City of Basketball Love

By CoBL Staff (@jmverlin)
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The PIAA state playoffs are only a win away for the 16 teams left in District 1 6A. All eight second-round winners on Tuesday night advance to the PIAA 6A state playoffs; the eight losers go to playbacks, where the four winners of those games will also make it to states.

Here’s a look at all eight second-round games; all games are scheduled for 7 PM at the higher seed:

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1) Lower Merion vs. 16) Conestoga
The 2021 and 2022 District 1 champs are back as the No. 1 seed, Gregg Downer’s group getting a bye through the first round after a 21-1 regular season and a Central League championship. Now the Aces get to start the next phase of their postseason with a familiar opponent in the league rival Pioneers, whom they’ve already dispatched twice this season: 42-37 at Conestoga on Dec. 14 and 90-60 at Lower Merion on Jan. 30. Conestoga’s into the second round after a suffocating defensive effort against Neshaminy leading to a 53-19 win on Friday night. They’ll try to replicate that type of effort Tuesday, though besides that first matchup nobody’s held Lower Merion below 59 points all season, and the Aces have hit 75+ on 14 different occasions. 

Downer’s been relying all season on a group of upperclassmen guards that have taken turns starring on any particular night. Seniors Adam Herrenkohl (6-3), John Mobley (6-2) and Owen McCabe (5-10) plus junior Carson Kasmer (5-10) can all dribble, pass, shoot and defend at a high level, while 6-5 senior Jayden Robinson gives them length and athleticism outside, and senior Justin Mebane (6-4) brings even more length and shooting off the bench. Conestoga, under second-year head coach Sean Forcine, has been relying on senior guard Brendan Styer, senior wing Westin Fryberger, junior Ben Robinson and sophomore Rowan Miller to carry the load, with the 5-10 Miller one of the better underclassmen in the league; 6-3 sophomore Cory Hogan has also been getting better and better as the year goes on.

8) Bensalem vs. 24) Springfield (Delco.)
After an uneven end to their regular season, the Owls will be looking to get back on track like they were during a 12-game win streak earlier this year. For coach Ron Morris and his sons, seniors Antonio and Noah, this is also their final run together and they won’t be looking for it to end quickly. Bensalem’s at its best playing together, sewing the different contributions from the Morris boys, guard Amir Drummond and forward Jaydin Moffitt into the majority of their offense. This is a deep team, with a bench full of players able and willing to come in and play defense, grab boards or take a key shot as needed and those contributions haven’t gone unnoticed within the team.

Senior Colin Treude, a 6-5 forward committed to York, is the centerpiece for the Cougars, who are trying to become the second No. 24 seed in three seasons to reach the district quarters. Central League foe Garnet Valley did in 2022. Seniors Jake Adams, Ryan Johnston and Denim Norman are the other team captains. Adams, junior Patrick Flaherty and exciting freshman T.J. Valletti are some of the other top options outside of Treude.

4) Chester vs. 13) Plymouth Whitemarsh
In terms of “brand recognition” this might be the top game of the second round. The reigning champion Colonials travel to the Clippers for a game between two of the most decorated programs in District 1. PW took out Council Rock South 77-55 in the opening round to set up a game that will send one program to states and the other to the state playback bracket

Plymouth Whitemarsh has at its disposal one of the district’s most dangerous scoring threats in senior guard Jaden Colzie. The speedy 6-foot combo guard won’t hesitate to get his shot off from anywhere, and is a master at making difficult, fadeaway mid-range jumpers. The Colonials also have benefitted from the growth of 6-3 sophomore Mani Sajid, who’s being tracked by a number of Division I coaches, while senior Jahsier Sayles gives them good additional length at 6-5. Chester counters with senior guard Dante Atkinson, who can put the ball through the hoop. Senior forward Dominic Toy, a 6-5, 215-pound tight end headed to play football at UConn is a difference maker. Senior forward Calvin WIlliams, senior guard Andre Brown and junior guards Dallas and Jasier Thompson hoping to lead the Del-Val champs on a run after missing districts for the first time in 53 years a season ago.

5) Coatesville vs. 12) Cheltenham
The Raiders and Panthers meet in another matchup that pits two programs with a history of success in the district tournament against each other, though both lost their openers last season. Coatesville shook that loss, which came in this round, to make it to the state tournament in playbacks and advance all the way to the quarterfinals; Cheltenham, which beat North Penn in the opening round; is already deeper than it made it a year ago, when it lost to Upper Darby.

Returning from that state run for Coatesville are senior guards Dior Kennedy and Zuri Harris, both multi-year starters, while their classmate Marquis Peoples has gone from a reserve a year ago to more of a featured role this year. That trio is a great start for head coach John Allen, the former Coatesville and Seton Hall great, but he’s got more weapons at his disposal, including 6-7 sophomore Larry Brown, who’s continuing to make strides in his development on both ends; junior Amon Fowlkes rounds out the starting lineup and his older brother Will Fowlkes is a key reserve. 

Cheltenham used its defense and double-digit outings from junior guards Osei Johnson and Josiah Hutson to hold off North Penn in the opening round. Hutson is a 1,000-point scorer and versatile 6-5 senior wing Nile Tinsley has been a leader for the group. Freshman guard Kamal Mason adds to the backcourt with 6-4 wing Kevin Addison and sophomore 6-8 forward Peyton McClendon giving the team some length up front.

2) West Chester Henderson vs. 15) Downingtown West
Another league matchup, and this one coming out of the Ches-Mont, as these two National Division foes meet up for the third time. Henderson’s taken the first two this year, 64-53 at Downingtown West in December and 76-63 at Henderson in January. Both teams qualified for the Ches-Mont playoffs; Downingtown West lost in the first round thanks to an incredible Sun Valley comeback, while Henderson made it to the league championship game before losing to Coatesville. West dispatched William Tennent, 68-58, in the opening round. This matchup will feature one major difference in the absence of Henderson forward Nelson Lamizana; the versatile 6-8 senior forward, who spent his freshman and sophomore years at Henderson but his junior year at Bonner, is ineligible for the district and state playoffs. 

Without him, senior guard Connor Fleet and wing Nyle Ralph-Beyer will have to shoulder even more of the scoring load for Henderson, with senior forward Evan McFadden, junior guard Dylan DeLucia and others going to have to step up in the scoring department. But when Ralph-Beyer — a 6-4 wing and Sacred Heart commit — goes off, offense comes easily for Henderson no matter who’s starting around him. Downingtown West’s big two are a pair of juniors, forward Zeke Staz (6-7) and wing Donovan Fromhartz (6-4), while freshman guard isaiah Hicklen has shown promise and sophomore wing guard Brady Moore (6-3) has had a breakout season. The Whippets will need to dominate the glass and force Ralph-Beyer and Fleet into as many tough shots as possible to pull the upset.

7) Central Bucks East vs. 10) Perkiomen Valley
One of two matchups in the bottom half of the bracket pitting a top PAC team against a top SOL team should see some excellent guard play on both sides. This one’s also a rematch of a first round game from two seasons ago where PV sent East home early. PV senior guard Julian Sadler was the only Viking who saw the floor in that one, and has turned into one of the area’s most lethal scorers since. Senior wing Kyle Shawaluk is the other big-time offensive threat for the Vikings, who also get big contributions from senior forward Josh Tagert, juniors Jakob Harken and Anthony Rodriguez and a handful of others.

The host Patriots, who won their fourth straight SOL Colonial title, enter their last postseason run with the core of Jake Cummiskey, Tyler Dandrea and Miles Demby. As a freshman, Cummiskey made a name for himself with two buzzer-beater winners in the district postseason and now as a senior, he’s been the lead guy all the way for coach Erik Henrysen. Demby’s got plenty of length and athleticism inside while Dandrea is just a solid all-around player on both ends. East also gets solid contributions from its other two senior starters in Dhruv Mukund, a classic glue guy, and Bryce Lolas, who can space the floor with regularity.

3) Spring-Ford vs. 14) Garnet Valley
These two teams met in the district quarterfinals last season with the Rams taking down the Jaguars, 56-38, on their run to the district title game. A season before Garnet Valley upset the Rams, 53-50, in the second round. Spring-Ford brings back three starters from last season’s District 1 runner-up squad in senior guard E.J. Campbell and junior guard Jacob Nguyen, two 20+ threats, and bouncy junior wing Tommy Kelly. While he didn’t see the floor, junior forward Matt Zollers, a star football quarterback, was in uniform for the PAC title game; if he gets back on the floor, that would be a game-changer for the playoff run. Sophomore forward Oben Mokonchu is the other regular starter for the Rams.

The Jaguars have reached the district quarters in three straight seasons as coach Mike Brown has taken No. 4, No. 24 and No. 8 seeds there. Junior wing Jake Sniras leads another double-digit seed trying to make a run, a talented scorer who can take over games. Senior guard Quinn O’Hara wasn’t available for last season’s district run, but he’s another key piece. Brothers Jack and Brady Krautzel (a senior and junior, respectively) and freshman forward Grayson Golek, who’s 6-4 with a promising upside, help round out the rotation..

6) Methacton vs. 11) Central Bucks West
The Warriors have been tormented by heartbreaking losses the past two postseasons, falling on a last-second shot to Perk Valley in the first round of the PAC playoffs a season ago before an overtime loss to Garnet Valley ended Methacton’s district run in the second round a season ago. Senio 6-3 wing/forward Alex Hermann does a lot, including rebounds, defend and score all over. He’ll lead the way alongside senior guard Anthony Daddazio. Sophomore guard Christian Matos has been a breakout start with classmate Mason Conrad another young promising piece in the background. Junior guard Sal Iemmello has been through the postseason ringer.

The Bucks not only returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, they also won their opener. Veteran coach Adam Sherman has a team that plays right into his style with an emphasis on defense, low turnovers, unselfish offense and a lot of patience. Senior point guard Matt Engle is the team’s engine, he puts teammates in the right spot but can get his own if needed. Julian Phillips is the team’s top scorer, a smooth athlete who can find his shot at all three levels while junior Roman Kulesa is a good outside shooter but has the burst to get to the rim.Sam Jankowski is a bit of a throwback big man, skilled in the low post but also a terrific passer while senior Bowen Gugger adds toughness and will bring the effort inside.