Last-second heroics continue for Souderton with win over Phoenixville
FRANCONIA >> Fourth-quarter defense and a persistent Trevor Watts allowed Souderton Area to hold on tight to a 36-35 victory over non-league foe Phoenixville Thursday night.
“They know it’s not always gonna be pretty for us,” coach Tim Brown said of his team, which raised its record to 3-1, “but we’re gonna grit and grind games. We’re gonna be a bunch of dogs and do whatever we have to do to get the wins.”
In a fourth quarter pushed back and forth by five lead changes, Big Red went in front for good on a jumper by Steve Luchansky, making it 33-32. Watts made one of two free throws to extend it to 34-32, and after a foul shot by Brendan Jenkins at the other end, reserve Dom Natale scored off a rebound to give the Indians a 36-33 advantage with a minute to play.
Natale soon secured a key defensive rebound for one of Souderton’s fourth-quarter stops, and Phoenixville would have one last chance with 10 seconds to play.
Trailing 36-33, the Phantoms worked the ball around to create an open three, but it never came. K.J. Quinn, guarded closely, had to get off a rushed three-point attempt.
Jenkins rebounded and put it up for two at the buzzer, but the Souderton lead was safe and secure.
“That’s been one of our cornerstones from the beginning,” Watts said of the defense.
The Phantoms went into the final quarter up three. Jenkins, who had nine of the Phantoms’ 10 fourth-quarter points and finished with a team-high 13, gave Phoenixville its last lead at 32-31. Souderton didn’t allow another field goal until Jenkins’ rebound at the horn.
“We knew coming in that this was gonna be a tight battle,” Phoenixville coach Eric Burnett said. “Souderton, that’s kind of been their schtick this year, close games and playing tough, hard-nosed defense.
“That’s gotta be one of the toughest defensive teams that we’re gonna play this year. They’re strong, they’re physical, they communicate very well.”
Phoenixville’s 2-3 zone defense also did its part, but Watts was a consistent force for Souderton, scoring a team-high 13.
“He’s huge for us,” Brown said. “Every game so far, if our energy gets down a bit, Trev picks us right back up. He’s always doing something to positively affect the game.”
Early on, Watts led Phoenixville 4-0.
The senior created room underneath, scoring down low then later sinking a pair of free throws to quickly put Big Red in front.
Kavi Ramchandani hit a jumper and the Indians again fed Watts as Souderton jumped out to an 8-0 advantage.
Colton Brown hit a three for the Phantoms and Antonio Rodriguez drove for two at the other end, making it 10-3 Big Red at the end of the first quarter.
That is where the Phantoms made a move.
Phoenixville (2-2) put together an 8-0 run to take its first lead, going in front 11-10 on a three by Quinn Danna. Ramchandani scored on a fast break for Souderton and Watts scored to make it 14-11 Big Red, and then the Phantoms went ahead again, getting a pair of free throws by Steven Hamilton and a basket by K.J. Quinn.
But reserve Chris Koffel came through for Big Red, nailing a three from up top to give the Indians a 17-15 edge at the break. Watts led all scorers at the half with eight.
“Coming in, we knew they had one big guy (the 6-6 Jenkins) and we were gonna be able to crash the boards pretty good,” Watts said. “I think we really followed the game plan well and we were able to get some points down there.
“We had a close game with Lansdale Catholic the first game of the season and it was very important to our guys to bounce back (after the 51-48 loss). At 3-1, I think that’s what we did, and we want to keep it rolling.”
Souderton opens Suburban One League Continental Conference play on Tuesday at Central Bucks South and Phoenixville has its Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier Division opener Friday, hosting Upper Perkiomen.
