Tim Rahill, Gabe Cerulli look to playoffs, winning tradition with CR South boys basketball

LANGHORNE — Council Rock South isn't just trying to reach the PIAA District One boys basketball playoffs for the fourth time in the school's 22 years of existence.

The Golden Hawks, led by senior three-year varsity players Tim Rahill, Gabe Cerulli and third-year head coach Andrew Rogers, want to establish a foundation from which ensuing teams can either maintain or build upon.

CR South is 10-7 and 19th in the latest Class 6A district rankings heading into Tuesday. The top 24 teams qualify for the postseason.

"We're almost building a culture, (which is) something we didn't get to experience especially with our new coaching staff coming in our sophomore year," Cerulli said. "We're getting three years (in the program) and these guys coming up, it's going to be their fourth year with the staff (next year)."

"We want to get some wins under our belt and have a winning mentality," Rahill said. "We haven't been a winning program in recent years."

South, which opened in 2002, made districts in 2007-08, 2016-17 and 2019-20. The 2007-08 squad with current CR North head coach Derek Wright is the lone Hawks team to qualify for states after finishing sixth in the district playoffs. The 2019-20 team won a first-round district game against Abington and the 2016-17 edition dropped its playoff opener.

A year ago, CR South ended up 5-17 overall and 3-13 in the Suburban One League Patriot Division.

Getting to districts was "probably at the top of the list (coming into the season) because last year was like one of the worst records we've had in South history," Rahill said. "It'd be great to come back from that and make districts."

A strong junior class from the 2022-23 squad that received plenty of playing time, coupled with a deeper roster and perhaps a bit more dedicated group, has produced a solid campaign featuring wins over Neshaminy, Pennsbury and North Penn.

Rahill, a 6-foot-1 shooting guard, scored a game-high 19 points, including five 3-pointers, in a 53-34 victory against Pennsbury and had 17 in a 43-33 win over Neshaminy on Dec. 7, while Cerulli, a 6-4 forward, tallied 17 as the Hawks downed North Penn 60-45. Rahill lives in Holland and Cerulli in Richboro.

Jalil Bethea: 'For him I'd risk it all' Younger brother with autism inspires Archbishop Wood basketball star

"I think a big difference from last year is we really just bought in," Cerulli said. "Honestly, we're jelling as a team. We go out to team breakfasts (and) we're playing video games together. Last year it felt like it was maybe a little more clique-oriented."

While South starts five seniors — also Mike Burns, Jordan Getz and George O'Brien — three key reserves are underclassmen. Freshman MJ Thompson and sophomores Ryan Delp and Ray Haglund earn significant minutes on this year's team, with Delp hitting the winning 3-pointer in double overtime against Souderton.

Having a better bench gives Rogers more viable combinations he can use in case of foul trouble or subpar play by any of the starters.

"We've had talent in the past, but maybe not quite ready at the younger level," Rogers said, "whereas we have a freshman and two sophomores that are very capable of playing and giving these guys blows when needed."

"I feel like we got a lot of younger guys helping us out," Rahill said. "Last year, our seniors weren't very experienced and most of them were on JV the year before."

While Neshaminy handled visiting CR South 59-40 on Friday, the Hawks bounced back to topple Pennridge 49-37 the next day.

"I tell these guys all the time 'you've put yourself in this situation,' which is great (because) many of them have not experienced it yet," Rogers said. "Now you've got to go seize it."

The district playoffs remain South's primary focus with the regular season scheduled to end by Feb. 7.

"We knew coming in (to the season) we were going to have a chance to be one of the few teams to do something at South," Cerulli said. "We really want to capitalize on that and just make it special for all of us."

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Council Rock South boys basketball strives to build winning tradition