Scott Huff previews the SOL teams that will be in action this weekend in the District One Class AAAA and Class AAA Tournament.
By Scott Huff
The goal for every Suburban One League team at the outset of the season is to be able to get on a bus and take the trip to North Broad Street to the campus of Temple University. That destination allows them to play under the bright lights in a quest for a PIAA Quad-A District One title.
The PIAA District One Quad-A quarterfinal battle between # 2 Plymouth Whitemarsh (22-2) and # 7 Central Bucks West (22-4) will assure that one of those two SOL teams will make that semifinal trek to the city. And # 17 Central Bucks East (15-9) could also make a Cinderella journey to the semis with an upset win over powerful # 9 Chester (17-6) in its quarterfinal contest.
The Colonials, Bucks and Patriots have all guaranteed themselves a position in the upcoming state playoffs by virtue of making it to the Elite Eight from District One. The SOL trio will join # 4 Ridley, # 9 Chester, and # 11 Lower Merion, # 12 Spring-Ford, and # 14 Conestoga as District One state representatives.
# 5 Pennridge, # 25 Hatboro-Horsham and # 27 Upper Dublinwill all compete in a ‘playback’ tournament with a chance to make the state tournament as a ninth or tenth seed. The SOL trio is locked in the playback rounds with some pretty impressive teams in # 1 Coatesville, # 3 Downingtown West, #10 Phoenixville, # 18 Academy Park, and # 20 Perkiomen Valley.
# 6 Upper Moreland will open the PIAA District One Class AAA tournament with a quarterfinal contest against # 3 Holy Ghost Prep. The Golden Bears would have to advance to the district championship game in order to move on to the state tournament.
And the beat goes on…
PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs
Quarter-Final Round Games
All games Friday (2/19/16) @ 7 pm
# 7 Central Bucks West Bucks (22-4) @ # 2 Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (22-2)
Playoff Resume:
Central Bucks West advanced to the district quarterfinals with a 40-32 victory over # 10 Phoenixville. The Bucks led the entire game despite playing most of the game without Cal Reichwein who was injured early in the game. Luke Irons played perhaps his best game of the year with a team-high 17 points. Bill Power, Erich Hohlenleitner and Jake Reichwein each scored six points for the winners. The Bucks opened the district playoffs with a 54-35 victory over # 26 Downingtown East. CBW opened up a huge 30-13 lead at the half and secured the win with a 15-5 scoring advantage in the fourth period. CB West was led is scoring by Hohenleiter with 15 points, while Cal Reichwein and brother Jake Reichwein scored in twin digits with 12 and 11 points respectively.
Plymouth Whitemarsh advanced to the district quarterfinals with a 60-56 victory over # 18 Academy Park. Xzavier Malone led the Colonials with a 26-point outburst, while Ahmin Williams came off the bench and scored eight points. Malone went over the 1000-point mark for his career and now has a career total of 1015 points. PW opened the district playoffs with a lackluster 49-36 victory over # 31 Radnor. The Colonials never trailed in the game but led the pesky Indians by just 11-10 at the close of the third period. Malone – who missed most of the second and third quarters with a mild ankle sprain – led PW in scoring with 14 points. Mike Lotito and Kevin Ashenfelter each scored in double digits for the Colonials with 12 and 10 points respectively.
Season Resume:
Central Bucks West: The Bucks finished the regular season as the second place finisher in the SOL Continental Conference with a record of 12-2.
Plymouth Whitemarsh: The Colonials finished the regular season as the champion of the SOL American Conference with a record of 13-1.
Players To Watch:
Central Bucks West: Bill Power, Luke Irons & Cal Reichwein.
Plymouth Whitemarsh: Xzavier Malone, Mike Lotito & Kevin Ashenfelter.
Central Bucks West head coach Adam Sherman says: “Plymouth Whitemarsh is a very athletic team that has some very talented players. We will need to play great team defense, rebound the basketball, and have great execution if we want to be successful in this game.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Jim Donofrio says: “It’s good to be alive. This game is what you hope to play in when the season begins with a chance to go to the Final Four in the district. CB West is a senior strong team that wants to play at its pace and can be very effective doing that. Adam Sherman is one of the top coaches in the district. We are going to have to play our game at a high level if we want to beat them. We worked hard all year to get a top four seed and get three home games. We got that – now we have to take advantage of it.”
Winner Gets: The winner earns a trip to the district semifinals @ Temple University (6 pm) to play the winner of # 11 Lower Merion vs. # 14 Conestoga.
Loser Gets: The loser will play the loser of the # 11 Lower Merion vs. # 14 Conestoga game in a state ‘seeding’ game.
# 17 CB East Patriots (15-9) @ # 9 Chester Clippers (18-6)
Playoff Resume:
Central Bucks East punched its ticket to the state tournament with a 49-43 upset victory over # 1 Coatesville. The Patriots outscored the Red Raiders 21-15 in the third period to secure the win. Tommy Strasburger was once again the engine for East with 13 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Justin O’Neil scored in twin digits with 13 points, while point guard Matt Pattyson added 10 points for the winners. In the opening round game, CB East‘upset’ # 16 seed Pennsbury with a 41-30 victory. The Patriots outscored the Falcons 13-3 in the final period to secure the win. Strasburger led CB East is scoring with 13 points, while Pattyson scored eight points and collected eight rebounds for the winners.
Chester punched its ticket to the state tournament with a 56-34 victory over # 25 Hatboro-Horsham. The Clippers – winners of 16 of their last 17 games – had four players score in double figures. DeShawn Hinson led Chester with 13 points, while Khaleeq Campbell (12) and Stanley Davis (11) also scored in twin digits. Jamar Sudan pulled down 10 rebounds for the winners. Chester opened the district playoffs with a suffocating defensive effort in shutting down Council Rock North 53-27. The Clippers took an 11-0 lead at the outset of the game and permitted the Indians to score just 5 points in the entire second half. Maurice Henry was the lone scorer in double figures with 10 points, while Clipper teammates Davis and Hinson each scored nine points.
Season Resume:
CB East: The Patriots finished the regular season tied for third place in the SOL Continental Conference with a 7-7 record.
Chester: The Clippers finished the regular season as the champion of the Delaware-Valley League with a record of 10-0.
Players To Watch:
Central Bucks East: Tommy Strasburger, Blake Peterson & Justin O’Neil.
Chester: Jamar Sudan, DeShawn Hinson & Khalesq Campbell.
Central Bucks East head coach Erik Henrysen says: “Chester’s record doesn’t paint a clear picture of who they are. Only one of their losses came against a District One team. They are long, athletic, and well coached. They look like a college basketball team. It will be another tough road challenge. We need to repeat the composure that we had against both Pennsbury and Coatesville. We are at our best when we can control the game with or without the basketball and keep the score in the 40’s.”
Winner Gets: The winner of this game will play the winner of the # 4 Ridley vs. # 12 Spring-Ford game in a district semifinal game played @ Temple University (7:30 pm).
Loser Gets: The loser of this game will play the loser of the # 4 Ridley vs. # 12 Spring-Ford game in a state ‘seeding’ game.
PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs
Consolation Tournament Games
All games Friday (2/19/16) @ 7 pm
# 25 Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (12-12) @ # 1 Coatesville (22-1)
Playoff Resume:
Hatboro-Horsham fell into the consolation round with a 56-34 loss to # 9 Chester. The Hatters were competitive in the first quarter trailing 12-9, but quickly fell behind the Clippers by 21 in the third period. Jay Davis fueled the Hatboro Horsham offense with 24 points, while Clifton Moore – who scored 28 against Strath Haven in the first round – was held to just two points. Hatboro-Horsham opened the district playoffs with a 68-45 ‘upset’ over # 8 seed Strath Haven. The Hatters took an early lead – never trailed in the game – and outscored the Panthers 23-11 in the final period. Moore was spectacular with his game-high 28 points, while Davis also had an excellent scoring outing with 20 points.
Coatesville fell into the consolation round with a 49-43 ‘upset’ loss to # 17 Central Bucks East. The Red Raiders led 17-15 at the close of the first half but could not seal the deal. Three players – Rome Boyer (13), Kamau Brickus (12), and Trent Hugan (10) scored in double digits for C-ville. The Red Raiders avoided an upset in the opening round by # 32 seed Bensalem with a 43-40 victory over the Owls. The top seeded Raiders trailed 30-27 going into the final period and did not take a final lead until the 11.5 second mark when Justus Martinez scored a basket to give C-ville a 41-40 lead. Martinez finished with a team-high 14 points for the Raiders, while Brickus also scored in double figures with 10 points.
Season Resume:
Hatboro-Horsham: The Hatters finished the regular season tied for third place in the SOL Continental Conference with a record of 7-7.
Coatesville: The Red Raiders finished the regular season tied for first place in the Ches-Mont National Division with a record of 11-1.
Players To Watch:
Hatboro-Horsham: Clifton Moore, Jay Davis & Brian McEachern.
Coatesville: Rome Boyer, Justus Martinez & Trent Hugan
Hatboro-Horsham head coach Ed Enoch says: “Coatesville is a number one seed for a reason. They have size, speed, and are very athletic. We have to be able to handle their pressure and do a better job of rebounding the ball on the defensive end of the floor. Coatesville is a very good rebounding team.”
Winner Gets: The winner of this game plays the winner of the game between # 5 Pennridge and # 20 Perkiomen Valley in a playback game.
Loser Gets: The loser of this game will end its season.
# 20 Perkiomen Valley Vikings (16-10) @ # 5 Pennridge Rams (20-5)
Playoff Resume:
Perkiomen Valley fell into the consolation tournament with a 45-31 loss to # 4 Ridley. The Vikings led 30-25 going into the final period but could not secure the win. Justin Jaworski – the team’s leading scorer this season – was held to just 12 points. Cullen O’Connor had seven points and seven rebounds for the Vikings. PV opened the district playoffs with an ‘upset’ win over # 13 Cheltenham – 49-45. Jaworski was on fire with a 29-point performance, while Sean Moriarity added eight points for the winners.
Pennridge fell into the consolation tournament with a 61-58 overtime loss to # 12 Spring-Ford. The Rams led 54-51 late in the fourth quarter but could not secure the win. Pennridge was led in scoring by Dan Long with 20 points, while Steve Lowry added 14 points and Max Wagner scored in double digits with 10 points. Pennridge opened the district playoffs with a 67-60 victory over # 28 Central Bucks South. The Rams led 14-6 at the close of the first period and protected the lead for the remainder of the game. Pennridge shot 20-of-21 from the free throw line. Long led all scorers with 24 points, while teammates Ryan Cuthbert and Wagner each scored in double digits with 13 points.
Season Resume:
Perkiomen Valley: The Vikings finished the regular season as the second place finisher in the Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division with a record of 8-5.
Pennridge: The Rams finished the regular season as the champion of the SOL Continental Conference with a record of 13-1.
Players To Watch:
Perkiomen Valley: Justin Jaworski, Cullen O’Connor & Sean Owens.
Pennridge: Dan Long, Max Wagner & Steve Lowry.
Pennridge head coach Dean Behrens says: “Perkiomen Valley plays very well together and has great chemistry. (Justin) Jaworski is an excellent athlete – a great 3-point shooter – and plays with high energy. They play a tough 2-3 match-up zone and play with a lot of confidence. We have to match their energy and rebound the ball.”
Winner Gets: The winner of this game plays the winner of the game between # 1 Coatesville and # 25 Hatboro-Horsham in a playback game.
Loser Gets: The loser of this game will end its season.
# 27 Upper Dublin Cardinals (12-12) @ # 3 Downingtown West Whippets (22-4)
Playoff Resume:
Upper Dublin fell into the consolation tournament with a 64-48 loss to # 11 Lower Merion. The Cardinals trailed 34-16 at the half and never seriously challenged. Jim Gallagher led Upper Dublin in scoring with 16 points, while John Barrett also scored in two digits with 11 points. Upper Dublin opened the district playoffs with a 41-40 upset win over # 6 Abington. The Flying Cardinals won the game in the final seconds when Will Derr blocked a shot at the buzzer. Barrett led all scorers with 18 points, while Derr scored in twin digits with 14 points. Abington was the defending District One champion.
Downingtown West fell into the consolation tournament with a 57-51 loss to Conestoga. The Whippets played the Pioneers close throughout but could never get into the lead. Ryan Betley led DW in scoring with a 19-point effort, while Dom Guerrera scored in double figures with 14. In the opening round contest, the Whippets collected a 69-52 victory over # 30 Garnet Valley. Downingtown West blew open the game in the fourth quarter outscoring GV 22-8. Guerrera scored a game-high 25 points, while Josh Warren and Betley each scored 17 points for the winners.
Season Resume:
Upper Dublin: The Flying Cardinals finished the regular season as the fourth place finisher in the SOL American Conference with a record of 7-7.
Downingtown West: The Whippets finished the regular season as the co-champion of the Ches-Mont National Conference with a record of 11-1.
Players To Watch:
Upper Dublin: Will Derr, John Barrett, & Jimmy Gallagher.
Downingtown West: Dom Guerrera, Josh Warren & Ryan Betley.
Upper Dublin head coach Josh Adelman says: “Downingtown West is an excellent team. They have a huge front line and play hard. They are deep and play well together. They have both an inside and outside game. It will be a big challenge for us. We have to play all 32 minutes and limit turnovers. We have to avoid mental lapses. Whoever plays more consistently and makes plays will win the game.”
Winner Gets: The winner of this game will play the winner of the game between # 10 Phoenixville vs. # 18 Academy Park in a playback game.
Loser Gets: The loser of this game will end its season.
PIAA Class AAADistrict One Playoffs
Quarterfinals
Saturday – February 20, 2016 @ 6:30 pm
# 6 Upper Moreland Golden Bears (9-13) @ # 3 Holy Ghost Prep Firebirds (17-7)
Season Resume:
Upper Moreland: The Golden Bears finished the regular season as the sixth place finisher in the Suburban One League American Conference with a record of 5-9.
Holy Ghost Prep: The Firebirds finished the regular season as the third place finisher in the Bicentennial League Independence Division with a record of 11-4.
Players To Watch:
Upper Moreland: Brendan O’Donnell, Damian Washington & Shane Stone
Holy Ghost Prep: Mike McFadden, Julian Turner & Jack Collahan
Upper Moreland head coach Matt Heiland says: “ I have the utmost respect for Coach (Tony) Chapman and the Holy Ghost program. Coach Chapman was won over 800 games. They have two excellent players in Jack Coolahan and Mike McFadden and we have to control them. We also have to control the boards and win the turnover battle. We have to play our game and play our style.”
Winner Gets: The winner of this game will play the winner of the game between # 2 Octorara and # 7 Sun Valley in a district semifinal game.
Loser Gets: The loser of this game will end its season.
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