SOL’s Plymouth Whitemarsh, CB West, Pennridge aim to continue success

There’s new looks for PIAA classifications, new sizes for local leagues and new lineups for some of the usual contenders as the local sides in The Reporter, Times Herald and Montgomery Media area tip off the 2016-2017 season.

Just as in football, the PIAA bumped its hardwood championships from four to six. Two new classes means a change to the District 1 postseason such as the 6A having a 24-team field with first-round byes for the top eight seeds.

The Pioneer Athletic Conference and the Bicentennial Athletic League got a bit bigger while the Suburban One League got a smaller. Norristown and Upper Merion moved over from the SOL to the Pioneer, boosting the Pioneer to 12 teams — Norristown going to the Liberty Division, the Vikings to the Freedom.

Spring-Ford and Perkiomen Valley try for a return to the PAC title game won by the Rams with Methacton seek to bounce back after a six-win season.

Down to 22 teams, the Suburban One did some reshuffling, Hatboro-Horsham and Quakertown heading to the American Conference while William Tennent is now in the Continental.

Hatboro-Horsham — which earned its first state berth since 2003 and returns Indians signee Clifton Moore — looks to knock off three-time defending champ Plymouth Whitemarsh, which won also claimed its first District 1 title since 1998 and made the state 4A semifinals last year. The Colonials graduated a strong senior group but are looking to Ahmad and Ahmin Williams and Matt Walker to keep up the success.

In the Continental, Pennridge — winner of three straight conference crowns, the last two outright — along with Central Bucks West — which reached the state 4A second round in 2016 — hit the court with new casts while North Penn aims to move into the conference’s top tier.

The Bicentennial bumps its number from 16 squads to 18 with the additions of Calvary Baptist and The Christian Academy, both teams playing in the league’s Constitution Division. Lower Moreland, Jenkintown and defending BAL tournament champ Phil-Mont Christian are all set on continuing their recent success.

The Philadelphia Catholic League, meanwhile, is still at 14 teams. Archbishop Wood and La Salle try to improve on seasons that both ended in the league quarterfinals while Lansdale Catholic and Bishop McDevitt work to get into the PCL playoff picture.

ARCHBISHOP WOOD
Coach: John Mosco (fourth season).
League: Philadelphia Catholic League.
District-Class: 12-5A.
Last Season: 14-10 (6-7 league), lost to Archbishop Carroll in PCL quarterfinals.
Players Lost: Tommy Funk (Army).
Key Returners: Colin Gillespie (Sr., Guard), Matt Cerruti (Sr., Guard/Forward), Tyree Pickron (Jr., Guard/Forward), Seth Pinkney (Jr., Center), Andrew Funk (Jr., Guard), Karrington Wallace (Jr., Forward), Julius Phillips (So., Guard).
Others to Watch: Zah Harrison (Fr., Guard), Chris Garland (Fr., Guard).
Outlook: The Vikings were a better side than their 14-10 record last season and now have a deep and talented — seven of Wood’s top eight players have Division I or II scholarship offers — set on playing for PCL and state titles. Pickron was an all-league second team pick as a sophomore while Gillespie made the PCL’s third team last year.

BISHOP McDEVITT
Coach: Sean Ryan (third season).
League: Philadelphia Catholic League.
District-Class: 12-3A.
Last Season: 3-19 (0-13 league).
Players Lost: Chris Moore, Evan Zehren, Orlando Meredith.
Key Returners: Quinten Beasley (Sr., Guard/Forward), Cameron Gardner (So., Forward), Da’Quane Williams (Jr., Guard).
Others to Watch: Qian Boone (Junior, Forward), Tahmir Thompson (Jr., Guard).
Outlook: The Royal Lancers are young but experienced and will try to build some success early before heading into PCL play. Beasley is a leader on both offense and defense while Gardner looks to build off a freshman season that saw him score 10.2 points per game.

CENTRAL BUCKS WEST
Coach: Adam Sherman (16th season).
League: Suburban One League Continental Conference.
District-Class: 1-6A.
Last Season: 24-7 (12-2 conference), SOL Tournament champ, lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh in District 1-4A quarters, lost to Spring-Ford in District 1-4A fifth place game, lost to Roman Catholic in PIAA-4A second round.
Players Lost: Cal Reichwein, Luke Irons, Bill Power, Erich Hohenleitner, Connor Lynch.
Key Returners: Jake Reichwein, Collin MacAdams.
Others to Watch: Shane McCusker, Jack Traina, Liam Cooney, August Meyer, Matt Cooper, Jack Mulhearn.
Outlook: The Bucks will take some time figuring things out after graduating the starting lineup from last year’s team that made a run to the state second round. MacAdams and Reichwein are back to aid West’s try for a fourth straight winning season.

CHELTENHAM
Coach: John Timms (fourth season).
League: SOL American Conference.
District-Class: 1-6A.
Last Season: 16-7 (10-4 conference), lost to Perkiomen Valley in District 1-4A first round.
Players Lost: Khalil White, Justin Sutton, Anthony White.
Key Returners: Trevonn Pitts (Sr., Guard/Forward), Ahmad Bickley (Jr., Guard), Jack Clarke (Jr., Guard).
Others to Watch: Timothy Spencer (Sr., Guard), Rodney Carson (Jr., Guard), Lonce Scott (Jr., Center).
Outlook: The Panthers have 11 underclassmen after graduating 10 from last season’s team that qualified for districts but Timms thinks this group can improve on that results. Most of that is due to defensive potential of aggressive and athletic Cheltenham side, which it will need to overcome its lack of size.
Pitts was a second-team SOL American pick last year after averaging 12 points and eight rebounds. Spencer, a transfer from Academy New Church, adds an additional scoring threat.

DOCK MENNONITE
Coach: Mike Fergus (third season).
League: BAL Presidents Division
District-Class: 1-2A.
Last Season: 5-19 (2-13 division), lost to Church Farm School in BAL Tournament first round, lost to Phil-Mont Christian in District 1-A quarterfinals.
Players Lost: Jared Exler, Maxwell Holden.
Key Players: Justin Burkholder (Sr., Guard), Deins Bergis (Sr., Forward), Nick Schnable (Sr., Center) Miz Nyegwegwe (Jr., Guard), Nolan Bolton (So., Guard), Jackson Scialanca (So., Guard), Caleb Pfleiger (Jr., Forward), Jared Bernard (Sr., Center)
Outlook: “Solid core of returning players who gained valuable experience as underclassman last year,” said Fergus, who earned his 500th coaching victory last season. “Hard working, positive group, has grown together.

GERMANTOWN ACADEMY
Coach: Jim Fenerty (28th season).
League: Inter-Academic League.
Last season: 24-6 (9-1 league), Inter-Ac champ, lost to Westtown School in PAISAA final.
Players Lost: Devon Goodman (Penn), Gabe Alter (Colgate), Joe Stinson (NYU), Bailey Whitman (Connecticut College), Eahtyn Edwards, Miraj Dudhat.
Key Returners: Evan-Eric Longino (Sr., Guard), Kyle McCloskey (Sr., Forward), Cole Storm (Sr., Guard).
Others to Watch: Josh Brownstein (Sr., Forward), Andrew Towne (Sr., Guard), Ben Garcia (Jr., Guard), Brian Basile (So., Forward), Kahlil Ashley Diarrah (So., Forward)
Outlook: GA graduated three starters — including Inter-Ac MVP Goodman — from last year’s squad that won a fourth straight league crown and gave a mega-talented Westtown School all it could handle in the PAISAA final. But the Patriots do return a pair of Inter-Ac first-teamers in Longino and McCloskey.

HATBORO-HORSHAM
Coach: Ed Enoch (third season).
League: SOL American Conference.
District-Class: 1-6A
Last Season: 14-14 (7-7 SOL Continental), lost to Chester in District 1-4A 2nd round, lost to Academy Park in District 1-4A ninth game, lost to Reading in PIAA-4A first round.
Key Returners: Clifton Moore (Sr., Forward), Jay Davis (Sr., Guard).
Others to Watch: Brandon Crews (Sr., Guard), Chris Edwards (Jr., Forward), Colin Kennedy (Sr., Forward), Solomon McNair (So., Guard), Kyle Hogan (Jr., Center/Forward).
Outlook: The Hatters knocked off Strath Haven in the last year’s district first round then picked up two wins in ninth-place playbacks to earn their first state appearance since 2003. HH graduated three starters, but will try to win the SOL American in its first season in the conference behind the senior tandem of Moore — a 6-10 forward who signed with Indiana — and Davis, a 6-2 guard who was a third-team SOL Continental pick as a junior.
“It will take a while for us to get consistent, but as the season goes along we will get better and I expect us to be very competitive by the end of the season,” Enoch said.

JENKINTOWN
Coach: Wes Emme (sixth season).
League: BAL Constitution Division.
District-Class: 1-A.
Last Season: 17-10 (8-6 division), lost to Phil-Mont Christian in BAL Tournament final, lost to Collegium Charter in District 1-A quarterfinals.
Players Lost: Colin Mulvaney, Frank Sobolewski, Carl Robinson, Andres Madden.
Key Returners: Jameson Kolb (Sr., Guard), Gavin Lafferty (Sr., Forward), Mike DiValentino (Sr., Forward), John Contoudis (Sr., Guard).
Others to Watch: Jason Plange (Sr., Guard), Trevor Brockwell (So., Guard), Jake McGrath (Sr., Guard), Pat Morrin (Jr., Forward).
Outlook: The Drakes will need to find players to step into leadership and scoring roles after last year’s seniors got Jenkintown off to its best start (12-2) since the 1958 state finalist squad. Guard play — headed by Kolb and Contoudis is a strength, as is the Drakes’ ability to play up-tempo on both ends of the court. Emme says it’s the best passing team to start a season they’ve had.

LA SALLE
Coach: Joe Dempsey
League: Philadelphia Catholic League.
District-Class: 12-6A.
Last Season: 17-6 (9-4 league), lost to Archbishop Ryan in PCL quarterfinals.
Players Lost: Shane Stark, Ryan McTamney.
Key Returners: Jarrod Stukes (Sr., Guard), Matt Paulus (Sr., Guard), Zach Crisler (So., Forward/Center), Konrad Kiszka (So., Guard/Forward)
Others to Watch: Sean Simon (Jr., Guard), Brett Werner (Jr., Forward/Center), Matt McMahon (Jr., Guard), Allen Powell (So., Guard).
Outlook: The Explorers have just two seniors on the roster but Stukes was second-team All-PCL last season and Paulus is a two-year starter. Newcomer Simon averaged 17 points per game as a sophomore at SCH Academy.
“If we can get our sophomores to act like juniors, in terms of their poise, their work ethic, and their basketball IQ, we can be very competitive,” Dempsey said. “We need to become a blue collar team in order to win games.”

LANSDALE CATHOLIC
Coach: Joe Corbett (second season).
League: Philadelphia Catholic League.
District-Class: 12-4A.
Last Season: 4-18 (2-11 league).
Players Lost: Tyler Grant.
Key Players: Mike Ottomano (Sr., Guard/Forward), Ryan Braun (Sr., Center), Starkey Gabel (Sr., Forward), Luke Godzieba (Jr., Forward).
Outlook: “We have a great group of seniors that we will count on to provide leadership throughout the year,” Corbett said. The guys understand that if we are going to compete in games this year, we have to be willing to work hard in practice everyday and commit to playing as a team.”

METHACTON
Coach: Jeff Derstine (seventh season).
League: PAC Liberty Division.
District-Class: 1-6A.
Last Season: 6-16 (5-8 division).
Players Lost: Bobby Lojewski, Stephan Savage, Jake Cardarelli.
Key Returners: Patrick O’Neill (Sr., Guard), Crandall Jones (Sr., Guard), Andrew Pisano (Sr., Guard), Liam Malachowski (Sr., Forward), Noah Kitaw (Jr., Forward).
Others to Watch: Brett Marberger (Sr., Forward), David Duda (So., Guard), Shamus Shields (Sr., Guard), Marcus Girardo (So., Guard), Ammar Brown (So., Forward), Kyle Vance (Sr., Guard), Jeff Woodward (Fr., Center).
Outlook: After three straight season reaching the PAC final —including a title in 2015 — the Warriors had a tough time last season but are set on bouncing back. O’Neill (6.9 points per game) and Kitaw (6.1) are Methacton’s top returning scorers.
This year’s roster is talented and deep, including nine seniors, along with numerous underclassmen who are ready and eager to establish their own identity as a team,” Derstine said. Our guys understand that every game in the PAC will be a battle and they are looking forward to the opportunities and challenges of the upcoming season!”

NORTH PENN
Coach: John Conrad (sixth season)
League: SOL Continental Conference.
District-Class: 1-6A.
Last Season: 11-12 (6-8 conference), lost to Ridley in District 1-4A first round.
Players Lost: J.J. Melchior (USciences), Matt Pickford.
Key Returners: Paul Ford (Sr., Forward), Ricky Johns (Sr., Forward).
Others to Watch: David Giuliani (Sr., Center), Chris Coleman (Jr., Guard), A.J. Mitchell (So., Guard).
Outlook: The Knights made a late surge to qualify for district for the fourth straight season and almost knocked off Ridley in the first round. North Penn has depth and size, bolstered by Giuliani, who transferred from Phil-Mont Christian after earning All-BAL Constitution second team honors as a junior. Ford was a third-team All-SOL Continental selection for the Knights last year.
“We hope to be in a position to compete for the conference title and earn a spot in the district playoffs,” Conrad said. “Senior leadership and a willingness to put the team first will be a major factor in determining our success.”

PENNRIDGE
Coach: Dean Behrens (19th season).
League: SOL Continental Conference.
District-Class: 1-6A.
Last Season: 21-6 (13-1 conference), SOL Continental champ, lost to Spring-Ford in District 1-4A second round, lost to Hatboro-Horsham in District 1-4A ninth place semifinals.
Players Lost: Dan Long, Max Wagner, Devon Balmer, Ryan Galloway, Stephen Lowry.
Key Returners: Ryan Cuthbert (Sr.), Kyle Yoder (Sr.), Ryan Kinky (Sr.), Sean Yoder (So.).
Others to Watch: A.J. Demarco (Sr.), Jordan Roehrer (Sr.), Jon Post (So.), Ryan Warner (Jr.), Mike Molettiere (Jr.), Tyrese Lewis-Eutsey (Jr.), Cross Edwards (Jr.), Brett Henofer (Jr.).
Outlook: The Rams try to continue their success despite graduating three all-SOL Continental players, including Long, the school’s all-time scoring year. Cuthbert, Kinky and Kyle and Sean Yoder are back looking to earn Pennridge its fourth straight conference title.

PERKIOMEN VALLEY
Coach: Mike Poysden (fifth season).
League: PAC Liberty Division
District-Class: 1-6A
Last Season: 16-11 (8-5 division), lost to Spring-Ford in PAC final, lost to Ridley in District 1-4A second round, lost to Pennridge in District 1-4A ninth place quarterfinals.
Players Lost: Cullen O’Conner, Sean Moriarity, Ethan Hodson.
Key Players: Justin Jaworski (Sr., Guard), Sean Owens (Sr., Guard), Hogan Millheim (Sr., Forward), Andrew Light (Jr., Guard), Tyler Stretchay (So., Guard/Forward).
Outlook: The Vikings came close to earning their first PAC title since 2013 last season and should again be among the teams vying for the league’s crown. Jaworski (first team) and Owens (second team) both return after earning all-league honors last year.

PHIL-MONT CHRISTIAN
Coach: Glenn Dolton (eighth season).
League: BAL Constitution Division.
District-Class: 1-A.
Last Season: 30-2 (14-0), BAL Constitution champ, BAL Tournament champ; District 1-A champ; lost to Math Civics and Sciences in PIAA-A quarterfinals.
Players Lost: Noah Baldez (Coast Guard Academy), Sean Griffin (Holy Family), Osaze Thornton (Rosemont College), Matt Steiger, Mike Almack, Will Shaw, David Giuliani (transfer to North Penn).
Key Returners: Ethan Steiger (Sr., Guard), Tabeel Shafqat (Sr., Guard), Lyle Tipton (So, Guard), Daniel Olinger (So., Guard).
Others to Watch: James DeHeer (Sr., Guard), Josh Tricarico (Sr., Forward).
Outlook: The Falcons are still looking to be a top side in the league and district despite losing the key pieces of last year’s 30-win side that reached the state quarters. Steiger and Shafqat both saw quality minutes last year with both guards strong defenders. Rebounding will be an important factor to Phil-Mont’s success.

PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH
Coach: Jim Donofrio (19th season).
League: SOL American Conference.
District-Class: 1-6A.
Last Season: 28-3 (13-1 conference), SOL American champion, lost to Central Bucks West in SOL Tournament semifinals, District 1-4A champion, lost to Roman Catholic in PIAA-4A semifinals.
Players Lost: Xzavier Malone (Rider), Mike Lotito, Kevin Ashenfelter, Grady Minick, Davon Burrell, Oakley Spencer
Key Returners: Ahmad Williams (Jr., Guard), Ahmin Williams (Jr., Guard), Matt Walker (Sr., Guard), Cheo Houston (Sr., Guard), Naheem McLeod (So., Center), Alan Glover (Jr., Forward), Devon Lawrence (Sr., Forward).
Others to Watch: Ish Horn (Jr., Guard), Kevin Tilghman (Jr., Guard), Kareem Breedan (Sr., Guard).
Outlook: The Colonials need to replace the 36 points per game graduated seniors Malone and Lotito provided as Plymouth Whitemarsh won its first district title since 1998 last season. Seven players return from that team, including the Williams twins and Walker, who aided in the run to the state semis coming off the bench. Houston heads a deep backcourt while Donofrio says McLeod — now seven feet tall — has made significant improvements from his freshman season.
“We will hope to evolve into an offensive team that can score from a multitude of players — but right now that is still a question mark,” Donofrio said. “In the end this is a group of players that have worked extremely hard over the past eight months in order to compete for league, district, and state titles.”

POPE JOHN PAUL II
Coach: Matt Rafferty (first season).
League: PAC Freedom Division.
District-Class: 1-5A.
Last Season: 11-13 (7-6 division), lost to Spring-Ford in PAC semifinals; lost to Bishop Shanahan in District 1-3A quarterfinals.
Players Lost: Rich Dunham, Eric Wood, Luke Moratelli, Robbie Girone, Adam Donmoyer, Charlie Vasas.
Key Returners: Fran Interrante (Sr., Guard), Dan Cirino (Jr., Guard), Aidan McCarthy (Jr., Guard), Ricky Bearden (Jr., Forward), Vince Viney (Jr., Forward).
Others to Watch: Scott Stockunas (Sr., Center).
Outlook: “We are very excited to start this upcoming season. Since the first day we started, we have stressed that we want to compete and win every day,” Rafferty said. “Compete and win every drill, every practice, everyday. We look forward to competing in the improved PAC this year against great programs.”

SOUDERTON
Coach: Tim Brown (first season).
League: SOL Continental Conference.
District-Class: 1-6A.
Last Season: 7-15 (3-11 conference).
Coach: Timothy Brown (first season).
Players Lost: Tracy Simsick, Austin Eberhart, Ty Salone.
Key Returners: Mike Bealer (Sr., Guard/Forward), Matt Cartwright (Sr., Guard), Noah Horas (Sr., Forward).
Others to Watch: Kaleef Blackwood (Sr., Forward), Tomas Hanrahan (Jr., Guard).
Outlook: Bealer and Cartwright are captains of and Indians squad looking to bounce back from a rare sub-.500 season for the program now under first-year coach Brown.

SPRINGFIELD-MONTCO
Coach: Gary Nolan.
League: SOL American Conference.
District-Class: 1-4A.
Last Season: 3-19 (0-14 conference).
Players Lost: Justin Hill, Larry Clark.
Key Returners: Ryan Daley (Sr., Guard), Matt Corrado (Sr., Center), Quentin Johnson (Jr., Forward).
Outlook: “Springfield is looking to improve on last year’s season. It’s a very young team with a lot of potential,” Nolan said.

SPRING-FORD
Coach: Chris Talley (fourth season).
League: PAC Liberty Division.
District-Class: 1-6A.
Last Season: 23-8 (11-2 division), PAC Liberty champ, PAC Tournament champ; lost to Ridley in District 1-4A quarterfinals, defeating Central Bucks West in District 1-4A fifth place game, lost to Chester in PIAA-4A second round.
Players Lost: Matt Gnias, Nigel Cooke, Cameron Reid, Danny Zack, Charles Scalies, J.T. Cuthbertson.
Key Returners: Ryan Fitzpatrick (Sr.), Adam Geremski (Sr.), Chucky Drummond (Sr.), Stone Scarcelle (Sr.), Nick Heller (Sr.), Eric Page (Sr.), Chandler Salutric (Sr.), Nestor Diaz (Jr.), Harrison Pierce (Jr.), Austin Hokanson (Jr.), Ryan Hagan (So.), Noah Baker (So.), Robert Bobek (So.).
Outlook: The Rams earned their second PAC title in three seasons and earned the program’s first-ever PIAA victory last year but now need their players low on experience to step up after graduating three all-league players (Gnias, Cooke, Reid). Spring-Ford does return two staters in Drummond (9 points per game and Diaz.

UPPER DUBLIN
Coach: Josh Adelman (12th season)
League: SOL American Conference.
District-Class: 1-6A.
Last Season: 12-13 (7-7 conference), lost to Lower Merion in District 1-4A second round, lost to Downingtown West in District 1-4A ninth place quarterfinals.
Key Losses: Ryan Stover, John Barrett, Will Derr, Ben Abel, Jimmy Gallagher.
Top Returners: Rio Besachio (Sr., Guard), Michael Cottom (Sr., Guard), Jalen Heim (Sr., Forward), Zair Jones (Sr., Forward).
Others to Watch: Ryan Besachio (Jr., Guard), Quinton Derr (So., Forward), Ian McGonagle (Jr., Guard), Michael Ryan (So., Forward), Nyjee Scott (Jr., Forward), Cory Stover (Jr., Forward).
Outlook: The Cardinals graduated nine seniors for a team that upset Abington in last year’s district first round and now needs a new leading cast to find their identities on the court.
With so many fresh faces on the team, there is a sense of excitement about what we can become this year and in the future,” Adelman said. “Our goal is to compete with everyone on our schedule, and put ourselves in position to win the games.”

UPPER MERION
Coach: Jason Quenzer (fourth season).
League: PAC Freedom Division.
District-Class: 1-5A.
Last Season: 16-7 (9-5 SOL American), lost to Academy Park in District 1-4A first round.
Players Lost: Isaiah Graham-Mobley.
Key Returners: Matt Faw, Ethan Miller, Aidan Newell, Andrew Persaud, Chris Carita.
Outlook: The senior-heavy Vikings should their first year in the Pioneer running, returning all five players that started their district first-round contest with Academy Park. Faw, a first-team All-SOL American pick last year, is committed to Holy Cross. Miller was a conference’s second-team selection while Newell made the honorable mention.
“This is a group that has been together through some difficult times and they are prepared to take on a new challenge in the PAC,” Quenzer said. “Our goal is to compete every night in this difficult league with a league championship as our goal.

UPPER MORELAND
Coach: Matt Heiland (third season).
League: SOL American Conference.
District-Class: 1-5A.
Last Season: 9-14 (5-9 conference), lost to Holy Ghost Prep in District 1-3A quarterfinals.
Players Lost: Brendan O’Donnell.
Key Returners: Damian Washington (Sr., Forward), Shane Stone (Sr., Forward), Ryan Coyle (Jr., Guard), Brett Brossman (Jr., Guard/Forward), Jake Villanueva (Jr., Forward).
Others to Watch: Anthony Green (Sr., Guard), Tommy Jacob (Sr., Forward), Christian O’Donnell (So., Guard).
Outlook: The Golden Bears return most of last year’s team that had its season ended in a double-overtime district loss to Holy Ghost Prep — a defeat UM is using for motivation in 16-17. Washington is back after earning All-SOL American third team honors as a junior.
“We had a big win vs. Cheltenham at the end of the year last season and we played well together as a team in our spring and summer leagues,” Heiland said. “We would like to build on those positive experiences for this year.”

WILLIAM TENNENT
Coach: Robert Mulville (10th season).
League: SOL Continental Conference
District-Class: 1-6A.
Last Season: 6-16 (3-11 SOL National).
Players Lost: John Ryan.
Key Returners: Matt Berndlmaier (Sr., Guard), Pat McCauley (Jr., Guard), Brendan Carter (Sr., Forward).
Others to Watch: Markeith Alford-Baxter )Jr., Forward).
Outlook: A young Panthers squad made the move to the SOL Continental after eight seasons in the National. McCauley was an all-conference honorable mention pick as sophomore.