This week's notebook highlights Cheltenham, Truman and CB South as well as the two Class AAA teams that earned a berth in districts, Upper Moreland and Upper Merion.
By Scott Huff
The mathematical computations were meticulously plugged into the formula – and the selection process was complete on Sunday morning with the results released for the upcoming PIAA Quad-A District One playoffs.
The Suburban One League American Conference was a perfect five of five with the selection of all Quad-A teams in the conference – Wissahickon, Norristown, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Cheltenham, and Upper Dublin – receiving an invite to the tournament. P.S. – both Upper Moreland and Upper Merion were also given an invite to the PIAA Class AAA tournament (see below)to give the conference a perfect seven of seven in selections.
The Suburban One League National Conference had five of its eight members get tickets to the Quad-A tournament dance. Council Rock North, Pennsbury, Bensalem, Abington, and Truman will all be dancing on Friday night with all but Truman hosting opening round games.
The Suburban One League Continental Conference could boast of only three teams making the Quad-A playoff cut – Central Bucks West, Souderton, and Central Bucks South. However, the conference could boast that CB West earned the highest of any SOL team with a # 4 seed.
Cheltenham (14-8) has quite an impressive resume going into the playoffs as the Panthers were slotted as a # 13 seed and will host conference rival - # 20 seed – Upper Dublin (13-9). At the outset of the season, Cheltenham handed Central Bucks West (20-2) one of its two setbacks [55-41], and in the regular season finale the Black Cats dealt conference co-champion Wissahickon (19-3) one of its three losses for the year [49-47].
“We know after beating quality teams like CB West and Wissahickon that we can play with confidence against the best teams in the district,” said Cheltenham head coach Brian Johnson. “We have played a tough non-league schedule, and we obviously play in a good league. We feel good about where we are.
“We told the players that we are beginning a brand new season,” added Johnson. “We have the opportunity this week to get healthy and prepare for a good Upper Dublin team. We have had two great games with them already this season.”
Cheltenham had a furious fourth quarter rally in both games to claim wins over the Cardinals. The Panthers notched a razor slim 60-59 win in the first meeting and added a 56-52 victory in the second half of the season against UD.
“We were able to close out both of those games, and the players know we can beat them,” said Johnson. “But at the same time, Upper Dublin must feel the same way. They could have won either or both of those games.”
The winner of the Cheltenham-Upper Dublin game will get the winner of the CB West (20-2)-West Chester East (12-10) game. The loser goes home.
The selection of Truman (10-12) may have opened some eyes but the numbers don’t lie and the Tigers earned its selection to the tournament. Truman – the # 30 seed - bested three higher seeded playoff teams this season with a 65-51 win over Pennsbury (#8), a 68-65 win over Abington (#11), and a 69-61 victory over Cheltenham (#13).
“This is the best system to select the teams– don’t just look at records – but look at who you played and who you beat,” said Harry S Truman coach Alan Munford. “We have shown that we can compete with the best teams, and we deserve to be in the playoffs.
“This is the first time in seven years that Truman has had a spot in the playoffs,” added Munford who is in his fourth season at the helm of the Tigers. “The program has struggled, but now the community has something to talk about. We have fought through some adversity, and the players are fighters.
“It is good to be back in the playoffs,” continued Munford – a 1993 Truman graduate. “I was fortunate enough to play in the districts in both my junior and senior season, and there really isn’t anything that can match that emotion. I have some seniors in my program back when they were in ninth grade. It is great that they will have an opportunity to play in a district playoff game.”
Truman will have a road test in the first round as the Tigers travel to Coatesville to meet the # 3 seeded Raiders.
“It is a tough place to play, but we know that we can compete with them,” said Munford. “We beat Pennsbury (65-51) – Pennsbury beat Coatesville (81-76) – and we should go into that game with some confidence.”
The winner of the Truman-Coatesville game will get the winner of the Penn Wood (14-7) – Spring-Ford (14-9) game. The loser goes home.
Central Bucks South (11-11) ventured out of the SOL Continental Conference and played four elite district-qualifying teams in the SOL National Conference. The Titans captured just a single win in those four games, but CB South was more than competitive with razor thin single point losses to both Pennsbury (43-42) and Bensalem (67-66). South defeated Abington (45-44) and lost to conference champion Council Rock North (74-58).
“We have a tough draw with Council Rock North in the first round, but I expect us to compete,” said Central Bucks South head coach Jason Campbell. “We played them early in the season and played them even in the first quarter. I feel that we are a much stronger team now than we were then, and we have prepared ourselves for the tough competition we knew we were going to get in the districts.
“We have been a team all season that has been very balanced – which can make is tough to prepare for,” added Campbell. “We don’t have anyone you would call a superstar. We have been a team that has gotten contributions from everyone. We go out and give a great effort every game.
“I guess if I had a choice, I would rather play a team that we didn’t play earlier in the year,” continued Campbell. “You have more of an idea of what you want to do with a team you have played before, but they also know a lot about you. There shouldn’t be any surprises.”
The winner of the CB South-CR North game will get the winner of the Souderton (17-5)-West Chester Henderson (13-10) game. The loser goes home.
PIAA Class AAA Madness
Both Upper Moreland (7-15) and Upper Merion (5-17) will compete in the 12-team PIAA District One Class AAA playoff tournament, which will begin on Wednesday – February 22nd.
“We get some time to prepare and some time to get healthy,” said Upper Merion head coach Francis Bowe. “(Viking leading scorer) James Mobley has been battling a stomach flu and should be back healthy, and Patrick Stringfield has been hurt and we hope that he has enough time to recover.”
Upper Merion enters the tournament as the # 10 seed and will travel to Harriton (11-11) Harriton competes in the Central League. The winner of the Upper Merion-Harriton game will play # 2 seeded Octorara (19-3) who received a first round bye. Octorara competes in the Ches-Mont League American Division.
“We know that it is going to be tough for us during our league season,” said Upper Moreland head coach Brian Corrado as the Bears and Upper Merion compete against five Quad-A schools in the SOL American. “We always get excited to play our second season in the playoffs.”
Upper Moreland enters the tournament as the # 8 seed and will host Phoenixville (6-16). Phoenixville competes in the Pioneer Athletic Conference. The winner of the Upper Moreland-Phoenixville game will play # 1 seed Holy Ghost Prep (21-1) who received a first round bye. Holy Ghost Prep competes in the Bicentennial League.
Both Upper Moreland and Upper Merion split their regular season games – and both went 0-10 against the remainder of the SOL American Conference. ‘Outside’ the SOL American Conference, Upper Moreland was 6-4, while Upper Merion was 4-6.
Special Senior Night for Special Seniors
Neshaminy senior Ryan Arcidiacono scored his 1500thcareer point for the Redskins in the season finale on Senior Night against Council Rock North.
What’s up with that?
Arcidiacono injured his back prior to the 2011-2012 season and was not able to complete his senior season with Neshaminy. The gifted Redskin guard – who will play his college basketball next season on a scholarship from Villanova University – is in the midst of a rehab program to get him ready to compete at the next level next year.
“I still really can’t run or jump, but I can shoot,” said Arcidiacono who was a first team all-state selection his junior year. “I was at practice shooting around on Thursday, and one of the coaches asked me if I wanted to get a chance to score one more basket and reach 1500 points. I said got excited about the idea, and our coaching staff went to (Council Rock North) Coach (Derek) Wright and he was all for it.
“I am very grateful to Coach Wright for the opportunity to score those two points,” added Arcidiacono. “It was a great gesture by him and the Council Rock North basketball program.”
After North senior guard Aaron Morgan scored an uncontested lay-up to start the game, Arcidiacono did the same for the Redskins – and the rest was 1500-point history.
Not uncontested, though, was the 1000-point career mark reached by Neshaminy senior Tyler Katz. Katz reached 1000 points on the nose during the Skins 73-53 loss to the Indians.
“It was a tough season for us, but it was a great night for both myself and Tyler,” said Arcidiacono. “It was a great way to end our careers.”
Oh by the way, Arcidiacono’s coach for those Villanova Wildcats next season will be Jay Wright. He just happens to be the brother of CR North coach Derek Wright.
How about that?
Prime Time Quad-A Players ‘Not’ in the PIAA District One Playoffs
First Team:Wes Brooks (North Penn); Tim Abruzzo (Pennridge); Jack Rauchut (William Tennent); Tyler Katz (Neshaminy); and Christian Crane (Council Rock South).
Second Team:Ryan O’Neil (Central Bucks East); Michael Brown (Hatboro-Horsham); Steve Topley (Central Bucks East); Bobby Marterella (Neshaminy); and Horace Spencer (William Tennent).
Third Team: Andrew Lyons (Pennridge); Corey Jorgensen (Quakertown); Javi Alvarino (North Penn); Zach Quattro (Hatboro-Horsham); and PJ Gallo (Council Rock South).
SuburbanOneSports.com
Top Ten
1. Council Rock North Indians (17-5)
2. Central Bucks West Bucks (20-2)
3. Wissahickon Trojans (19-3)
4. Pennsbury Falcons (16-6)
5. Souderton Indians (17-5)
6. Norristown Eagles (16-6)
7. Abington Ghosts (16-6)
8. Cheltenham Panthers (14-8)
9. Bensalem Owls (14-8)
10. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (12-10)
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