Scott Huff features Souderton, CR North and Upper Moreland and also recaps some of the week’s highlights.
By Scott Huff
You can go home again – sometimes sooner than you think.
Soudertonrookie head coach Pete Chimera was an assistant coach at Hatboro-Horsham for the last six seasons coaching with his best friend – Hatter head coach Dennis Steinly Jr. Chimera will take his Indians (3-1, 1-0) down to Horsham to meet the Hatters (4-1, 1-0) in a key Suburban One League Continental Conference game.
“I have spent hours and hours of practice time in that gym, and playing against them isn’t going to easy, ” said Chimera. “Dennis and I played together at Moravian, and we talk on the phone all the time. Our four kids are like one big family – they all grew up together.
“Plus I know how good both Mike Brown and Zach Quattro are having coached them last year,” added Chimera of the two top Hatters. “It is going to be a very interesting night.”
Souderton comes into the game fresh off an impressive come from behind victory over North Penn in its conference opener. Brendan Wagner – a 6-foot, 8-inch junior – fueled the comeback and finished with 20 points.
“Brendan really worked hard in the offseason in the weight room and came into the season much stronger than he was last year,” said Chimera. “He played well during the summer in AAU ball, and he has developed a nice jump shot. He still has a ways to go, but he continues to get better each day.”
Souderton graduated most of its 20-win team from a season ago with the exception of senior John Kanas.
“John has been a tremendous player and a tremendous leader for us so far this season,” said Chimera. “He has been our leading scorer for the season, and he sets a great example for the other players.”
Chimera also pointed out that senior Anthony Williams has been a tremendous asset off the bench thus far for the Indians.
“Anthony creates a great amount of energy for us,” said Chimera. “He really could be a starter, but I like the way that he can come off the bench and give us that spark. Anthony may not start – but he gets starter’s minutes.”
Chimera takes over a successful Indian program that was guided last season by Dennis Stanton. Stanton left the program and is now an assistant coach at Ursinus College.
“Stanton was a wonderful coach, but I am not Dennis Stanton,” said Chimera. “He was more of a college-type coach in the way he coached defense. With Brendan, we are more of a funnel to the middle defense, and we play a lot of help defense. The kids have really bought into the system.
“Coaching at Souderton has been an outstanding experience so far,” added Chimera. “I knew coming into the season the teams that we were going to have to play in (SOL Continental) conference, and I had a great experience coaching at Hatboro-Horsham.”
And tomorrow the coach gets to go home – again.
SOL Continental Conference Notes
How about those Quakertown Panthers? Q-town finished the 2011-2012 season with a 2-20 record, but this season the Panthers (2-1, 0-1) have already collected a pair of wins. Quakertown has registered wins over both Christopher Dock (45-39) and Saucon Valley (49-44).
Congratulations to Central Bucks South head coach Jason Campbell who won his 100th game as head coach of the Titans. CB South collected a 51-41 victory over Pennridge in the SOL Continental Conference opener for both teams.
Joining CB South in first place in the conference after the initial game are Souderton, Hatboro-Horsham, andCentral Bucks West. The Indians bested North Penn (54-42); the Hatters topped Central Bucks East (59-45); and the Bucks defeated Quakertown (54-29).
SOL National Conference
Council Rock North (3-0) will put is unbeaten season on the line when the Indians host unbeaten Abington (5-0) Tuesday (12/18) in a critical conference game.
“I have been very impressed with what I have seen with Abington,” said Council Rock North head coach Derek Wright. “I like the way that they play together. There is no ego on that team – and that is a credit to Coach (Charles) Grasty.
“Anytime that you play a team that is both athletic and experienced, you are going to have your hands full,” added Wright. “We are going to have to play well.”
CR North has played well so far this season with wins over Malvern Prep (56-17), Constitution (60-56), and William Tennent (53-45).
“I feel good about how we have played so far this season,” said Wright. “We have been doing the little things that we need to do to win games.
“Our seniors, Brandon Knotts and Kyle McCloskey, have done an outstanding job this year,” continued Wright. “And (junior) Rip Engel has done a great job of running the show for us. His transition (from Roman Catholic to CR North) is complete, and he is like having another coach on the floor.”
SOL National Conference Notes
Abington came up with an impressive win in the Philly Six High School Classic – Coaches for Cancer Tournament held at Cheltenham. The Ghosts remained unbeaten with a 66-52 victory over previously unbeaten Norristown. Jiere Morrisey (18 points) and Anthony Durham (16) were remarkable both offensively and defensively.
Perhaps the most eye-opening conference game on opening night came when Bensalem won its first game of the season with a 74-58 victory over previously unbeaten Pennsbury. The Owls had four players reach double figures in the win led by Leo Vincent with 20 points. Donnie Reed (18), Stephan Johnson (13), and Austin Nyekan (13) also scored in twin digits for the Owls.
The first week of the conference season presented the conference with four first place teams. Joining Bensalem in the top spot are Council Rock North, Abington, and Truman all of which posted victories. The Indians defeated William Tennent (53-45); the Ghosts toppled Council Rock South (71-26); and the Tigers clawed Neshaminy (59-24).
SOL American Conference
Upper Moreland (2-2, 0-1) came up with a huge come from behind 59-41 non-league victory over Monsignor Bonner to conclude an opening season four-game home stand.
“We are going to have to learn how to play on the road,” said Upper Moreland head coach Brian Corrado. “We play at Upper Merion on Tuesday – and that is always a tough place to play. And then we have Norristown on Friday – and, well, it is Norristown.
“In the win over Bonner, we did a great job of picking up the intensity in the second half,” added Corrado. “Matt Kohn really carried us in that second half.”
Kohn – a senior who has started for the Golden Bears since his sophomore season – finished with a game-high 17 points. Sophomore James Martin added 13 points, junior Kevin McFall scored 11 points, junior Tommy Robinson added eight points, and senior Mark Williams tallied six points.
“Matt has shown a tremendous amount of improvement since his sophomore year,” said Corrado. “He has developed a mid-range jump shot that is tough to stop.
“Kevin – at 6-foot, 5-inches – has given us a presence inside,” added Corrado and referenced McFall’s six blocked shots against Plymouth Whitemarsh. “And Mark did a great job of stopping (Bonner 6-6 center) Pat Vanderslice in the second half.”
SOL American Conference Notes
Plymouth Whitemarsh came up with a terrific 55-53 come from behind victory over Archbishop Wood in the Philly Six High School Classic – Coaches for Cancer Tournament held at Cheltenham. The Colonials were sparked by a huge effort by Anthony McKie, who scored a game-high 33 points.
Cheltenham lost a heartbreaking 73-65 contest in overtime against Glen Mills in the Philly Six High School Classic – Coaches for Cancer Tournament hosted by the Panthers. Cheltenham was led by Aaron McGlawn who was spectacular in the setback with a 31-point scoring effort.
The opening night in the conference presented the conference with four first place teams as Norristown, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Wissahickon, and Cheltenham all captured wins. The Eagles soared by Upper Merion (66-47); the Colonials marched by Upper Moreland (62-48); the Trojans defeated Upper Dublin (52-42); and the Panthers clawed Springfield (65-42).
On Deck in the SOL
Tuesday – December 18, 2012
SOL National Conference
Bensalem Owls @ Neshaminy Redskins
William Tennent Panthers @ Pennsbury Falcons
Abington Ghosts @ Council Rock North Indians
SOL Continental Conference
Souderton Indians @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
Central Bucks East Patriots @ Central Bucks West Bucks
Central Bucks South Titans @ North Penn Knights
Quakertown Panthers @ Pennridge Rams
SOL American Conference
Upper Moreland Golden Bears @ Upper Merion Vikings
Norristown Eagles @ Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals
Cheltenham Panthers @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
Wissahickon Trojans @ Springfield Spartans
Thursday – December 20, 2012
SOL Continental Conference
Central Bucks West Bucks @ Souderton Indians
SOL National Conference.
Neshaminy Redskins @ Abington Ghosts
Friday – December 21, 2012
SOL National Conference
Pennsbury Falcons @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks
William Tennent Panthers @ Bensalem Owls
Council Rock North Indians @ Harry S Truman Tigers
SOL Continental Conference
Quakertown Panthers @ Central Bucks South Titans
North Penn Knights @ Central Bucks East Patriots
Pennridge Rams @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
SOL American Conference
Upper Merion Vikings @ Springfield Spartans
Upper Moreland Golden Bears @ Norristown Eagles
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals @ Cheltenham Panthers
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials @ Wissahickon Trojans
Suburban One Sports.com
Fab Five
1. Abington Ghosts
2. Council Rock North Indians
3. Norristown Eagles
4. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
5. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
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