BOYS BASKETBALL: District One second round preview

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

Predictions by...
Andrew Marcus (Montgomery Media Sportswriter)
Tom McGlinchey (Montgomery Media Sportswriter)
Mike Prince (Montgomery Media Sportswriter)

Springfield Delco (17) @ Chester (1)
MARCUS - Chester     MCGLINCHEY - Chester    PRINCE - Chester

Wissahickon (15) @ Council Rock North (2)
MARCUS - C.R. North   MCGLINCHEY - C.R. North   PRINCE - C.R. North

Pennridge (14) @ Plymouth-Whitemarsh (3)
MARCUS - P-W    MCGLINCHEY - P-W    PRINCE - P-W

Lower Merion (13) @ Upper Darby (4)
MARCUS - Lower Merion   MCGLINCHEY - Upper Darby   PRINCE - Upper Darby

Glen Mills (12) @ Neshaminy (5)
MARCUS - Neshaminy     MCGLINCHEY - Glen Mills    PRINCE - Neshaminy

Pennwood (11) @ West Chester Rustin (6)
MARCUS - Pennwood    MCGLINCHEY - Pennwood    PRINCE - Pennwood

Coatesville (10) @ Norristown (7)
MARCUS - Coatesville    MCGLINCHEY - Coatesville    PRINCE - Norristown

Bensalem (9) @ North Penn (8)
MARCUS - North Penn    MCGLINCHEY - Bensalem    PRINCE - North Penn

One thing is evident after the first round of the PIAA Quad-A District One playoffs and that is they are using the correct formula to fill out the bracket. Springfield Delco was the only team to go on the road and still be around to play on Tuesday, but the Cougars were only the 17^thseeded topping the 16^th seeded Cheltenham.

But how long can chalk winners’ last?

“You hope it doesn’t continue if you are the lower seed,” Wissahickon’s coach Wilson said. “You are banking on someone getting nervous.”

A favorite is going down in the second round of the playoffs. All the teams left are there because they can beat any team on a given night and some of the higher seeds are hitting their stride now.

“Four weeks ago we were 8-8, then we went on five game wining streak and wound up with a first round home game seed,” Wilson said. “We won ugly against Spring-Ford, but the good teams can win ugly. Now we are going to try and play spoiler.”

The 15^th seeded Wissahickon, who held off the Rams 47-43, may be the hottest team in the area, but with one of the toughest challenges awaiting them in the second seeded Council Rock North, who eased past Great Valley 43-28 last Friday. The Trojans have won six consecutive games, but the Indians have lost one game all season.

“We cannot afford a game with a lot of mistakes,” Wilson said. “ We need to play a real solid game. We need to force them into a game they are not comfortable with. Execution is so important against a team the caliber of Council Rock North.”

While Wiss is working well together, Norristown has slowed down recently and barely held off Ridley 47-41 in the opening round. The Eagles finished the regular season with a lost to Plymouth-Whitemarsh by 23 points and they needed overtime to beat Cheltenham and Methacton. The Eagles beat the Coatesville, their second round opponent, in mid December, but the Red Raiders have won 12 of their last 14 games including a 71-59 win over Souderton in the first round of the playoffs.

Bensalem beating North Penn would be considered an upset according to the seedings, but the Owls fully expect to clinch its state playoff birth with a win over the Knights. The ninth seeded Owls dominated the eighth seeded Knights in a regular season matchup, winning 43-26 and holding them to a one-point third quarter. The Owls are coming off 53-37 win over Strath Haven and the Knights held off Upper Dublin 49-38 in the first round. The Knights can only hope for redemption and use their home court advantage.

Pennridge is also hoping the last meeting with their opponent on Tuesday, the third seeded Plymouth-Whitemarsh, will be different. The Colonials defeated the Rams in 2004 during district play and the defending state champions will hope to do it again. The Rams will have to find a way to slow down 6-7 center Jaylen Bond if they want to reach the elite eight. The Colonials crushed Interboro in the first round 78-42 and the Rams did not break a sweat in a 74-54 win over West Chester Henderson.

“Every time I look at the video, they look tougher,” Rams’ coach Dean Behrens said. “We are going to need to handle their press. Their guards can be overlooked because of Bond, but they are college recruits at 5-11, 6-1 and athletic. I thought Henderson was a big test, but P-W is another level.”

The 11 through 13 seeds, Pennwood, Glen Mills, and Lower Merion have the strongest chance to be the teams that add upsets to the bracket and win on the road. Pennwood will play six seed West Chester Rustin, Glen Mills will head to fifth seeded Neshaminy and the Aces will play Upper Darby, a team they have lost to twice this season.

The only team awarded for winning on the road in the first round will be Springfield Delco, who has the tall task of taking on the top seed Chester.

No matter what the outcome is on Tuesday for the remaining 16, they all will have chance to fight for the final spot into the state playoffs. The eight winners are guaranteed and the others will fight it out for the ninth spot.

“The playback game is another opportunity to get into states so you take it,” Behrens said. “Being a coach is tough sometimes because I am preparing for tomorrow, but I am already thinking about the what ifs. We are happy to know no matter what we play again, but then again it will be against Pennwood or Rustin. It’s all very exciting.”