Fourth quarter charge propels Plymouth Whitemarsh past Cheltenham

CHELTENHAM >> Nahim McLeod had 17 points and Ahmin and Ahmad Williams went 7-for-8 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter to lift Plymouth Whitemarsh to a 55-51 win over Cheltenham in a wild Suburban One League American Conference contest Tuesday night.

Cheltenham led through long portions of the game, and carried a one-point lead into the fourth quarter.

But the Colonials seized control as McLeod contributed three field goals and the two Williams stayed cool from the charity stripe.

The Panthers celebrated Senior Night by jumping out to leads at the end of the first quarter and at halftime

But prior to the fourth quarter Colonials head coach Jim Donofrio gave an impassioned speech to his team, complete with red face and stomping feet.

His team responded with a strong fourth quarter that featured six points from McLeod,  and a combined 11 points from the Williams brothers.

Cheltenham got six points from Trevonn Pitts and five from Ahmad Bickley in taking a first-quarter lead, then continued to hold the lead at halftime as Jack Clark bucketed 10 in the second quarter.

But PW got eight points from Ahmad Williams in the third quarter, but could get no closer than one point to their hosts.

But things changed for good in the fourth quarter as McLeod got the Colonials the lead in the final five minutes and Williams and Williams preserved that lead by making clutch free throws.

Clark finished with a game-high 19 points, while Bickley added 15 in a losing cause.

Ahmad Williams and Ahmin Williams bucketed 16 and 12 respectively for the winners.

Plymouth Whitemarsh 55, Cheltenham 51
Plymouth Whitemarsh 13 17 7 18  – 55
Cheltenham  15 16 7 13 – 51
Plymouth Whitemarsh: Naheem McLeod 7 3-4 17; Ahmin Williams 2 8-10 12; Ahmad Williams 3 9-10 16; Cheo Houston 3 2-2 8; Matt Walker 0 0-0 0; Ish Horn 0 1-2 1; Danny Cooper 0 0-0 0; Kevin Tilghman 0 0-0 0; Kareem Brentley 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 23-28 55.
Cheltenham: Tim Spencer 0 2-2 2; Trevonn Pitts 3 1-2 7; Jack Clark 5 6-9 19; Ahmad Bickley 6 0-0 15; Kyron Healey 1 0-0 2; Rodney Carson 3 0-0 6; Lance Scott 0 0-0 0; Jordan Paris 0 0-2 0; Tim Myarick 0 0-0 0. Totals – 18 9-15 51.
3-pointers: Clark 3; Bickley 3; Ahmad Williams.