City of Basketball Love

By Jared Leveson (@jared_leveson)
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NEWTOWN — Amir Drummond has carved a significant role with Bensalem because of his positive attitude and sense of humor. 

Although, sometimes, his jokes aren't well-timed. 

"Last week, [during practice] I was talking during the play," the junior 5-foot-6 guard said. "Then I got in [and] didn't know the play."

He got an earful from head coach Ron Morris because of it. 

Drummond is receptive, though. He's maturing and learning about his comedic timing. He’s still his honest and smiling self but more aware of when to filter himself when needed.

That maturation shows on the floor too. Drummond scored 11 points and played the best defensive game of his Bensalem career Friday night against Council Rock North to help the Owls shut down their SOL Patriot rival for a 64-44 win. 

"He's maturing right in front of our eyes, which is all we want to do," Morris said. "Our job is to make a better young man today than yesterday, and it's fun to see.”

Drummond moved with his family to Bensalem last year, but it feels like he's been a part of the Bensalem family for a long time. 

He didn't know anybody except for Ron’s sons Antonio and Noah Morris, who he crossed paths with on the local hoops circuit and open gyms. The then-sophomore was nervous on his first day of school, but things changed when Antonio invited Drummond to sit with him at lunch.

After a workout with the basketball team, Drummond felt like he belonged. From there, his personality began to shine through and shine brightly. 

"I just like to laugh," Drummond said. "I like to have fun."

"He's always smiling," added Ron Morris, now in his 19th year at Bensalem between being an assistant and head coach. 

Drummond’s boisterous personality and honesty landed him in hot water on occasion last season. He was all-energy all the time. His emotions would get the best of him, or a wisecrack would distract his teammates during practice.

One-on-one conversations with the coaching staff have helped. Still, Drummond's selfless mindset motivated him to become more aware of himself and adjust for his team's sake. 

"I was too energetic, but now I'm starting to control it," Drummond said. "If it's a serious situation, a joke is not needed. 

“Or if it's like a situation where I see a teammate is down after he missed a couple of shots, maybe he just needs to get uplifted, laugh a little bit, and forget about it." 

Ron Morris brings his program together often outside of basketball. They eat a lot together and are around each other outside of the gym. Drummond's personality pulls this team toward one another even more. 

The Morris family and Drummond live nearby. They often carpool with one another to school or practice. 

"He's really funny," Noah Morris said." "He knows how to make people laugh. He is very honest."

"It really brings us together"

His connection with his teammates is evident. They had his back against Council Rock North. 

The two student sections chirped all night, and play got chippy at times. Drummond got a technical foul in the first quarter, and Antonio brought him down. Then, starting in the second quarter, Drummond found his focus. 

Bensalem's sixth man finished the game with 11 points on five-of-seven shooting, leading his team in steals with six. He notched two assists as well. 

Drummond's always ready to come off the bench. His disposition allows him to hop into a game and provide meaningful minutes.

"He's talented enough to be a starter on a lot of teams around this area," Ron Morris said. "But he accepts his role, and that speaks volumes to the type of person he is. To be able to have the mental toughness to accept that role, but not going through that tunnel in the starting lineups could affect players in the wrong way, but he doesn't let it (happen) because he is such a good person."

Bensalem’s starting five and Drummond totaled 13 steals in Friday’s game. Defensively, he had never played better and his coach noticed it too.

"[I'm] really starting to use my speed off the ball,” Drummond said.

"Amir's coming a long way defensively," Ron Morris said. "We always knew he was fast. He was always good offensively. He's really quick, but his rotations got way better as the game went on. So that's something, if he continues to do with his speed, we'll be able to utilize him in many ways on the defensive end." 

Defensive pressure was critical to Bensalem’s game plan. North's Oliver Schaefer and Grady Burt are capable scorers, and the Owls didn't want to give them anything easy. 

Schaefer couldn't get into a rhythm because of Noah Morris' clamps. He guarded Schaefer for 94 feet and wore him down. Burt was the only North player to finish in double digits with 16 but didn't start hitting shots until the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach.

"We are a small team,” Drummond said. “We are faster than most teams. We have some athletic guys who can really get on the ball. We just really take pride in getting deflections, getting on the ball, taking charges, diving, all types of stuff like that." 

The Owls' defense created ample offensive opportunities. They also shared the ball generously, racking up nine assists on their 23 made shots. 

Noah Morris capitalized on the extra possessions created by their defense. The senior finished with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting. He scored all 17 in the first half, knocking down five threes to help the Owls to a 41-23 lead at the break, which allowed the Owls’ defenders to pin their ears back and get after the ball. Council Rock North never got within 14 the rest of the game.

Bensalem hadn't beaten Council Rock North in two years until tonight. Morris and company were juiced up afterward. As the team left the locker room, they laughed and had a good time. 

For Drummond, that's the key to this team's success going forward.  

"As a team, we just have to stick together. I feel like laughing is good for [us] all," Drummond said. 

By Quarter:
CRN: 14 | 9 | 13 | 8 || 44
BEN: 20 | 21 | 15 | 8 || 64

Scoring:
CRN: Grady Burt 16, Oliver Schaefer 6, Tyler Rodowicz 6, Riley Haggerty 5, Brendan Green 4, Jack Curry 3, Andrew O’Keefe 4

BEN: Noah Morris 17, Amir Drummond 11, Antonio Morris 11, Jaidyn Moffit 9, Micah White 6, Nate Cooper 5, Idris Savadago 2, Jayden Matthew 2