Free throws help Pennridge outlasts Souderton in 2OT
FRANCONIA >> Pennridge missed a shot at the end of regulation, was off-target before the buzzer of the first overtime and did not make a field goal second extra period.
But at the end of those 40 minutes Monday night against host Souderton, the Rams’ work at the foul line kept them alone atop the Suburban One League Continental Conference.
Danny Long and Devon Balmer combined to make 14-of-16 free throws for all of Pennridge’s points during OT No. 2 as the Rams came away with a 60-54 victory in a tight boys basketball battle with the Indians.
“Sometimes you miss shots – I missed a three, Max (Wagner) missed a layup and that’s fine, as long we came in the first overtime and we did what we had to do to get it to a second one,” Rams senior Devon Balmer said. “And then fortunately the second overtime, we hit our foul shots, which is even bigger, so we came out that time”
Balmer collected the first three points of the second overtime at the line, putting Pennridge (17-3, 11-confernce) ahead for good. Long – who scored a game-high 25 points – was 10-for-10 on free throws to hold off a late Souderton (7-13, 3-9) charge.
“I thought Devon and Danny Long’s foul shooting — they both have ice in their veins,” Pennridge coach Dean Behrens said. “Devon’s foul shooting is so improved from when he was a freshman. It’s a testament to how hard he worked to get better.”
Wagner added 16 points for the Rams, who won their fourth straight to sit a game up on second-place Central Bucks West with two conference games remaining.
“Our coach said all season from day one, this is a tough league and it’s always going to be a couple-possession game. We’re going to have to tough a couple out. And tonight, that’s what we had to do to stay ahead of West.
Pennridge never trailed after a five-point burst put it up 30-26 in the second quarter before a bucket by Big Red’s Tracy Simsick put the halftime margin at two. The Rams, however, could not shake Souderton during a low-scoring second half with the Indians rallying from six down in the fourth to force overtime.
Michael Bealer paced the Indians with 13 points, while Simsick and Ty Salone both scored 11 points.
“That’s what I’ve been expected from this team all year,” Souderton coach Chuck Kornegay said. “And in the last two games we’re finally starting to show that fight that I’ve been expecting out of them. A little late, but I’ll take it. And I can’t be made when your team comes out and gives an effort like that.”
Pennridge had a chance to win in regulation, but Balmer 3 would not go down. The Rams had the final possession of the first OT, however Wagner’s shot down low was off the mark.
Balmer was fouled after a rebound at 2:24 in the second overtime and converted both halves of a 1-and-1. The senior was fouled again after hauling in another rebound 21 second later and made the 1-and-1’s front end to make it 49-46.
“Just coming up to the line confident,” Balmer said. “I missed a three early on at the end of the game. And I knew if I got another chance to help my team win I was going to convert. Luckily, I got to the line, too a deep breath and did what I always do at the line.”
BOYS #BASKETBALL: @PennridgeHS' @wagzbasketball4 scores inside & is fouled 4Q vs. Souderton. He made the FT. pic.twitter.com/qhFFuJdz0G
— Mike Cabrey (@mpcabrey) February 2, 2016
Long’s two free throws with 70 seconds left had the Rams up 51-46 before a Bealer triple had Big Red within two. After two Long foul shots, Salone drove for a bucket to make it 53-51.
“We didn’t come all that far just to get blow out at the end. Our guys fought hard and I knew that it was going to come down to the end,” Kornegay said. “We feel like we’re just as good as that team, and especially playing like we can play now. So, I didn’t feel like they would get away from us.”
A Balmer free throw Pennridge’s lead a three with 30.7 seconds remaining. Souderton looked for a quick two, but came up empty. Long’s pair from the stripe at 16.4 seconds then after an Indians turnover, he made two more, pushing the advantage to 58-51.
Connor Lennon’s three cut the lead to four. Long hit his ninth and 10th free throws of the period with 2.7 seconds to cap the victory.
“That’s a good basketball team. I think they’re starting to click a little bit as team. They had a nice win against CB South the other night. I think they’re getting some confidence,” said Behrens of Souderton. “I know it’s late in the year, but their confidence is starting to come around. Credit to Chuck and his staff for what they’ve done.
“Look, when you’re not sure you’re in the playoffs or not or in the outside looking in, they could of easily been like ‘Ah, let’s get the season over with.’ Obviously they’re not ready to get the season over with. And that’s what high school basketball’s all about – two teams playing as hard as they can.”
Souderton came in Mondays’ game 37th in District 1-AAAA’s unofficial power rankings, with 32 teams making the class’s postseason field. Pennridge was fifth.
Both teams have quick turnarounds, play conference games 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Rams host Hatboro-Horsham with the Indians visit North Penn.
“We got to make sure we come out with a lot of energy,” Balmer said. “We seem to play well at home, so hopefully tomorrow when we come out against Hatboro, we just bring a lot of energy and hopefully we get our fans into the game.
“Just play our brand of basketball, get into the open floor and just make sure we bout out, they got a lot of athletic guys, and make sure we box them out, keep them off the glass and hopefully we just come out with the W.”
A Salone three and Simsick basket in transition had Souderton leading 15-8 in the first quarter before a 10-0 Pennridge run – Long scoring the first eight points – put the Rams up 18-13. Two Bealer free throws at 1:47 sliced the margin to 18-15 at the end of the quarter.
After trailing 25-19, Souderton scored the next seven points to lead 26-25 thanks to a Bealer triple. A Wagner bucket put the Rams back ahead with a Long trey having the visitors up four before Simsick’s two made it 30-28 at the break.
Pennridge’s largest lead in the third quarter was four and went into the fourth up 38-36 after Ian Beardsley connected on two free throws at 3:54.
Four straight points from Wagner had the Rams leading 42-36 with 5:48 left, but the visitors did not score for the rest of regulation. Salone drove for a basket, while Austin Eberhart’s putback made it 42-40. Eberhart then found a cutting Bealer to pull Big Red level.
Pennridge led by two twice in the first overtime, but Beardsley answered both times for Souderton.
