By Scott Huff
Franconia – North Penn (10-1, 5-1) gained a share of first place in the SOL Continental Conference as the Knights defeated host Souderton (7-4, 4-2) – 46-36.
The North Penn win coupled with a 47-39 loss by Pennridge (11-1, 5-1) to Central Bucks West (7-4, 3-3) created the knot at that top of the standings.
Souderton had never lost a home game since the Indians moved into their new gym last season. The loss to the Knights ended a 15-0 run for the Big Red.
“It was great to be the first team to beat them in this building,” said North Penn senior Matt Possanza who scored a game-high 18 points for the Knights. “We played tough team defense to limit that team to only 36 points.”
North Penn did what good teams do to win games down the stretch run. The Knights led 36-30 late and were super in running their offensive sets and making clutch free throws.
“Every day in practice we run our two-minute offense,” said Possanza. “We know what to do, and we know that we have to make free throws. And we are a pretty good free throw shooting team.”
Pretty good?
North Penn was perfect in the final minutes as the Knights were 10-10 from the charity stripe against Big Red pressure.
Sean Brooks was a perfect 4-4 from the line, while Wes Brooks, Tyler Houpt, and Possanza were all 2-2.
“North Penn is a very difficult team to come from behind against,” said Souderton head coach Dennis Stanton. “They are extremely disciplined on the offensive end and play good defense.”
“This was a great win for our team,” said North Penn head coach Ron Hassler. “We have experienced seniors who played well at the end of the game, and we took very good care of the basketball.
“Souderton is a good team – not the team we saw for much of tonight,” added Hassler as the Big Red suffered through a 2-16 performance from beyond the three-point arc. “It was just one of those nights in this very competitive league.”
And it is a league that North Penn now has a share of the lead.
North Penn 13 11 8 14 - 46
Souderton 10 4 15 7 - 36
North Penn – Wes Brooks 6; Sean Brooks 13; Tyler Houpt 4; Taylor Koffke 5; Matt Possanza 18. – Total 46.
Souderton – Anthony Sergio 2; Luke Moyer 9; Dan Falenki 7; Ryan Connolly 11; Mark Wonderling 7. – Total 36.
Around the SOL Continental Conference
Central Bucks West (7-4, 3-3) ‘upset’ first place Pennridge (11-2, 5-1) as the host Bucks rallied for a 47-39 victory.
West outscored the Rams 14-5 in the fourth quarter to secure the win. Pennridge led at the end of the first half by a 20-18 margin.
The Bucks had two players score in twin digits. Derek Dyer scored a game-high 11 points, while Kevin Sweet added 10 points.
The Rams had two players score in twin digits. Andrew Lyons scored a game-high 11 points, while Rocky Ferrier added 10 points.
Central Bucks East (6-6, 4-2) moved to within a game of first place with a 51-30 conference victory over Quakertown (1-10, 0-6).
The Patriots were led in scoring by DJ Beausejour with 12 points, while Matt Stauffer scored nine points and Steve Topley added eight points.
Quakertown was led in scoring by Corey Jorgensen who scored team-high eight points for the Panthers.
Hatboro-Horsham (5-6, 2-4) received a super performance from Matt Kane as the Hatters defeated Central Bucks South (2-10, 1-5) – 60-47.
Kane scored a game-high 23 points for Hatboro-Horsham. Travis Bryan added 12 points for the Hatters, while Mike Brown scored in twin digits with 11 points.
The Titans were led in scoring by Steve Schneider who scored a team-high 16 points. Jake Cramer scored nine points for South while John Staman also scored nine points.
Lucky # 7 for Flying Cardinals
Upper Dublin (8-6, 2-4) has now beaten rival Wissahickon (6-6, 2-3) seven straight times as the Flying Cardinals bested the Trojans 58-49.
“We played real well tonight,” said Upper Dublin head coach Josh Adelman who began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Wissahickon under current head coach Kyle Wilson. “Playing against Wissahickon is always a strong rivalry game for our school, and right now we have had the better of it.”
Upper Dublin had a wonderful effort turned in by 6-foot, 1-inch junior John Decamara. Decamara scored a game-high 17 points, while teammate Darrell Harrison added 12 points.
“John hit some tough three-pointers, and shot the ball well from the free throw line,” said Adelman. “I was impressed with the way that he let the game come to him, and he did a great job of playing both ends of the floor.
“Darrell Harrison did a good job scoring 12 points,” added Adelman. “And Andrew Derr did a good job of playing our box-and-one defense.”
Wissahickon had three players score in double figures. Anthony McKie scored a team-high 13 points, while Kyle Garrett scored 12 points and Jordan Reed added 10 points.
“Kyle Wilson is a great coach and a great friend,” said Adelman. “I am going to enjoy this now, it might not last for long.”
Upper Dublin 10 16 14 18 - 58
Wissahickon 11 16 9 13 - 49
Upper Dublin: Andrew Carber 8; Blair Weiss 4; Darrell Harrison 12; John Decamara 17; Andrew Derr 8; Tyreek Magruder 7; Jared Zarwin 2. Total – 58.
Wissahickon: Jordan Reed 10; Tanoh Kpassagnon 1; Kyle Garrett 12; Mike Scheier 9; Jordan Freed 2; Anthony McKie 13. Total – 49
Around the SOL American Conference
Cheltenham (10-3, 3-2) won its tenth game of the season while Upper Moreland (1-10, 0-5) lost its tenth game as the Panthers clawed the Golden Bears – 88-47.
Nafis Walker scored a game-high 19 points to lead CHS, while Travis Bennett scored 12 points. Jarrell Haywood, Anthony Johnson, and Lamont McLaurin each scored 10 points.
Upper Moreland was led in scoring by Scott Smith with 12 points, while Josh Villanueva added 11 for the Bears.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-2, 5-0) remained unbeaten in conference play with a 64-28 victory over Upper Merion (5-7, 1-4).
The Colonials had a trio of players in twin digits. Sam Pygatt scored a game-high 12 points, while both Jaylen Bond and Stephon Baker scored 11 points each.
The Viking guard tandem of James Mobley and Pat Stringfield each scored 10 points to lead UMHS.
Neshaminy Preps for Big Test
Neshaminy (11-1, 5-1) prepped for its Suburban One League National Conference showdown game withCouncil Rock North (10-1, 6-0) on Tuesday (1/18/11) with a 79-57 victory over Harry S Truman (4-7, 2-4).
“We have played some great quarters this year, but we are going to have to play a great game against Council Rock,” said Neshaminy head coach Jerry Devine. “We played three good quarters tonight, but we still need to get better.”
The Redskins scored a blistering 21 points in the first period – 28 more in the third period – 24 more in the fourth period – and just six in the second period.
“We were really attacking the basket again, and that is what I want to see,” said Devine. “We turned up the pressure on defense – played a couple of different pressure defenses – and we generated some turnovers.
“Michael McGarry was a big factor in this game,” added Devine of his inside player who scored 23 points. “He made some jump shots inside their zone, and he attacked the rim to get some key baskets.”
Junior Ryan Arcidiacono led all scorers with 31 points and buried 12 of 13 free throws in the fourth period to ice the win.
Truman – who trailed by just 27-25 by the close of the first half – was led by Shaun Miller who scored a team-high 21 points. Merdic Green and Dequan Ashley each scored 11 points for the Tigers.
‘We took care of business, and now we can game plan for Council Rock North,” said Devine. “We are excited to play them.”
Neshaminy 21 6 28 24 - 79
Truman 17 8 13 19 - 57
Neshaminy: Ryan Ardidiacono 31; Tyler Katz 13; Charlie Marterella 5; Michael McGarry 23; Dwight Williams 6; Richie Schafer 1. Total – 79.
Truman: Daveed Ransome 6; Shaun Miller 21; Mike McGuire 4; Dequan Ashley 11; Antony Griffin 2; Merdic Green 11; Lamont Waters 2. Total – 57.
Around the SOL National Conference
Abington (5-8, 2-4) needed double overtime to defeat host William Tennent (3-9, 0-6) – 74-70.
The Ghosts were led in scoring by DJ McFadden who scored 25 points, while Wesley Rines scored 20 points. Jordan Simmons scored in twin digits for Abington with 16 points.
The Panthers were led in scoring by Cole Weber who scored 28 points, while Jack Rauchut scored 26 points. Shakat Kofa scoring in twin digits for Tennent with 10 points.
Council Rock North (10-1, 6-0) defeated Bensalem (9-3, 5-1) by a 42-37 score.
Please see game story on SuburbanOneSports.com.
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