By Scott Huff
Perkasie – When was the last time a Pennridge basketball team won by 20 points and didn’t feel that great about it?
Wednesday night.
Pennridge (12-2, 6-1) entered its game with Quakertown (1-12, 0-7) as a decided favorite, but the pesky Panthers were having nothing of it as the host Rams won, 73-53.
Quakertown played a brilliant third quarter in outscoring Pennridge 22-13 and closed the gap to 41-31 in that well-played third quarter.
“I was thrilled with the way that we played in the third quarter,” said Quakertown head coach Kevin Keeler. “We played solid defense, and we were able to score some points.
“But Pennridge isn’t 12-2 for no good reason,” added Keeler. “Both of their guards – (Tim) Abruzzo and (Mike) Guldin – are a very tough match up for us.”
Abruzzo lit it up in the Green Gym at Pennridge with a game-high 24 points. Guldin added 19 points for the Rams, while Andrew Lyons scored in twin digits with 11 points.
“We always have to be ready to play Quakertown,” said Abruzzo. “We know it is going to be a physical game, and we had to go out and prove that we could play in a physical game.”
Abruzzo had what appeared to be a breakaway layup in the second half, and the flashy guard began to attack the rim with a coveted dunk attempt.
But a Panther defender fouled him hard, and the lanky junior sprawled to the floor. No dunk – but a trip to the free throw line.
“I was hoping I could cap off a Pennridge-Quakertown game with a dunk,” smiled Abruzzo. “I saw him coming at me in the corner of my eye, and I knew there was going to be contact. At least I made the two free throws.”
Pennridge regained its composure after the strong Q-town run and took control of the game in the fourth period.
“I really wasn’t pleased with the way that we came out in the second half,” said Pennridge head coach Dean Behrens. “Kevin (Keeler) always has his kids ready to play, and they made us struggle some.
“There was a great amount of energy in the stands tonight for both teams,” added Behrens. “And I thought that (Corey) Jorgensen did a great job got to the basket for them. He can be a dangerous player.”
Jorgensen – who was the lone scorer in double figures for Q-town - scored a team-high 17 points for the Panthers.
The surprising first half of the Suburban One League Continental Conference is now in the record books.
When was the last time that Pennridge was on top of the division standings half way through the season?
Wednesday night.
Quakertown 8 10 22 13 - 53
Pennridge 20 19 13 21 - 73
Quakertown: Corey Jorgensen 17; Spencer Gysi 6; Kenny Cuadrado 2; Steffan Spieker 8; Jon Landis 4; Mike Harpster 7; Dylan Gossler 5; Nick Barndt 4. Total- 53.
Pennridge:Mike Guldin 19; Tim Abruzzo 24; Rocky Ferrier 4; Andrew Lyons 11; Jared Schaffer 2; Kyle Peters 9; Drew Decew 4. – Total 73.
Around the Suburban One League
North Penn (11-1, 6-1) kept a firm grasp on first place in the Suburban One Continental Conference with a 55-50 victory over visiting Hatboro-Horsham (5-7, 2-5).
It was the eighth straight win for the Knights. The only NP loss of the year came on 12/21/10 with a 59-51 setback to Pennridge.
The North Penn brother backcourt of Sean and Wes Brooks drained a total of seven field goals from beyond the three-point arc. Sean – who buried four treys – led the Knights with 18 points, while Wes – who buried three treys – finished with 12 points.
Matt Possanza also scored in double digits for North Penn with 15 points.
Hatboro-Horsham – who outscored the Knights 26-16 in the final period – was led in scoring by Shane Cummings with 16 points. Mike Brown added nine points for the Hatters.
Hatboro-Horsham 10 6 8 26 - 50
North Penn 8 16 15 16 - 55
**
Central Bucks East (7-5, 5-2) remained in contention in the Suburban One League Continental Conference with a 62-46 victory over Souderton (7-6, 4-3).
The victory was the fifth consecutive for the streaking Patriots, while the loss was the third straight for the Big Red.
CB East featured a balanced scoring attack as DJ Becausejour tallied a game-high 16 points. Steve Topley and Scott Shields scored in twin digits with 10 points each.
Souderton was led in scoring by Mark Wonderling and Ryan Connolly with 13 points each. Anthony Sergio added 11 points for the Indians.
Souderton 10 11 14 11 - 46
CB East 15 12 17 18 - 62
***
Upper Dublin (9-6) rallied from a six-point first period deficit to defeat Pottsgrove (6-8) in a non-league game – 54-43.
The Flying Cardinals opened up a one-point third period lead by outscoring the Falcons 21-11 in the final period.
Tyreek Magruder led UD with 13 points that included a perfect 4-for-4 in the fourth period. Darrell Harrison scored in double figures for the Cardinals with 12 points.
Khalil Owens – who scored eight points – hauled in 12 rebounds and had six blocked shots for the winners.
Pottsgrove 12 11 9 11 - 43
Upper Dublin 6 16 11 21 - 54
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