Plymouth-Whitemarsh battles past Pennridge

PLYMOUTH MEETING >> It was a thrilling match-up of two state-playoff caliber teams, and it wasn’t over until Plymouth-Whitemarsh’s Mike Lotito blocked Ryan Cuthbert’s three-point attempt just as time expired.

Whew.
“We seem to have great games with Pennridge.” Colonials coach Jim Donofrio said. “They just play such a good brand of team basketball with such heart, that we just seem to bring out the best in each other.”
Plymouth-Whitemarsh rallied back from a 10-point halftime deficit to win 50-48 over the Rams in a Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament Game Saturday night at packed Colonial Gym.
“That’s a great team,” Lotito said of the Rams. “They can move the ball, they can shoot it. It’s great for the district seeding to get a win over them. Great team win.”
PW remained unbeaten, improving to 15-0 with an effort that included a whole lot of Xzavier Malone (game-high 26 points) as well as several outstanding plays, including all of the ones the Colonials needed to make in the final frantic minutes.
“You don’t know what your kids are made of until they get in that situation, and they’ve been doing this a lot,” Donofrio said. “So it’s developing into something fun.”
Down by one, Davon Burrell came up with an offensive rebound for the Colonials and sank an eight-foot jumper, putting PW in front, 47-46 with 32 seconds to go.
“This team has a never-say-die attitude,” Lotito said.
On the ensuing Pennridge possession, Oakley Spencer came up with a steal as the PW crowd began to sense another victory. That would lead to Malone going to the foul line with 17 seconds left.
The senior guard hit both, extending the Colonials’ lead to 49-46.
A three-point attempt by Cuthbert did not fall but Dan Long scored on a rebound to make it a one-point game with five seconds left to play.
Malone was fouled, and went to the line with three seconds to go. He hit the first free throw, making it 50-48, and then Pennridge — with no timeouts remaining — came up with the rebound and fired down court to Cuthbert.
The junior launched a three-point attempt but Lotito swooped in to make the block, the ball falling short of its destination.
“They know how to win basketball games,” Donofrio said of his team. “It’s an interesting trait.”
A dunk by Malone got the Colonial rally going in the third quarter. Malone scored nine points in the period, including when he pulled up on a fast break and drained a three to put PW in front for the first time, 34-31.
A drive to the hoop by Malone finished off the third, providing the Colonials a 39-36 advantage.
This one started to feel a whole lot like the last time these two teams met.
“One of my favorite high school games of all time was the state game against them last year, just as a basketball purist,” Donofrio said of PW’s 73-70 win in the second round of states last year. “My God, that’s what high school basketball is supposed to be.”
PW maintained its lead into the opening minutes of the fourth, but Pennridge (13-3) drew even on a three by Stephen Lowry then took a 44-42 lead on a layup by Lowry.
Max Wagner, who led the Rams with 14 points, scored to extend the margin to four, but quickly at the other end, Malone knifed in between two defenders, finding just enough of an opening at the top of the arc to fire a three and hit, slicing the deficit down to 46-45.
The Colonials came up with a defensive stop, and Burrell’s basket would soon put them in front for good.
PW’s defense, playing tough, physical ball the entire 90 feet, limited Long to nine points. But he directed the Ram offense throughout, giving them a chance to win at the end.
“I thought Dan controlled the game extremely well,” Pennridge coach Dean Behrens said. “Bringing the ball up the floor is not very easy against PW. And they run that 1-2-2 extremely well.”
“Dan is such an impressive high school athlete and basketball player,” Donofrio said. “Who wouldn’t love to coach that kid? Just heart and character, and I love watching him — he’s all team and he’s gritty and he’s cagey.”
Key contributions from multiple players provided Pennridge a 29-19 lead at the break.
Devon Balmer’s jump shot was falling for the Rams. He hit three consecutive shots, the first of which gave Pennridge a 7-5 lead early.
A three by Balmer made it a 10-5 contest before the Colonials cut it to 10-7 at the end of the first on a drive to the hoop by Malone.
Pennridge began the second quarter with Long firing down court to Max Wagner, who put it up and in to put the Rams up 12-7.
A second three by Balmer would later extend the margin to 18-11 and the lead would eventually grow to double digits when Long drew in the defense and then dished it out to Lowry, who connected from three-point range for a 29-19 Ram advantage.
Eight points by Balmer and seven by Wagner keyed the Rams to a 10-point lead at the half. PW would rally, but Pennridge kept pushing right until the end.
“I thought it was two good basketball teams that played hard,” Behrens said. “I thought both teams really battled. I’m proud of the way we played. It’s a tough place to play — at PW on their home floor.
“We can’t worry about it too long because on Tuesday we have CB West coming to our place, so it doesn’t get any easier. But I think our schedule this year has really tested us. I know the boys will respond Monday with a good practice and play well on Tuesday.”