Hatboro-Horsham, Upper Merion favorites at upcoming Triangle Tournament

PLYMOUTH >> In a society where new is good and old is laughable, the 43rd Triangle Club Basketball Tournament, set for Dec. 27-28 at Norristown High School, has somehow managed to maintain its dignity.

At the annual tournament banquet, held Wednesday afternoon at Plymouth Country Club, another tournament officially got underway with coaches and players from all four participating teams in attendance.

This year’s tournament, featuring returning finalists Father Judge and Hatboro-Horsham, along with host Norristown and fellow local Upper Merion, looks to be a corker.

The Hatters, featuring Indiana University commit Clifton Moore, would probably be considered the favorite, and are seeking retribution after falling to Judge in overtime in last year’s final.

But senior-heavy Upper Merion has a DI recruit of its own in Matt Faw (Holy Cross), and a solid veteran team that has designs on winning the tournament.

“Oh yeah, we’re here to win it,” said Vikings head coach Jason Quenzer. “This core has been playing together since ninth grade, and we think we can accomplish a lot this year.

“We’re senior heavy, and we’re big. We played Methacton the other day and they only scored six points in the paint. They didn’t even want to get the ball inside.”

Faw will have a say in the success of the Vikings.

“It’s going to be a challenge for us,” Faw said. “We’re going to be seeing great competition, and that’s the great part of this.”

But beating a Hatters team that is a year older and that lost in the tournament finals in overtime last year could be a tall order.

Hatboro-Horsham is, indeed, the favorite here. Behind the senior triumvirate of Moore, Jay Davis and Colin Kennedy, the Hatters are state ranked, and have had success in the season’s early going, if you forget last Saturday’s upset loss to Council Rock South.

How far they can go will depend on how they mesh as the season unfolds.

“The key, for us, is how well we play defensively,” said head coach Ed Enoch. “You can have off nights offensively, but as long as you’re playing well defensively, you can stay in every game.”

“You have to keep working, stay humble and succeed on the level you’re on now,” added Moore, when asked about his future in Bloomington.

Judge was the surprise of last year’s Triangle, reaching the finals and then outlasting Hatboro-Horsham.

But Crusaders head coach Sean Tait said a repeat will be a taller order.

“This is going to be a harder road,” said Tait, whose team opens with Upper Merion in what could be the tourney’s best game. “I think to win this year would be a lot more impressive.”

“We have to play hard, and stick to what we do well, offensively and defensively,” added senior Mark Rodriguez. “We like playing the different teams we see here. We’re seeing different types of teams, teams that do different things than we’re used to seeing in the Catholic League.

“And that’s a challenge for us.”

Speaking of challenges, host Norristown faces its biggest of the season here.

A young team heavy on underclassmen, the Eagles will need a lot to go right to even have a chance to reach the finals.

“We just want to see our players start playing well,” said assistant coach Greg Bates, filling in for the ailing Mike Evans, who is recovering from recent nasal surgery. “We’re young and we know we’re going to take our lumps.

“But as long as we keep improving, we’ll be happy.”

For the moment, the Eagles’ primary problem seems to be hanging on to the basketball.

“We have to stop turning the ball over,” said senior Darius McGowan. “That’s our biggest problem right now.”

Still, even with their problems, McGowan said Norristown is proud to be playing in a tournament with the history of the Triangle.

“It’s great to be a part of something that’s been going on for so long,” he said.