CB West beats Plymouth Whitemarsh in OT, advances to SOL final
NEWTOWN >> Down by two to Plymouth Whitemarsh with the clock running down, Central Bucks West worked the ball around until the Bucks got the look they wanted — an open lane, with Connor Lynch taking it hard to the hoop.
“We called the play, and we always try to take advantage of mismatches because we’re not the biggest team but we can all handle the ball,” Lynch said. “And I guess (coach Adam Sherman) felt I had the best match-up on the floor. The goal was just to get to the rack with about five seconds left and get the o-board if it didn’t fall.”
No rebound was needed, as Lynch’s layup fell through, tying the game at 43 apiece with just under five ticks left.
The Bucks came up with one more defensive stop at the other end, forcing overtime, and from there West was in control, earning a 53-46 comeback victory in the Suburban One League semifinals at Council Rock North High School Saturday night.
The win advanced the fourth-seeded Bucks to Monday night’s final, where they’ll face No. 3 Abington Monday night at 7:30 at Bensalem.
“I think we had all the momentum,” Lynch said of the overtime, during which the Bucks outscored top-seeded PW 10-3. “We were riding that wave from the runs we went on in the fourth quarter.”
The Bucks overcame an eight-point fourth quarter deficit to draw even, then took the lead for good in OT when another drive to the hoop by Lynch put West up 45-43.
With the Bucks in the bonus, West added to its lead with solid free-throw shooting. Luke Irons hit five of six down the stretch in overtime to give the Bucks a 50-46 lead with 50 seconds to go, and then Billy Power hit a pair to provide breathing room with 28 seconds left, making it 52-46.
Cal Reichwein stepped in front of a PW pass around the perimeter to lock things up for West.
“The guys were really upset to see the (Continental Conference crown) slip through their fingers there in the last couple weeks,” Sherman said of his squad, which finished a game behind Pennridge. “So this gives them something to kind of redeem themselves. It was good to see us be successful here and play for the Suburban One title — it’s an awesome thing.”
The Bucks’ balanced effort was led by Power with 16 points, Irons with 13, and Erich Hohenleitner — a steady force down low — with 10.
CB West bolted to a 9-2 lead early, capped by a Power three.
PW quickly came right back however, going on a 9-0 run and pulling in front 11-9 with a three by Oakley Spencer.
The Bucks would draw even by the end of the first, with both teams continuing to go back and forth in the second quarter.
A pair of free throws by Xzavier Malone broke a 16-all tie, providing the Colonials a slim two-point edge at the half. PW, powered by Kevin Ashenfelter’s 14 points, would lead throughout the third and by as many as eight in the fourth, but West came back.
“We try to get something positive out of every game, and I think it was a good opportunity to see West up close,” Colonials coach Jim Donofrio said.
