EAST ROCKHILL >> In a decisive fourth quarter Tuesday night, Pennridge kept the Rock from rolling.
“It was a fun game. They sped us up a couple times and gave us some problems. But in the second half, we were able to score a little bit off of it,” said Rams coach Jason Rapp. “We got them in some foul trouble. I’m not saying we shot the ball well from the free-throw line but at least we got there. And that slows the game down. They’re really good when they play fast.”
The Rams took a one-point lead into the fourth and pulled away to a 63-56 victory over Council Rock South in a Suburban One League non-division clash at Pennridge.
Said the Rams’ Katie Yoder, who poured in a game-high 24 points: “We broke the press, we got ahead, and just from then on, we were able to get baskets – easy baskets, and we were able to get them out of the press.”
The Rams raised their overall record to 11-5 and continue their home stretch with a game against Bensalem on Friday. Rock South is now 8-3 on the season and hosts Souderton Area on Friday.
Yoder buried a three from up top to stretch the Ram lead to 46-42 to start the fourth. Anna Croyle (11 points) drove for two moments later and the Rams were on their way.
Katie Yoder scored a game-high 24 points to lead Pennridge past Council Rock South. (Kev Hunter/MediaNews Group)
Pennridge kept getting stops and then converted at the other end, with Ella Brown (20 pts) driving for two to make it 50-44 early in the final quarter.
The Rams didn’t have their full slate of weapons, due to illness, but brought it all together when they needed to.
“Nikki Rindone steps up and hits three huge free throws for us. And then Yoder and Brown did what they usually do – they were great,” said Rapp.
Liliana Metrick led South with 19 points, including four 3-pointers, but she was limited to just three in the fourth.
“(What was key was) running them off the three-point line,” Yoder said. “They’re a really good three-point shooting team. Just being in help and staying on the shooters (was big for us defensively). We knew the personnel and had each other’s back.”
Rindone hit two of her free throws to create some breathing room at 56-51 with two minutes to play. Yoder and Rosica each hit one of two and it was 58-51 with 1:27 left.
Another key stop defensively was followed by Yoder sinking a pair of foul shots to create a 60-51 cushion with a minute to go, locking it up for the Rams.
“I couldn’t get many open shots in the first half, just a few layups here and there. And then my teammates got me open, driving to the basket for a drive and kick,” said Yoder, who led the way with 16 second-half points.
Pennridge 63, Council Rock South 56
Council Rock South 7 20 15 14 – 56
Pennridge 21 8 14 20 – 63
Council Rock South: 0 Kathryn O’Kane 3 2-3 8, 2 Liliana Metrick 6 3-3 19, 4 Lily Bross 1 0-0 2, 13 Katie Purpura 4 0-0 11, 22 Fiona Reckner 3 0-0 7, 30 Karissa Smedley 3 1-1 7, 35 Jess Mangoni 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 6-7 56.
Pennridge: 1 Ella Brown 9 0-6 20, 2 Grace Rosica 0 1-2 1, 3 Anna Croyle 5 1-3 11, 4 Katie Yoder 7 7-9 24, 10 Ava Fantaskey 1 2-2 4, 32 Nikki Rindone 0 3-4 3. Totals 22 14-26 63.
3-pointers: C-Metrick 4, Purpura 3, Reckner; P-Brown 2, Yoder 3.
