Andrew Robinson (@ADrobinson3)
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WHITEMARSH — An opportunity is only worth what a person makes of it.

Last year, Jah Sayles didn’t get many opportunities on a veteran Plymouth Whitemarsh boys basketball team, but he often made the most of them. Knowing more was coming his way this year, the 6-foot-7 senior prepared to make the most of it.

Sayles’ hot shooting in the first half of Friday’s early season Suburban One League Liberty Division showdown with Upper Dublin proved critical as the Colonials edged the Cardinals 64-57 for first place in the division.

“I think it comes from having a good work ethic,” Sayles said. “Over the summer, I put a lot of work in, spring time, I put a lot of work in so now I feel like it’s time to showcase what I can do.

“I want to showcase my skill, show I can shoot the ball and do more than just pass. Tonight was a great win, and my teammates helped me out.”

Sayles scored 17 points, 16 of them coming in the first half when he came out hot by knocking in 4-of-5 looks from 3-point range. He was limited to just one point in the second half with Upper Dublin going to more zone looks defensively, but the senior still chipped in defensively in a neck-and-neck battle that came down to the final few possessions.

Sayles is the tallest starter for PW along with 6-7 sophomore Michael Pereira. Unlike Pereira, who is a more traditional big man working his way toward more minutes, Sayles’ offensive game works best on the perimeter.

It’s something longtime PW coach Jim Donofrio is still getting used to, but as long as the shots keep dropping, he can work with it.

“I have to be open to the fact we’re pretty much perimeter-oriented,” Donofrio said. “Jah’s always been a perimeter-oriented guy, but he’s got good size, and when he makes four (3-pointers) that’s a comfortable lead when you know they’re going to make a run.

“I’m used to having Naheem McLeods, CJ Aikens, Jaylen Bonds, these monsters that aren’t just big bodies but talented, talented guys. Now, we’re telling them to just keep firing, man.”

The Colonials connected on 10 treys as a team, Mani Sajid hitting the biggest in the fourth quarter. But Sayles was right behind when he drained one late in the second to stop an 8-2 Cardinals’ run. Sayles did get a couple baskets inside as part of a 10-point first quarter.

“I just trusted my teammates,” Sayles said. “I looked to make the extra pass, play the right way. We had good scorers last year, so now it’s that time we all have to step up.

“I think playing the right way is what I do best; I enjoy passing the ball as much as I do scoring.”

Sayles picked up two assists, both going to Sajid in the second quarter. As clutch as the sophomore guard was in the fourth to help PW stick the landing, Sajid noted the Colonials wouldn’t have been in position to win without Sayles sparking them early.

“When Jah is hot like that, I can’t see anybody stopping us,” Sajid said. “When Jah is hot, it opens up everything for the team. He played a big role in the first half and even the second half, he stepped up and rebounded and played defense.”

The Colonials might not have that same imposing interior presence, but they can still be pretty good defensively. PW held Upper Dublin scoreless over the final 2:19 of the game.

With his size, wingspan and mobility, Sayles can do a lot of things on that end of the floor. It’s part of the reason he was on the court last year and now has more opportunities as PW heads into the thick of its schedule.

“I take a lot of pride in defense, I love defense,” Sayles said. “I don’t mind guarding the best player, I’ll do whatever for my team to win. If that means getting on the floor, getting up in their grill, harassing the ball, whatever it is, I’m doing what needs to be done on defense.”

The senior is hoping more performances like Friday’s will bring interest from the next level, as he’d like to continue playing beyond this year.

There was also little doubt of the importance of Friday’s result. Not only did PW hand the Cardinals their first loss and stay atop the division, but it was also an important moment for some of the team’s inexperienced players to feel what it meant to defend the home floor in a big-game setting.

“I feel like tonight was the start,” Sayles said. “I have to keep going, keep playing the way I played tonight and hopefully it leads to some big things for the rest of the season.”

Crunch time brings Sajid's best

Mani Sajid’s night didn’t get off to the best of starts, the 6-foot-5 guard picking up two fouls in the first quarter and another in the third.

His night couldn’t have ended much better, though, the sophomore bagging 10 of his game-high 25 points in the final eight minutes, including the go-ahead jumper with 1:35 to play. If that wasn’t enough, he made several fantastic defensive plays, including a pair of blocks and a steal in the final 90 seconds.

“I look forward to those moments, especially when the game is close,” Sajid said. “It’s a really good game, Upper Dublin and PW, playing in front of a big crowd, I look forward to all of that.”

Sajid went up against one of his summer teammates with the Penn Warriors in UD junior Ryan Mulroy, something the PW standout said he was really looking forward to. They matched up quite a bit, and it was Sajid who got the better of Mulroy late as the Colonials’ guard turned away a drive by Mulroy that would have made it a one-point game.

“You’re just trying to win these games on performance,” Donofrio said. “I was so impressed, when they tied it, you see what’s the character of your team. Forget all the X’s and O’s stuff, that was a terrific take hold of the game and don’t let go of it situation.”

PW had a 14-point lead when Sajid scored with 2:40 left in the first half to make it 35-21. Upper Dublin closed to within nine at the break then went on a big run to get back into it following a layup by Mulroy with 6:49 left in the third.

Brady Fogle paced the Cardinals with 16, Mulroy added 13 and Idris Rines had 11. Where UD got a big lift was its bench; Chris Kohlbrenner added some senior poise and sophomore Noah Cohen brought 12 points, including a 3 that tied it 47-47 a possession into the fourth.

“Our guys just kept coming back, kept coming back and we ended up tying it a couple times,” UD coach Derek Brooks said. “They’re a good team, they hit some tough shots and they deserve a ton of credit.”

The Cardinals never led, but another 3 by Cohen tied it 52-52 with 5:37 left and a driving layup by Kobe Bazemore got it to 57-57 with 2:19 left. That’s when Sajid really turned it on, sinking a mid-range jumper at the foul line to get the lead back.

Jaden Colzie, who notched 12 for PW, also had two key baskets in the fourth when he sliced through UD’s zone for important layups.

“That was a huge win,” Sajid said. “PW vs Upper Dublin, we had to win that one at home. With that crowd and atmosphere, we had to have that one.”

By Quarter

Plymouth Whitemarsh: 22 | 16 | 9 | 17 || 64

Upper Dublin: 13 | 16 | 15 13 || 47

Scoring

Plymouth Whitemarsh: Mani Sajid 25, Jah Sayles 17, Jaden Colzie 12, Ben Marsico 6, Josh Harris 4

Upper Dublin: Brady Fogle 16, Ryan Mulroy 13, Noah Cohen 12, Idris Rines 11, Kobe Bazemore 3, Brandon Altman 2