Pennridge was edged by nationally-ranked Kennedy Catholic 64-62 in double overtime in Saturday’s PIAA 6A title game in Hershey. Photos provided courtesy of Geanine Jamison. CLICK HERE for a gallery of photos.
By Mary Jane Souder
HERSHEY – Early in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s PIAA 6A title game, moments after four straight points by Sean Yoder had given Pennridge a 42-38 lead, Kennedy Catholic’s Ike Herster misfired on a shot.
The long rebound was deflected toward midcourt where Jon Post tracked it down, somehow beating every Eagle to the ball. The Rams’ 6-5 senior center didn’t stop there, taking it all the way to the hole with a pair of defenders in pursuit for a basket that put the Rams on top 44-38 with 6:37 remaining in regulation.
It was a play that effectively captured the fierce determination and resolve that allowed an underdog Ram squad to not only play with the nationally-ranked Eagles but outplay them for a good part of the game.
“Every single guy that went out there gave everything they had, and that was huge,” Post said. “Especially down the stretch when a few injuries came about – (it was) the next guy up, and they all came in with 100 percent energy and wanted to do everything to win that game.”
By game’s end, Pennridge had lost both John Dominic and Jack Gillespie to injuries and Post to fouls. Despite their depleted roster, the Rams might still be playing had it not been for an Oscar Tshiebwe block of a Trent Fisher layup in the closing seconds of the second overtime that allowed the Eagles to escape with a 64-62 win.
“We’re relentless, and we play as one,” Post said. “Any of those guys that went down and got hurt – it wasn’t ‘I’m going to put my head down and be mad the rest of the game.’ No, he was cheering the next guy on.
“That just shows that every one of those guys out there is my brother, and I’m theirs back.”
This was a game for the ages, a game they’ll be talking about decades from now. It was a classic state title contest that saw the Rams – a team with one Division 1 recruit (Sean Yoder) – come oh so close to defeating an Eagles’ squad with D1 talent from literally around the world.
West Virginia signee Tshiebwe – the Eagles’ 6-9, 245-pound center – dominated the backboards, pulling down 21 rebounds, 10 offensive. The 2019 PA Gatorade Player of the Year and McDonald’s All-American also had 16 points. Duquesne recruit Maceo Austin had a game-high 19 points, and University of Toledo recruit Mattia Acunzo added 18.
The Eagles may have had the pedigree, but the Rams had the advantage in heart, an edge that was apparent from the outset. The Eagles led 6-2 after a Ram turnover led to an Austin dunk, but it was hardly an indication of things to come.
Trent Fisher turned a Luke Yoder pass into a three-point play, and when Post found Fisher for a bucket, the Rams led 7-6. At quarter’s end, the Rams – sparked by eight points from Fisher and six from Post - led 16-14.
“Once again, just play together,” Post said of the key. “If we played hard-nosed defense, play our style of basketball, we felt we might be able to come out on top.
“Sometimes you have to look at it - we’re Pennridge, nobody really thought anything of us. Everyone thought they were going to blow by us.”
Everyone turned out to be dead wrong.
The Rams took a 28-25 lead into halftime, capping an impressive first half with four straight points from sophomore Luke Yoder. The first bucket came when Sean Yoder – after a nifty drive – found Luke with a pass for an easy bucket. Then it was Luke Yoder forcing a Kennedy Catholic turnover at midcourt. On his team’s ensuing possession, Luke Yoder missed the initial shot but was fouled on the rebound and sank both shots to give the Rams their three-point advantage.
The Rams led 40-38 after a third quarter that saw the Rams and Eagles exchange baskets. John Dominic and Jack Gillespie each had a clutch three in the frame for the Rams. In the fourth quarter, the Rams led 50-45 after Sean Yoder – after delivering a block on the defensive end – scored with 2:37 remaining. The Eagles knotted the score 50-50, and it was 52-52 after regulation.
Sean Yoder scored all five of his team’s points in the first overtime, including both ends of a one-and-one that knotted the score with five seconds remaining.
The second OT saw a pair of reserves come up big. With the Rams trailing by four, Pat Gillespie buried a three to pull the Rams to within one.
The Eagles still led 63-60 when Dunn stepped to the foul line with 54 seconds remaining and sank both ends of a one-and-one to pull the Rams to within one.
“We hold each other accountable,” Sean Yoder said. “In practice, we’re working hard, we’re competing against each other, but at the end of the day, if one guy goes down, the next guy steps up.
“There’s no complaining about playing time, who plays. We’re a team, we’re 18 guys. That’s why we had so much success this season – (the) next man up mentality.”
Moments later, Sean Yoder delivered a highlight reel play at the defensive end when he blocked a Tshiebwe dunk.
“It was a one-point game, and at that point, you have to leave it all out there,” Yoder said. “If I didn’t go up for that block, I think that’s selfish on my part because that easily could have been a highlight dunk, but I’m willing to put myself out there for my teammates.”
The Eagles, who maintained possession, had a chance to extend their lead but misfired on a pair of foul shots, setting the stage for Tshiebwe’s block. Austin sank one-of-two with less than a second remaining, giving the Eagles their final margin of victory.
“I wish we could have brought home that win obviously,” Post said. “(But) I can look myself in the mirror and say I gave everything I had. That’s huge to me. I don’t want to leave the court with any regrets, and I for sure didn’t.
“We emptied the tank. It was just one of those things – a few shots didn’t go our way, a few calls didn’t go our way, a free throw here, a free throw there. I just know everyone went out there and gave everything they had. That was just huge.”
While there was disappointment with the outcome, there was also no mistaking the pride.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of days,” coach Dean Behrens said. “No matter if we won or lost, I’m proud of this group. They gave me everything they had.
“To lose that game in double overtime – I don’t think it was lack of effort. I just can’t say enough about the boys – all 18 of them, my jayvee and my varsity guys. The effort they gave in practice every day, the commitment – we do it six days a week. For some of these guys, it was hard. They’re jayvee, and they weren’t going to play. We haven’t played a jayvee game since Feb. 7, and they were committed to this. They made our other guys better.”
“I’m so proud of these guys,” Sean Yoder said. “They mean the world to me. This season meant the world to me.”
The Rams’ medals may have been silver, but their effort was undeniably golden.
Fans, they’ve got fans – Green t-shirts were everywhere in Giant Center, and it was once again a partisan Pennridge crowd that erupted with every little play and every not-so-little play the Rams made.
“Special shout out to our community – my goodness, they really show up,” Sean Yoder said. “The support they’ve given us over the past month has been unreal.
“Just riding off that emotion, I think most of the game that’s what we did. We were so tired, but that emotion of the fans (and) of the guys on the bench – I really couldn’t ask for anything more.”
“That’s been huge,” Post said. “The whole community’s got our backs. They really appreciate the way we play basketball.
“There’s been a bunch of people that come up to Sean and I and a bunch of the other guys saying – we’re making a statement, we’re making them proud. That’s something you have to take in and remember we’re role models to a bunch of kids tonight. They’re coming out here – they want to do what we want to do. We’ve shown them what it takes the past few games, and I think that’s going to be huge for the future of Pennridge.”
Stats and stuff – Kennedy Catholic – with an enrollment of 69 students – made it four-peat with Saturday’s win. Its first three state titles were at the Class 1A level before moving up to 6A this season.
The Eagles had a 41-34 advantage on the boards with 21 of those coming on the offensive end. Kennedy Catholic connected on just 4-of-24 from beyond the arc (16.7 percent) while the Rams were 6-for-13 (46.2 percent).
Sean Yoder’s 18 points led the Rams. He also had five rebounds and a team-high six assists and three steals. Post had 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds to go along with three assists. Fisher added 12 points and four rebounds. Luke Yoder had six points, six rebounds and a pair of blocked shots, two steals and two assists.
Pennridge closed out its historic season with a 27-6 record (11-1 SOL).
Kennedy Catholic 14-11-13-14-5-7 64
Pennridge 16-12-12-12-5-5 62
Kennedy Catholic (64) – Manis Norman 0 1-2 1; Ike Herster 3 2-4 10; Mattia Acunzo 7 5-6 18; Maceo Austin 7 4-11 19; Oscar Tshiebwe 6 4-6 16; TOTALS 22 16-29 64.
Pennridge (62) – Luke Yoder 2 2-3 6; John Dominic 1 0-0 3; Sean Yoder 5 7-9 18; Trent Fisher 4 3-3 12; Jon Post 6 0-0 12; Nick Dunn 0 2-2 2; 2; Pat Gillespie 1 0-0 3; Jack Gillespie 2 0-0 6; TOTALS 21 14-17 62.
3-pointers: Kennedy Catholic – Ike Herster 2, Mattia Acunzo, Maceo Austin; Pennridge – Jack Gillespie 2, John Dominic, Sean Yoder, Trent Fisher.
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