Swanson’s half-court buzzer-beater wins it for North Penn over Pennridge in OT

EAST ROCKHILL >> Playoff hearts are still beating for North Penn, thanks to Matt Swanson’s buzzer-beating, half-court shot in overtime that lifted the Knights to a 57-54 win over rival Pennridge.

With just three seconds to go in OT, North Penn inbounded the ball from underneath its own basket, and it came to Swanson.

“I wasn’t supposed to dribble the ball,” he said with a smile afterwards. “It was supposed to be a give and go. I kind of panicked and started dribbling and realized I needed to shoot it.

“I let it go and I was speechless when it went in.”

Mobbed by his teammates, with chest bumps all around, the enormity of the win began to sink in for Swanson, who may have helped lift his team to a District 1-6A Playoff berth.

“It was amazing. It was such a battle,” he said. “We didn’t wanna let them come back, fought all night. It just didn’t go our way there for a little while. We started turning over the ball. They started beating our defense.

“We knew we wanted to leave it all out on the court because it could have been our last game.”

The Knights went into the evening ranked 26th (24 teams get in) but may have moved up into the field.

“We didn’t wanna have any regrets,” said Swanson, a senior. “We just needed to win that one so it’s a huge one for us.

“It took me a while to realize (the shot went in) and realize that the game was over and we had won. But it was just the best experience I’ve ever had playing basketball.”

Swanson finished with 15 points for the Knights, with Josh Jones leading the way with 19.

Pennridge, the Suburban One League Continental Conference Champs (16-6, 9-3 conference) who came into the night ranked eighth in District 1-6A, were led by Colin Post (16 pts) and Trent Fisher (15 pts).

North Penn raised its record to 9-13 with a 5-7 mark in the conference.

“We were close in a lot of games this year and it feels good to come up here and get a win, especially against a well-coached team,” Knights coach John Conrad said. “They’re really good.”

Early Going

Fisher started off strong for the Rams, scoring their first five points – including a three – to provide a 5-4 edge.

But the majority of the first quarter belonged to North Penn.

Swanson scored six points in the period and Jones hit a three to help push the Knights to a 13-6 lead after one.

Pennridge crept closer in the opening stages of the second.

A block underneath by Fisher led to a basket by Post, bringing the Rams within 15-14.

Luke Yoder went baseline for another bucket and a drive by Christian Guldin cut the Ram deficit to 19-18.

But then the Knights pushed hard to the break.

Joe Larkins got hot from outside, hitting a three and getting a mid-range jumper to fall, helping to boost the North Penn lead to 24-18 at halftime.

The Knights led 33-27 at the end of the third but Pennridge came back again in the fourth.

Jones hit an open three from up top to give North Penn a 46-44 lead with 32 seconds left in the fourth, but Pennridge tied it with a pair of free throws by Post.

In the final seconds, North Penn turned it over out of bounds and then Pennridge had a desperation shot that didn’t fall.

Onto overtime.

A three by Mike Chaffee provided the Knights a 52-50 lead with 45 seconds to go but then Pennridge tied things up with a pair of foul shots by Post.

Swanson hit two free throws with 14 seconds left but Pennridge answered with Fisher’s score off a rebound, with three seconds remaining.

Soon the ball was in the hands of Swanson, who had to launch it from just outside the midcourt stripe.

“Wish I could say that’s how we drew it up,” Conrad said with a smile. “Both teams just battled. It would be great (to make the playoffs), especially for our seniors (Swanson, Chaffee, Kolby Barrow, Carter Houlihan). They’re great men, good leaders, so I’d like to see that happen for them.”

Next Up

Pennridge takes on SOL National champ Bensalem in the Suburban One League Tournament semifinals 6 p.m. Saturday at Bensalem.

North Penn 57, Pennridge 54 (OT)
North Penn 13 11 9 13 11 – 57
Pennridge 6 12 9 19 8 – 54
North Penn: Kolby Barrow 1 0-0 3, Josh Jones 8 0-0 19, Joe Larkins 2 0-0 5, Mike Chaffee 3 2-2 11, Rob Carangi 1 2-2 4, Matt Swanson 5 4-4 15. Totals 20 8-8 57.
Pennridge: Connor Pleibel 1 0-0 3, Luke Yoder 2 0-0 4, Paul Croyle 0 1-1 1, Christian Guldin 4 0-0 9, Colin Post 4 8-10 16, Anthony Phillips 2 1-2 6, Trent Fisher 7 0-0 15. Totals 20 10-13 54.
3-pointers: NP-Barrow, Jones 3, Larkins, Chaffee 3, Swanson; P-Pleibel, Guldin, Phillips, Fisher.