Boys: Mike O’Donnell, Springfield hoping Central League tourney is a playoff prelude

Springfield's Mike O'Donnell, left, seen in a game against Penncrest last year, was at the fore of a team turnaround this season. (Pete Bannan - MediaNews Group)

Springfield’s Mike O’Donnell, left, seen in a game against Penncrest last year, was at the fore of a team turnaround this season. (Pete Bannan – MediaNews Group)

By Matthew DeGeorge

The leaders on the Springfield boys basketball team understood the deal once they had traversed the first 13 mostly unlucky games.

The Cougars, 4-9 to that point, began the season slowly while their core of football players got into form. They had gone winless in six games decided by seven points or fewer, and had been handed a daunting schedule to start the new year, resulting in a five-game skid. So right about the second week of January, the Cougars came to grasp the dire consequences each additional loss would have for their postseason hopes.

The team’s response has been stellar. The results, as yet, remain unclear.

Springfield is the fifth seed in the Central League playoffs, traveling to Garnet Valley Thursday for an opening-round game. It may be the last game of the season, depending on what the District 1 Class 6A spreadsheets say. As of Wednesday afternoon, Springfield is the precarious occupant of the 24th and final districts spot. But that could change before the seeds become official Sunday.

Webmaster’s note:  Delcohoops.com will be video streaming both the boy’s and girl’s Central League Championship games on Monday, February 13th! Tune in at 5:50 for the girl’s game and 7:20 for the boy’s game for our LIVE video broadcast!

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