Check out all of Tuesday night's winners in SOL action.
By Scott Huff
Central Bucks South (6-5, 4-1) left its calling card for SOL Continental Conference championship consideration as the Titans fought to a 62-57 overtime victory over district rival Central Bucks East (5-6, 3-2). South trails only CB West (10-1, 4-0) in the conference standings.
“Talk about us has been very quiet all season, and that is fine with us,” said Central Bucks South head coach Jason Campbell. “We really don’t want to be on anyone’s radar. We may not have the biggest team or the most athletic team, but we have done a great job of doing the little things.”
Titan point guard Kevin Raymond is a testament to the ‘big’ part of Campbell’s assessment. The 5-foot, 6-inch senior has been the catalyst for the CB South team all season.
“Kevin is relentless on the floor,” said Campbell of his diminutive senior. “Tonight he got a huge offensive rebound and went back up and scored. He plays the game like he is 6-3, and he is the heart and soul of our team.
“We lost a little of our composure in the fourth quarter, and East took advantage of that to force overtime,” added Campbell. “But we made some adjustments, and we were able to regain our composure and win the game.”
That composure was illustrated by a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the overtime.
Raymond led the Titans in scoring with 13 points, while Dave Knox scored in twin digits with 12 points. Chase Vonder Schmalz scored 10 points for CB South. CB East was led in scoring by Liam Gallagher with 19 points, while Steve Topley scored 17 points for the Patriots. Both Topley and high-scoring Ryan O’Neil (four points) fouled out of the game for CBE.
“We have a big game with Hatboro-Horsham on Friday,” said Campbell, as South will have its conference showdown next Tuesday against CB West. “It is simple for us – focus on the next game and don’t look ahead. This conference is filled with teams that can beat you.”
Central Bucks South Titans 10 16 12 14 10 - 62
Central Bucks East Patriots 14 8 12 18 5 - 57
CB South: Kevin Raymond 13; Dave Knox 12; Chase Vonder Schmalz 10; Brennan Rudnick 9; Kevin Doyle 8; John Flaherty 4; Bryce Dobisch 3; TJ Ohntrup 2; and Matt Scamuffo 1. Total – 62.
CB East: Liam Gallagher 19; Steve Topley 17; Lou Pannella 8; Ryan O’Neil 4; Matt Kiersnowski 3. Total – 57.
The Rest of the Story in the SOL Continental Conference
Central Bucks West (10-1, 5-0) remained unbeaten in conference play as the Bucks jumped out to a 12-point first period lead and defeated visiting Hatboro-Horsham (3-8, 2-3) – 68-58. The Bucks had a pair of 20-point scorers as Derek Dyer scored a game-high 23 points, and Tyler Schechter added 22 points for the Bucks. The Hatters had four players score in twin digits – Paul Haggerty (14), Zach Quattro (13), Ryan Kelly (13), and Michael Brown (11).
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 5 15 13 25 - 58
Central Bucks West Bucks 17 21 12 18 - 68
Souderton (7-3, 4-1) remained one game off the conference pace as the Big Red bested defending conference champion Pennridge (5-6, 0-5) – 63-55. Souderton was led in scoring by Mark Wonderling who pumped home a game-high 24 points, while Luke Moyer posted twin digits with 12 points. Pennridge had four players reach double figures – Andrew Lyons (18), Tim Abruzzo (14), Zach Murreda (12), and Shane Schmidt (11).
Pennridge Rams 12 14 13 16 - 55
Souderton Big Red 15 12 17 19 - 63
North Penn (3-6, 2-3) had a huge game turned in by Wes Brooks as the Knights captured a 64-52 victory over host Quakertown (1-11, 0-5). Brooks scored a game-high 25 points for the Knights, while Javi Alvarino (11) and Larry Roane also scored in double figures for North Penn. Quakertown had three players reach twin digits – Jon Landis (13), Corey Jorgensen (11), and Mike Ciccarone (11).
North Penn Knights 12 20 14 18 - 64
Quakertown Panthers 8 15 18 11 - 52
Owls Soar to Victory
Bensalem (4-5, 4-1) needed two overtimes to hold on to its share of first place in the SOL National Conference as the Owls flew to a 58-54 victory over host Abington (8-3, 3-2).
“We have a great group of players, and we are starting to buy into what we need to do to win basketball games,” said Bensalem head coach John Mullin. “It is up to the coach to get them to play together – trust each other – and we are starting to do that.”
Bensalem, though, had to fight its way out of an early 10-2 hole in the first period. The Owls came back behind the scoring surge of Leo Vincent, but Bensalem fell back to an 8-point deficit in the third period before forcing the first overtime. Deion Jones forced that first OT with a free throw, and eventually Dovante Newkirk scored what proved to be the game deciding field goal in the second OT.
“Leo caught on fire in the first half to bring us back into the game,” said Mullin as Vincent scored 18 of his game-high 20 points in the first half. “And we played great as a team in the second half to be able to win the basketball game.”
Bensalem will play Council Rock North (7-3, 4-1) with first place on the line on Friday.
“Council Rock North is a very good basketball, and the players are anxious to compete with them on Friday,” said Mullin. “We will get a chance to see what we can do and go from there.”
Bensalem Owls 12 16 10 8 4 8 - 58
Abington Ghosts 18 15 8 5 4 4 - 54
Bensalem: Leo Vincent 20; Dovonte Newkirk 14; Julian Hyden 8; Deion Jones 8; Donnie Reed 4; Austin Nyekan 2; Stephen Johnson 2. Total – 58.
Abington: Anthony Durham 12; Jiere Morrisey 12; Chris Ruhl 10; Jordan Simmons 8; Matt Penecale 8; Anthony Lee 4. Total 54.
The Rest of the Story in the SOL National Conference
Truman (5-6, 2-3) outscored Pennsbury (4-5, 2-3) by a 20-7 margin in the third period to break open a close game as the Tigers clawed the Falcons, 65-51. Merdic Green scored a game-high 16 points to pace Truman, while Lamont Waters also scored in twin digits with 11 points. Jerrel Burke scored a game-high 16 points for PHS, while Shawn Pepper scored in double figures for the Falcons with 14 points.
Pennsbury Falcons 13 15 7 16 - 51
Truman Tigers 8 15 20 22 - 65
Neshaminy (3-9, 2-3) took a first period lead and managed the lead the for the entire game as the Redskins defeated host William Tennent (3-8, 2-3) – 50-45. The Skins were led in scoring by Tyler Katz with a game-high 18 points, while Bobby Marterella added 16 points for the winners. The Panthers had a pair of players in double digits – Horace Spencer (13), and Jack Rauchut (12).
Neshaminy Redskins 16 11 11 12 - 50
William Tennent Panthers 9 11 16 9 - 45
Council Rock North (7-3, 4-1) held on to its share of the conference lead with a 55-38 victory over Council Rock South (4-7, 1-4). See game story on suburbanonesports.com
Council Rock South Golden Hawks 4 6 12 16 - 38
Council Rock North Indians 17 19 14 5 - 55
Eagles Soar to Victory
Norristown (7-4, 4-1) kept itself right smack dab in the middle of the conference title huntas the Eagles flew by host Cheltenham (8-5, 2-2) – 62-52.
“Our focus tonight was to play good defense against a team that can put points on the board,” said Norristown head coach Michael Evans as the Birds held the Black Cats to just 17 first half points. “We worked hard on stopping the ball and not allowing them any penetration.
“We played straight man-to-man the whole floor for the entire game,” added Evans. “But we play that way pretty much against everyone. That is what we do.
“We are gaining experience with every game, and that translates into gaining confidence,” continued Evans. “We go deep on our bench, and we have had a lot of different players step up to help us win basketball games.”
The Eagles had four players reach double figures in the win. Luke Kelly and Bernard Gordon each scored 14 points, while Richard Bouknight (13) and Jahbri Hargrove (12) also scored in twin digits. Nafis Walker scored a game-high 20 points for Cheltenham.
Norristown Eagles 19 12 9 22 - 62
Cheltenham Panthers 9 8 13 22 - 52
Norristown: Luke Kelly 14; Bernard Gordon 14; Richard Bouknight 13, Jahbri Hargrove 12; Chris Evans 6; Marquis Bryant 2; Samir Bey 1. Total – 62.
Cheltenham: Nafis Walker 20; Toyon Wynder 11, Jarrell Haywood 11; Aaron McGlawn 8; Guy Henderson 2. Total – 52.
The Rest of the Story in the SOL American Conference
Wissahickon (11-1, 4-0) remained unbeaten in conference play as the Trojans held off determined Upper Merion (4-7, 0-4) – 61-51. Jordan Reed scored a game-high 38 points for the Trojans, while Tanoh Kpassgnon scored in twin digits with 16 points. Justin Lewis scored a team-high 26 points for the Vikings, while James Mobley added nine points for Upper Merion.
Upper Merion Vikings 9 8 19 15 - 51
Wissahickon Trojans 8 15 16 22 - 61
Upper Dublin (7-5, 2-3) edged Upper Moreland (5-7, 0-4) as the Flying Cardinals captured a 57-54 conference victory. John Decamara scored a game-high 18 points for Upper Dublin, while Andrew Derr scored 15 points for the winners. Kevin McFall led Upper Moreland with a team-high 14 points, while Matt Kohn scored in twin digits for the Golden Bears with 10 points.
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 13 17 12 15 - 57
Upper Moreland Bears 15 14 12 13 - 54
Friday ‘Nite’ Lights
American Conference
Wissahickon Trojans @ Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals
Upper Moreland Golden Bears @ Cheltenham Panthers
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials @ Upper Merion Vikings
Continental Conference
Quakertown Panthers @ Central Bucks East Patriots
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters @ Central Bucks South Titans
Central Bucks West Bucks @ Pennridge Rams
Souderton Big Red @ North Penn Knights
National Conference
William Tennent Panthers @ Abington Ghosts
Council Rock North Indians @ Bensalem Owls
Truman Tigers @ Neshaminy Redskins
Council Rock South Golden Hawks @ Pennsbury Falcons
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