PIAA 6A Final: Pennridge vs. Kennedy Catholic (3-23-19)

Pennridge will take on nationally-ranked Kennedy Catholic in Saturday’s PIAA 6A state title game at Hershey. It’s been a historic ride through the postseason for the Rams.

Sometimes magic happens when it’s least expected.

It’s a safe bet no one – not even the most diehard Pennridge fans - reserved March 19 on their calendar for a state semifinal basketball game, and until very recently, penciling Pennridge into a state title game on March 23 would have seemed like a stretch, to say the very least, but dreams sometimes become reality.

And on a beautiful spring-like night in front of a sold-out crowd at Norristown High School on Tuesday, the Rams created their own special brand of magic, playing within themselves, playing as a team and turning in a masterpiece against highly regarded La Salle to earn a 52-47 win that vaulted them into Saturday’s night’s PIAA 6A state title game in Hershey against Kennedy Catholic.

“When you’re shooting out in the driveway as a kid or in the park, you’re by yourself and your mind kind of wanders,” senior Sean Yoder said after Tuesday’s semifinal win. “You practice, you put in all the hard work – early mornings, late nights, for this moment, this night, this game.”

It’s been quite a ride for a group of players who have been together since their Deep Run travel team days.

“It makes this moment even more special as a team,” Yoder said. “You grew up with each other, playing youth basketball.

“When the community comes out like this, it’s crazy. It’s a moment you can’t really put into words. Maybe I can at a later time, but right now it’s just taking it all in and relishing everything.”

Yoder, a U.S. Naval Academy commit, is the team’s undisputed star and will walk away from Saturday’s game as the school’s all-time leading scorer. The senior guard, who averages 21 points, and forward Jon Post (12 ppg), also a standout football player, are the team’s captains.

They’re surrounded by what some might consider an unlikely cast. There’s senior John Dominic, who played jayvee last year. For some, playing jayvee as a junior might be an excuse to walk away from the game. That was never a consideration for the senior guard.

“It was always – I love the game of basketball and I wanted to come back out,” he said. “I worked a lot over the offseason for my spot.”

With Yoder attracting a crowd all over the court, it was Dominic who jump started the Rams in Tuesday’s win over La Salle, scoring eight points in the first quarter and allowing the Rams to keep pace with the Explorers.  The two teams were deadlocked 16-16 at the end of one.

“It’s just confidence in each other,” Dominic said. “All five kids on the court have full confidence in each other, and we know that we can hit shots.

“If one guy’s not shooting well, another guy will step up. It’s how we’ve been playing this year, and we always hold down the defensive side. That’s what has been winning us games.”

Jack Gillespie is another of the many feel good stories on this year’s squad. The senior guard came off the bench to bury a pair of huge threes in Tuesday’s win over La Salle, including the game-winner with 40.6 seconds remaining that broke a 47-47 tie. For good measure, he sank both ends of a one-and-one at the foul line to seal La Salle’s fate.

“Those were pressure foul shots,” coach Dean Behrens said after the game. “That kid couldn’t hit a 3-pointer the first half of the season. Not because of his form - he was just so nervous.

“The second half of the season Jack has come off the bench and given a tremendous lift to this program.”

The senior guard said he had just three three-pointers midway through the season.

“I’m pretty sure it was against CB South – I had three, and after that, I just came into every game with full confidence, just like I practice, and I’ve just let my shots fly,” said Gillespie, searching for words to describe the Rams’ postseason run. “It’s hard to explain.

“We come into every game and we believe in ourselves. Maybe not everyone else thinks we’re going to get this far, but our community, our teammates, and our coaches - everyone believed we could get to this spot. It’s awesome, it’s so much fun.

“You guys don’t see the hard work that goes on behind closed doors at practice every day,” Yoder said. “(My teammates) prepare for this kind of game every day. Shooting after practice, everybody’s there getting shots up and just being ready for the opportunity given.

“If everybody knows their role on the team, you’re hard to stop. If everybody perfects their role like I really think we’re doing, you’re tough to beat.

Kennedy Catholic – with three Division I commits in its starting lineup - enters Saturday night’s state final with 22 straight wins and a dazzling resume.

Again, no one will pick Pennridge to win, but the Rams will simply ignore the odds that are stacked against them when they take the court under the bright lights at the Giant Center and give it their best shot. It’s exactly what they’ve done for the 32 games before it, and the results – well, they have been astonishing.

“I just hope this is positive for the school and for the community and for all the programs,” Behrens said. “Pennridge is not just about winning basketball games.

“It’s about a lot of kids getting involved in activities – if you like music or art, if you’re in the band front or you’re a cheerleader. I know sports gets a lot pub, but we have a lot of kids involved in other interests. It’s neat that we’re able to bring a little bit of joy to Pennridge.”

#1-4 PENNRIDGE vs #10-1 KENNEDY CATHOLIC (Saturday, 8 p.m., Giant Center, Hershey)

Pennridge

  • 27-5 overall
  • 11-1 SOL Continental Conference champions
  • Fell to Abington in SOL Tournament title game.
  • Led by U.S. Naval Academy recruit Sean Yoder, who averages 21 points and seven rebounds. The senior guard has 651 points this year.
  • Senior Jon Post, who averages 12 points, patrols the paint, and John Dominic is averaging 8.5 points a game.
  • Luke Yoder, Trent Fisher, Jack Gillespie, Pat Gillespie and Nick Dunn are also contributors.

How they got here: In Tuesday’s state semifinal, Pennridge defeated La Salle, District 12’s fourth place squad, 52-47. John Dominic led the Rams with 15 points and Luke Yoder had 13. Jack Gillespie came off the bench to bury a pair of 3-pointers, including the game-winner.
In a state quarterfinal, Pennridge defeated Methacton, District 1’s seventh place team, 50-47. Senior Sean Yoder drained a step-back three at the buzzer to win it. Yoder (17 points), John Dominic (14 points) and Jon Post (11 points) all finished in double figures.
In a second round contest, Pennridge played the role of giant killer, sending District 1 6A champion Abington home for the season with a 55-51 win. It was the fourth meeting between the two teams – the Ghosts won the previous three. Sean Yoder (26 points) and Jon Post (11 points) led the Rams.
In an opening round game, Pennridge defeated defending state runner-up Abraham Lincoln 49-45, rallying from a three-point halftime deficit to outscore Lincoln 32-25 in the second half. Sean Yoder led the Rams with 15 points while Trent Fisher had eight and Luke Yoder, seven points.

Kennedy Catholic

  • 26-3 overall
  • 8-0 District 10 Region 7 champions
  • Ranked No. 24 in latest USA Today Super 25
  • Winners of last three PIAA 1A state title games, including last year’s 78-36 rout of Lourdes
  • 22-game winning streak entering Saturday’s state title game.
  • Led by West Virginia recruit Oscar Tshiebwe. The 6-9, 245-pound center averages 23.41 points a game and double-digit rebounds.
  • Duquesne commit Maceo Austin averages 22.1 points a game, and Toledo commit Mattia Acunzo averages 11.93 points. Junior Ike Herster, who is 6-4, averages 11.93 and has 68 3-pointers on the season.

How they got here:  In Tuesday’s state semifinal, Kennedy Catholic defeated District 1 runner-up Coatesville 65-69 in a classic battle. Maceo Austin’s 31 points led the Eagles. Oscar Tshiebwe, despite first-half foul woes, finished with 24 points and 17 rebounds. Mattia Acunzo added 15 points.
In a state quarterfinal contest, Kennedy Catholic defeated District 7 champion Mt. Lebanon 68-51. Oscar Tshiebwe turned in a dominant 25-point, 18 rebound effort while Maceo Austin had 18 points.
In a second round state game, Kennedy Catholic upended District 7’s fourth place team, Pine Richland, 82-63. Oscar Tshiebwe (24 points), Maceo Austin (20 points) and Mattia Acunzo (16 points) led the way.
In an opening round game, Kennedy Catholic defeated District 7’s fifth place team, Fox Chapel, 55-28. Oscar Tshiebwe (20 points, 14 rebounds) and Maceo Austin (21 points) led the Eagles.

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