Coaches Time Out

Success continues in all of the Spring-Ford High School varsity sports. Despite a weekend loss, the boys basketball squad is inching closer and closer to a chance at winning the PAC-10. The girls team is also looking pretty good, with still only two losses all season long.

Wrestling saw its first PAC-10 loss over the weekend to Owen J. Roberts, who is regarded as one of the top teams in the state. They'll advance in district duals, which resumes on Friday.

The winter coaches took a midweek break from the action in this week's Coaches Time Out!

Boys Basketball May Clinch Final Four Spot This Week

Last week, the Rams picked up another PAC-10 victory with a nice win over Methacton. With that game, Spring-Ford took the lead in the division, increasing its hopes for a conference title.

"We played a great all around game in a playoff-type environment," head coach Mike Young said. "Zameer [McDowell] got in foul trouble early but our other big guys stepped up and played a big role in helping us win. We played great team defense throughout the game and held them to 50 points. Our guards hit some big 3[-pointers] in the second half for us."

On Saturday night, Spring-Ford played in its last non-conference game of the year against Central Bucks East. They ended up losing after a valient effort. Even more disappointing, it was the Rams' Senior Night.

"We did not come out with the intensity we needed to," Young said. "We played hard in the last quarter to cut the lead to two at one point, but it was too little too late. We were disappointed with our effort that night but hopefully can translate the way we played in the last quarter moving forward."

This week, Young said practices are going well and the team is working on execution on offense. The boys team can clinch a Final Four spot if they win this week, or if Perkiomen Valley loses. They'll face Perkiomen Valley on Saturday after facing Owen J. Roberts on Thursday night.

"We want to control our own destiny and win our games this week for better seeding in PAC-10s and districts," Young concluded.

Girls Basketball Keeps Rollin' Along

The girls basketball team picked up two wins over the past week, with one over Methacton and one over Downingtown East. The girls are now 18-2 with those two victories.

"I just have a really good group of girls that work hard," said head coach Jeff Rinehimer. "That's all you can ask for. It was a tough stretch of games in a row over the course of the month. At least now we have until Thursday to get ready for Owen J. They just kept battling and battling and finally we can get some practice time in and a little bit of rest. They worked hard all the way through it."

The Downingtown East game was a tough one to win for the girls, but they came out victorious, 49-35.

"They make you play," Rinehimer said. "They're fundamentally sound. It's one of those teams I say you have to beat them, they're not going to beat themselves. Coming off that long stretch, the kids showed a lot of guts and character to pull off that win. They're very good."

Thursday night's game against Owen J. Roberts marks Senior Night for the girls, with Nikki Lynch, Mariah Traywick and Jaida Burgess being honored.

"Nikki and Mariah have been with us for the four years and every day they practice hard," Rinehimer said. "Great leadership this year. A lot of that comes through the leadership in every day practice and being the best player you can be. Jaida's one that's new this year and she's a girl that never ever treats you at practice or in a drill. She gives you all she has and loves basketball. She's a great addition to the team."

Perkiomen Valley on the road concludes the action for the Lady Rams. Rinehimer anticipates a tough game from them.

"It's league," he said. "I told the kids today about how different it is to play league games."

Wrestling Falls to OJR, Advances to Next Round of District Duals

After beating Garnet Valley last week in the first round of District Duals, the Rams are looking forward to the end of the week, when they'll face Pennsbury in the second round. After defeating them earlier in the year in the Abington Duals, head coach Tim Seislove said it's still going to be a difficult contest.

"They've changed their lineup around a little bit," he said. "We were able to win a couple of close ones, too. So, it's going to be quite a challenge for us."

Spring-Ford got crushed by Owen J. Roberts, who are regarded as a top team in the state of Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Only Jimmy Stong and Jason Dombrosky, both seniors, won in the match and Seislove commended them for that. But, he said he would like to see more kids step up in a situation like that.

"I was a little disappointed we gave up so many pins," he said. "They're a good team and we need to build upon that. They're in our section, so we're going to get a lot of rematches with those kids."

To get to sectionals, the Rams will need to be in the top four of the section. Right now, they're ranked in the top eight.

"We're 17-2 right now," Seislove said. "We've still got some more work to do. We've had a nice year so far, but some of the goals we have set out to achieve still can be reached."

Tonight, the Rams faced Methacton, who lost in District Duals to Downingtown West.

It's going to be a big match for us," Seislove said. "They're a much improved team this year. I think they're looking forward to us coming over there and hoping to knock us off."

Swimming

The swimming coaching staff did not have a report this week.

Winter Track Participating in Throwers Meet

Winter Track will sent nine competitors to tonight's Shot Put Night at the Valley at Perkiomen Valley High School. Results will be posted on Sunday's Sports Weekly Roundup.

Head coach Danielle Stauffer indicated the following students were entered into the competition:

Girls: Jen Yeakle, Akunna Okere, Molly Kalady, Cassie Rudderow, Shannon Jacob

Boys: William Ramsey, Sean Weiss, John Manning, Mekhi Jackson