To view game action photos, visit the photo gallery and click on the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
By Scott Huff
DOYLESTOWN – Pennridge had host Central Bucks West on the ropes late in the fourth quarter of its opening Suburban One League Continental Conference game.A flurry of points by Pennridge junior guard Mike Guldin closed what had been a 13-point fourth period West lead to 53-48 with 1:34 remaining. A Ram steal and – BANG – a 3-point field goal by Pennridge junior Rocky Ferrier put the Rams within a bucket with 1:23 left.
“I really thought that when Rocky hit that three we were going to win the game,” said Pennridge head coach Dean Behrens. “We were right there, and if nothing else, we made them a little nervous.”
“We were a little frightened there at the end – it didn’t seem like they missed a shot,” agreed CB West senior Ryan Dyer. “But we were confident that we could still pull it out.“We kept our heads in the game,” added Dyer. “And it was good to get that experience late in the game – if we win that is.”
Dyer – the older brother of sophomore Derrick Dyer and the game-high scorer with 16 points – hit two clutch free throws on a one-and-one with just 38 seconds left to stretch the lead to 55-51. And the younger Dyer – who scored 11 points for the winners – capped the game scoring with a basket with just 18 seconds left to seal the win at 57-51.
“We need to pay more attention to detail,” said CB West head coach Adam Sherman. “It’s funny, we play a lot better in an empty gym at practice than we have on the floor with a crowd of people.
“We are a very inexperienced team, and if we can get through these games with a ‘W’ all the better,” added Sherman. “We need to defend, rebound, and execute.”
Pennridge has even less experience with zero seniors on its roster. Two seniors – Jon Lewis and Drew Smith – have been lost for the year with injuries.“We start two sophomores (Tim Abruzzo and Andrew Lyons) and play start three juniors (Ferrier, Guldin, and Kyle Peters),” said Behrens. “And most of them only have junior varsity experience at the high school level.
“I’m very proud of these kids, they have bought in to how we want do things,” added Behrens. “The effort is great – they have nothing to be ashamed of. We play with heart and with no excuses.”
Pennridge led at the close of the first period – 12-11. The Rams – who will lead the SOL in brush burns for as many times as they were on the hardwood – trailed 9-4 but treys by Abruzzo and Ferrier gave PHS the lead at the buzzer.
West appeared to take control of the game in the second period. The Bucks hit three 3-pointers (Anthony Salvitti, Derrick Dyer, and Ryan Dyer) and led at the close of the half by eight, 32-24.
The Bucks extended their margin to 13 by the close of the third period. Six different players scored in the frame with Kevin Sweet leading West with a pair of field goals.Pennridge – those pesky Rams – rallied to make a game of it with Guldin – that pesky point guard – scoring seven points in the fourth period.
“Pennridge shot the ball very well tonight,” said Sherman. “But we have got to do a better job of taking care of the ball – we create a turnover and then give it right back.”
“Our goal was to come here and win a league game,” said Behrens as the Rams have not beaten anyone without the name New Hope in the last two seasons. “We only lost to St. Pius by six, and we were in the game with Lansdale Catholic.”
Both the Bucks (2-1 overall, 1-0 SOL Continental) and the Rams (1-4, 0-1) gained some valuable experience – experience that should pay dividends down the road.
Pennridge 12 12 8 19 - 51
CB West 11 21 13 12 - 57
Pennridge:
Rocky Ferrier 4 4-4 14; Andrew Lyons 3 2-2 8; Kyle Peters 2 3-7 7; Tim Abruzzo 2 0-0 6; Dylan Tice 3 0-1 7; Mike Guldin 3 3-5 9; Jared Schaffer 0 0-1 0. Totals 17 12-20 53.
3-point field goals: Ferrier (2), Abruzzo (2), Tice.
Central Bucks West:
Patrick Furst 3 4-6 11; Ryan Dyer 6 2-2 16; Derrick Dyer 5 0-0 11; Vince Weltz 1 0-0 2; Anthony Salvitti 2 0-0 6; Ryan Fiore 1 1-2 3; Kevin Sweet 4 0-0 8. Totals 22 7-10 57.
3-point field goals: R Dyer (2), Salvitti (2), Furst, D Dyer.
- Log in to post comments
0
