskey who is out for the remainder of the season. Plymouth Whitmarsh is the defending state champion and Jaylen Bond, Sam Pygatt, and Stephon Baker know what it is like to play on the big stage. Plymouth Whitemarsh 60 – Council Rock North 57.
# 1 Chester Clippers (24-1) vs. # 5 Neshaminy Redskins (20-4)
7:30 pm
Road To The Final Four:
Chester opened its district playoff run with a 70-36 destruction of # 32 Perkiomen Valley and followed with a 72-48 thrashing of # 17 Springfield Delco. The Clippers advanced to the district Final Four with another easy win – 67-39 over # 9 Bensalem. Maurice Nelson hit five treys – distributed 13 assists – and scored a game-high 23 points for Chester.Neshaminy opened its district playoff run with a 55-43 win over # 28 Central Bucks East and followed with an impressive 60-36 victory over # 12 Glen Mills. The Skins advanced to Nova with a 64-61 victory over # 13 Lower Merion. Ryan Arcidiacono lit it up with a dazzling 33-point scoring performance, while Dwight Williams scored in double digits for the Redskins with 13 points. Arcidiacono had four treys and was 17 of 20 from the free throw line.
Players To Watch
Chester: Maurice Nelson, Lamon Church, DeQuann Walker, Rondae Jefferson, Erikk Wright, and Darius Robinson.
Neshaminy: Ryan Arcidiacono, Michael McGarry, Dwight Williams, Tyler Katz, Bobby Marterella.
Neshaminy head coach Jerry Devine says: “There is little doubt that we will go into the game as the underdog, and sometimes that makes you play the game a little looser because there isn’t a lot of pressure on you. If we beat Chester, great, but if we don’t it will really help us prepare for the state playoffs.Prediction: Chester has always been one of those elite programs that has decades of success in its history. Maurice Nelson – brother of Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson – has been terrific in the playoffs through the first three rounds. Ryan Arcidiacono – who came out of a modest scoring slump with a 33-point effort against Lower Merion – is as blue as blue-chip can be. The Skins are a very, very good high school basketball team. Chester 72 – Neshaminy 68.
PIAA District One Playback Games
“Bus Ride” Final Four
# 7 Norristown Eagles (20-4) @ # 6 West Chester Rustin Golden Knights (20-4)
7 pm
Playoff Road:
Norristown opened its district playoff run with a 47-41 win over # 26 Ridley and followed with a 67-62 victory over # 10 Coatesville. The Eagles were clipped in their last game by host # 2 Council Rock North 56-55 in double overtime. Tyreese led Norristown with 14 points while Rasheed Johnson scored in double figures with 11 points. Jahquan Hargrove added 10 points for the Eagles.
West Chester Rustin opened its playoff run with a 48-29 win over # 27 Penncrest and followed with a 59-51 win over defending district champ # 11 Penn Wood. The Golden Knights were knocked out of contention for a district title with a 63-47 loss to Plymouth Whitemarsh. Zach Butcher scored 17 points for the Knights, while Corey Blake added 13 points for WCR.
Players To Watch:
Norristown: Rasheed Johnson, Maleek Williams, Aaron Webb, Tyreese White, and Jahquan Hargrove.
West Chester Rustin: Zach Butcher, Corey Blake, Anthony Nash, Ethan Ridgeway, and Dan Myers.
Norristown head coach Michael Evans says: “West Chester Rustin has decent size in Corey Blake (6-4) and Anthony Nash (6-5). The entire team is also very athletic. We had a tough loss against Council Rock North, but the players actually have been very motivated in practice to do well in the Rustin game.”
Prediction: Norristown and West Chester Rustin were supposed to play – at Rustin – earlier in the season. But snow cancelled the game, which was never made up – until now. Norristown proved it could play with anyone in its loss to # 2 Council Rock North, while WC Rustin proved it could play with anyone in its win over Penn Wood. Norristown 65 – West Chester Rustin 63.
# 13 Lower Merion (17-8) @ # 9 Bensalem (19-6)
7 pm
Playoff Road:
Lower Merion opened its playoff run with a 63-57 win over # 20 Methacton and followed with a 73-66 victory over # 4 Upper Darby. Neshaminy defeated the Aces by a 64-61 score in the district quarterfinals. Eric Green led Lower Merion with 14 points, while Mike Robbins scored 13 points for the Aces.
Bensalem opened its district run with a 53-37 win over # 24 Strath Haven and followed with a 36-33 victory over # 8 North Penn. The Owls were clipped by # 1 Chester – 67-39. Leo Vincent led Bensalem in scoring with 15 points against the Clippers.
Players To Watch:
Lower Merion: Eric Green, Mike Robbins, Raheem Hall, Darius Hall, and DJ Johnson.
Bensalem: Calvin Brown, Leo Vincent, Chris McMullin, Dovonte Newkirk, and Alex Agyedu.
Prediction: Lower Merion upset # 4 Upper Darby to punch its ticket to the state playoff. The Aces, however, could not stop Neshaminy scoring machine Ryan Arcidiacono who torched Lower Merion for 33 points in a 64-61 Redksin win. Bensalem looked strong in its first two rounds of playoff games, but the Owls did not fare well against Chester in a 28-point loss. Calvin Brown could be the key to a Bensalem win over the Aces. Bensalem 48 – Lower Merion 45.
PIAA District One Playoffs
“Survivor” Final Four
# 8 North Penn (20-5) @ # 4 Upper Darby (23-2)
7 pm
Playoff Road:
North Penn opened its district run with a 49-38 victory over # 25 Upper Dublin and followed with a 36-33 loss to # 9 Bensalem. The Knights remained in the hunt for the # 9 state playoff berth with a 60-41 win over # 17 Springfield Delco. Wes Brooks led North Penn with 16 points while Matt Possanza added eight points for the winners.
Upper Darby opened its district playoff run with a 71-37 demolition of # 29 Kennett and followed with a 73-66 loss to Lower Merion. The Royals remained in the hunt for the # 9 state playoff berth with a 52-34 win over # 12 Glen Mills. Brandon Hashim scored a game-high 21 points for Upper Darby, while Terrence Bridges added 12 points for the Royals.
North Penn head coach Ron Hassler says: “They’re obviously a very good basketball team. They have pretty a well-rounded game. They have some good perimeter players, they have a pretty strong inside guy, and our main concern is just keeping them off the boards and also just matching their shooters and knowing where they are at all times. The other thing is defensive pressure – we have to look out for that and make sure we get into our offenses.”
Players To Watch:
North Penn: Matt Possanza, Wes Brooks, Sean Brooks, Janeus Somers, and Javi Alvarino.
Upper Darby: Brandon Hashim, Terrence Bridges, Daron Harris, Kevin Everet, and Yusef Ross.
Prediction: North Penn played one of its better basketball games in the playoffs in gaining the win of the season in a victory over Springfield Delco. The Knights led the Cougars 13-0 at the close of the first period. Upper Darby is the highest seed to be beaten – by # 13 Lower Merion. The Royals, though, can be very good – even if some say they are over rated. Upper Darby 47 – North Penn 43.
# 15 Wissahickon (15-8) @ # 11 Penn Wood (17-8)
7 pm
Playoff Road:
Wissahickon opened its district playoff run with a 47-43 win over # 18 Spring Ford and followed with a 50-44 loss to # 2 Council Rock North. The Trojans remained in the hunt for the # 9 state playoff berth with a 77-61 victory over # 10 Coatesville. Jordan Reed was beyond spectacular in that win with a game-high 35 points. Tanoh Kpassagnon added 10 points for the Trojans.
Penn Wood opened its district playoff run with a 90-65 rout of # 22 Conestoga and followed with a stunning 59-51 loss to # 6 West Chester Rustin. The Patriots remained in the hunt for the # 9 state playoff berth with a 56-32 win over # 14 Pennridge. Darian Barnes scored a game high 18 points in the win over the Rams, while Aaron Brown added 10 points for the Patriots.
Wissahickon coach Kyle Wilson says: “There are 12 teams left right now, and there are four of us in our bracket for a reason. We have all our strengths. Penn Wood has eight or so losses for a reason just like we do. We’re not going in intimidated. We respect them and know what they’re capable of, but we have to go in there and focus on the things we can do. They’re so big, and you have to try and limit what they do under the basket. We want to work from the inside out to make sure we’re contesting shots. We can’t let them kill us on the boards and in the paint.”
Players To Watch:
Wissahickon: Jordan Reed, Anthony McKie, Tanoh Kpassagnon, and Mike Scheier.
Penn Wood: Darian Barnes, Aaron Brown, Shawn Oakman, Akil Anderson, and Malcom Richardson.
Prediction: Wissahickon was extremely impressive in its win over Coatesville – and Jordan Reed was Prime-Time with a dazzling 35-point performance. Penn Wood – the defending District One champion – still has its hopes set on a playoff slot. A very tough draw for the Trojans. Penn Wood 73 – Wissahickon 62
- Log in to post comments
0
