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By Scott Huff
Composure.
Council Rock South (4-4, 1-2) had it – lost it – and finally found it again as the Golden Hawks edged visiting Bensalem (3-3, 1-2), 51-45, in a Suburban One League National Conference game.
“We got off to the good start, but Bensalem did a great job of changing the tempo of the game,” said Council Rock South head coach John Easterly. “We bought into the up-tempo where we played a little frantic and they took over the game.
“But we were able to settle down – attack the press in a structured way – and we changed the pace back to the way we wanted to play,” added Easterly. “And we were able to shoot foul shots in the fourth quarter – which hasn’t been our strength this season.”The Hawks welcomed back junior Justin Thomas who was injured the second game of the season with a high ankle sprain. Thomas responded well with 14 important points in the win.
“This was a huge win for us,” said Thomas who used his 6-foot 3-inch frame as an inside presence for the Hawks. “I would have to say that I feel good to go.
“Our defense came together and that was an important part of the game,” added Thomas. “Bensalem is a good team, and we wanted to show that we can play with anyone in the league.”
Bensalem coach John Mullin agreed that the tempo of the game – coupled with the Rock South accuracy from the free throw line in the final period – accounted for the difference in the game.“There is no question that our pressure got us back into the game,” said Mullin. “But late in the game, I don’t know if we were tired or what, but we started fouling and putting them on the line.
“I’m not saying that the officials had anything to do with it,” added Mullin as the Owls shot 10 free throws compared to 20 by the Hawks. “We have to do a better job of defending without fouling.”
Council Rock South walked out to an 11-4 first period lead. Bensalem shot just two for eight in the period and played a very passive defense in the initial eight minutes. The Owls did not score a field goal for the final five minutes and eight seconds of the quarter.
“We needed to do something,” said Mullin. “We were not aggressive enough on the offensive or the defensive end.”
Bensalem’s full court defensive pressure fueled the Owl offense in the second period. Bensalem outscored the Hawks 19-8 in the second stanza to snare a 23-19 halftime lead.
Owl guard Nick Christian – who led the team with 12 points - threw down a dunk to highlight a 12-point Bensalem run in the third period to present the Owls with a 34-23 lead. However, Rock South closed the gap to 36-32 by outscoring Bensalem 9-2 in the final two minutes of the period.“We played our match-up zone pretty well in the fourth period,” said Easterly. “And we were able to set up our press by scoring from the free throw line.”
A parade of Hawks went to the line in the final period as Rock South drained 14-of-16 from the charity stripe to earn the victory. Guard Cody Nowlin was a perfect 6-6 from the line in that fourth quarter.
Council Rock South took the lead for good – 45-44 – when Jake Clompton bombed home a 3-pointer with 2:08 left in the game. The final six points would come from the line as Nowlin, Clompton, and Thomas each went two-for-two.
“I’m going to have to take a good look at the film,” said Mullin. “I’m not too sure how this one got away from us.”
The one word that just might explain it is – composure.
Bensalem 4 19 13 9 - 45
CR South 11 8 13 19 - 51
Bensalem: Alex Agyedu 3 0-0 6; Chris McMullin 4 1-2 9; Liam Kirgan 3 1-2 8; Dalton Gilgor 1 0-0 3; Ivan Flores 1 0-0 2; Nick Christian 4 1-4 12; Calvin Brown 2 1-2 5. Totals 18 4-10 45.
3-point field goals: Kirgan, Christian, Gilgor.
CR South: Jake Clompton 4 2-2 11; P.J. Gallo 1 1-3 3; Cody Nowlin 4 6-6 15; Pat Silverthorn 4 2-2 11; Justin Thomas 4 6-7 14. Totals 15 16-20 51.
3-point field goals: Nowlin; Clompton; Silverthorn.
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