By Scott Huff 
Panther Nation
The Suburban One League is the proud owner of three teams of ravenous Panthers – one in each conference.
Quakertown, William Tennent, and Cheltenham inhabit in the SOL Continental, National, and American Conferences respectively.
The Quakertown Panther has had a most difficult 2010-2011 season as these Panthers (1-14) have been starved for victories.
“We practice every day like we are playing for a championship,” said Quakertown head coach Kevin Keeler. “We look at each game like it is a one-game season, and we practice extremely hard.”
The Panthers have been led in scoring this year by shooting guard/ point guard - Corey Jorgensen. Jorgensen, only a junior, has been selected by his teammates as team captain along with Dylan Gossler.
“We ask a lot of Corey and he has responded,” said Keeler. “We ask him to bring the ball up against pressure, and be our shooting guard.
“Corey is a really sound fundamental player,” added Keeler. “And he is a competitor.”
“We have been able to compete in a few games this year, but we haven’t been able to finish,” said Jorgensen. “We have been learning and getting better, and our goal is to win more games in the second half of the season.
“We had a really nice third quarter against Pennridge the other night,” said Jorgensen in reference to the Panthers outscoring the Rams 22-13 in that period. “But we need to keep that up for four quarters.”
Quakertown had a victory get away from them recently when the Panthers dropped a 41-39 overtime loss to Hatboro-Horsham.
“That game was a real tough one to lose,” admitted Keeler. “We had 25 turnovers and shot 8-of-18 from the foul line.
“We just have to go on and mentally be the best that we can be,” added Keeler. “We have a lot of juniors on this team, and we still have some things to learn.”
The William Tennent Panther just ended a seven-game losing steak with a 46-43 victory on Saturday over Upper Moreland, but head coach Rob Mulville is far from disappointed.
“There isn’t a coach anywhere that wouldn’t love to coach these guys,” said Mulville of his 4-10 Panthers. “Our guys get a little frustrated with our record, but when it comes to practice, we are ready to go to work.
“The players have a great attitude,” continued Mulville. “We play in a very good league with Council Rock North (14-1), Neshaminy (12-2), and Bensalem (12-3) - and sometimes it is tough to get wins against some of those teams.”
William Tennent 6-foot, 4-inch junior Jack Rauchut has been a work in progress for the Panthers.
“There isn’t a game that Jack doesn’t come out of the game drenched in sweat – he works that hard,” said Mulville. “He continues to work on his game on both the offensive and defensive end, and he is never satisfied.”
Senior Cole Weber has also earned the praise of his head coach.
“Cole has the green light to shoot whenever he wants,” said Mulville of his 6-1 guard. “He might miss six in a row, but he can come back and make six in a row.
“He got on a hot streak in the Abington game,” added Mulville in reference to the Panthers 74-70 overtime loss to the Ghosts. “He made five three-point shots, and we almost pulled out the win.”
The Cheltenham Panther has been pulling out wins, and the 11-4 Panthers defeated that same Abington team – 50-45 – in overtime.
“We have to good fortune to play both Plymouth Whitemarsh (10-2) and Norristown (12-2) in our league,” said Cheltenham head coach Brian Johnson. “Our goal is to get into the district playoffs and then the state playoffs.
“And to play both PW and Norristown is like getting a preview of those types of games,” added Johnson. “Those games are a great test to see where we stand on that level.”
Cheltenham has gotten terrific outings the last two games from Jerrell Haywood. Haywood led the Panthers with 18 points in the win over Abington, and also led the team in scoring in the recent win over Upper Dublin.
“I think we have convinced him that he can really help us win basketball games,” said Johnson. “He is the type of player that we need to step up and play well.
“We have a team that can’t really take the time to celebrate a victory or wallow in a defeat,” continued Johnson. “We want to be ready to play that next game.”
PW almost shocks # 1 Friends Central
Plymouth Whitemarsh (10-3) was one play away from defeating powerful Friends Central (15-2) in a Kobe Bryant Showcase game played on Sunday at Philadelphia University.
The Philadelphia Inquirer ranks friends Central # 1 in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
The Colonials had an inbound play under the FC basket very late in the game but failed to convert on the final scoring opportunity.
Plymouth Whitemarsh played a terrific first period and led 19-9, but PW dropped off in the second period and trailed 29-27 by the close of the first half.
Amile Jefferson – the 6-foot, 8-inch junior – led the Phoenix with 15 points. Devin Coleman scored 14 points, while Conrad Chambers added 11 points for the winners.
The Colonials were led in scoring by senior Stephon Baker with a team-high 16 points. Jaylen Bond – who played the game in foul trouble – scored 15 points, while Sam Pygatt scored in twin digits for PW with 12 points.
Friends Central 9 20 11 9 - 49
Plymouth Whitemarsh 19 8 10 11 - 48
Friends Central: Conrad Chambers 11; Devin Coleman 14; Karon Davis 7; Amile Jefferson 15; Malique Killing 2. Total – 49
Plymouth Whitemarsh: Brandon Johnson 1; Jaylen Bond 15; Stephon Baker 16; Marcus Badger 4; Sam Pygatt 12. Total – 48
Monday Night Basketball??
Wow!
Central Bucks South (2-13, 2-6) scored 24 points in the third period to stun Pennridge (12-4, 6-2) – 55-41 – in a Suburban One League Continental Conference game.
The Titans had a wonderful game turned in by James Delgato who scored a game-high 22 points and had 13 rebounds. Steve Schneider added 14 points for South.
The victory ended a six-game losing slide for the Titans.
Pennridge was led in scoring by senior guard Mike Guldin who scored a team-high 15 points, while Tim Abruzzo added eight for PHS.
The Rams – who opened the season 11-1 – have now lost three of their last four games.
Pennridge 12 15 9 5 - 41
CB South 8 12 24 11 - 55
**
Double-wow!
Souderton (9-6, 5-3) held Central Bucks West (9-6, 4-4) scoreless in the second period as the Big Red defeated the host Bucks – 44-33 – in a Suburban One League Continental Conference contest.
Ryan Connolly led Souderton with a game-high 18 points, while Mark Wonderling added 15 markers for the Big Red.
Kevin Sweet and Derek Dyer each scored in double figures for West. Dyer scored a team-high 12 points, while Sweet chipped in with 11 points.
Souderton 9 11 8 18 - 44
CB West 9 0 9 15 - 33
‘On Tap’ in the Suburban One League
Tuesday – January 25, 2011
SOL American Conference
Norristown @ Wissahickon
Plymouth Whitemarsh @ Upper Moreland
Upper Dublin @ Upper Merion
SOL Continental Conference
Central Bucks South @ Souderton
Central Bucks West @ Quakertown
Hatboro-Horsham @ Central Bucks East
North Penn @ Pennridge
SOL National Conference
Council Rock North @ Abington
Bensalem @ Truman
Council Rock South @ William Tennent
Neshaminy @ Pennsbury
Friday – January 28, 2011
SOL American Conference
Cheltenham @ Upper Merion
Upper Moreland @ Norristown
Plymouth Whitemarsh @ Upper Dublin
SOL Continental Conference
Quakertown @ Central Bucks South
Central Bucks West @ North Penn
Souderton @ Hatboro-Horsham
Central Bucks East @ Pennridge
SOL National Conference
Abington @ Pennsbury
William Tennent @ Bensalem
Truman @ Council Rock North
Council Rock South @ Neshaminy
Saturday – January 29, 2011
SOL National Conference
William Tennent @ Pennsbury
Suburban One Sports.com * Great Eight*
1. Council Rock North Indians [14-1]
2. Neshaminy Redskins [12-2]
3. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials [10-3]
4. Norristown Eagles [12-2]
5. Bensalem Owls [12-3]
6. North Penn Knights [10-2]
7. Cheltenham Panthers [11-4]
8. Pennridge Rams [12-4]
- Log in to post comments
0
