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By Scott Huff
Council Rock South won its school record eighth consecutive game as the Golden Hawks (10-3, 5-2) held off a second half Truman surge to defeat the Tigers (5-8, 2-6) in a Suburban One League National Conference game on Friday night, 64-54.And when the game was over, the wide-eyed students from Rolling Hills Elementary School eagerly lined up to get autographs from the Rock South players. And perhaps the most prized signature would come from senior point guard John Thomas.
“John did everything you would want your senior point guard to do,” said Council Rock South coach John Easterly. “He ran our offense, put people in the right position, and he scored some points.”
Thomas, in fact, scored a game-high 21 points – which included a pair of three-point field goals. In fact, the Hawks bombed home a total of five three-pointers in the first half to build a 33-22 halftime lead.
“I reminded the players at half that it looked like we were settling for three-pointers, said Easterly. “We made some – we can make the three pointers – but I stressed at the half that we needed to look inside first.”
Three of the first four Rock South field goals were treys as the Hawks flew to an early 11-4 lead. Thomas, Pat Fitzsimmons, and Tom Boyd all found the range from beyond the arc.
Rock South appeared to be in total control the game with the 11-point halftime bulge. The Hawks shot the ball well, rebounded the ball well, and took care of the basketball better than the Tigers.
Until the second half, that is.
“We worked much harder in the second half,” said Truman coach Al Munford. “We need to play with that intensity for four quarters, though.“We played with that intensity the last few games,” added Munford as the Tigers entered the game winning four of their last five games. “But we didn’t play with the consistency that we did in those games.”
Truman did make a serious run at the Hawks as the Tigers scored the last eight points of the third period to close to within 45-39. And with 6:18 left in the game, Truman trailed Rock South by just three – 48-45.
“Truman made a nice run at us, but we expected that,” said Easterly. “They are a well coached team, and they made a game of it.”
It was here that Thomas did his doctor act to stop the bleeding. Thomas scored the next seven points for the Hawks, and Rock South was never seriously challenged again.
“We knew that they were going to make a run,” said Thomas. “But we knew that we could make a run back on them.
“We ran our offense and just tried to break them down,” added Thomas. “We’re a good free throw shooting team, and when we get to the line at the end of the game we have to make them.”
Council Rock South also had solid games turned in by both Boyd and Rus Chichkin. Boyd scored 14 points and was a monster off the boards, while Chichkin hurled himself on the floor diving for loose balls and chipped in with 12 points.
Truman was led in scoring by Keith Jones who hustled his way to a team-high 16 points. Phil Griffin and Ramiesh Roberts scored 13 and 10 points respectively.
“We work on emotion,” said Munford. “When we are up – we’re way up. When we’re down – we’re way down.
“I thought that Quincy Palmer and Eddie Valentine set the tone for us defensively in the second half,” added Munford. “These kids came with high expectations, now we have to reach them.”
Council Rock South will be hard-pressed to continue its winning ways. The Golden Hawks have a difficult schedule next week as CRS meets Neshaminy (6-6) on Tuesday, Pennsbury (10-2) on Wednesday, Bensalem (12-2) on Friday, and Central Bucks South (12-2) on Saturday.“Every year you want to be going in the right direction at this time of the season,” said Easterly. “The players are really coming together, and next week is going to be a big test for us.”
“Playing the teams we play next week is going to present quite a challenge,” agreed Thomas. “I love being part of this program, and we’re building this program with every game.”
Thomas may have been the prized autograph on this night by the students from Rolling Hills – even though Thomas attended Churchville Elementary School.
It didn’t seem to matter.
Truman 9 13 17 15 - 54
CR South 13 20 12 19 - 64
Truman: Ramiesh Roberts 3 4-6 10; Eddie Valentine 4 0-0 9; Phil Griffin 5 2-2 13; Rekeem Boyd 1 0-0 2; Keith Jones 6 3-9 16; Josh Williams 1 0-0 2; Mike Schmidt 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 9-17 54.
3-point field goals – Valentine, Griffin, Jones.
CR South: Rus Chichkin 4 4-4 12; Cody Nowlin 1 0-0 2; John Thomas 9 1-2 21; Tom Boyd 6 1-3 14; Pat Fitzsimmons 3 1-1 9; Justin Thomas 3 0-0 6. Totals 22 7-10 64.
3-point field goals – John Thomas (2), Fitzsimmons (2) Boyd.
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