SOL CHAMPS

Upper Dublin holds off CB West for first SOL Tournament title

If Upper Dublin had any jitters playing in the program’s first Suburban One League Tournament championship game Tuesday night, it didn’t show it.

The top-seeded Cardinals came out on fire against No. 6 Central Bucks West. They went 8-for-10 from the field in the first quarter while hitting four three-pointers to build a 13-point lead.

The advantage was trimmed to five points early in the fourth quarter and four points with 80 seconds remaining, but that’s as close as it would get. Sophomore Kobe Bazemore made a pair of key plays to get the lead back to seven and Upper Dublin closed out a 49-43 win at Holy Family University.

“The last two years we lost in the semifinals,” Upper Dublin junior Ryan Mulroy, who scored a team-high 13 points, said. “A lot of people I know don’t like this tournament because, I don’t know, injuries and everything happen, but this gives us so much momentum going into districts and it lets everyone know we’re the best team in the Suburban One and that’s an awesome feeling. I’m so hyped and I know our team is, too.”

“I love this tournament,” UD coach Derek Brooks said. “It’s one of the best public school leagues in the state. You’ve got 24 teams whittled down to eight, then you have to win three games in five days against really good teams. (West is) a really good team and so were all of the other teams in the tournament. It’s a lot of fun, it really is.”

With its lead trimmed to four with 1:20 remaining, Upper Dublin (22-3) executed an impressive play from under its own basket. Mulroy passed to Bazemore to beat pressure and Bazemore found Brady Fogle all alone under the offensive basket for a layup and 45-39 advantage.

On the ensuing possession, Bazemore grabbed a steal at his own three-point line, raced down the floor and got fouled at the rim. He made both free throws for a 47-39 lead with 46.1 second left.

“My mindset down the stretch was just win the game and stay composed,” Bazemore, who scored five of his seven points in the fourth, said. “They went on the little run. I know how to keep my team composed and get the win — it’s lock in on defense and then hit these free throws when I get fouled.”

“That’s what he does,” Brooks said. “He’s had some games — like the first half tonight wasn’t his prettiest — but something about him and the fourth quarters. His instincts take over. His defensive ability — that steal was phenomenal — he knocks down some free throws, a couple passes, that finish under the rim (earlier in the fourth) was beautiful. The fact that he’s doing this at age 15 — he’s fearless. He’s really, as the years go on, going to be a nice player.”

The Cardinals played strong defense and hit enough free throws