For Bensalem, 'it's bigger than basketball.' Here's how the Owls are making a difference

The Bensalem Owls are enjoying another productive season on the court, qualifying for the PIAA state boys basketball championships for the third time in Ron Morris' five years as head coach.

The 12th seed from District One in Class 6A, Bensalem opens the state playoffs Saturday at District 3 champion Cumberland Valley at 3 p.m.

But the Owls might be even more successful off the court.

The players have adopted Morris' "it's bigger than basketball" credo that emphasizes helping others and volunteering.

Bensalem is involved in all of these, among others:

● reading and interacting with students from kindergarten through third grade at Cornwells and Valley elementary schools;

● joining the girls basketball team in making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to donate to Caring for Friends in nearby Northeast Philadelphia region on Martin Luther King Day;

● holding a girls/boys doubleheader on autism awareness night Feb. 1 with autistic advocate Ben Hartranft singing the national anthem;

Wood star projected as high pick: Archbishop Wood's Jalil Bethea viewed as top-5 choice in 2025 NBA Draft

● conducting a Black Friday hoops clinic with the girls' team for kids from kindergarten to eighth grade with drills and scrimmaging;

● attending assistant coach Mike Rongione's mom Theresa's viewing Dec. 20 in Penndel as a team;

● helping set up and clean up at the Nov. 4 March of Dimes and Alpha Phi Alpha sorority event on Black Maternal Health in Bristol. Senior Jaidyn Moffitt's great grandmother was one of the organizers.

"Life skills are being instilled without them knowing," Morris said, "(such as) teamwork, sacrifice, time management, resilience, work ethic and being a good person. It gives good perspective on the influence you can have on others. You're representing yourself, the community and team everywhere you go. We don't take that lightly."

Going to the elementary schools has been especially meaningful.

"I remember when I used to go to (Cornwells) elementary school and the older kids would talk to us," said senior Antonio Morris, Ron's oldest son. "I would look at them like they were celebrities. To be able to be in that position now is eye opening because you really are a celebrity to them. It's humbling to know these kids really look up to you."

Following the Dec. 27 Dick Dougherty Holiday Tournament victory over Norristown, the players signed autographs for the children in attendance. It was a blast for everybody involved.

"With these kids, it's about giving back," said senior Nate Cooper. "When you're a kid, you want to be like older kids."

Later this month, the Bensalem boys and girls are returning to Cornwells Elementary for a school pride assembly. They'll play interactive games with the students, put on a shooting clinic and some players will dunk the ball.

"It makes our kids feel happy and special and the younger kids feel happy and special," Ron Morris said. "You make connections with people and show them you genuinely care and manifest the relationships by working together for one common cause."

"It's fun being with the guys, but there's also a deeper meaning," Antonio Morris said.

In addition, there are more than 20 Bensalem-area businesses that do everything from feed the team a meal to sponsor the Owls.

Bensalem (18-8) will try to become the school's first boys squad to win a state playoff game since Sheldon Per's first team as head coach (1980-81) that boasted a 25-game win streak advanced to the state quarterfinals.

On Saturday, the Owls will again be relying on all they've learned on the court and in the community. But win or lose against Cumberland Valley, they have certainly done their part off the court.

"Just coming together as a group and helping other causes kind of shows how together we are," Cooper said. "When we're together, we can put forward a positive impact for the community."

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bensalem boys basketball heads to PIAA playoffs, rooted in community