By Scott Huff
Everyone who wanted to see dominant Plymouth Whitemarsh and powerful Penn Wood square off under the bright lights at Villanova University will get their wish.
It took 32 PIAA District One Quad-A playoff games to determine who would compete in the finals to see who would succeed Norristown as district champions.
Enjoy.
Plymouth Whitemarsh vs Penn Wood
District One Quad-A Final
9 pm @ Villanova University
Philadelphia is known as the City of Brotherly Love.
Plymouth Meeting may be the new City of Brotherly Love as demonstrated by Julian and Jaylen Bond, brothers playing for the Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials.Julian is a 6-foot senior guard that comes off the bench for PW to give the Colonials valuable minutes with the game on the line.
Jaylen is his better-known 6-foot, 7-inch junior sibling who has attracted major Division One college team’s scholarships.
“Julian and Jaylen come from a tight knit family,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Jim Donofrio. “They came here together last year (after attending La Salle the year before), and both kids are really class acts.
“It must have been a special time for them to play together on the floor at Villanova against West Chester Rustin,” added Donofrio in reference to the Colonials 79-47 rout of the Knights in the PIAA District One Quad-A semifinals. “They are making memories that will last a lifetime.”Julian may have scored just two points, but the muscular guard played his role in a dominant five-minute stretch that saw the Colonials break the game open.
Jaylen dominated the offensive glass with eight rebounds – 17 total – and scored a team-high 17 points. He has been part of the devastating one-two PW punch all season along with 6-10 C.J. Aiken.
“Julian happens to play on a team that has a number of very good guards,” said Donofrio. “We also have Whis Grant, Brandon Dixon, Sam Pygatt, Marcus Badger, and Stephon Baker.
“When you have that wealth of talent, some games it is hard to get everyone minutes,” added Donofrio. “I understand how all of them can get a little frustrated, but Julian has always shown a respect for the program and has not complained.
“Julian is a natural athlete, and his basketball days will not be over next year,” continued Donofrio. “He has had some looks at the college level, and he will continue to play somewhere.”
Julian and Jaylen have played on the same hardwood for their entire careers.
“Our whole lives we grew up playing on the same little league teams, through middle school, through AAU, and now in high school,” said Julian. “We always had a bond with each other – knew where each other was going to be on the floor.
“It is a little tough not getting the playing time the last couple of years,” added Julian. “But I will do whatever the coach needs me to do – be a good practice player, give him good minutes off the bench. Whatever it takes to help the team win.”
Although Jaylen stands a good seven inches taller than his older brother, it wasn’t always the case.“I grew a lot between the summer of seventh and eighth grade,” said Jaylen. “And then I think I grew a lot over the summer between eighth and ninth grade.
“Julian and I share the same love of basketball,” added Jaylen. “This might be the last time we get to play on the same basketball team, and it would be great to end the year with a state championship.”
“It will be an interesting challenge on the family level when Julian graduates and moves on to college without Jaylen,” said Donofrio. “They are so close, and they really enjoy each other’s company.
“My brother and I used to throw concrete blocks at each other’s head,” added Donofrio. “But not those two.”
Not in Plymouth Meeting – the new City of Brotherly Love.
#1 Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. #2 Penn Wood
District One Quad-A Final
9 pm Friday @ Villanova University
Records:
Plymouth Whitemarsh (25-1)
Penn Wood (22-3)
Common Opponents: Neshaminy, Chester, and Academy of the New Church
Both Plymouth Whitemarsh & Penn Wood have played common opponents in a very comparable manner.
Plymouth Whitemarsh defeated Neshaminy 79-59 – while Penn Wood bested the Redskins – 74-52.
Plymouth Whitemarsh defeated Chester 65-46 while Penn Wood bested the Clippers 57-40 & 64-45.
Plymouth Whitemarsh defeated ANC 57-46 – while Penn Wood bested Academy of the New Church 53-41.
Last Game:
Plymouth Whitemarsh showcased its collective talent in a marvelous 79-47 victory over West Chester Rustin in a PIAA District One Quad-A semifinal game played at Villanova University.
Jaylen Bond led the Colonials with a magnificent 17- point – 17-rebound performance against the Knights. C.J. Aiken had still another triple double with 10 blocks – 12 rebounds – and 12 points. Whis Grant tied Bond with a team-high 17 points.
Penn Wood showcased its collective talent in a marvelous 71-49 victory over Souderton in a PIAA District One Quad-A semifinal game played at Villanova University.
Shawn Oakman – the massive 6-foot, 9-inch 240-pound junior center – led the Patriots with a 22-point scoring effort. Aaron Brown added 15 points, while Tyree Johnson (13) and Will Brown (11) also scored in twin digits for PW.
Plymouth Whitemarsh Head Coach Jim Donofrio says – “Penn Wood is the defending state champion and they are a very hungry team,” said Donofrio. “But we are also very hungry because we feel that we have a lot to prove as well.
“Both teams like to make things happen, both teams like to play the game the old-fashioned way – with instinct and very fast,” added Donofrio. “We both have great guards and size. Their size is different – though – in that we are not as big across.
“I think that both teams will want to open up the floor,” continued Donofrio. “There should be a lot of scoring opportunities.
“(Penn Wood head coach) Clyde Jones is a terrific basketball coach,” added Donofrio. “This could end up being a coach’s game. We will see who pushes the right buttons.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh
Projected Starters:
# 1 – C. J. Aiken (6-10, Sr)
# 10 - Brandon Dixon (5-10, Jr)
#11 – Whis Grant (6-0, Sr)
#15 – Jaylen Bond (6-7, Jr)
# 24 – Sam Pygatt (6-1, Jr)
The rest of the Colonials:
# 3 – Marcus Badger (6-1, Jr)
# 4 – T.J. Clancey (6-4, Sr)
# 13 – Julian Bond (6-0, Sr)
# 22 – Brandon Johnson (6-3, Soph)
# 25 – Stephon Baker (6-1, Jr)
# 34 – Brandon Brown (6-2, Sr)
# 44 – Jake Silver (6-6, Soph)
Penn Wood
Projected Starters:
# 3 - Tyree Johnson (5-9, Sr)
# 24 – Shawn Oakman (6-9, Jr)
# 2 - Aaron Brown (6-5, Jr)
# 11 - Will Brown (5-11, Jr)
# 5 – Dequan Pelzer (6-1, Sr)
The rest of the Patriots:
# 41 – Jeff Kyen (6-4, Jr)
# 34 – Chris Warner (6-4, Sr)
# 10 – Akil Anderson (6-5, Jr)
# 23 – Darian Barnes (6-8, Jr)
# 32 – Rahjul Young (6-7, Jr)
# 4 – Will Morton (5-11, Jr)
# 1- Jerry Prince (5-9, Fr)
# 22 – Khali Smith (5-11, Jr)
# 20 – Malcom Richardson (5-11, Soph)
# 25 – Mike Riddick (5-11, Fr)
The rest of the Suburban One League playoff story
#3 Souderton vs. #5 West Chester Rustin
(Winner earns #3 state seed)
2:30 pm Saturday @ Norristown HS
Records:
Souderton (23-3)
West Chester Rustin (22-4)
Common Opponent: Glen Mills
Souderton played Glen Mills in a first round PIAA Quad-A playoff game and blasted the Battlin’ Bulls – 60-33.
West Chester Rustin played Glen Mills earlier in the season and throttled the Bulls – 69-51.
Last Game:
Souderton had its 15-game winning streak rudely snapped by Penn Wood as the Patriots rolled to a 71-49 victory in the PIAA District One Quad-A semifinal game played at Villanova University.
West Chester Rustin also found its trip to the PIAA District One Quad-A semifinal round a tough one as the Knights lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh – 79-47.
#7 Neshaminy vs #13 Pennsbury
(Winner earns # 5 seed)
7 pm. Friday @ Council Rock South HS
Records:
Neshaminy (19-7)
Pennsbury (16-10)
Common Opponent: Each Other
Pennsbury and Neshaminy had a pair of classic Suburban One League National Conference battles with Pennsbury winning both games.
The Falcons edged the Skins 47-46 at home, and followed with a 45-43 win at Neshaminy in the final regular season game of the year.
Last Game:
Neshaminy edged Chester 55-54 as senior point guard Steve Warhola hit the front end of a one-and-one late in the game. Ryan Arcidiacono led the Skins with 21 points, while Dwight Williams added 10 points.
Pennsbury defeated Penncrest 43-29. Zak Kumor had a double-double for the Falcons with 11 rebounds and 10 points. Sophomore Kieran Bolger led Pennsbury in scoring with an 18-point effort.
#6 Council Rock North vs. #17 Upper Dublin
(Winner earns #9 seed – loser goes home)
2:30 Saturday @ Plymouth Whitemarsh HS
Records:
Council Rock North (21-5)
Upper Dublin (17-8)
Common Opponent: Each Other
Way back on December 12, Council Rock North defeated Upper Dublin – 71-61. That game – the second game of the year for both teams - was the championship game of the Hatboro-Horsham Tip-Off Tournament.
Arron Goodman, who was named MVP of that tournament, scored a team-high 19 points for the Indians. Jamil Brown torched Rock North with a 37-point scoring performance.
Last Game:
Council Rock North needed a photo finish to hold off Bensalem, 46-45. Aaron Morgan tallied a three-point play in the final minute of the game to provide the winning point margin. Tim Filer led the Indians with 11 points.
Upper Dublin – the lowest seed still in the playoffs – upset #4 seeded Coatesville 62-58. Jamil Brown led the Flying Cardinals with 29 points, while James Newman added 19 points for the winners.
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