Watson, Bonner & Prendergast eager to get states started

UPPER DARBY — Tyreese Watson doesn’t let the question finish before answering. With Bonner & Prendergast having playing just one game in 20 days, has the intensity in practices ramped up?

“Yes. We’re in the gym every day,” the junior guard said this week. “We’re still playing against each other. We’re in practice and competing, so it’s not like we’re just sitting out waiting for the next game.”

In the six weeks from Jan. 4 to the Catholic League quarterfinal loss to Neumann-Goretti Feb. 15, the Friars played 14 games. In three weeks since, they’ve played one, the District 12 Class 4A final. So to ward off rust ahead of Friday’s states opener against Littlestown (7 p.m., St. Joseph’s Prep), Bonner has had to generate its own momentum.

Watson is as prepared as any. A knee injury ended his sophomore season early, missing the Friars’ run to the Class 5A semifinals. He’s eager to be part of this year’s title chase.

“I learned from being out watching, it’s been me being able to see what openings I could have on the court, when I can do on the court and off the court,” Watson said. “It has made me better as a person, too, sitting out and watching my guys play.”

Last year’s journey ended in overtime to eventual state champ Abington Heights. In learning from that disappointment, the Friars (18-5) are 4-0 in overtime this season, including a 59-57 win over reigning PIAA 4A champion Imhotep Charter in the district final.

The bulk of Bonner’s nucleus, including reigning Daily Times Player of the Year Isaiah Wong and forward Tariq Ingraham, had states experience. But even from the bench, Watson synthesized the lessons.

“That game was a bunch of anxiety,” Watson said of the Abington Heights loss. “When we’re in practice, we work on in-game situations when it’s clutch time. We work on moments where we’ve got to close in on teams and try to come out with the win. We work on that every day.”

Littlestown (24-3) started the season with 18 straight wins. The Thunderbolts, the fifth seed from District 3, are led by 6-4 senior guard Logan Collins, who’s averaging 23 points per game and has more than 1,500 career points.

In the Class 5A tournament:

1-1 Sun Valley vs. 3-8 Garden Spot >> Four senior starters, a states berth, a district title — the Vanguards aren’t short on big-game experience. And after claiming the district crown, Sun Valley (19-7) has a chance to erase last year’s states heartbreak when its game tips off at Plymouth Whitemarsh at 7:30 Friday.

“We’re very prepared for it, especially the crowd, the atmosphere, playing at Norristown before the final and also being at Widener in the beginning of the year, those two losses helped us,” guard Isaac Kennon said. “So now we’re ready for big games like this.”

Last year’s states berth was a bit of a surprise, the sixth seed in the district peaking late to win 19 games. But with a junior-laden roster, it was easy to see that as the start of a journey. That promise has paid off this year, behind the senior scoring of Kennon, Vinny DeAngelo and Marvin Freeman.

Last year’s states game was doomed from the start, Sun Valley spotting Northeastern the game’s first 10 points en route to a 69-60 decision. In proving that their lesson has been learned, Sun Valley led Pottsgrove by 13 after one quarter in the district semi and answered West Chester East’s fast start in the final en route to a 65-54 win.

“All year, we’ve been stressing that, having good starts, having good warmups to get ready for games,” Kennon said. “And the past three games leading up to districts, we had good starts, so that’s good and hopefully we can keep the momentum.”

Garden Spot (16-12) is led by 5-7 senior guard Keontae Nunn, a first-team selection in Section 3 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League and a 1,000-point scorer. Forward Andrew Zentner, at 6-6, was also a first-team pick.

Sun Valley’s vets have played with urgency all season. But knowing the next loss will be their last has ratcheted that up.

“We want to keep playing,” Kennon said. “We don’t want this to be over that fast. As seniors, we don’t want to leave our teammates, leave our coach, leave high school yet.”

1-3 Penncrest vs. 2-3 Wallenpaupack >> The last two years, Penncrest has entered states as the District 1 champ. The preparation as the third seed has changed in the minutest of ways.

“It really hasn’t changed, except for the parade down State Street,” coach Mike Doyle said.

With four states berths in five years, the Lions know the deal when they take the court at Plymouth Whitemarsh at 6. Malcolm Williams ( 18.4 points per game) and Matt Arbogast have been part of the last two states runs, bringing veteran savvy to a team that made the second round in 2018.

With time to rest from an injury-plagued season, the Lions are hoping this run will last longer.

“They’ve been through this grind, showing the younger kids,” Doyle said of his seniors. “It’s a tricky road. You play every other night, now you have a week off, trying to navigate that. We’re keeping fresh, keeping bodies healthy, and that’s a tricky thing.”

Elijah Rosenthal is the player to watch for the Buckthorns (18-7), in states for the first time since 2003 and hunting their first PIAA tournament win. Rosenthal, a 5-11 junior guard, is averaging 20 points per game and approaching 1,000 career points.

Saturday

Two losses in their final three districts games have Chester (19-6) as the sixth seed from District 1 in Class 6A, traveling to Freedom High Saturday at 4:30 to take on District 11 runner-up Parkland. But the two losses are Chester’s only setbacks in 2019, on the heels of 14 straight wins.

Michael Smith, who scored his 1,000th career point in the District 1 fifth-place game, has scored in double-figures in each of the last 18 outings. Chester is in states for the 25th time in the last 27 seasons. It hasn’t lost its states opener since 2010.

The Trojans (16-10) made the District 11 final despite a late-January swoon that included losses in five of six. Parkland was hammered in its last trip to Freedom, 76-50, by William Allen in the district final. Allen will be on the court at Freedom Saturday at 6 for its states opener.

In the Class 2A tournament:

1-1 Delco Christian vs. 12-3 Strawberry Mansion >> The Knights travel to Springfield at 3:30 for its sixth states berth in seven years, a period that encompasses two classifications and three coaches, the latest first-year boss Reggie Parks.

DC (16-10) has struggled in states, particularly against Public League opposition like Strawberry Mansion (14-6). DC is 1-3 against the Pub in states the last seven years and have advanced to the second round twice but gotten no further. It has the added challenge of being idle since the District 1 final Feb. 23.

Four DC players are averaging at least 9.7 points per game, led by Jackson Piotrowski at 14.8. Tyler Rossini is among Delco’s leaders with 48 made 3-pointers.

Strawberry Mansion last made states in Class 3A in 2017. It’s led led by 5-11 guard Sharon Greeno, a second-team selection to All-Public League National Division squad.