Check out all of Tuesday's exciting SOL boys' basketball action. To view photos of the Neshaminy/CR South game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
It has been a long and winding road for Neshaminy this season – and it is only January 3, 2012.
The Redskins (2-8, 1-2 SOL National Conference) began the New Year on a winning note with a thrilling 58-50 overtime victory over Council Rock South (4-4, 1-2).
“We were a little frustrated with our (lack of) success in the tough non-league games,” said Neshaminy head coach Jerry Devine. “But we talked about how that is all behind us, and that we can compete with the teams that we play in our conference.”
The Skins played a harsh non-league schedule that was to showcase senior Ryan Arcidiacono. Arcidiacono – who will play basketball next season at Villanova University – was lost prior to the season with a back injury.
“We might have been a little over our heads with that early schedule,” said Devine. “But the players have played hard and battled every game.”
Nobody battled harder than Neshaminy senior Tyler Katz in the win over Rock South. Katz scored 39 points including nine points in the overtime to secure the win. He finished with four 3-point field goals and connected on 13 free throws.
“It was a very quiet 39 points,” said Devine. “Tyler was very consistent the whole game – it wasn’t like he went on a scoring spree during the game. He made some three’s, scored some easy baskets in transition, and made some important free throws.”
Bobby Marterella also scored in twin digits for the Redskins with 15 points, while the only other Redskin to get in the scoring column was Chino Duru with four points.
Council Rock South need a clutch field goal by Christian Crane at the buzzer to force overtime. Crane finished with a team-high 23 points, while PJ Gallo added 10 points for the Golden Hawks.
“We played one bad quarter against Pennsbury (60-39 loss) and we had a good chance to beat Abington (43-41 loss),” said Devine in reference to conference games. “We want to continue to play good defense, and we should be able to compete with Bensalem on Friday.”
Council Rock South Hawks 11 6 16 12 5 - 50
Neshaminy Redskins 15 12 7 11 13 - 58
CR South: Zac Fitzgerald 8; Christian Crane 23; Will Facenda 4; Mike Brightcliffe 2; PJ Gallo 10; and Brian Donnelly 3. Total – 50
Neshaminy: Tyler Katz 39; Bobby Marterella 15; and Chino Duru 4. Total – 58
The Rest of the Story in the SOL National Conference
Pennsbury (4-3, 2-1) is now perched on top of the standings as the Falcons flew to a 68-61 victory over Abington (7-2, 2-1).
Pennsbury joins Abington, Council Rock North, William Tennent, and Bensalem with 2-1 conference records.
“It was a real nice win for us,” said Pennsbury head coach Bill Coleman as PHS handed the Ghosts their first conference loss of the season. “Both teams like to get up and down the floor, and we did a good job in transition and creating turnovers.”
The Falcons were led in scoring by Kieran Bolger with 16 points, while Jerrell Burke added 15 points for the winners. Shawn Pepper scored in twin digits with 11 points, while Ryan Charity chipped in with eight points.
Abington – which played without the services of Jordan Simmons – was led in scoring by Anthony Durham with a game-high 22 points. Jiere Morrisey added 13 points for the Ghosts, while Chris Ruhl scored in double figures with 10 points.
Abington Ghosts 17 8 17 19 - 61
Pennsbury Falcons 18 14 12 24 - 68
William Tennent (3-6, 2-1) moved to the top of the standings as the Panthers clawed host Bensalem (2-5, 2-1) in overtime – 66-64.
William Tennent forced overtime when Jack Rauchut hit a 3-point field goal at the buzzer. Rauchut led the Panthers with a team-high 19 points. Horace Spencer (14), Ryan Smith (11), and Matt Alden (11) all scored in double digits for the winners.
Bensalem – which lost a four-point lead in the overtime – was led in scoring by Julian Hyden with a game-high 21 points. Leo Vincent added 16 points for the Owls, while Austin Nyekan scored 10 points.
William Tennent Panthers 15 13 13 19 6 - 66
Bensalem Owls 18 16 14 12 4 - 64
Council Rock North (5-3, 2-1) moved into a first place tie at the top of the standings with a 74-54 win over Harry S Truman (3-6, 0-3).
Featured game story can be viewed on suburbanonesports.com
Harry S Truman Tigers 7 11 14 22 - 54
CR North Indians 21 17 22 14 - 74
SOL American Conference
Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-4, 2-1) had to work overtime to defeat host Upper Dublin (6-4, 1-2) – 64-62.
“We had to use our extra gear late in the game to come up with this win,” said Plymouth Whitemash head coach Jim Donofrio. “We made it an 85-foot game with a lot of traps and a lot of pressure defense. We did some good things, but shooting free throws at the end wasn’t one of them.”
The Colonials connected on 1-of-5 in the final minute of regulation and missed three free throws in the overtime to give Upper Dublin life.
“It surely wasn’t a pristine win, but it is fun to see these kids work so hard and get a win,” said Donofrio. “We were coming off a tough loss to Sanford where we were down 18-2 and missed a lay-up that would have won the game. I didn’t know where our heads were going to be after that overtime loss.
“Upper Dublin is a tough place to play, and they always play smart and together,” added Donofrio. “And (John) Decamara can really shoot the basketball.”
Decamara finished with a team-high 16 points for the Cardinals, while Briyon Turner scored in double figures with 14 points.
Plymouth Whitemarsh was led in scoring by Jake Silvers who scored a game-high 21 points, while Anthony McKie (13) and Russhon Phillips (10) scored in twin digits for the winners.
“This team has put a lot of pressure on itself,” said Donofrio. “The last three years have been very successful for us, and that is a lot to live up to.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 16 11 13 15 9 - 64
Upper Dublin Cardinals 11 19 12 13 7 - 62Plymouth Whitemarsh: Kenny Williams 2; Jake Silvers 21; Austin Rodenbaugh 2; Mike Rocchi 6; Russhon Phillips 10; Anthony McKie 13; Morgan Jackson 7; and Dee Bennett 2. Total – 64
Upper Dublin: Briyon Turner 14; Tyreek Magruder 9; Darrell Harrison 4; Andrew Derr 11; John Decamara 16; Jared Darwin 2; Andrew Carber 6. Total – 62
The Rest of the Story in the SOL American Conference
Cheltenham (7-3, 2-0) jumped out to a 14-point first period lead as the Panthers defeated host Upper Merion (3-6, 0-3) – 68-50.
The Panthers had three players score in double figures in the win. Nafis Walker scored a team-high 17 points for the Black Cats, while Toyon Wynder (15) and Jarrell Haywood (14) also scored in twin digits. Upper Merion was led by James Mobley who scored a game-high 26 points, while Justin Lewis added 12 points for the Vikings.
Cheltenham Panthers 20 19 14 15 - 68
Upper Merion Vikings 6 14 15 15 - 50
Norristown (5-4, 2-1) took a 13-point first half lead as the Eagles soared to a 65-49 victory over visiting Upper Moreland (5-4, 0-2).
Norristown was led in scoring by senior Richard Bouknight with a game-high 20 points. Samier Bey also scored in double figures with 13 points, while Jahbri Hargrove scored eight points for the Birds. Upper Moreland was led in scoring by Nick Corbett with a team-high 16 points, while Matt Kohn added 12 points for the Golden Bears.
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 11 9 15 14 - 49
Norristown Eagles 13 20 13 19 - 65
Wissahickon (9-1) won its ninth straight game as the Trojans defeated Archbishop Carroll 74-54 in a non-conference game. The Trojans had three players reach double figures as Tanoh Kpassagnon scored a game-high 18 points. Jordan Reed (17) and Kyle Garrett (16) also scored in twin digits for the winners. Reed and Garrett scored 15 of the 21 fourth period points for Wissahickon.
Wissahickon Trojans 13 19 5 21 - 58
Archbishop Carroll 17 10 8 9 - 44
SOL Continental Conference
Central Bucks East (5-4, 3-0) remained unbeaten in conference play as the Patriots held off defending conference champion Pennridge (5-4, 0-3) – 46-45.
Central Bucks East will now face district rival Central Bucks West (8-1, 3-0) on Friday for sole possession of first place. The game will be played at CB West.
“When we came back from Florida, we didn’t want to look ahead to West because we knew that Pennridge is a good basketball team,” said Central Bucks East head coach Erik Henrysen. “Pennridge, after all, is the defending conference champion. And their place is a very tough building to play in.
“Steve Topley came up with some big free throws at the end of the game, and he came up with a big strip of (Tim) Abruzzo late in the game,” added Henrysen. “Abruzzo is a legitimate Division One prospect, and both Steve and Ryan (O’Neil) did a good job defensively on him even though he scored 27 points.”
Topley scored 11 points for the Patriots and also collected seven rebounds and seven assists. O’Neil scored a team-high 17 points for CB East.
“When Ryan and Steve play well, we seem to play at a different level,” said Henrysen. “And both of them played well tonight.”
Central Bucks East Patriots 8 11 12 15 - 46
Pennridge Rams 7 12 16 10 - 45
Central Bucks East: Ryan O’Neil 17; Liam Gallagher 7; Matt Stauffer 4; Lou Pannella 4; Steve Topley 11; and Mark Kiernowski 3. Total – 46
Pennridge: Tim Abruzzo 27; Colin McIntyre 2; Jeff Garner 6; Zach Muredda 4; Andrew Lyons 6. Total – 45
The Rest of the Story in the SOL Continental Conference
Central Bucks West (8-1, 3-0) remained unbeaten in conference play as the Bucks defeated host North Penn (2-5, 1-2) – 55-38.
The Bucks led by 16 points by the close of the first half and cruised to the win. Derek Dyer led West in scoring with a game-high 15 points, while Sherrod Higginbotham scored in twin digits with 10 points. North Penn had a pair of double figure scorers as Larry Roane scored a team-high 13 points, while Chris Dawson added 10 points for the Knights.
Central Bucks West Bucks 18 15 7 15 - 55
North Penn Knights 12 5 12 9 - 38
Souderton (5-3, 2-1) snatched a 14-point first period lead as the Big Red defeated host Hatboro-Horsham (2-6, 1-2) – 66-59.
Souderton had a huge scoring performance turned in by senior Luke Moyer who scored a game-high 28 points. Mark Wonderling added 17 points for the Big Red, while John Kanas scored 13 points for the winners. Michael Brown led the Hatters with a game-high 28 points, while Zach Quattro scored in twin digits with 12 points.
Souderton Big Red 20 12 14 20 - 66
Hatboro-Horsham 6 12 17 24 - 59
Central Bucks South (4-5, 2-1) outscored Quakertown (1-8, 0-3) by a 17-4 margin in the third period as the Titans came up with a 64-53 victory over the Panthers.
CB South was led in scoring by Chase Vonder Schmalz with 12 points, while Kevin Doyle and Brennan Rudnick each scored nine points for the Titans. The Panthers had three double figure scorers as Corey Jorgensen scored a game-high 16 points, while Jon Landis scored 13 points and Mike Ciccarone added 12 points for the Black Cats.
Quakertown Panthers 7 18 4 24 - 53
Central Bucks South Titans 12 18 17 17 - 64
**Suburban One League**Friday Nite Lights**
American ConferenceNorristown Eagles (5-4, 2-1) @ Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (6-4, 1-2)
Wissahickon Trojans (9-1, 2-0) @ Upper Moreland Golden Bears (5-3, 0-2)
Cheltenham Panthers (7-3, 2-0) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (4-4, 2-1)
Continental Conference
Central Bucks East Patriots (5-4, 3-0) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (8-1, 3-0)
Central Bucks South Titans (4-5, 2-1) @ North Penn Knights (2-5, 1-2)
Souderton Big Red (5-3, 2-1) @ Quakertown Panthers (1-8, 0-3)
Pennridge Rams (5-4, 0-3) @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (2-6, 1-2)
National Conference
Harry S Truman Tigers (3-6, 0-3) @ William Tennent Panthers (3-6, 2-1)
Bensalem Owls (2-5, 2-1) @ Neshaminy Redskins (2-8, 1-2)
Abington Ghosts (7-2, 2-1) @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks (4-4, 1-2)
Pennsbury Falcons (4-3, 2-1) @ Council Rock North Indians (5-3, 2-1)
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