Scott Huff previews the upcoming district playoff games.
By Scott Huff
The PIAA District One Quad-A 32-team playoff field has been sliced in half with 10 of 13 Suburban One League teams advancing to the second round. And the surviving 16 teams have already advanced to the ‘second chance’ portion of the playoffs, so there is no ‘one and done’ in the second round.
There are nine teams from District One that will make the grade to the PIAA Quad-A state tournament – the winners in the second round automatically move on to states with seeds from one to eight. The eight losers in the second round battle for that ninth and final place on the biggest stage in Pennsylvania basketball. Next season, there is strong consideration among the powers to be for a tenth team to make the Quad-A state playoff field from District One.
Suburban One League basketball fans can already book tickets for the ‘final four’ games to be held this year at Temple University on February 29, 7:30 p.m. The ‘bottom half’ of the ‘top’ bracket of games feature four SOL teams that survived the opening round, and one must find its way through the bracket to the final four.
Central Bucks West(# 4 seed), Cheltenham (#13), Wissahickon (# 5), and Bensalem (# 12) all captured first round games. Two of those teams will go to the big dance with wins – the losing two teams will compete in the eight-team playback tournament for the ninth spot in the state tournament.
The ‘top half’ of the ‘top’ bracket will have at least one team assured a position in the state tournament. Both Pennsbury (#8) and Norristown (#9) won opening round games and will face each other in the second round. The good news for the winner is a guaranteed spot in the state playoffs – the bad news is a 99.9 percent shot at playing unbeaten Chester in the district quarterfinal game. The loser in the battle of the birds (Falcons & Eagles) will fall into that dreaded eight-team playback tournament.
The ‘top half’ of the ‘bottom’ portion of the bracket will feature another all-SOL confrontation in the second round as Council Rock North (#7) hosts Souderton (#10). Winner goes to states – loser in the playback tourney. Also, Plymouth Whitemarsh (#18) could move into states with an upset win over Lower Merion (#2), but a loss does not end the season for the Colonials with the playback in their future.
The ‘bottom half’ of the ‘bottom’ bracket has Abington (#11) as the lone remaining SOL teams. The Ghosts would collect a state-bid with an ‘upset’ win over Great Valley (#6) – but the playback tournament is ahead with a defeat.
PIAA Quad-A District One Second Round Preview
# 9 Norristown Eagles (16-7) @ # 8 Pennsbury Falcons (17-6)
Last Game:
Norristown held Ridley (12-11) to just 10 first-half points on its way to a 50-33 win over the Green Raiders. Jahbri Hargrove led Norristown with 10 points, while Marquis Bryant, Richard Bouknight, and Like Kelley each scored eight points for the Eagles.
Pennsbury scored 48 first-half points in its 81-67 victory over Kennett (14-9) in its opening round game. Kieran Bolger scored 26 points for the Falcons, while Shawn Pepper (18) and Jerrell Burke (16) also scored in double figures.
Norristown head coach Michael Evans says: “Pennsbury is a team that can really shoot the three’s and score points. We are going to have to pressure their guards the entire game and disrupt their offense as much as possible. Our players have done a good job all year of playing their roles, and we are going to have to do a good job of that if we want to win this game.”
Pennsbury head coach Bill Coleman says: “Both us and Norristown are two evenly matched teams. The numbers tell us that Norristown can play good defense, and we are going to have to work hard to execute our offense. They have balanced scoring and they have any number of kids that can go off and score points. We are glad that we have them at home – I hope our fans can play a role in the game.”
And the Winner Gets – A berth in the state playoffs – and a District One quarterfinal game against the winner of the Chester-Methacton game.
# 13 Cheltenham Panthers (15-8) @ # 4 Central Bucks West Bucks (21-2)
Last Game:
Cheltenham defeated SOL American Conference rival Upper Dublin (13-10) for the third time this year with a 58-50 win. Nafis Walker led the Panthers with a game-high 20 points. Jarrell Haywood and Aaron McGlawn scored eight points each for Cheltenham.
Central Bucks West held West Chester East (12-11) to just 11 first-half points and collected a 46-36 opening round playoff win. Derek Dyer led the Bucks with 11 points, while Tyler Schechter and Shane Kellar each scored eight points for West.
Cheltenham head coach Brian Johnson says: “We have played a great schedule that included both CB West and Wissahickon and we were able to beat both of them. CB West is a #4 seed and Wissahickon is #5 seed and that success has given the players confidence that we can play with the very best teams in the entire district.”
Central Bucks West head coach Adam Sherman says: “We lost to them early in the season (55-41), and the players are excited about the chance to play them again. We watched film of that game, and we saw a lot of inexperience mistakes that we shouldn’t make this time. Of course, they are a much better team, too. Both teams know each other, and we’ll just go out and play the game and see what happens.”
And the Winner Gets – A berth in the state playoffs – and a District One quarterfinal game against the winner of the Wissahickon-Bensalem game.
# 12 Bensalem Owls (17-6) @ # 5 Wissahickon Trojans (20-3)
Last Game:
Bensalem soared to a 56-44 opening round victory over visiting Upper Darby (13-12). The Owls received scoring from its talented collection of guards as Leo Vincent (13) led the team with 13 points and Deion Jones scored eight points – dished out five assists – and had five steals.
Wissahickon needed a 23-point fourth period to escape with a 54-47 victory over Glen Mills (10-13). The Trojans were led by 6-foot, 7-inch Tanoh Kpassagnon, who dominated the boards and scored a game-high 21 points. Jordan Reed added 17 points for the winners.
Wissahickon head coach Kyle Wilson says: “The Bensalem game is going to be an excellent game. Both teams have athletes, and both teams can play exciting basketball. We are going to have to work hard and play to our strengths and not allow them to make us play the type of game that they want us to play.”
And the Winner Gets – A berth in the state playoffs – and a District One quarterfinal game against the winner of the Central Bucks West-Cheltenham game.
# 18 Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (13-10) @ # 2 Lower Merion Aces (22-2)
Last Game:
Plymouth Whitemash was the only lower seeded team to win in the first round as the Colonials marched to a 51-39 win over host Conestoga (16-8). PW broke open a four-point game with an 18-point fourth period to secure the win. Russhon Phillips scored a game-high 18 points, while Anthony McKie (13) and Jake Silvers (11) also scored in twin digits.
Lower Merion jumped out to a 12-point first period lead and captured an easy 57-32 victory over Penncrest (21-11). The Aces – the Central League champion – had four players score in double figures. BJ Johnson led LM with 15 points, while Raheem Hall (12), Darryl Reynolds (10), and JaQuan Johnson (10) also scored in double figures.
Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Jim Donofrio says: “I think that it might be to our advantage to play a team that is not in our league. They don’t know the sets that we like to run at certain times during the game, but then we really don’t know a whole lot about them either. We have played a great non-league schedule, and we are hopeful that it is going to pay off when we play a teams like we are going to face down the road in districts.”
And the Winner Gets – A berth in the state playoffs – and a District One quarterfinal game against the winner of the Council Rock North-Souderton game.
# 10 Souderton Indians (18-5) @ # 7 Council Rock North Indians (18-5)
Last Game:
Souderton took advantage of a 25-point scoring explosion from Mark Wonderling to propel it to a 67-55 opening round win over West Chester Henderson (12-11). Senior Ryan Connolly added 15 points for the Indians, while John Kanas added nine points for SAHS.
Council Rock North survived a fierce battle from visiting Central Bucks South (11-12) to defeat the visiting Titans – 48-44. The Indians placed three players in twin digits – Arron Goodman scored a team-high 16 points, while Aaron Morgan (15) and Rip Engel (13) also scored in double figures for the winners.
Souderton head coach Dennis Stanton says: “We have a lot of respect for the Council Rock North basketball program. They have two division one basketball players in Arron Goodman and Aaron Morgan, and this is going to be a very tough draw for us in the second round.”
Council Rock North head coach Derek Wright says: “Souderton has a talented team and it should be a great game. The district is full of good teams this year, and to get a team like Souderton in the second round is a challenge. To get into states you have to be able to compete with the good teams in your district, and Souderton is one of those teams.”
And the Winner Gets – A berth in the state playoffs – and a District One quarterfinal game against the winner of the Plymouth Whitemarsh-Lower Merion game.
# 11 Abington Ghosts (17-6) @ # 6 Great Valley Patriots (19-4)
Last Game:
Abington jetted to a 10-point first period lead and advanced to its second round game with a 62-43 victory over Marple Newtown (14-9). The Ghosts were led in scoring by junior Anthony Durham with 16 points, while Jierre Morrisey (12) and Chris Ruhl (11) also scored in twin digits.
Great Valley led by just four points at the half but rallied for a comfortable 66-46 victory over visiting Interboro (10-11). The Patriots were led in scoring by Mikal Bridges with a game-high 17 points, while Brad Sherry (14) and Nate Cohen (10) also scored in double digits.
Abington head coach Charles Grasty says - “We have given the players a quick history lesson on Abington basketball, and we told them that Abington hasn’t been in the state playoffs since the 1999-2000 season. A win over Great Valley gives us that opportunity get back into states, but it sure isn’t going to be easy. They are very athletic and are very well coached – you don’t win 19 games in a season without being an excellent basketball team.”
And the Winner Gets – A berth in the state playoffs – and a District One quarterfinal game against the winner of the Coatesville-Penn Wood game.
# 16 Methacton Warriors (18-7) @ # 1 Chester Clippers (23-0)
Last Game:
Methacton outscored Springfield (Delco) 21-10 in the fourth period to secure a 43-35 opening round win. The Warriors were led in scoring by Brendan Casper with a game-high 19 points.
Chester outscored Downingtown West (11-12) by a staggering 20-2 margin in the first period and routed the Whippets 65-27. Rondae Jefferson led the Clippers in scoring with 13 points, while Darius Robinson also scored in twin digits for Chester with 12 points.
And the Winner Gets – A berth in the state playoffs – and a District One quarterfinal game against the winner of the Pennsbury-Norristown game.
# 14 Penn Wood Patriots (15-7) @ # 3 Coastesville Red Raiders (21-4)
Last Game;
Penn Wood grabbed a 14-point first period lead and coasted to a 76-47 victory over visiting Spring-Ford (14-11). The Patriots were led in scoring by Malcom Richardson with a game-high 25 points, while Jerry Price (13) and Ali Sesay (12) also scored in double figures for PW.
Coatesville jetted out to a 21-4 first period lead and coasted to an 82-49 victory over Harry S Truman (10-13). Eric Trowery and Tymier Miller each scored 18 points to lead the Raiders in scoring.
And the Winner Gets – A berth in the state playoffs – and a District One quarterfinal game against the winner of the Abington-Great Valley game.
PIAA District One Class AAA
The PIAA District One Class AAA tournament will begin play on Wednesday and the only two teams from the Suburban One League that are classified as Class AAA – Upper Moreland and Upper Merion – will compete in the 12-team field. There will be three teams from District One that will advance to the state tournament.
# 9 Phoenixville Phantoms (6-16) @ # 8 Upper Moreland Golden Bears (7-15)
Phoenixville finished the Pioneer Athletic Conference season with a record of 4-9. The two top players for the Phantoms are Greg Hughes and Rasheed Lawson.
Upper Moreland finished the Suburban One League American Conference season with a record of 1-11. The two top players for the Golden Bears are Matt Kohn and Kevin McFall.
The winner of the Phoenixville-Upper Moreland game will advance to play #1 seeded Holy Ghost Prep (24-1).
# 10 Upper Merion Vikings (5-17) @ # & Harriton Rams (11-11)
Upper Merion finished the Suburban One League American Conference with a record of 1-11. The top two players for the Vikings are James Mobley and Patrick Stringfield.
Harriton finished the Central League season with a record of 8-8. The top two players for the Rams are Matt Sherman and Alex Shippen.
The winner of the Upper Merion-Harriton game will advance to play # 2 seeded Octorara (21-3).
SuburbanOneSports.com
Top Ten
1. Council Rock North Indians (18-5)
2. Central Bucks West Bucks (21-2)
3. Wissahickon Trojans (20-3)
4. Pennsbury Falcons (17-6)
5. Souderton Indians (18-5)
6. Abington Ghosts (17-6)
7. Norristown Eagles (16-7)
8. Bensalem Owls (17-6)
9. Cheltenham Panthers (15-8)
10. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (13-10)
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