To view photos of the Bensalem/Neshaminy game, visit the photo gallery at the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
By Scott Huff
Bensalem - Nothing but net!Bensalem sophomore guard Leo Vincent buried a three-point field goal with just 2.1 seconds left to send the blue and white fans into a frenzy and thrust the Owls (8-2 overall, 4-0 conference) to a stunning 42-41 Suburban One League National Conference victory over visiting Neshaminy (7-1, 3-1).
“I knew the whole time that I could make it,” said Vincent who led Bensalem with 17 points that included five three-point field goals. “We practice that play in practice almost every day, and it worked.”
That play came with the Owls inbounding the ball on their own baseline with 6.2 seconds left– throwing the ball to mid court to 6-foot, 8-inch Calvin Brown – who then fired a bounce pass to a wide open Vincent outside the arc.
“I have an option of who to pass the ball to, but Leo is the best outside shooter on the team,” said Brown who added seven points for the Owls and nine rebounds. “We wanted to prove a point that we are one of the better teams in the area, and we did it in front of some of the best fans around.”The crowd that was wedged into the tiny Armstrong Middle School gym gave the Owls its unwavering support against the highly touted Redskins.
“We have a great home court advantage here,” said Bensalem head coach John Mullin. “People hate to play us here, and we love it.”
“Bensalem has its advantages playing here,” agreed Neshaminy head coach Jerry Devine. “The gym is cramped, the lighting isn’t great, and they created tough matchups for us.
“I thought we had our best two days of practice coming into the game,” added Devine. “For whatever reason, we were not in attack mode.”
The loss was the first of the season for Neshaminy.
“To go 22-0 isn’t realistic,” said Devine. “Really, I thought we could even be like 5-3 at this point. We have played a very good schedule.”
Bensalem got out of its way long enough to secure the victory. The Owls committed 28 turnovers against a swarming Skins’ defense, but Bensalem executed when it had to in the final moments.
Bensalem will be playing its final home schedule at Armstrong this season. A state-of-the-art gym on the Bensalem High School campus will be the new nest for the Owls next season.
“I hope that we don’t lose the atmosphere we have in this building,” said Mullin. “The crowds here are a part of the game.”
“The craziness of the fans has its impact on the game,” said Vincent. “I love to play here.”
And he must also love to shoot here – with the clock ticking down and the game on the line.
Nothing But Net!
Neshaminy 5 14 13 9 - 41
Bensalem 6 12 9 15 - 42
Neshaminy: Richie Shafer 4; Michael McGarry 6; Ryan Arcidiacono 11; Dwight Williams 7; Charlie Marterella 2; Tyler Katz 11. Total – 41.
Bensalem: Alex Agyedu 2; Calvin Brown 7; Leo Vincent 17; Davonte Newkirk 14; Chris McMullin 2. Total – 42.
Around the Suburban One League National Conference
Council Rock North (8-1, 4-0) was on cruise control with an 83-56 SOL National Conference victory over host Pennsbury (3-6, 1-3).
The Indians – who led 35-18 at intermission – had four players score in double figures. Arron Goodman scored a game-high 10 points, while Charlie Anastasi (18), Aaron Morgan (11), and John Raymon (10) all scored in twin digits for Rock North.
Kieran Bolger led the Falcon attack with 18 points, while Zach Sibel chipped in for 10 points for Pennsbury.
Harry S Truman (4-5, 2-2) evened its SOL National Conference record with a 51-44 victory over William Tennent (3-6, 0-4).
Shaun Miller had an outstanding game for the Tigers with a game-high 14 points and five blocked shots. Merdic Green added 13 points for the winners.
The Panthers had a pair of players score in double digits. Cole Weber scored a game-high 14 points for WT, while Jack Rauchut scored 11 points.
Council Rock South (5-5, 2-2) evened its conference mark with a 50-44 victory over Abington (4-7, 0-4).
***Please see Game of the Week Story***
Suburban One League Continental Conference
Central Bucks East (3-5, 2-2) put on a furious 27-point fourth quarter rally to defeat district rival Central Bucks West (5-4, 1-3) – 52-50.
The Patriots – who trailed at one point of the game by 21 points - scored in the final seconds when Matt Stauffer gathered up a loose ball under the West bucket and scored the game winner with 1.5 seconds left.
“To say that we started out slow is quite an understatement,” said Central Bucks East head coach Erik Henrysen. “I don’t know what it is, but once we get down we seem to get angry and play much better.
“We plugged Ryan O’Neil into the starting lineup, and he played very well,” added Henrysen as O’Neil scored a team-high 17 points for the Patriots. “He plays every position on the floor, and he did a nice job tonight.”
A key to the Patriot victory was their ability to take care of the basketball in the second half.
“We had 12 turnovers in the first half, and only three in the second half,” said Henrysen. “Good things happen when you take care of the basketball.”
Like winning close games.
Central Bucks West 13 15 14 8 - 50
Central Bucks East 4 10 11 27 - 52
Central Bucks West: Derek Dyer 24; Kevin Sweet 14; Quinn Cox 2; Anthony Salvitti 2; Tyler Schechter 4; Seth Condi 4. Total – 50.
Central Bucks East: Ryan O’Neil 17; Liam Gallagher 11; DJ Beausejour 11; Matt Stauffer 7; Steve Topley 6. Total – 52
North Penn (8-1, 3-1) needed a late three-point play by Janeus Somers to edge pesky Central Bucks South (2-8, 1-3) – 43-42.
Somers – who scored 12 points for the Knights – gave NP its winning points on a drive to the basket, a converted lay-up, and a converted free throw. Matt Possanza led North Penn with a game-high 18 points.
The Titans were led in scoring by John Staman with 10 points, while Jake Cramer added seven points for CB South.
Pennridge (10-1, 4-0) continued its magic carpet ride with a 55-41 conference win over Hatboro-Horsham (4-5, 1-3).
The Rams placed three players in double figures in the win. Tim Abruzzo scored a team-high 14 points, while Kyle Peters (13) and Mike Guldin (12) also scored in twin digits for PHS.
Matt Kane scored a game-high 15 points to lead Hatboro-Horsham, while Travis Bryan scored in twin digits for the Hatters with 12 points.
Suburban One League American Conference
Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-2, 4-0) remained unbeaten in the SOL American Conference with a 69-47 victory over host Cheltenham (8-2, 2-1).
“We are in the process of reinventing ourselves,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Jim Donofrio. “We are finding out that we have to be a little slower team than we were last year, and we can’t be centered just around one or two guys.
“We had two very tough days of practice going into this game,” added Donofrio. “And I thought we came into the game with a very professional attitude and played a very disciplined defense.”
The Colonials also featured some balanced scoring as Sam Pygatt led PW with 22 points, and backcourt mate Stephon Baker scored 17 markers. Jaylen Bond – playing at less than 100 percent due to injury - also scored in double figures with 14 points.
Cheltenham – which suffered its first conference loss of the season – was led in scoring by Lamont McLaurin with 15 points.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 17 16 19 17 - 69
Cheltenham 11 9 12 15 - 47
Plymouth Whitemarsh: Jake Silvers 4; Sam Pygatt 22; Jaylen Bond 14; Marcus Badger 4; Garnell Sanders 3; Marcus Glover 4; Stephon Baker 17; Wayne Thompson 1. Total – 69.
Cheltenham: Lamont McLaurin 15; Aaron McGlawn 8; Travis Bennett 6; Nafis Walker 6; Toyon Wynder 5; Kareek Best 4; Anthony Johnson 2; Jarrell Haywood 1. Total – 47.
Norristown (10-1, 4-0) remained unbeaten in conference play with a 61-34 victory over Upper Dublin (5-6, 0-4).
The Eagles featured three players in twin digits. Maleek Williams scored a game-high 16 points, while Jahquan Hargrove (14) and Aaron Webb (12) each scored in double figures for the winners.
The good news for Upper Dublin is that nine players scored – the bad news was the leading scorer for the Flying Cardinals was Khalil Owens with just eight points.
Wissahickon (5-5, 1-2) won its first conference game with a 76-50 victory over Upper Moreland (1-7, 0-3).
The Trojans – who led 25-5 at the close of the first period – were led in scoring by Jordan Reed with a game-high 21 points. Tanoh Kpassagnon scored in double figures with 16 points.
The Golden Bears featured two players in double figures. Matt Kohn scored a team-high 18 points, while Matt Worley added 13 points for UMHS.
Upper Merion (5-5) won a non-league game on 1/6/11 as the Vikings defeated Phoenixville (6-4) – 65-42.
Upper Merion was led in scoring by Ed Chimillio with 17 points, while Naim Cheeseboro added 12 points. Pat Stringfield and James Mobley each scored 10 points for the winners.
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