Plymouth Whitemarsh/Wilson photos courtesy of Larry Small and Greg Lindsay. Check back for a gallery of photos.
PIAA 6A opening round
#3-5 WILSON 56, #1-2 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 51 (OT)
Heartbreaking effectively describes the final two games of the 2025 season for the Colonials, who saw their season end in an overtime loss to Wilson eight days after falling in OT to Conestoga in the District 1 6A title game. Saturday's game was played in front of a packed house and kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.
The Colonials – despite seven straight points to open the game from Mani Sajid – trailed by five at the end of one quarter, and they found themselves in a nine-point hole (24-15) three minutes into the second quarter.
But they rallied.
A 3-pointer from sophomore Buddy Denard was followed by five straight points from Terron Davis to make it a 24-23 game, but the Bulldogs came back to take a 31-27 lead into halftime.
The Bulldogs opened up a 33-27 lead early in the third quarter, but three straight putbacks after offensive rebounds and a dunk off the set offense by Michael Pereira highlighted a 12-2 run that put the Colonials on
top 39-35 and also included baskets by Caleb Bridgeman and Jack Hayes.
The Colonials led 41-36 after Mani Sajid buried a pair of foul shots, but the Bulldogs came roaring back to go on top 45-41 with 3:37 remaining, prompting PW coach Jim Donofrio to call a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Sajid went on a dazzling 8-0 individual run that began with a mid-range jumper and was capped with a pair of foul shots that put the Colonials on top 49-45 with 1:55 remaining.
“We wanted to double him,” Wilson coach Matt Coldren said. “In that one stretch, I don’t know what happened. We got a little tight and didn’t double him hard, and he was able to go down the lane, and it gave them the lead.
“It was just breakdowns. It’s kids – they make mistakes, but we did enough to correct it. I thought as a whole throughout the game – we frustrated him, which is what we wanted to do.”
The Colonials did not score the rest of the way, opening the door for a Wilson comeback that was capped when Madyx Gruber found Luke Levan for a bucket in close that knotted the score with 2.6 seconds, setting the stage for overtime.
Wilson led 50-49 after Gruber sank 1 of 2 from the foul line with 1:48 remaining. The Bulldogs went on to open up a 54-49 lead after a fast break bucket by Cam Zullinger. Bridgeman buried a shot just inside the arc to make it a 54-51 game, but that’s as close as the Colonials would get.
Sajid’s 19 points led the Colonials. Pereira added 12 points. No one else had more than five.
“You have to give someone like Mani (Sajid) the green light to go and create,” Donofrio said. “He woke up. Mani was Mani, and that’s what you do, but then collectively, the guys have to win that game.
“Sometimes it’s just basketball. Basketball is a very cruel sport because it’s so fast-paced. Soccer can go forever – 90 minutes, and it’s 1-0, 2-0. This is such a high energy, unforgiving game. There’s always a percentage that the ball has to go your way. We kind of helped the ball bounce the wrong way, so that’s something that should drive us all nuts for eight months.”
This was Wilson’s first state tournament since 2017 or 2018, according to Coldren.
“I’m just so proud of these guys,” the Bulldogs’ coach said. “We’re not the most athletic team – we’re small, but they’re just tough. They love each other. They fight and grind.
“I love that we grinded this game out. It wasn’t pretty, but we’ll take it.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Jim Donofrio on the game: “The only thing I could say – it was a macrocosm of character traits we saw all year that you quietly hope are dissipating and going away and being replaced with understanding of what it takes to close out games and how physically strong you have to be and how understanding that the opposition is going to raise their game. I just think too many times this year that the kids did a pretty good job of comprehending how they had to improve themselves only to be faced the very next game with a higher level of that challenge.
“We were an absolute blank canvas Nov. 15 with pressure on them being told they’re already great, so I love how they took that in, got past that, humbled themselves, and just everything we threw at them – they just kept absorbing. In 34 years of coaching, I’ve had teams evolve before throughout the season – all teams do, but the amount of information thrown on these guys that they always showed up every day to absorb and humbly try to fix was impressive.
“Again, some of that at the end of the game (today) was absolutely inexplicable. It was just unexplainable. No disrespect – I don’t think there was anything Wilson did. Some of that is hard to fathom, but again, it’s a state game, a great crowd. You just came off a heartbreaker at Conestoga where you fight to get it to overtime, and you lose the ball in huge moments, you take really hard shots in huge moments. In the end, I’ll look at myself. Ultimately, it’s on me. Did I do enough situation work in practice? You have to question yourself first. What did I fall short on?”
--A committed team: “Phenomenal kids, very tight-knit, very humble. Seventeen kids on a high school basketball team in this day and age when – by the time you get to the last quarter of the season, maybe you’re
going eight deep. The fact that they’re there every day, and nobody’s getting an attitude, nobody’s quitting – it’s such a compliment to them. Obviously, they love basketball, they love being in the program, so that’s humbling. You just think that we have the possibility of – as all teams do – you could lose this one or you could win three in a row. For the juniors and sophomores returning – two sophomores and 11 juniors – is this some kind of fuel for you? You’ve got to get something out of it because it’s unexplainable that you just do things that hand the (other) team the ball. It was stuff we’re not used to seeing, especially at home.
“I’m trying to put a happy spin on this right now, but it can’t happen. I’m sure they don’t like how this felt or last Friday, but to give five days to this and do such a great job of fighting to come back and take a lead, there were just some plays that were fascinating to watch. Whenever I look at the tape to see what I could possibly help control, I’ll certainly take responsibility for it. Some of it was even just bad luck, bad timing.”
--Postgame message to team: “(I told them) how impressed I was with each one of them individually for what they’ve done. In the end, it a big picture idea, it’s life. There are people in life who are going through a lot more struggles than we are right now losing a basketball game. The kids know how passionate I am. They know it took 10 minutes just to speak because I’m going to let my emotions get a little bit big – that’s who I am, that’s why you’re doing it this long, so they have to forgive me until I calm down a little bit. There wasn’t a lot of yelling or anything. It was just shock.
“Then you quietly get to the idea of looking at a Zhaiden Gray, an Austin Edwards and Kyle Gallagher and Eddie Patruno, Luca Taormino and Justin Probst, Tyriq Taylor toward the end that just didn’t get any reward with game time. And Will Pereira, always early and ready to go. They’re all relationships we’ve built, and that’s what makes it. Something people don’t understand is that there’s a lot more going on with teams when you’re together, and these guys were together since (a season-ending loss to) Parkland last year. They literally were in the gym the next day – not two of them, 12 of them. Six days a week. You can’t get rid of them. It’s easier to get rid of a family of mice. So with that, you get close, and you want
everything for them.”
--Reflections: “We get to the district final, you see Upper Dublin three games in a row, and that was the highest, most experienced team you’re going to see all year, and I don’t think we ever cracked that code, and that was bothersome for our development, but at the same time, you also had a brilliant win at Lower Merion, a brilliant win at Garnet Valley, and you took care of business the last three weeks of the season with a strong win over Neshaminy at home, so you put yourself in that upper echelon moment.
“I teach philosophy, and they say philosophies in the world have a two-step forward and one-step back mentality. New things happen in the world, and old things show back up after a while. I can’t get the philosophy teacher out of my head with this team – two steps up, Conestoga was three steps up, and then all of a sudden just a little bit of comfort and one step back. You’d think that would be enough to drive you today, but there’s a personality on this team that’s very happy-go-lucky, and happy-go-lucky can hurt you in competition.”
The season: Plymouth Whitemarsh closed out its season with an overall record of 20-9, 7-3 in SOL play.
Wilson 16-15-5-13-7 56
Plymouth Whitemarsh 11-16-12-10-2 51
Wilson (56) – Michael Glover 1 0-0 2; Madyx Gruber 5 2-4 16; Cam Zullinger 1 0-0 2; Jon Etim 1 0-0 3; Tommy McFadden 2 6-8 8; Correll Akings 5 0-0 13; Luke Levan 5 2-2 12; TOTALS 20 8-12 56.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (51) – Jack Hayes 1 0-2 2; Terron Davis 2 0-0 5; Mani Sajid 6 6-6 19; Michael Pereira 5 2-4 12; Buddy Denard 2 0-0 5; Caleb Bridgeman 2 0-0 4; Micah Thompson 2 0-0 4; TOTALS 20 8-12 51.
3-point goals: W – Madyx Gruber 4, Henry Michel 3, Jon Etim; PW – Mani Sajid, Buddy Denard, Terron Davis.
#2-1 SCRANTON 50, #1-7 CHELTENHAM 45
The Panthers led 8-0 after one quarter and took a 17-11 lead into halftime. Scranton used a 19-6 third quarter to go on top 30-23 heading into the final frame. They scored 22 points in the fourth quarter but trimmed just two points off Scranton’s lead.
“The second half we pressed a little bit offensively, and we didn’t defend with the same result,” Cheltenham coach Patrick Fleury said. “I think the kids gave effort.
“I’ll put this one on me. I’ve learned a lot these last three years. I’m excited for what the future holds for the young men on the team whether here or elsewhere. They put in a valiant effort all year, and I’m grateful for the time I’ve had with them. Hats off to Scranton.”
Senior Osei Johnson’s 16 points – 11 in the fourth quarter – led the Panthers. Kamal Mason added 13 points – 12 in the second half.
“Our goal is always the league, district and states,” Fleury said. “But the seniors on the team should be proud of their efforts, and we do have some younger kids that I’m excited to see grow.”
The season: Cheltenham closed out its season with an 18-10 record. The Panthers were 9-1 in league play and earned a share of the SOL Freedom Division.
Cheltenham 8-9-6-22 45
Scranton 0-11-19-20 50
Cheltenham (45) – Kamal Mason 5 2-7 13; Mark Hill 2 0-2 5; Xavier Willoughby 1 0-1 2; Osei Johnson 6 2-2 16; Kendall Jackson 2 3-3 7; Tyree Martin 1 0-0 2; TOTALS 17 7-15 45.
Scranton (50) – Johnathan Levine 2 1-2 6; Jaheam Roberts 4 1-4 9; Tony Battaglia 3 10-13 18; Deondre Dickey 1 2-2 5; Jayden Burrell 2 0-2 4; Pedro Lugo 4 0-0 8; TOTALS 16 14-23 50.
3-point goals: C – Osei Johnson 2, Mark Hill, Kamal Mason; S – Tony Battaglia 2, Johnathan Levine, Deondre Dickey.
#12-1 IMOTEP 62, #1-8 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 46
The Patriots came up short in Saturday’s state opener, but they certainly proved they could play with the perennial powerhouse.
“I am really proud of our guys,” East coach Erik Henrysen said. “Imhotep is a power in our area and has been for some time. Not many thought we could even keep the game close.
“In the third, we took a three-point lead. After a stop, we had a 3 to go up six, but it didn’t go down. We gave them a good scare. Judging from all the positive responses from their fans I think we earned their respect too.”
The Patriots, who trailed 14-10 after one quarter, pulled to within two at halftime (28-26). Imhotep took a five-point lead into the fourth quarter when the Panthers put some distance between themselves and the pesky Patriots.
“Our guys believed in the game plan and executed really well,” Henrysen said. “We just ran out of gas a little. Imhotep has a roster filled with all stars. They are so deep and athletic. That wore us down in the fourth.”
The Patriots’ coach went on the credit this year’s senior class.
“Our senior class has been fantastic this year,” Henrysen said. “We graduated seven seniors last year. Only (Nolan) Behm saw significant minutes. They really played with a chip on their shoulder all year. We were far from perfect, but when we had things clicking, we could clearly play with anyone. We showed that tonight. It’s our third year in a row getting to states, but we haven’t been able to get out of the first round. That’s the message and goal for next year’s group.
“It’s tough seeing guys move on, but it’s been awesome watching Nolan, Shane, AJ and Graham grow and develop. We let them know that after the game. They made us proud.”
Nolan Behm’s 19-point effort led the Patriots. Shane O’Hara-Jamison added 11 points, and Graham Smith had nine points on three 3-pointers.
The season: Central Bucks East closed out its season with a 15-12 record, 5-5 in the SOL.
Central Bucks East 10-16-13-7 46
Imhotep 14-14-16-18 62
Central Bucks East (46) – Nolan Behm 19, Shane O’Hara-Jamison 11, Graham Smith 9, Connor Mekanik 3, AJ Molnar.
Imhotep (62) – RJ Smith 18, Ian Smith 9, Carnell Henderson 14, Latief Lorenzano-White 13, Kevin Benson 8, Rocky Johnson 3.
3-point goals: CBE – Graham Smith 3, Shane O’Hara Jamison 2; I -Carnall Henderson 4, RJ Smith 3, Ian Smith, Latief Lorenzano-White, Kevin Benson, Rocky Johnson.
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