City of Basketball Love

Ryan Coyle (@RyanCoyle35)
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When watching the Plymouth Whitemarsh boys under long coach Jim Donofrio there has always been a constant within the program: high-level guard play has been the driving force behind the Colonials’ success and has propelled them to one of the most respected programs in the Delaware Valley.

Over the past decade, the Colonials have seen star duos like Andre Mitchell and Jimmy Murray, Ahmad and Ahmin Williams, and several other Suburban One all-league caliber players don the red, white, and blue PW uniforms. The current backcourt duo of juniors Chase Coleman and Jaden Colzie are aiming to pave their own legacy and bring home some hardware this season. 

Coleman, who began his high school career at Archbishop Carroll and played his sophomore season at Keystone Academy, is in his first year at Plymouth Whitemarsh is looking to be settled alongside Colzie in the backcourt as the playoffs begin to inch closer. 

“I feel like I am settled in by now and adjusted to playing with these guys and with this coaching staff,” Coleman said. “I feel like from here on out it is just about getting better and fixing some things to get ready for the playoffs. We know there is stuff we still have to work on to accomplish what we have set out for, but it is good to still have a chance to work on those things before the playoffs come around.”

In Tuesday night’s 72-52 victory over William Tennent (10-5, 6-4) the backcourt duo of Coleman and Colzie combined for 32 points and only five turnovers, showing a maturation process that Donofrio is proud of.

“On offense we did exactly what they wanted us to do at the beginning which was against their traps, they wanted us to take a quick shot so they could get a rebound and go,” Donofrio said. “But, I was proud of the way we settled in and between Jaden and Chase they were able to handle that pressure and play at a good pace for us. They were able to get the ball in the middle of the floor and once we were able to do that, we were powering in for layups. It was nice to see us adjust on the fly like that.” 

The Colonials (13-2, 10-0) started off with a 6-4 lead when Donofrio called timeout with 5:16 to go in the first quarter, but then rattled off a 7-0 after Donofrio voiced his displeasure with their quick shot selection and the duo of Colzie and Coleman began to break the pressure the Panthers were presenting them with poise. Coleman had nine of his 14 points in the first frame, as Plymouth Whitemarsh took a 24-10 lead to the end of the first quarter and never looked back. 

Senior wing and 1,000-point scorer Qudire Bennett continued his strong senior season in the victory as well, recording a game high 27 points and 12 rebounds, providing the inside-out element to the Colonials offense that he is known for. The trio of Bennett, Coleman, and Colzie combined for 59 points on Tuesday night, showing what kind of damage they can do when they are all clicking. 

“I think it is really helpful for not just myself, but the team when we have two really good scorers like Jaden and Qudire out there on the floor at most times with myself, because any of us can have big nights so it is hard to focus on one of us,” Coleman said. “If I am ever having a down game, I know they have my back and will pick me up when I am down and that is a really good thing to have as a team. This is a group that knows how to score and get buckets and that is what makes us tough.”

Senior forward Lincoln Sharpe, alongside Bennett, combined for nine offensive rebounds on the night, giving the Colonials second, and sometimes third chances that helped them pull away from the Panthers in the convincing league win. 

Plymouth Whitemarsh used an eight point second quarter from Bennett to take a 41-22 lead into halftime. While Bennett reaped the benefits of the guards ability to break the different defensive pressure that William Tennent was throwing at them, the execution by Colzie didn’t go unnoticed by Donofrio.

Plymouth Whitemarsh junior guard Jaden Colzie takes it to the rim against William Tennent. (Photo: Mark Jordan/CoBL)

“Jaden Colzie is becoming a really sophisticated point guard for us,” Donofrio said. “He is able to look and identify the pressure that the defense is giving him and weave his way through it and around it. As a freshman and sophomore he was just firing at times when in doubt. Now he is coming down and it is ‘alright what do we need here, what do we want’ and he isn’t forcing much anymore.”

While there is only one ball to go around, Donofrio’s squad has bought into the concept of team basketball and trusting in one another to make the right play.

“Qudire Bennett is a force that can score inside and out and our guards know he has to get the ball,” Donofrio said. “When he is on and hurting teams from all levels, that opens it up for everyone else. Chase opens it up for Q, Q opens it up for Chase and so on. The guys know that too, that if their teammates are performing at a high-level, it is going to open it up for them as well. They have a great balance amongst each other and know how to play well together.”

While offensively the Colonials had a strong performance, shooting 27-of-58 from the field, there is still room for growth on the defensive end. The Panthers’ duo of Kirby Mooney and George Marion combined for 41 of the Panthers 52 points and showed up close and personal what a dangerous pair of guards can do when they are clicking. 

“Today we played two guys who can really put the ball in the basket and if you don't raise your on ball defensive attitude they can harm you and that was good for our guys to see tonight,” Donofrio said. “I thought tonight was a really good game and experience for us and it taught us a lesson about how to play against a team like that who has some really talented scorers and can get up and down the floor.

“(Marion) was quick as a cat, man. And (Mooney) is a really talented and long scorer as well. They are both players and that is the highest compliment you can give to a guy when you call him a player.”

Coleman, as well as his teammates are aware of the dangerous offensive weapons they possess and how they have multiple guys who can put the ball in the cup on any given night, but he also realizes the defensive end of the floor will elevate their chances of reaching their goals. 

“I think we have to continue just to play defense the way we have shown we can,” Coleman said “Just continue to lock up and take care of business on that end.”

Plymouth Whitemarsh led this one from wire to wire, going on a 35-18 run to end the first half after the Colonials called timeout early in the first quarter and won the second half by a score of 31-30 en route to their 72-52 victory. 

Tonight’s 52 point outing by Tennent was the first time an opponent put up 50 points or more on PW in the last two weeks, showing the steady growth that Donofrio was calling for just a few weeks back after a victory over Cheltenham. 

While aiming to live up to the expectations and the tradition of the great guards that have come before them, Coleman knows he and his teammates have goals to be accomplished and things to prove as they continue their Colonials career. 

“I am just trying to get a chip this year,” Coleman noted. “I got something to prove, my team has got something to prove, and our focus is just on winning and that is the great thing about this group. We all have a goal of winning every time we are out there and when you have that mindset, you are tough to stop. We just want to be winners, that is all we are worried about.”

As Donofrio stated after the aforementioned Cheltenham game, “If you work really hard you’ll put on a show. If you come out to put on a show, it's not going to work. Don’t worry about the show, worry about the work and then the highlights come.”

Coleman and Colzie look to be putting in the work in the backcourt alongside their teammates and if Donfrio’s adage has some substance, the show come February could be the Colonials’ first District 1 title since 2016. 

By Quarter
Plymouth Whitemarsh:  24  |  17  |  21  |  10  ||  72
William Tennent:           10  |  12  |  16  |  14  ||  52

Shooting
Plymouth Whitemarsh: 27-58 FG (6-21 3PT), 11-18 FT
William Tennent: 18-45 FG (4-18 3PT), 12/14 FT 

Scoring
Plymouth Whitemarsh: Bennett 27, Colzie 18, Coleman 14, Sayles 10, Sharpe 2, Ring 1
William Tennent: Mooney 22, Marion 21, Devor 8, D’Ambra 3