Last-second Rosenberger free throws lift Perkiomen National to first PAISAA title over George School in overtime

PHILADELPHIA >> Like a bullet train slamming into a wall, all the action and game flow of a wild, dramatic state final built up over the course of four quarters and overtime came to a sudden halt with one second left.

With the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) championship locked up 77-77 in overtime — with just one full second on the clock — Saint Joseph’s University’s Hagan Arena was thrown into limbo.

Bobby Rosenberger’s potential game-winning shot hit back rim and bounced out, George School grabbing the rebound and frantically calling their final timeout. On the ensuing inbounds play with two seconds remaining, the No. 2 seed Cougars got the ball to midcourt, but a player attempted to call timeout. After deliberation, it brought on a technical foul and a crucial question.

“I asked, ‘Who’s going to shoot (the free throws)?” Perkiomen School coach Tom Baudinet said.

While three different players offered their services, the moment belonged to Bobby Rosenberger. The Class of 2023 Saint Francis commit was the only player to be with the Panthers for four years. And he remembers the sting of a loss on the same stage last year.

Rosenberger sank the game-winning free throw — and the second for good measure — raising his fist in front of the Panthers’ student section and releasing the stress of a 79-77 win, and Perkiomen School’s first PAISAA title in school history.

“It was honestly like a storybook ending to end my career here. To get in the playoffs and at the last moment shoot free throws like that, it’s very emotional,” Rosenberger said, choking back tears postgame. “It means a lot to me, how much time I put into this program and how much I love this team and coach and everyone in the program.”

FINAL (OT) — Perkiomen National 79, George School 77

Bobby Rosenberger iced it at the line after George is hit with a tech with one second left.

Panthers win their first PAISAA title in an absolutely wild way, after a completely insane game. pic.twitter.com/6QkwxTCXPX

— Evan Wheaton (@EvanWheaton) February 26, 2023

Rosenberger, a Quakertown native, forced overtime by tying the game 68-68 with a fade away along the baseline. He finished with a team-high 20 points off the bench, nine of which came in the second quarter to pad a 36-32 halftime advantage for the Panthers. Gabe Tanner finished with 19 points for Perkiomen while Lancaster native DeMajh Salisbery added 13.

George School coach Ben Luber offered his analysis on the timeout confusion in the aftermath of the PAISAA final, noting he stressed to his team that they were out of timeouts.

“It could’ve been waved off, it could’ve gone either way. We talked about it in the timeout, we don’t have any timeouts left,” Luber said. “I’m saying, ‘No timeout’ and one of our players, who makes great decisions … yeah, it could’ve gone either way. I think he tried to call it and couldn’t let it go.

“They’re high school kids in a state championship game. It’s unfortunate. It’s a lesson I guess for the kids, but yeah, it was a hard way to end it.”

A 3-pointer from Macon Emory (5 points) pulled the Panthers ahead, 73-68 one minute into overtime before George School responded with a deep shot in return. Both teams alternated free throws until Perkiomen had the ball tied 77-77 and played for the final shot. Rosenberger got a good look on a pull-up jumper for the would-be game-winner, but it rimmed out.

It turned out to not be Rosenberger’s final attempt. George’s timeout miscue allowed for Rosenberger to still be the hero.

The Cougars trailed by one point entering the fourth quarter but went up on a finish in the paint from Xavier pledge Kachi Nzeh for a 53-52 lead.

From there, Christian Bliss snapped a 55-55 draw by drilling a 3-pointer and adding some free throws to elevate George School, 60-57 with five minutes left in regulation. The Panthers were hanging in, but unable to get their heads above water with time winding down.

For a brief stretch, it looked like history would repeat itself, the memories of a 46-41 loss to Westtown settling in.

“Last year, they were there. They saw it and they lost out there on this stage,” said Tanner, noting the seniors who reached last year’s PAISAA final before he joined the program. “For a lot of new guys, we really wanted to get it for them.”

The first step was finding a way to limit Bliss — who shelled out a game-high 29-points — and Nzeh (21 points) while regaining steam on the offensive end.

Tanner cut the game to one point and Brant Byers (8 points) lifted Perkiomen, 62-60 with a 3-pointer at the 4:07 mark. University of Florida-bound forward Thomas Haugh (9 points) capped a 7-0 run for the Panthers with a finish from Tanner, creating a four-point cushion before George School responded.

“I think it’s just guys being in those situations constantly in games and in practice all year. There’s just no fear and no panic,” Baudinet said.

Bliss clawed back with 13 points in the fourth quarter. And after coming down awkwardly after a layup, gripping the back of his leg while being looked over by a trainer, he checked back into the game after the ensuing series to tie it 66-66 with 1:12 on the clock.

I think he’s good. Bliss ties it 66-66, 1:12 to go. pic.twitter.com/ebyV58alYe

— Evan Wheaton (@EvanWheaton) February 26, 2023

He then hit a pair from the stripe to go up 68-66 with less than a minute to go in the fourth quarter before Rosenberger’s tying bucket.

The majority of the fourth quarter was played without the main pistons in Perkiomen National’s offensive engine in Haugh and Ryan due to immense foul trouble. George School devastated from the line all game, finishing with a collective 33-of-44 free throws — 18 of which came from Bliss.

But Perkiomen National relied on its depth to come up with answers. That, and a timely pair free throws of its own.

“It was obviously a special group this year,” Haugh said. “We got it done in the finals.”

Perkiomen National 79, George School 77 (OT)

George School: Bliss 5 18-21 29; Mastin 3 5-7 12; Weise 1 1-2 4; Nzeh 6 9-14 21; Bevilagua 1 0-0 2; Melniczak 3 0-0 9. Totals: 19 33-44 77
Perkiomen: Salisbery 4 4-6 13; Lieb 0 0-0 0; Tanner 7 2-2 19; Ryan 2 0-0 5; Emory 2 0-0 5; Haugh 2 5-5 9; Rosenberger 7 4-4 20; Byers 3 1-2 8. Totals: 27 16-19 79
George School 16 16 19 17 9-77
Perkiomen 17 19 16 16 11-79
3-point goals: Bliss, Mastin, Weise, Melniczak 3, Salisbery, Tanner 3, Ryan, Emory