This week's notebook highlights the three conference races as well as several key non-league games.
By Scott Huff
Stretch Run
The respective Suburban One League teams are racing toward the finish line and we have leaders - but no champions.
Council Rock North (10-2), which has clinched a share of the conference crown, is the odds on favorite to win an outright championship in the SOL National Conferenceas the Indians have a two-game lead with just two games left on the conference schedule. CR North will host Bensalem (8-4) on Tuesday and close out the season at Neshaminy (3-9) on Friday. Pennsbury (8-4) has been the hottest team in the conference but the Falcons must win both its games at Council Rock South (2-10) on Tuesday and against William Tennent (5-7) on Friday – and have CR North lose both its games to earn a piece of the title. Bensalem (8-4) can ensure a Rock North loss as the Owls travel to CR North for a game on Tuesday – and Bensalem must them beat Council Rock South on Friday and have CR North lose to Neshaminy to earn its share of a championship.
Central Bucks West (11-1) has a one-game conference lead in the SOL Continental Conference, but the Bucks have no easy road to an outright title. West has a pair of home games – Tuesday against a resurgent Pennridge (4-8) and Friday against district rival Central Bucks South (8-4). Souderton (10-2) stumbled out of first place with its 45-42 loss to Pennridge, but the Indians are still in the title hunt. The Indians will host resurgent North Penn (4-8) on Tuesday and travel to Central Bucks East (6-6) on Friday.
Wissahickon (9-1) has its SOL American Conference fate in hand if the Trojans can win outin their final two games of the season. Wissahickon will host Upper Dublin (4-6) on Tuesday and will travel to Cheltenham (5-5) on Friday in the conference finale. Norristown (9-2) still has a shot at a conference title but the Eagles would need at least one Wissahickon loss and a difficult win over visiting Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-3) on Friday. Plymouth Whitemarsh has very long shot if Wissahickon loses both games and the Colonials can defeat Norristown in the conference finale.
Pennsbury and Bensalemboth ventured out of the Suburban One League National Conferenceon Saturday and registered impressive victories over some first-rate opponents. The Falcons (14-6) soared to an 81-76 win over Coatesville (14-3), while the Owls (12-8) soared to a 68-62 victory over Bethlehem Freedom (16-3).
Pennsbury Pride
“We have played a very competitive schedule this season, and it is great to step outside of your comfort zone,” said Pennsbury head coach Bill Coleman. “Both us and Coatesville shot the lights out in the first half. It was a very entertaining game to watch from the stands, but it was a very difficult game to coach.
“This is the best time of year to be playing with confidence,” added Coleman as the Falcons have now won nine of their last 10 games. “We sleep walked through (Friday) night’s game with Truman (51-40 win), and I think we might have been looking toward the Coatesville game.”
The Pennsbury-Coatesville game was burner from the outset as the score was knotted at 47-47 at intermission.
“Both teams were on fire,” said Coleman. “We did a great job of running our offense, and we got some good looks.”
The best lookers in the game for the Falcons from the perimeter were the tandem of Kieran Bolger and Jerrel Burke. Bolger – who scored a game-high 25 points – knocked down five 3-point bombs. Burke – who scored 20 points for the Falcons – fired home six 3-point missiles for the winners.
Pennsbury also received an excellent effort from 6-foot, 9-inch senior Dan Ransom. Ransom scored 11 points – all in the fourth period that sealed the victory for the Falcons. Shawn Pepper scored in double digits with 14 points for the winners.
“Coatesville tried to take away both Kieran and Jerrel, and Dan came up with some big plays for us in the post,” said Coleman. “He had one huge put-back dunk that got both us and the fans going.”
Coatesville Red Raiders 27 20 14 15 - 76
Pennsbury Falcons 26 21 15 19 - 81
Bravo Bensalem
“To be able to beat a playoff caliber team like Bethlehem Freedom at this time of the season is great,” said Bensalem head coach John Mullin. “Right now we are playing well at the right time of the year.”
Bensalem has won seven of its last eight games with the only loss an unexpected 59-56 loss to William Tennent (7-13). The Owls also lost to the Panthers earlier in the season – 66-64. If Bensalem (11-8, 8-4) had beaten William Tennent in those two meetings, the Owls would be playing for first place against Council Rock North (15-4, 10-2) on Tuesday.
“We have to put those games behind us, I can’t really explain them,” said Mullin. “We have to focus on the games we have ahead of us. Council Rock North is a team that is going to make some noise in the playoffs, and this should be a good test for us.”
The focus was there against Bethlehem Freedom as the Owls scored 28 points in the fourth period to secure the win. Julian Hyden scored a game-high 26 points for the Owls – 14 points in the crucial fourth period. Leo Vincent also provided offensive spark for the winners with a 19-point scoring effort.
“Leo kept us in the game early, and Julian had the big fourth period to help us win the game late,” said Mullin. “It wasn’t real pretty, but we’ll take it. Every win against a good team is a good win.”
Bethlehem Freedom 12 17 15 18 - 62
Bensalem Owls 11 14 15 28 - 68
In the Rear View Mirror
On Saturday, Truman (9-11) put itself in the District One playoff bubble as the Tigers clawed to a 57-52 victory over host Upper Merion (5-14). Harry S Truman was led in scoring by Merdic Green who scored a game-high 30 points. It was the second 30-point game of the season for Green. James Mobley almost matched Green’s total as he led the Vikings with 27 points, while Patrick Stringfield also scored in twin digits with 15 points.
Harry S Truman Tigers 12 16 10 19 - 57
Upper Merion Vikings 13 23 5 11 - 52
On Saturday, Hatboro-Horsham (8-12) won a huge rivalry game as the Hatters topped neighborhood foe Upper Moreland (6-13) – 56-55. The Hatters placed a pair of players in double figures as Michael Brown (19) and Zach Quattro each twin digits. Matt Kohn scored a game-high 20 points for the Golden Bears, while Kevin McFall added 16 points for UM.
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 13 12 19 12 - 56
Upper Moreland Bears 16 11 12 16 - 55
A Touch of Class
Pennridge stunned Souderton 45-42 in a recent SOL Continental Conference game, and in the post-game interview Ram head coach Dean Behrens had more to say about the ‘Pink Out’ event than he did about Pennridge’s thrilling victory.
“This game meant a lot to the players to show support for beating cancer,” said Behrens wearing a pink T-shirt with Coaches vs. Cancer across the front. “The booster club funded the sale of the T-shirts. We sold 150 of them – and I think we could have sold over 100 more.
“The players wanted to honor the mother of Shane Kraynik who passed away from cancer when Shane was in eighth grade,” added Behrens in reference to Mary Kraynik. “Shane is part of our basketball family, and his father (George) and some of his family were here tonight. It meant a lot to the team.
“I told the players the other day that wouldn’t it be great to read in the newspaper one day that they cured cancer,” continued Behrens. “And they could feel good about themselves knowing that they might have had a little to do with that.”
The Rams are more than just a basketball team.
Who’s On Top In District One?
Central League: Lower Merion (19-2, 15-0); Upper Darby (12-9, 12-3); and Conestoga (15-6, 11-4).
Ches-Mont American: Octorara (10-1, 17-3 – Class AAA); Great Valley (16-3, 9-1); and West Chester Rustin (9-11, 6-3).
Chest-Mont National: Coatesville (14-3, 10-0); West Chester Henderson (13-7, 8-2); West Chester East (11-8, 5-5); and Downingtown West (10-10, 5-5).
Delaware Valley League: Chester (19-0, 8-0); Penn Wood (11-7, 6-2); and Glen Mills (10-9, 5-3).
Pioneer Athletic Confernce: Methacton (14-7, 11-3); Spring-Ford (13-9, 11-2); and Pottstown (14-8, 8-5).
Suburban One American Conference: Wissahickon (18-2, 9-1); Norristown (14-5, 9-2); and Plymouth Whitemarsh (11-9, 7-3).
Suburban One Continental Conference: Central Bucks West (18-2, 11-1); Souderton (15-5, 9-2); and Central Bucks South (10-10, 8-4).
Suburban One National Conference: Council Rock North (15-4, 10-2); Pennsbury (14-6, 8-4); and Bensalem (12-8, 8-4).
‘Other’ Quad-A District One teams with nine or more victories - but not in the top 3 in league standings:
Abington (14-6, 7-5); Springfield (Delco – 14-7, 9-6); Marple Newtown (13-8, 7-8); Cheltenham (12-8, 5-5); Kennett (12-8, 4-6); Perkiomen Valley (12-10, 7-6); Upper Dublin (11-8, 4-6); Penncrest (11-10, 9-6); Ridley (11-10, 8-7); Pennridge (10-10, 4-8); Haverford (10-11, 6-9); Boyertown (10-12, 5-8); Interboro (9-8, 1-6); Central Bucks East (9-11, 6-6); and Harry S Truman (9-11, 5-7).
Tuesday ‘Nite’ Lights in the Suburban One League
American Conference:
Upper Dublin Cardinals @ Wissahickon Trojans
Cheltenham Panthers @ Upper Moreland Bears
Upper Merion Vikings @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
Continental Conference:
Central Bucks East Patriots @ Quakertown Panthers
Central Bucks South Titans @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
Pennridge Rams @ Central Bucks West Bucks
North Penn Knights @ Souderton Indians
National Conference:
Pennsbury Falcons @ Council Rock South Hawks
Abington Ghosts @ William Tennent Panthers
Bensalem Owls @ Council Rock North Indians
Neshaminy Redskins @ Truman Tigers
Thursday ‘Nite’ Lights in the SOL
Upper Moreland Golden Bears @ Upper Dublin Cardinals
Friday ‘Nite’ Lights in the SOL
American Conference:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials @ Norristown Eagles
Upper Moreland Bears @ Upper Merion Vikings
Wissahickon Trojans @ Cheltenham Panthers
Continental Conference:
Souderton Indians @ Central Bucks East Patriots
Central Bucks South Titans @ Central Bucks West Bucks
Quakertown Panthers @ Pennridge Rams
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters @ North Penn Knights
National Conference:
William Tennent Panthers @ Pennsbury Falcons
Council Rock South Hawks @ Bensalem Owls
Truman Tigers @ Abington Ghosts
Council Rock North Indians @ Neshaminy Redskins
SuburbanOneSports.com
Super Seven
1. Council Rock North Indians (15-4)
2. Wissahickon Trojans (18-2)
3. Central Bucks West Bucks (18-2)
4. Pennsbury Falcons (14-6)
5. Souderton Indians (15-4)
6. Norristown Eagles (14-5)
7. Abington Ghosts (14-6)
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