Sam Simononis can almost effortlessly break down her defender and take the ball to the hole. The Pennridge senior is equally comfortable taking a shot from long range.
“She also has the ability to pass,” Pennridge coach Brooke Martin said. “She’s an all-around great player. She can do it all.”
In the final game of her high school career – the Rams’ district tournament opener at Methacton, Simononis buried a three-pointer that vaulted her over the 1,000-point plateau.
“I actually thought I had 40 points to go, so I wasn’t really worried about it,” Simononis said. “Coach Brook texted me and said, ‘Thirteen points, Sam.’
“I’m like, ‘What?’ I didn’t tell anyone about it because I didn’t want it to affect my game, but I definitely wanted to come out on fire because I knew it could be my last game.”
Simononis, who finished with a game-high 20 points, scored the first five points of the game for the Rams, who fell 48-43 to the Warriors.
“I knew if I worked real hard I would get it,” she said.
The game wasn’t halted until a foul was called at the other end of the court when Simononis was officially recognized. It was a happy ending to a stellar career that saw the senior standout transfer back to Pennridge after spending her junioir year at Allentown Central Catholic.
“After I transferred, I really thought I didn’t have a chance,” she said of reaching the historic milestone. “But I had a good year, and I felt comfortable.
“I really wanted to do it for myself.”
Simononis gave the Rams a double threat in the backcourt.
“With Sam’s return, it opened things up for Jordan (Dominic),” Martin said. “When they were both on the same side of the court, it’s hard for defenders to leave them.”
A captain, Simononis provided positive leadership to a young Rams’ squad.
“She really started becoming a leader for us this year,” Martin said. “She leads by example.
“Her shot has improved so much since her sophomore year and just her confidence in her overall play. She wants the ball, she wants to go out and compete and win.”
Simononis is hardly one dimensional on the basketball court.
“When teams denied Jordan the ball, Sam was bringing it up the court,” Martin said. “She sees the open teammates and passes to open teammates. Those little things make her so effective.”
They will also make her effective if she is moved to the point guard position – which is part of the plan when she enrolls at the University of Vermont where Simononis has signed a letter of intent to play basketball next year
“I liked Vermont from the start, and I always wanted to play Division One,” she said. “I love the coaching staff, and even though it’s a Division One school, it felt more laidback.
“I’ll be going in as a shooting guard, but they want to make me a point guard. I definitely will need a lot of improvement to play that. Right now I’m working on my shot. Throughout my whole high school career, I have always looked for my teammates. I would love to be a point guard.”
Interestingly, Simononis also was a standout soccer player and was a member of a Bucks FC squad that was ranked in the top 10 nationally.
“In ninth grade, my dad told me I had to pick which sport I wanted to play, and I chose basketball,” she said. “I just loved the tempo and the pace of the game.
“Soccer was too boring for me. I just love being physical, and I love the adrenaline rush of playing basketball.”
As for her high school experience, Simononis leaves with fond memories as the Rams finished strong, earning a berth in districts for the fourth straight year.
“I had a great time,” she said. “I don’t think any of us can complain how we finished out the season.
“I’m upset that we lost (to Methacton), but I think we went out on a good note, and I was proud of that.”
Simononis is the fourth player during Martin’s tenure to surpass the 1,000-point mark, joining Laura Lyons, Carolyn Konstanzer and Lindsay Tennent.
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