Wissahickon and Abington advanced to the District One AAAA semifinals. Council Rock North, Pennsbury and Cheltenham won playback games. To view photos of the CB West/Wissahickon game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
Doylestown – “Chase, You Are The Man!!”
Wissahickon sophomore point guard Chase Wilson was indeed the man for the Trojans (22-3) in a breathtaking 60-56 double overtime victory over host Central Bucks West (22-3) in a PIAA District One Quad-A quarterfinal contest played before a jam-packed and frenetic crowd at West. Wilson – son of Trojan head coach Kyle Wilson – came up with the game changing plays to propel Wissahickon to the semifinal round.
Wissahickon will now make the trek to North Broad Street in Philadelphia on the campus of Temple University on Tuesday (7:30 pm) with the daunting task of playing unbeaten Chester (25-0) in the district semifinal. The Clippers dismantled Norristown in their quarterfinal game – 81-31.
Central Bucks West will fall back into the playback bracket with Norristown and will host the Eagles next Tuesday. The Bucks have hopes of earning that fifth seed from District One and must defeat both Norristown and the winner of the Souderton-Coatesville game next week.
“I am so impressed with the progression that Chase has made during the course of the season,” said Coach Wilson. “There were big plays to be made, and Chase was able to do his part to help the team come up with the win.”
The first of the enormous plays that Wilson made came in regulation with the Trojans on the short end of a 41-38 score.
Wissahickon called timeout on that final possession and ran a play for the slender Chase Wilson from beyond the 3-point arc. Wilson cut off a screen – lifted up to fire a 3-point missile that would tie the game – and banked the ball into the basket with just six seconds left to knot the score at 41-41.
“I told my teammates during the timeout that I would make the shot if they got me the ball,” said Wilson. “I got an open look, but I really didn’t want it to go off the glass.”
Wilson was both lucky and good for the Trojans in the critical victory.
West held a 48-47 lead in the first overtime, but Wilson boldly drove the lane twice and scored key buckets with 43 seconds and 24 seconds to present the Trojans a 51-48 lead. This time the heroics were performed by Buck senior Derek Dyer who drained a 3-ball with two seconds left in the overtime to forge a 51-51 tie and create a second overtime.
West once again snatched the lead in the second overtime – 56-55 – and once again it was Wilson who regained the lead for the Trojans by connecting on five of six free throws in the final 1:14 of the second overtime.
“Every kid who has ever played basketball can only imagine what it would be liked to play in a game like that,” said Coach Wilson. “The atmosphere was incredible, and I could not be happier for our seniors to get the chance to play next Tuesday at Temple.”
“Any player that has dreams about playing basketball would dream about playing in a game like this one,” said Central Bucks West head coach Adam Sherman. “I love playing in our gym – the fans are great and we have a great student body.
“This loss could take a lot out of us emotionally,” added Sherman. “They have been a great team to coach, and now we have to put this behind us and concentrate on getting the best seed we can in the state playoffs.”
Central Bucks West senior Tyler Schechter was splendid in defeat with a team-high 17 points.
“Even though we lost, this will be a game that I will always remember,” said Schechter. “There were times during the game that I thought we had them, but both teams were able to battle back. We just have to get over it and get ready for our next game. We are in states – and we have a game to get ready for Tuesday.”
Almost lost in the glare of the spotlight was the play of Trojan senior Jordan Reed. Reed scored a game-high 20 points, while 6-foot, 7-inch Tanoh Kpassagnon and Wilson each scored 16 points for the winners. Dyer finished in twin digits for the Bucks with 15 clutch points.
“It’s a great feeling to be leaving here knowing that we are going to Temple next Tuesday,” said the younger Wilson. “We will go into that next game playing with confidence.”
“Chase You Are The Man!!”
Wissahickon Trojans 9 16 7 9 10 9 - 60
Central Bucks West Bucks 5 14 14 8 10 5 - 56
Wissahickon: Jordan Reed 20; Tanoh Kpassagnon 16; Chase Wilson 16; Jesse Hunsicker 4; Kyle Garrett 2; and Gordon Bentley 2. Total – 60.
Central Bucks West: Tyler Schechter 17; Derek Dyer 15; Sherrod Higginbotham 8; Shane Kellar 7; Jared Kelly 6; and Jack Rogers 3. Total – 56.
To read Intelligencer beat writer Todd Thorpe’s story in PhillyBurbs.com, please click on the following link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/high_school/intel/wissahickon-outlasts-cb-west-in-double-overtime/article_3ee3d33b-9f6e-5fe1-9c8c-075a6cde520d.html
And the Rest of the Story in PIAA District One Elite Eight Games
Abington (19-6) will join Suburban One League member Wissahickonon the campus of Temple University in the PIAA District One Quad-A semifinals as the #11 Ghosts stunned host #3 Coatesville (22-5) – 69-66. Abington will challenge Lower Merion (24-2) with a 6 pm tip-off – the Aces trumped Souderton 60-54 to advance to the semifinal round.
“This is the most fun that I have ever had in basketball,” said Abington head coach Charles Grasty. “I told the players that we have a great opportunity to do something special, and we need to prepare for what is ahead. We are young, but we may never get back to this point again.
“The excitement I see in the players faces is great to see,” added Grasty. “And I like what I see in their eyes.”
The victory over Coatesville was no walk in the park for the Ghosts. There were 25 lead changes and 12 tied scores over the course of the game. And in the end, it was Jordan Simmons (game-high 24 points) and Anthony Durham (20 points) that carried the scoring load for Abington.
“I know the players are happy, but we are not satisfied,” said Grasty. “They would like more.”
Abington Ghosts 11 13 20 25 - 69
Coatesville Raiders 14 14 12 26 - 66
Abington: Jordan Simmons 24; Anthony Durham 20; Jiere Morrisey 10; Matt Penecale 7; Chris Ruhl 4; Tom Kennedy 2; and Khalid Green 2. Total – 69
Coatesville: Tymier Miller 15; Chris Miller 14; Chris Jones 10; Emmett Burke 8; Tyler Burke 8; Eric Trowery 6; and Dameon Nixon 4. Total – 66.
To read Kevin Cooney’s complete story on PhillyBurbs.com, please click on the following link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/high_school/courier/abington-stuns-coatesville-to-advance-to-semis/article_d82c0559-76d6-5156-be53-2ba09d5f7c62.html
Souderton (19-6) was deadlocked with Lower Merion (24-2) in the closing moments but the #10 Indians could not come up with the game changing plays in a 60-54 setback to the #2 Aces. Lower Merion will square off with Abington in the PIAA District One Quad-A semifinals, while Souderton must travel to #3 Coatesville as the Indians prepare for its state playoff drive in a playback game.
“We didn’t back down, but Lower Merion can put a lot of pressure on you for the entire floor and for the entire game,” said Souderton head coach Dennis Stanton. “Luke Moyer played a fantastic game for us (game-high 26 points) and we stepped up and battled. Lower Merion never let us get comfortable, and we were exhausted at the end of the game.”
Lower Merion was led in scoring by BJ Johnson with a team-high 23 points, while JaQuan Johnson added 12 points for Aces.
“Coatesville is really going to get after us in the next game,” said Stanton. “We have a senior led group, and we should have no problem bouncing back.”
Souderton Indians 13 11 15 15 - 54
Lower Merion Aces 11 17 10 22 - 60
Souderton: Luke Moyer 26; Greg Mencrezcki 10; Ryan Connolly 6; Ry Yozzallinas 6; Mark Wonderling 3; and John Kanas 3. Total – 54.
Lower Merion: BJ Johnson 23; JaQuan Johnson 12; Raheem Hall 9; Darryl Reynolds 8; Justin McFadden 3; and Yohanny Dalembert 3. Total – 60.
To read the complete game story on PhillyBurbs.com, please click on the following link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/high_school/varsityrap/souderton-falls-to-lower-merion-in-quarterfinals/article_fe646538-27ea-5d22-90fc-5216c7a766d3.html
Norristown (17-8) and Chester (25-0) have played some scholastic classics in years gone by, but last night was not one of them as the powerful Clippers routed the Eagles – 81-31.
Chester – ranked #4 in the nation by some scholastic polls – raced out to an astonishing 27-4 first period lead and led at intermission by a commanding 41-10. The Clippers had 11 players reach the score sheet and were led by Rondae Jefferson with a modest 13 points. Samir Bey led Norristown with 10 points.
Chester will advance to the PIAA District One Quad-A semifinals against Wissahickon, while #9 Norristown will compete in the playback bracket and must travel to Doylestown to meet #4 Central Bucks West. West lost a double overtime game to Wissahickon – 60-56.
Norristown Eagles 4 6 11 10 - 31
Chester Clippers 27 14 17 23 - 81
And the Rest of the Story in the Consolation Round
Council Rock North (19-6) survived to play another day as the Indians captured a 64-59 victory over visiting Plymouth Whitemarsh (13-12). Rock North will host Penn Wood (16-7) next Tuesday as the Patriots advanced with a 60-50 win over Great Valley. Malcom Richardson scored 32 points for Penn Wood in its surviving victory.
The season is now history for Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Sophomore guard Rip Engel scored a game-high 24 points for Rock North, while Arron Goodman had a double/double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Aaron Morgan scored nine points for the Indians.
Plymouth Whitemarsh had three players score in double figures. Morgan Jackson scored a team-high 14 points, while Anthony McKie (13) and Russhon Phillips (12) also scored in twin digits for the Colonials.
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 11 11 14 23 - 59
Council Rock North Indians 22 15 10 17 - 64
To read the complete story in PhillyBurbs.com, please click on the following link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/high_school/courier/cr-north-stays-alive-in-consolation-bracket/article_5bbc52d1-2eb1-5371-9d81-b2444382dc16.html
Pennsbury (18-7) survived to play another day as the #8 Falcons soared to a 72-64 victory over visiting Methacton (18-9).
Pennsbury will host Cheltenham (16-9) on Tuesday in hopes of extending its season. The Panthers clawed to a 58-50 win over Bensalem (17-8) to advance to the next round. The season is over for Methacton.
Jerrell Burke scored a game-high 24 points to spark the Pennsbury offense. Ryan Charity scored 16 points for the Falcons, while Dan Ransom scored nine points for the winners. Brendan Casper scored 24 points to lead Methacton.
Methacton Warriors 15 18 17 14 - 64
Pennsbury Falcons 21 12 13 26 - 72
To read the complete game story in PhillyBurbs.com, please click on the following link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/falls/pennsbury-rallies-past-methacton/article_141a3064-ec8a-56a9-9e38-851f6601b6f0.html
Cheltenham (16-9) survived to play another day as the #13 Panthers edged #12 Bensalem (17-8) – 58-50.
Cheltenham will take its act on the road as the Panthers will meet #8 Pennsbury (18-7) in another ninth-seed survival game. The season is now over for the Owls.
Jerrell Haywood led Cheltenham in the win over Bensalem with a team-high 18 points. Nafis Walker (17) and Guy Henderson (10) also scored in twin digits for the Panthers.
Bensalem was led in scoring by Leo Vincent with a game-high 19 points, while Julian Hyden scored 18 points in the season finale for the Owls.
Cheltenham Panthers 13 13 11 21 - 58
Bensalem Owls 11 10 13 16 - 50
To read the complete story on PhillyBurbs.com, please click on the following link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/high_school/courier/bensalem-suffers-season-ending-loss/article_f3e7c8d6-90bf-51d0-8399-4d75e2aeb45f.html
- Log in to post comments
