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Ahmad Williams, Plymouth Whitemarsh earn spot in district semifinals

When Plymouth Whitemarsh's Ahmad Williams received word that his twin brother Ahmin had suffered a season-ending foot injury, he reminded him via text of his continued value to the team.

When Plymouth Whitemarsh's Ahmad Williams received word that his twin brother Ahmin had suffered a season-ending foot injury, he reminded him via text of his continued value to the team.

"He's been real strong about it," Ahmad said. "He's at every practice and game, talking to the guys and offering advice whenever it's needed. His presence means a lot."

Filling a big part of the void left by his sibling's recent injury, Ahmad Williams spurred No. 2-seeded PW to a 44-29 triumph over No. 7 Conestoga in a PIAA District 1 Class 6A quarterfinal playoff Friday night at Colonial Elementary School.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Williams, seeing more time at point guard, produced 17 points, 13 rebounds, two steals, and two assists.

"He and his brother think about and talk about the game constantly," Colonials coach Jim Donofrio said. "Ahmad has really turned up his concentration the last two weeks."

PW (22-4) will take on No. 3 seed Abington in a semifinal at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Temple's Liacouras Center. The host Ghosts advanced Friday with a 67-49 romp over No. 11 Penn Wood.

Ahmad Williams shot 7 for 12 from the field (1 for 1 from beyond the arc) and 2 for 3 from the line. Two of his boards came on offense.

"We were locked in and focused," he said. "We just wanted to win. We weren't going to lose. We were going to make it back to Temple."

Ahead 12-11 at the end of the first quarter, PW gained command with a 10-0 run at the start of the second. It was capped by Williams' driving bucket, his three-pointer from up top, and his open-court theft and breakaway layup.

"Playing point guard more is definitely teaching me how to be more of a vocal leader," he said.

Managing only one second-quarter bucket, Conestoga (19-6) trailed, 24-13, at intermission. The visitors shot 5 for 22 from the field in the first half and 9 for 44 overall.

Williams' nifty right-side move and banker combined with senior wing Matt Walker's trey gave the Colonials a 29-18 cushion late in the third quarter.

Naheem McLeod, a 7-foot sophomore center, accounted for six of PW's impressive 14 blocks. Junior guard Ish Horn (five) and Walker (three) were next in line. "That's a piece of the puzzle that's still evolving," Donofrio said of the rejections.

Horn chipped in 11 points, five boards, three assists, and two steals. McLeod totaled 11 boards and seven points.

Senior forward Angus Mayock led the Pioneers, who will meet Penn Wood in a playback contest Tuesday, with 11 boards and 10 points.

Conestoga 11 2 8 8 - 29

Plymouth Whitemarsh 12 12 7 13 - 44

C: Scott Shapiro 8, Charlie Martin 5, Angus Mayock 10, Zach Lezanic 3, Milt Robinson 3.

PW: Ish Horn 11, Ahmad Williams 17, Naheem McLeod 7, Matt Walker 6, Cheo Houston 1, Alan Glover 2.

robrien@phillynews.com

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