To view game action photos, visit the Photo Gallery by clicking on the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
By Scott Huff
FAIRLESS HILLS – The 17th lead change in the game was the final one as Pennsbury edged visiting Neshaminy, 47-46, before a frenzied and packed house at the Falcon Nest.
“Who wants to come in here and deal with this,” smiled Pennsbury head coach Frank Sciolla. “Our fans – this community – are always here to support us.
“We have been very fortunate to play in a lot of close games this year,” added Sciolla. “These players have been in these situations before.
“We have played six games that came down to the final seconds,” continued Sciolla. “And with the exception of Abington, we have won all of them.”
Neshaminy head coach Jerry Devine agreed.
“Pennsbury has a quality program that has been battle tested in the close games,” the Redskins’ coach said. “They held their poise in the final moments, and we showed our youth.
“We were a little anxious late in the game, we took some shots we shouldn’t have,” added Devine. “And we got a little careless on the defensive end as well.”
The game had a frantic ending that was as improbable as it was exciting.
Neshaminy – which held the biggest lead of the game at 46-40 with 3:48 left in the game – saw its margin shrink to 46-45 when Pennsbury senior Jesse Krasna sank a pair of free throws with 2:14 left in the game.
Neshaminy missed an ill-advised 3-point field goal, but Pennsbury turned the ball over with 42 seconds left.
Ryan Arcidiacono – an 88 percent free throw shooter – was fouled by Krasna with 34 ticks on the clock. Arcidiacono rimmed the front end of one-and-one, and Pennsbury rebounded the ball with a chance to take the lead.
The Falcons worked the ball to the top of the key and Krasna – who has struggled from the free throw line in the last three games – was fouled. He stepped to the line and calmly sank what proved to be the game winning points with 17 seconds left.
The drama – though – was far from over.
Neshaminy had two shots at the basket miss, but Arcidiacono was fouled with 3.6 seconds left. The talented sophomore went to the line in another one-and-one situation.
Again the shot rimmed out and the game was over.
“If I had a million choices of who I would want on the line, it would be Ryan every time,” said Devine. “And if I would get another million choices, it would still be Ryan.”
“I went to the line with the confidence that the shots were going to fall,” said Arcidiacono. “When I missed the first one, I was sure that I would redeem myself by making the second one.
“I did the same exact thing that I always do,” added Arcidiacono. “I really wasn’t nervous, the ball just didn’t fall in.”
Krasna – who was an 80 percent free throw shooter last season – was not as confident about making his game winners.
“I went to the line and just tried to remember the little things,” said Krasna. “I have been shooting extra free throws lately, and I guess that helped.
“I’m happy with the start that we have had in the league,” added Krasna as the Falcons finished the first half of the SOL National Conference with a 6-1 mark. “But this year is crazy. If you have an off night, you could lose to the worst team in this league. And if you have a good night, you could beat the best team in the league.”
The fans were treated to not only a competitive game from the opening tip – but saw some fine 3-point shooting by Zak Kumor from Pennsbury and Tyler Katz from Neshaminy. Both connected on four 3-point field goals.
“We had to verbally be aggressive with Zak this week,” said Sciolla. “He has had some great shots that he hasn’t taken. Tonight he looked for his shots, and he made them.
“I thought that Katz had a great game for Neshaminy,” added Sciolla. “And it was a tough way for the game to end for Arcidiacono – he is a tremendous talent.”
“This is a game that we just have to let go,” said Devine. “We had our chance to win the game – we didn’t – but we get to play them again.”
And the Skins won’t have to take their game to the Falcons Nest.
SuburbanOneSports.Com Hoops Ticker
SOL Continental Conference ----- Souderton (11-2, 5-2) remained in first place in the conference with a 77-52 victory over Quakertown (7-6, 4-3). The Indians were led in scoring by A.J. Picard with 22 points, while Mark Wonderling added 19. The Panthers were led in scoring by Kenny Gula with 13 points. ----- Central Bucks South (9-5, 5-2) remained in a first place conference tie with Souderton as the Titans defeated rival Central Bucks East (4-7. 2-5) by a 55-41 score. Ten players scored for South which was led in scoring by Nick Joerger with 14 points. The Patriots top scorer was David Kiersnowski with 15 points ----- Central Bucks West (8-5, 4-3) held off Hatboro-Horsham (7-7, 4-3) by a 42-41 margin. The Hatters trailed 20-8 in the first half but rallied back to make it a game. West was led in scoring by Ryan Dyer with 13 points, while Christian Bolling led the Hatters with 16 points. ----- North Penn (7-5, 4-3) had to work overtime to defeat pesky Pennridge (3-11, 0-7) by a 66-59 score. It was the fifth overtime game of the season for the Rams who have won two and lost three of those OT games. North Penn was led in scoring by Matt Possanza with 22 points, while Tim Abruzzo led Pennridge with 16 points
SOL American Conference ----- Plymouth Whitemarsh (11-0, 7-0) remained unbeaten for the season with a 77-45 victory over Springfield (3-10, 0-7). Jaylen Bond led the Colonials with 22 points, while C.J. Aiken added 16 points. Springfield was led by Chris Crudele with 15 points. ----- Norristown (10-3, 5-2) raced to a 16-2 first period lead and routed Cheltenham (6-7, 4-3) – 61-32. Chris Davis led the Eagles with 20 points, while Jahquil Hargrove added 14 points for the winners. Rob Mansell led the Panthers with 14 points. ----- Wissahickon (10-3, 5-2) struggled in the first half but rallied for a 50-37 victory over Upper Moreland (2-12, 1-6). The Trojans –who led by just 17-16 at the half – were led in scoring by Jack O’Neill. Ryan Burnick and Ben Pflaumer led Upper Moreland with 11 points each ----- Upper Dublin (7-4, 4-3) captured a 60-39 victory over Upper Merion (5-9, 2-5). John Decamara led the Flying Cardinals with 14 points, while Pat Belford led the Vikings with 13 points.
SOL National Conference ----- Bensalem (7-5, 3-4) defeated Abington (6-6, 4-3) – 64-51. The Owls were led in scoring by Nick Christian with 16, while Ivan Flores and Alex Agyedu each scored 12 points. Jaymes Miller led the Ghosts with 17 points and Wesley Rines with 16 points ------ Truman (6-8, 3-4) received a 24-point scoring effort by Eddie Valentine to defeat William Tennent (7-6, 1-6) – 76-62. The Panthers were led in scoring by Jack Rauchut with 17 points.
Neshaminy-Pennsbury Box Score
Neshaminy 11 10 15 10 - 46
Pennsbury 10 10 18 9 - 47
Neshaminy: Tyler Katz 6 0-0 16; Mike McGarry 5 1-1 11; Ryan Arcidiacono 3 4-6 10; Dwight Williams 1 0-2 3; Charlie Marterella 1 1-2 3; Steve Warhola 1 0-0 3. Totals: 17 6-11 46.
3-point field goals: Katz (4), Williams, Warhola.
Pennsbury: Zak Kumor 4 2-2 10; Kiernan Bolger 3 0-0 8; Jesse Krasna 2 6-6 10; Dante Devine 3 2-3 8; Zack Sibel 0 3-6 3; Jabat 2 0-0 4. Totals 14 13-17 47.
3-point field goals: Kumor (4), Bolger (2).
- Log in to post comments
0
