Post, Yoder power Pennridge past Quakertown

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EAST ROCKHILL >> Sean Yoder and Jon Post had this one marked.

Of course, any time Pennridge and Quakertown meet in any sport, chances are it’s marked on a lot of people’s calendars. It’s a classic throw out the records type of game and just to prove it, consider that with snow falling in the hours leading up to the game and road conditions not exactly picturesque, both squads still had student sections backing them.

Yoder and Post had it marked and they delivered, combining for 37 points as the host Rams topped the visiting Panthers 58-46 Friday night.

“We circled this game on the calendar, we were looking forward to it, thinking about it all week,” Yoder said. “We prepared well, our coaches prepared us well. We had energy and confidence coming into the game and that’s what it comes down to, energy and confidence. With that, we were able to execute well.”

The win sent Pennridge to 4-0 on the young season with victories over Faith Christian, Methacton and Lansdale Catholic prior to Friday. The Rams have a really good 1-2 punch with Yoder and Post, but their supporting cast is equally important and played key roles on Friday.

Post scored a game-high 19 points, most of it coming during a dominant 13-point second quarter where the Panthers just couldn’t stop him. With his guards like Yoder, Ryan Warner and Michael Molettiere getting into the lane, Post got plenty of buckets essentially gift-wrapped to him when Quakertown collapsed on the drivers.

“They were dribbling in penetrating, my guy was leaving to help and I was just wide open,” Post said. “They were giving me that perfect pass where I could keep the ball up high and go right in with it. Nothing feels better than beating (Quakertown), nothing.”

Yoder scored 18 points, taking the offense mantle once Quakertown adjusted on Post in the second half. The junior point guard stuffed the stat sheet, grabbing nine rebounds, dishing five assists and coming up with three steals and provided one of the game’s highlights when he drained a 3-pointer just ahead of the third quarter buzzer.

Post was also solid, with eight boards and two second half assists, again taking advantage of the way Quakertown was playing him and this time using the attention on him to find open guys.

Quakertown was led by a scorching shooting performance by Matt Lucas off the bench. Lucas led the Panthers with 18 points, shooting 6-of-10 from beyond the arc and hitting a couple with a hand in his face. Feisty Eli Ortiz scored 15 for the Panthers, who simply refused to quit or go away not that anyone in the gym expected them to.

“Playing Quakertown is always a tough task,” Rams coach Dean Behrens said. “They’re always prepared, it’s a rivalry game. Last year, they just ripped us apart, they shoot those threes and, wow, Lucas was just bombing some threes. You never feel comfortable, it’s kind of a weird night because of the snow, I think we would have had more people on both sides rocking this place, but I’m happy we got it in.”

Both Yoder and Post noted the play of their teammates on Friday, giving them the shots, defense, rebounds and other things the Rams will need to win games all season. Tyrese Lewis, the Rams’ energetic big man, scored six points with two dunks, including a two-handed flush with 57 seconds left to ice the win.

Warner, Molettiere and Jake Pestrak each hit a 3-pointer and had plenty of other good looks while Brett Henofer provided plenty of energy. Yoder said he wants his teammates taking open shots and believes they’ll start knocking down more as the season goes while Post said their energy is a huge boost defensively.

“It’s not always about being the guy that scores the most points, everybody is important,” Behrens said. “If we have guys that start to become disenchanted because they’re not getting as many points or touches, it’s going to hurt the teams. They have to buy into what we’re doing and what we’re doing is more important than one person.”

Pennridge has faced four solid teams and four scrappy teams that have put a lot of aggressive defenses on the Rams. With SOL Continental play opening next week, being pressed defensively should only help the Rams as they get deeper into their schedule.

As the guy who will have the ball in his hands for crunch-time possessions, Yoder has welcomed the early tests defensively.

“For me, I know it helps,” Yoder said. “As the point guard, getting hacked, having guys in your face, you get a feel for a different game, because it can be a different game every time. It’s helped me and I think it can help the guys feel how to control the pace of a game.”

On the other end, the Rams know they’ll have to be strong defensively to not only navigate their conference games, but the tough nonconference slate they’ve put together. Pennridge hosts Neshaminy and their excellent senior guard Chris Arcidiacono next Tuesday before facing Central Bucks South in their SOL opener, so the defense will have to be ready.

Post said the defensive end is where the Rams put most of their emphasis getting ready for the season.

“We had to really wake up on the defensive end,” Post said. “Last year we would fall apart at certain times in a game. Tonight, I feel like we didn’t let them get on too many runs and we’re winning the runs battle, I think we can win any game where that happens.”

Pennridge has been one of the most consistent programs in the area over the past half-decade but the Rams also know there’s a fine line between winning and losing and they’re trying to be mindful of it as they eye another successful campaign.

“We can beat any team we play and we can lose to any team we play,” Behrens said. “The margin of error for the teams we play is small. It’s one rebound, one turnover, one more finished layup, it happened the other night against Methacton. Our schedule’s not easy, we’re challenging ourselves.”

PENNRIDGE 58, QUAKERTOWN 46
QUAKERTOWN 7 13 11 15 – 46
PENNRIDGE 13 20 13 12 – 58
Pennridge: Sean Yoder 7 3-4 18, Jon Post 9 1-1 19, Ryan Warner 1 0-1 3, Michael Molettiere 1 0-0 3, Tyrese Lewis 3 0-0 6, Brett Henofer 0 2-2 2, Jake Pestrak 1 0-0 3, Christian Guldin 0 2-2 2, Pat Gillespie 1 0-0 2. Nonscoring: John Dominic, Jack Gillespie. Totals: 23 8-12 58.
Quakertown: Matt Lucas 6 0-1 18, Eli Ortiz 5 4-4 15, Kevin Juszynski 3 0-0 6, Grey Mitchell 2 3-5 7. Nonscoring: Jon Rey, Nate Besch, Matt Tuley, Sam Rice, Nick Mestayer, Matt Catalano, Sean Harrison. Totals: 16 7-10 46.
3-pointers: P – Warner, Yoder, Molettiere, Pestrak; Q – Lucas 6, Ortiz.

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Andrew Robinson

Andrew Robinson
Montgomery Media/Lansdale Reporter sports writer.

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