Plymouth Whitemarsh handles Hatboro-Horsham, clinches outright SOL American title

HORSHAM >> Plymouth Whitemarsh entered its regular season finale against Hatboro-Horsham already having clinched a share of the Suburban One League American Conference title.

A share wasn’t enough. Head coach Dan Dougherty joked with his team that a shared title wouldn’t get put on the banner in their home gym.

The Lady Colonials made sure “2020” will be proudly displayed. They took care of Hatboro-Horsham, 65-36, Thursday night at Hatboro-Horsham High School.

“We went 34 years without an outright league title,” Dougherty said. “Now we have three in four years. When you look at the quality of our league, it’s a special league title. It means a lot. At the beginning of the season if you tell me this group is going to go 20-2 and win an outright league title and have a chance at a No. 1 seed … I’d have signed up for that in a heartbeat.”

“It means everything,” junior Gabby Cooper said. “It’s great. Seeing a young team like this being able to work together and pull it off – it’s awesome.”

Cooper and Anna McTamney led the Colonials (20-2, 13-1 SOL American) with 10 points each. Cooper did all of her scoring in the first half.

“Gabby Cooper and Anna McTamney’s energy,” Dougherty said, “the motor that those two kids have and play with is just special. It’s a special thing. I think that’s what has separated us this year – the ability to play with that kind of motor and intensity for 32 minutes. It just exhausts people.”

“(Our energy) definitely helps get rebounds,” Cooper said. “It helps keep our offense going and our defense going. It’s just really helpful overall.”

PW scored the first seven points and never trailed the rest of the way. Cooper had six in the first quarter while Kaitlyn Flanagan added five to help build a 19-8 advantage.

“We were really able to score some transition points (in the first quarter) and extend the lead,” Dougherty said. “Once you extend the lead, it’s hard to sit back. I was very happy with how the kids played.”

The second quarter was also dominated by the Colonials. They out-scored the Hatters (11-11, 7-7 SOL American), 16-5, in the eight-minute stretch. PW’s defense forced six turnovers in the quarter and held Hatboro to one field goal to head to the break with a 35-13 lead.

The third quarter was closer. The Hatters didn’t turn the ball over at all in the third and forced four Colonials turnovers. PW still added a point to its lead, heading to the fourth ahead by 23, 45-22.

Both teams got some reserves into the game in the fourth quarter and it was the highest-scoring frame of the night. PW added 20 points while HH scored 14, making for a 65-36 final score.

Plymouth Whitemarsh entered Thursday’s game as the No. 1 seed in District 1-6A. Hatboro-Horsham was No. 20. Both teams will be playing in the district playoffs next week with the Hatters making their first appearance in 15 years.

Before that, the Colonials will be playing in the Suburban One League tournament, starting Saturday.

“With this young of a group,” Dougherty said, “every playoff game is a bonus. We have two juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen. Every opportunity you get to play in a playoff atmosphere and an intense environment – these kids need. While we practice with pace, you can’t practice with pressure. The pressure of having people watching you and college coaches watching you – every time you get that opportunity we’re going to come out with the intent to win.”

Cam Ryan led the Hatters with 12 points and Emily Thomas and Graceanne Griffis each added six.