Souderton erases 17-point deficit in 4th but CB West holds on for OT win

DOYLESTOWN >> John Lee said the Central Bucks West boys basketball team has a knack for leaving the past in the past.
“We’re really good at just when something goes wrong, we’re able to gather each other, we come together as a group, we stay together, we move on to the next play,” the 6-foot-3 junior said.
That skill was stretched to its limits Friday night.
Lee’s banked-in 3-pointer at the buzzer gave the Bucks a seemingly comfortable 37-20 lead over visiting Souderton after three quarters. Then the fourth started and the Indians kept scoring while West went silent.
The 17-point margin was completely erased, Souderton going off on an 18-0 run to grab their first lead with 2:07 left in the SOL Colonial Division matchup.
A few late free throws allowed the Bucks to hold off Big Red’s comeback and force overtime, where West regained the form it lost in the fourth. Lee found Joe Gallagher for a corner 3-pointer to break a 42-42 tie while four Teddy Spratt free throws stretched the lead to seven, enough for CB West to hold off Souderton for a 51-47 victory.
“Fourth quarter we kind of figured out we had a big lead, kind of let off the gas a little bit,” Lee said. “But we regrouped for overtime.”
Lee and Spratt both scored a game-high 21 points for the Bucks (2-9, 2-6 division), who snapped a four-game losing streak — their last win coming at Souderton Jan. 26. Lee had 12 points in the third while Spratt registered 17 in the second half, including eight in the extra session.
“We didn’t want to lose that game,” Lee said. ‘We had a great practice yesterday, we were motivated. Our coach told us to compete. The theme throughout this whole week is just compete for every win, play each game one at a time. And I think that’s what we did today. We came out, we competed, we were diving on the floor, we got rebounds and we were able to close it out.”
Dylan Hollick and Shaun Purvy paced Souderton’s rally. Hollick tallied 11 of his 14 in the fourth while Purvy posted six of his 12 in the quarter as the Indians (1-9, 1-8) frustrated West with their full-court defense and outscored the Bucks 20-3 during regulation’s final eight minutes.
Chris Towsen knocked down five 3-pointers to pace Souderton with 15 points.
“Got a couple turnovers, got some shots to fall and then we kind of got that energy and momentum to go our way,” Souderton coach Tim Brown said. “But we’re trying to grab that energy and momentum before, without needing shots to fall and turnovers to happen. And it’s human nature to pick up energy when things are going like that but we’ve got to find a way to have that energy even when things aren’t going our way.”
Both teams step out of division play for their next games — CB West visits New Hope-Solebury 1:30 p.m. Saturday while Souderton hosts Plymouth Whitemarsh 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
A Hollick basket opened scoring in the fourth with Purvy providing the next six points on three trips to the foul line to make it 37-28 at 5:15. Hollick dropped in a tough floater in the lane, pulling Souderton within seven.
“They did a great job of being confident,” said Brown of Hollick and Purvy. “Getting to the rack, getting their teammates involved and just attacking the hoop so happy to see them play well.”
Lee could not hit the front end of a 1-and-1 with 3:25 left and the Indians cut the West lead to 37-33, Purvy grabbing an offensive rebound and found Towsen for a left corner three. Hollick buried a trey from the right wing to make it a one-point game at 2:20.
Big Red deflected a pass with Hollick being fouled grabbing the ball near the sideline. The senior hit both ends of his 1-and-1 at 2:07, giving the Indians their first lead of the night, 38-37.
“They do an awesome job at once they grab a lead, they typically hang onto it,” said Brown of West. “Coach (Adam) Sherman always has them down to where they can maintain that lead and space you out and just make you run all over the floor and do what you don’t want to do.
“But the guys just did a good job of putting them in different situations, uncomfortable situations and just fighting back in the game. But just a little too late.”
Still up one, Big Red forced a turnover but Purvy could not convert on a drive and Lee was fouled going for the rebound. Facing a 1-and-1 again with 59.1 seconds left, Lee made both this time, putting CB West back ahead 39-38.
“I was pretty mad about that first one because they then came back and hit a three and I was like, ‘All right, well that’s my fault,’” Lee said. “But I came back hit those two which I was happy about.”
The Bucks’ Donte Mancini came up with a steal which led to Spratt being fouled with 41.5 seconds left. Spratt missed the first but hit the second, giving West a 40-38 edge. Hollick was fouled on a drive at 33.2 seconds and made both the line — the second taking a couple bounces on the rim before dropping to level the contest at 40.
The Bucks had a chance to win in regulation. After a timeout with 7.5 seconds, Spratt cut down the lane but could not connect while Towsen’s off-target desperation heave came after the buzzer.
In OT, Spratt drove for two for a 42-40 West lead before two Purvy free throws tied things at 3:12. Lee then found Gallagher for his right corner three to put the Bucks up for good.
“I knew I was going to be open because there was a lot of plays prior to that where I was open on the wing and Teddy would drive and he would drag all the defenders,” Lee said. “But then once I got the ball, he closed out on me and I drove and I didn’t really have anything, I saw Joe open in the corner, just kicked that.”
Spratt made two free throws at 2:21 after his steal then converted another pair at the line for a 49-42 West lead at 1:21. Jay Bonnet’s putback had the Indians down 49-44 with 42.4 seconds left. Souderton forced a backcourt turnover but Towsen could not connect from three and Big Red gave the ball back at 30.2 seconds.
After a Bucks turnover out of bounds with 8.8 seconds, Towsen hit a trey but by the time CB West inbounded and Souderton fouled there was just 00.7 on the clock. Spratt hit two more free throws to seal the win.
The Bucks, who led 17-12 at halftime, pushed their advantage to 28-15 in the third after Spratt scored seven points during a 9-0 run. Souderton sliced the margin to nine at 29-20 but Lee capped a personal 8-0 run by catching Max Slaymaker’s inbounds at half court, taking two dribbles and banking in a three at buzzer to put West up 37-20.
“I told the inbounder, we have this play and I went long and just kind of threw it up because I knew there was a little bit of time left,” Lee said. “And it ended up going in which was nice.”
A Mancini 3-pointer had West leading 10-3 after the first quarter. Lee scored off a drive to give the Bucks their biggest lead of the first half at 12-3. The Indians got within four twice in the second quarter before a Mancini trey made it 17-10. Evan Kutzler’s jumper had Souderton down five at the break.

Central Bucks West 51, Souderton 47
Souderton 3 9 8 20 7 – 47
Central Bucks West 10 7 20 3 11 – 51
Souderton: Chris Towsen 5 0-0 15; Dylan Hollick 4 4-4 14; Shaun Purvy 2 8-8 12; Jay Bonnet 1 0-0 2; Evan Kutzler 1 0-0 2; Aleks Smith 1 0-0 2; Totals 14 12-12 47.
Central Bucks West: John Lee 8 2-3 21; Teddy Spratt 5 11-14 21; Donte Mancini 2 0-0 6; Joe Gallagher 1 0-0 3; Totals 16 13-17 51.
3-pointers: S-Towsen 5, Hollick 2; CBW-Lee 3, Mancini 2, Gallagher.