Who is the Bucks County/Montco Boys Basketball Team of the Year?

Tom Moore, Bucks County Courier Times
·2 min read

The Central Bucks East boys basketball team reached unprecedented heights during the 2022-23 winter season.

On the way to securing their third consecutive Suburban One League Colonial Division title, the Patriots won a school-record 24 games and advanced to the state tournament for the first time in seven years after finishing fifth in the District One Class 6A playoffs.

Central Bucks East junior Jake Cummiskey celebrates with teammates after hitting a 3-pointer in the Patriots' PIAA first-round state playoff loss to Archbishop Wood.
Central Bucks East junior Jake Cummiskey celebrates with teammates after hitting a 3-pointer in the Patriots' PIAA first-round state playoff loss to Archbishop Wood.

Central Bucks East, which also won 11 games by double figures and was 16-1 at home, is our pick for the Courier Times/Intelligencer Boys Basketball Team of the Year.

"It's very difficult to see your seniors move on at the end of the year, but I think they met the challenge of leaving the program better than how they found it," coach Erik Henrysen said.

Central Bucks East head coach Erik Henrysen, center, consults with his assistants during one of the Patriots' 24 wins this season.
Central Bucks East head coach Erik Henrysen, center, consults with his assistants during one of the Patriots' 24 wins this season.

One of the factors in CB East reaching 20 wins for the first time since 2006-07 was how well Henrysen's team fared in close contests. The Patriots (24-6 overall) went 9-1 in games decided by seven points or fewer. The reason was due to more than senior guard/co-captain Joey Giordano hitting buzzer-beating shots in road victories over SOL Patriot champ Pennsbury and Pennridge, though that clearly helped.

Senior co-captain Kyle Berndt explained it as East having "trust in each other late in games. (We) knock down big shots and get defensive stops and rebounds when we needed it most."

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If Henrysen and CB East can garner at least a share of a division title next year, the Patriots would equal the four consecutive Bux-Mont League championships by Bob Walsh's memorable 1975-76 through 1978-79 squads.

"For our returning guys, I think they are eager take on the challenge of raising the bar yet again," Henrysen said. "We will have our work cut out for ourselves."

Quite a promotion: Central Bucks East grad Adam Fisher becomes Temple basketball coach

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Who is the Bucks County/Montco boys basketball team of the year?