Pennridge scores first 27 points, rolls past Dock Mennonite
EAST ROCKHILL >> After back-to-back season with double-digit wins — including a trip to the District 1 playoffs last season — first-year coach Mike Elton is looking to continue the momentum the Rams created under Lindsey Tennett.
“She put in a really nice system in place,” said Elton, who was an assistant under Tennett. “We just want to build off that.”
Pennridge got this year off a flying start Friday night in the opening semifinal of the Pennridge Tip-Off Tournament. The Rams scored the first 27 points against Dock Mennonite in cruising to a 58-19 victory.
“Basically it gave us an opportunity to play the younger kids,” said Elton of the blowout win. “And it’s like I told them, you go out there no fast breaks, but you know what you still got to go and try to work and score.”
GIRLS #BASKETBALL: @PennridgeHS‘ Sam Muredda with a nice pass in transition to Rose McCormick for a basket 2Q vs. Dock Mennonite. pic.twitter.com/nVpGzwNyLL
— Mike Cabrey (@mpcabrey) December 10, 2016
The Rams (1-0) led 17-0 after a quarter and added 10 more before the visiting Pioneers got on the scoreboard with 4:30 left in the half on a Cailey Ridge jumper.
“We just got a lot of pressure, a lot of inexperience,” Dock first-year coach Ryan Rush said. ‘It’s tough to start but they played well.”
Pennridge face the winner of Friday’s late game – Pennsbury-Faith Christian – in the final 5:30 p.m. Saturday with Dock Mennonite (0-1) facing the loser in the consolation at 7 p.m.
Eleven players registered at least two points for the Rams, Maddie Stolarski coming off the bench to finish with a game-high 12 points, nine coming in the second half.
Gillian Anderson, Rose McCormick and Steph Cicero all chipped in six points.
“Free throws, we made our free throws and we shot well. And I think we looking just to kind of get an offense going,” Elton said.
Kate Strickland hit a pair of three-pointers and scored all 10 of her points in the second half to pace the Pioneers.
“We teach them that every day in practice – don’t quit, don’t give up,” said Rush, who was on the Delco Christian girls staff the previous two seasons. “And just like in life, things get hard so you continue to keep going, continue to keep your faith and continue to work hard.”
GIRLS #BASKETBALL: @PennridgeHS‘ @sammymuredda hits a long 2-point jumper 2Q vs. Dock Mennonite. pic.twitter.com/XKxWwZ58BK
— Mike Cabrey (@mpcabrey) December 10, 2016
Claire Podraza knocked down a foul-line jumper then connected on a pair of free throws at 4:38 to put Pennridge up 10-0. A Cicero putback made it 17-0 at the end of the opening quarter.
The Rams started the second quarter with back-to-back three-pointers from Brooke Bachtle and Sam Muredda. A McCormick basket then a long two from Muredda made it 27-0 before Ridge finally ended the run.
Gintare Tamulyte scored off a drive to cut the Pioneers’ halftime deficit to 28-4. And while Dock had more success put the ball in the hoop in the second half, the Rams led by 27 entering the fourth.
