PLYMOUTH MEETING – Closing the District 3-AAA tournament in slight turmoil, capped by a pair of losses in which Susquehanna Twp. surrendered a total of 134 points, the week before states was a chance to get things right.
And that work began on the defensive end of the floor.
The ‘Hanna Tribe absolutely stifled District 1’s Upper Moreland in the first half of Friday night’s PIAA Class AAA opener at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School, then eased to a 62-42 victory.
Joe Marshall totaled 17 points and seven rebounds, and Gabe Mack checked in with 12 points, seven boards and five assists as the Indians (25-4) rolled through the Golden Bears (14-12).
In that opening half, Vince Rogers’ club limited Upper Moreland to nine points on 3-for-23 shooting with 12 turnovers.
The offense started slow – the lead was just 8-5 after one quarter – but it caught fire in the second quarter, and the 31-9 halftime advantage left no doubt about the ultimate outcome of this first-round affair.
“At practice we emphasized defense,” junior guard Jordan Millberry said of the week leading up to the start of the state tournament.
“The last couple games we gave up a lot of points [68 vs. Palmyra in semifinals loss, 66 vs. Donegal in third-place game]. We wanted to get back to a winning tradition, and we needed to get hot at the right time.”
This appropriate timing sets the Indians up for a second-round date with Philadelphia Public League power Imhotep Charter Tuesday night at a time and place to be determined.
Susquehanna Twp. will need to make it own breaks in that one after catching a major break vs. Upper Moreland.
The Golden Bears officially found out Friday afternoon that they’d be without star senior point guard Matt Kohn (broken wrist).
Rogers knew that was a tough loss for Upper Moreland, but he was also suiting up without sixth man Takhi Turner (ankle) for the second straight game.
“So I understand how their coach feels,” Rogers said. “But losing [Kohn] just before a state game, that’s something different. Because he is the point guard, and everything really went through him.”
The game plan, Rogers said, was set long before official word on Kohn, and that plan meant hounding the Bears’ talented forward Kevin McFall.
But whether it was McFall or any of the other players on the opposing side, the defensive harassment was furious and intense.
“They’re very athletic, very bouncy, with great athleticism on both ends,” McFall said. “They’re fast. … We missed [Kohn] a lot. He’s our leader. We thought we could do it without him, but he was a piece that we needed.”
‘Hanna never trailed, and that 8-5 lead after one quarter exploded to 21-7 when it outscored the Golden Bears 13-2 to start the second quarter.
That run included six points from Marshall and a 3-ball from freshman Nehemiah “Bud” Mack.
Another surge, this one 10-0, closed the half and included two more Marshall buckets and a 3-pointer from Gabe Mack.
“We probably had one of our best practices Thursday,” Rogers said. “I told the kids I felt very good coming into tonight, very confident. These kids were ready to go. A lot of bounce in their legs.”
Susquehanna Twp. extended its lead to 31 points (56-25) early in the fourth quarter before gradually easing off the pedal.
Mark Williams led the Bears with 13 points and 12 rebounds, with McFall and James Martin scoring eight each.
Jonas Page added nine points, and Savalas Pope and Bud Mack scored six each for ‘Hanna. Millberry contributed four points and four assists off the bench.
“Yeah, we’re back,” Millberry said. “We got to get hot again. We got Imhotep coming up. Big game. We’re ready for it. We’re ready to go to war.”
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