Athletics News

By: Joseph Santoliquito of City of Basketball Love

Nothing had to be said. They simply understood. Manny Butts, a 6-foot-7 senior forward, and Dillon Gamble, a 6-2 senior guard, had a feeling last spring something singular was brewing for Haverford School this season by the way the Fords played—and played together—in the Plymouth Whitemarsh spring league.

The word that could best describe the 2026 Itner-Ac champion Fords is “selfless.”

Haverford, led by star 6-5 junior guard Silas Graham, was supposed to compete with Malvern Prep, Penn Charter, Germantown Academy and Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy for the Iner-Ac League crown. The Fords willingness to buy into coach Bernie Rogers’ message of unselfishness on offense, stubborn defense and the confidence derived from a 22-5 record the previous season.

The Fords last won the Inter-Ac and PAISAA state championship with an unbeaten 2018-19 season with Christian Ray and Jameer Nelson Jr., when most of the current Fords were 10, 11 and 12 years old.

Haverford clinched its first undefeated Inter-Ac season since 2018-19 by going 9-0 in the league and 21-4 overall, with three of the four losses coming by four points or less.

“We had a really good offseason and I thought we had a really good group of guys who enjoyed playing with each other and had some ability,” Rogers said. “We had some high hopes. We knew our league would be difficult. I think we knew it would be a challenge, but we thought we had a good chance. Silas is in his fourth year playing, and Dillon and Manny are four-year varsity players, so they knew we had to be ready every league game. Two plays here or there could change a season in our league.”

It helped adding 6-4 junior wing Franklin Gilbert, a transfer from La Salle and re-classed his junior year, and 6-5 sophomore forward Walter Plimpton, who came in from Lawrenceville Prep (N.J.). That pair joined a sturdy nucleus that included junior guard Connor Morsell, and sophomores Roman Pena, Chaz Rodriguez, Owen Murphy and 6-foot-9 Cole Maguire. 

“We have a young group, but we built a good bond, and picking up Frank and Walt were a big help to us,” Gamble said. “Once we beat Malvern the first time, that told me we could have something really good here. We were in control the whole game and we didn’t shoot the best, and then we beat Penn Charter the next game. That told us how good we could be. Every game we locked in, calm and ready.”

Butts and Dillon have yet to commit to a college. They also have the PAISAA state championship tournament coming up. The Fords will be a tough team to beat.

“That comes from sharing the ball,” Butts said. “Our defense was very surprising, and I think that was a difference. We communicated really well, and it’s something we did through practice. But if I had to say what we did best was being selfless, moving the ball, sharing the ball, and no one said anything about being selfless to win. It came naturally. We always had selfless players. Everyone gave a piece of themselves for us to win. I think what I will remember most about this team are the practices. We bonded and competed against each other the most there.”

Rogers saw that sharpness translate on to the court.

“We were fortunate to have a bunch of like-minded guys and that is what this team was about, they epitomized selflessness,” said Rogers, who won his third Inter-Ac title, winning titles in 2018, 2019 and now 2026. “Our kids enjoyed playing with each other, and it was a really easy group to coach every day, and they enjoyed each other’s success. What I liked is seeing the joy they showed when everyone did well. That was fun to see.

“They knew when to be serious, and they sensed the moment when to have fun. This team was able to change defenses a lot, and we were able to have unique size lineups where we did a good job rebounding at both ends. But will define this team the most is how unselfish they were. It helped us reach our potential.”

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Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter based in the Philadelphia area who began writing for CoBL in 2021 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.