DISTRICT 1-6A BOYS BASKETBALL: Defense leads Plymouth Whitemarsh to third win over CB East

WHITEMARSH — The old adage goes, “it’s tough to beat a team three times.”

Plymouth Whitemarsh experienced that 10 days ago when it lost to Upper Dublin in the Suburban One League Tournament semifinals after beating its SOL Liberty Division rival twice in the regular season.

The Colonials were faced with a similar situation Tuesday night. They welcomed Central Bucks East, a team they defeated by 35 points on Jan. 16 and by nine points in the SOL Tournament quarterfinals on Feb. 6, to Plymouth Whitemarsh High School’s Gym West in the second round of the District 1-6A playoffs.

This time, Plymouth Whitemarsh completed the sweep.

The top-seeded Colonials defeated the 17th-seeded Patriots, 59-33, to advance to the district quarterfinals and clinch a spot in the PIAA-6A state playoffs.

“Going into this game I was intent on making sure that something like (the Upper Dublin loss) wouldn’t happen again,” PW senior Michael Pereira said, “especially with the goals we have for the team. Our goal from the start of the season was to win the five championships we could have. The Surf N Slam in San Diego, the league, the SOL Tournament, the district and the state. After we lost the opportunity to win the SOL Tournament championship, I think everyone really took a step back from being too cocky. We’re not unbeatable. We really have to lock in for any team, no matter what the result was against them before or no matter what the result we think it’s going to be. We’re going to have to lock in regardless and prove to everyone why we’re the No. 1 seed in District 1 and why I think we can win the state championship.”

“We got too caught up in the last month over ego and arrogance instead of hungry and humble,” PW coach Jim Donofrio said. “I’d prefer they act like the super hero that doesn’t say much and just performs like crazy. You don’t have to tell people you’re great, just play. You’re already an intimidating team. You’re the No. 1 seed in the district and you’re beating people by 30 or 40 points. Trust me, you don’t have to tell them you’re good. You actually give them an edge by talking. Just stare and play. We did that tonight. They’re enjoying the journey too much. Now you have to focus on the possible destination and that requires serious focus.”

Plymouth Whitemarsh got it done with its defense Tuesday night. The SOL Liberty champions didn’t allow a point until the 3:28 mark of the first quarter and they didn’t allow a made field goal until the 5:30 mark of the second quarter.

The Colonials (20-5) led 11-2 at the end of the first quarter and 26-9 at the end of the first half.

“Coach always puts a lot of work into preparation for the other team,” Pereira said. “Leading up to this game, even though we played them twice before, we had a ton of practice – long practices – just focusing on their habits, what they do, how to shut them down. It was the result we wanted, especially in the first half.”

“The second time we played East our focus wasn’t great,” Donofrio said. “We sat back defensively too much. We gave up too many open looks. We were undisciplined. We lunged. We got beat baseline. Our head was not in the game. Then offensively we took really ill-advised shots. It’s not fun playing anybody three times, especially within a week or two. I love how the second-quarter energy energy resulted in what I hoped it would result in. I thought Zhaiden (Gray) with (Terron Davis) with Buddy (Denard) and Jack (Hayes) and Mani (Sajid) had a gear… The defensive goal was 32, so we were close.”

Pereira and Sajid each scored nine points in the first half for PW. Sajid didn’t return from the locker room in the second half with an ankle issue.

The Patriots (15-10) scored 18 points in the third quarter – more than they did in the other three quarters combined. They used a 16-7 run from late in the second quarter to the middle of the third to trim a 19-point deficit to 10, 33-23, but that’s as close as they’d get.

Pereira scored back-to-back baskets, including a dunk on a nice feed from Gray, and six of the Colonials final eight points of the third quarter to get the lead back to 14, 41-27, at the end of the third.

“I’m happy my team trusts me enough to take those shots and make those shots,” Pereira, who finished with 21 points, said. “I feel like over the past three years I’ve been trying to grow into that role. It’s been nice to see this happen and I’m helping the team succeed at the level we are.”

The Colonials opened up the advantage in the third quarter despite missing two starters in Sajid and Denard, who left late in the third quarter with a thumb injury and didn’t return. Davis scored six of his 13 points in the fourth while Pereira added four and Hayes, Micah Thompson, Luca Taormina and Austin Edwards each made a basket. They won the quarter, 18-6, and held their largest lead of the night at the final buzzer, 59-33.

Plymouth Whitemarsh will host No. 8 Garnet Valley in the quarterfinals Friday night. Donofrio called Sajid probable and Denard questionable to play.

Quinn Slack led the Patriots with 10 points. Keegan Marascio scored eight and Connor Mekanik had seven.

CB East will have a chance to earn a spot in the PIAA-6A playoffs when it faces No. 24 Pennsbury in a playback game Friday.

Plymouth Whitemarsh 59, CB East 33

CB East 2 7 18 6 – 33

Plymouth Whitemarsh 11 15 15 18 – 59

CBE: Connor Mekanik 2 3-4 7, Henry Bartchak 1 0-0 3, Brady Colbert 1 0-0 3, Keegan Marascio 3 2-2 8, Quinn Slack 3 2-3 10, Alex Lemaire 0 0-0 0, Jackson Lutz 0 0-0 0, Matt Korlesky 0 0-0 0, Sean Korlesky 0 0-0 0, Ryan Dailey 1 0-0 2, Max Harlen 0 0-0 0, Cooper Planck 0 0-0 0. Total 11 7-9 33.

PW: Jack Hayes 2 0-0 4, Mani Sajid 4 0-0 9, Michael Pereira 7 7-15 21, Buddy Denard 0 0-0 0, Micah Thompson 1 0-0 2, Luca Taormina 1 0-0 2, Terron Davis 5 3-5 13, Zhaiden Gray 1 3-4 6, Gene Deshazor 0 0-0 0, Peter Turchi 0 0-0 0, Austin Edwards 1 0-0 2, Joe Thomas 0 0-0 0, Justin Probst 0 0-0 0. Total 22 13-24 59.

3-point goals: CBE: Quinn Slack 2, Henry Bartchak, Brady Colbert. PW: Zhaiden Gray, Mani Sajid.