Bealer scores 21, Souderton tops William Tennent
FRANCONIA >> Better execution, Mike Bealer’s hot shooting and an overall desire to end a six-game home skid propelled Souderton Area to a 63-45 victory over William Tennent Friday night.
“Good to bring our confidence back up with that win,” said Bealer, who nailed a trio of three-pointers in the first-quarter alone, quickly pushing Big Red on its way.
“Bealer was unconscious today, didn’t miss much,” said his coach, Timothy Brown. “And Trevor Watts was all over the offensive glass.
“One thing, which we hadn’t done all season, was we executed our plays really well,” Brown said. “And that’s what was getting us our open looks.”
Bealer hit from the outside, the Indians worked the ball down low to Watts, and along with all of that production, Big Red got out running, a Kyle Lennon pass to Thomas Hanrahan finishing a fast break and spiking the Indian lead to 21-10 after one quarter.
“That was good that they got to push the ball a little bit,” Brown said. “In the beginning of the season, we weren’t much of a transition team at all and now we’re looking to get out and get the easy buckets.”
The two most emphatic transition points came courtesy of Kaleef Blackwood, whose dunk in the final moments of the second quarter inflated the margin to 20, and Souderton would soon go into the locker room up 34-17 at the break.
Bealer added a three in the second and another in the third — he had five in all — and was on his way to a game-high 21-point performance.
“I was in a little bit of a slump lately and it felt good to get that going. It was nice,” the senior guard said.
And the Indian offense continued to flow, as Jake Groller set up Watts (16 points) for an easy two early in the fourth, helping to push this one into the win column.
“We had been struggling with (execution) a little bit lately so it felt good to get that going. I felt like we played a great overall game,” Bealer said.
Eleven different players contributed points for Big Red, who earned their first win at home since Dec. 9 against Quakertown.
Tennent kept attacking in the fourth, getting as close as 12, but it proved to be Souderton’s night. Dave West, playing a strong inside-outside game, led the Panthers with 13.
Tennent (5-15, 1-10 SOL Continental) hosts Neshaminy Saturday at 3 p.m. and Big Red (8-13, 4-7) gets ready for its finale, hosting Senior Night Tuesday against Central Bucks South.
“The seniors are sticking with it. They’re all in,” Brown said. “They’re focused on building this culture. I’m a first-year head coach so we’ve been kind of getting our values down and the seniors have been doing a great job of doing exactly what we value.
“They’re continuing to build it and are focused on leaving their mark and letting it continue as the years go on.”
Top Photo: Souderton’s Antonio Rodriguez gets fouled trying to split William Tennent’s Dave West and Brendan Carter during their game on Friday, Feb. 3, 2017. (Bob Raines/Digital First Media)
