EAST ROCKHILL — Joey Giordano’s game-winning buzzer beater climaxed an unwavering fourth-quarter effort by Central Bucks East Tuesday night.
“Kyle (Barndt) threw me a good pass and I did what I could do,” said Giordano, who buried the decisive jump shot for the Patriots in a thrilling 61-59 victory over rival Pennridge. “This is one we needed to get. We had three games left (coming into this one) – all division games, so we just have to grind these games out.”
The two District 1-6A powers slugged it out for four quarters, and the Pats were able to go the distance.
Said Giordano, who finished with 17 points: “I had confidence that, even if I didn’t make that shot, we were gonna win it in overtime.”
The win lifted CB East’s record to 18-2, with a 13-1 mark in Suburban One League Colonial Division games. The Patriots host Souderton Area Friday night.
Joey Giordano scored 17 points and had the game-winning basket for CB East in a victory over Pennridge on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. (Kev Hunter/MediaNews Group)
Pennridge, led by Xavier Peters’ 17 points, is now 13-7 on the year and 8-6 in the Colonial. The Rams host CB West Friday.
“Their point guard (Peters) – give credit to him. He was able to get into the lane and make plays from that,” Giordano said.
Jake Cummiskey, who scored a game-high 26 points for East, hit one of his three 3-pointers to put the Patriots up 48-45 at the start of a wild fourth quarter. There would be six lead changes in the final frame, typifying the contest as a whole.
An underneath scoop by Matt Campione later put the Rams ahead, 49-48. Campione came on strong in the fourth, nailing a jumper and also driving for two to give the Rams a 53-49 edge.
Back came East.
Cummiskey drove for a bucket and Giordano drove hard to complete a three-point play and propel the visitors into the driver’s seat at 54-53.
Pennridge’s Jake Buesing takes a shot, with CB East’s Tyler Dandrea defending. (Kev Hunter/MediaNews Group)
Peters sank a jump shot to grab the lead back for Pennridge but then an interception and layup by Dhruv Mukund put the Patriots up 56-55.
Pennridge surged in front one final time when Tommy Cramer finished underneath, making it 57-56 with 59 seconds left to play.
“It was just back and forth,” Giordano said. “We just had to play more defense – that’s what it came down to.”
Cummiskey hit his third three of the contest to give the Patriots a 59-57 edge. Caden Fisher tied it for the Rams but East worked to give itself a chance to win it in regulation, and Giordano came through.
“We wanna go (into the playoffs) with confidence,” he said.
Central Bucks East 61, Pennridge 59
CB East 13 15 17 16 – 61
Pennridge 17 7 19 16 – 59
CB East: Jake Cummiskey 9 5-6 26, Kyle Barndt 1 0-0 2, Joey Giordano 7 3-3 17, Nick Condo 1 0-0 2, Nolan Jacob 1 0-0 2, Tyler Dandrea 3 0-0 7, Dhruv Mukund 1 0-0 2, Justin DiRoberto 1 1-2 3. Totals 24 9-10 61.
Pennridge: Caden Fisher 3 1-2 7, Jake Buesing 3 1-1 9, Gannon Perlini 2 0-0 4, Matt Campione 3 0-0 6, Xavier Peters 7 2-2 17, Tommy Cramer 5 3-4 14, Ryan Hass 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 7-9 59.
3-pointers: C-Cummiskey 3, Dandrea; P-Buesing 2, Peters, Cramer.
