Plymouth Whitemarsh takes a big step with win over rival Upper Dublin
WHITEMARSH >> If 2022 winds up being a lengthy chapter in Plymouth Whitemarsh’s storied history, Saturday night’s win over rival Upper Dublin may serve as the turning point.
Sharp-minded defensively while beginning to show its tremendous potential on the offensive end, the Colonials earned an impressive 55-39 victory over the Cardinals in a Suburban One League Liberty Division game at PW.
“When you start out 4-5 and you have what you thought was a veteran team, also adding a lot of young moving parts, the kids came into the season with a little bit of a relaxed idea that this is easy,” PW coach Jim Donofrio said. “We’ve had to really bear down and do some hard film sessions. And some hard realities and say ‘you’ve got to be open minded to wanting to learn.’
“And a lot of times the guys would start with the approach that what we’re offering are suggestions, and not habits. And that’s burned us. But you’d much rather see your team get better and better as the season goes on and be ready to play your best basketball at the end. And that’s hopefully what this becomes.”
The win – three in a row for PW – raised the Colonials’ division record to 5-2 (7-5 overall) while tightening the race with Upper Dublin (now 6-1 in the division, 8-3 overall).
“We had been in a little bit of a slump lately but this was a big win for us. And now we’re raising our standards more,” said junior guard Qudire Bennett, who tied for the game high with 16 points.
Crisp ball movement led to an open three up top for Bennett, making it a 43-32 lead early in the fourth. Bennett soon scored in transition and PW was on its way.
Jaden Colzie’s underhanded scoop and score followed by two clutch free throws by Zende Hubbard had the Colonials up by 10 midway through the fourth.
Marshall Baker had a bucket in transition, sank a pair of free throws moments later, and another basket by Bennett locked things up for Plymouth Whitemarsh.
While its offense began to flow, it was defense that was there all night for the Colonials.
“I love the defensive concentration,” Donofrio said. “To hold (Upper Dublin) to 39, that’s a nice performance considering they have guys who can really drop some points. So the concentration was up. Let’s hope we do it for a lot more.”
“Once we get our defense rolling, we get easy fast breaks,” said Bennett.
This PW team is beginning to shape its identity, thanks in large part to some tough love.
Said Donofrio: “It’s a fine line between wanting to be ‘Ted Lasso’ and myself. And I’ve gone back to being me a little bit more. (Which is to say) ‘I love ya and I wanna see ya do well in life but right now you ain’t hustling.’ And they’re reacting better this year to that. They’re a little more grown up and they understand: if you wanna really have fun, play the game at a high level.”
Colin O’Sullivan had a solid game for the Cardinals, scoring 16 points to pace the offense. But PW’s defense held Upper Dublin to seven points in the first, six in the third, placing a firm grip on the contest.
“Tonight was a very important game, a turning-point kind of game possibly,” Donofrio said. “Because Upper Dublin’s off to such a nice start. And with that record, they should be confident. But over the course of our history, we can draw on a lot. We can draw on a lot of expectation and a lot of standard. It’s been no fooling around. And we have to get to that. And I think you saw some of that tonight.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh 55, Upper Dublin 39
Upper Dublin 7 14 6 12 – 39
Plymouth Whitemarsh 11 15 14 15 – 55
Upper Dublin: Chris Kohlbrenner 0 0-2 0, Colin O’Sullivan 6 1-1 16, Griffin Pensabene 3 0-0 6, Ellis Johnson 4 0-3 8, Seaton Kukla 1 7-8 9. Totals 14 8-14 39.
Plymouth Whitemarsh: Zende Hubbard 5 2-2 12, Jaden Colzie 5 2-2 12, Marshall Baker 2 2-2 6, Jahseir Sayles 0 2-2 2, Trey Jones 3 1-4 7, Qudire Bennett 6 2-2 16. Totals 21 11-14 55.
3-pointers: UD-O’Sullivan 3; PW-Bennett 2.
