Philadephia Sportscene Philadelphia's Best Sports News Source
NESHAMINY 63, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 53 (OT)
Freshman Sean Curley sank a 3-pointer at the end of regulation, erasing a three-point deficit and sending the game into overtime where the Redskins outscored the Titans 15-5.
“Our freshman Sean Curley, who is shooting the highest percentage for us, came in,” Neshaminy coach Mark Tingle said. “We had seven or eight seconds left, and we were down three, and he hit the three to tie it.
“The crazy thing was – we were down five with 20 seconds left in the game. We had the ball, and they got called for a flagrant foul. Matt Drapkin made two free throws, and we had the ball and hit the three. We went from five down to sending it to overtime. It was a really good game – a back and forth battle the whole time.”
Both teams are playing for their playoff lives down the home stretch of the regular season. The Redskins are 27th in the latest District One 6A power rankings, and Central Bucks South is 23rd.
“Right now they’re in the playoffs and we’re just out of the playoffs,” Tingle said. “Nobody was backing down, I know that.”
The Redskins took an early lead in overtime and built on that lead to win by double digits, connecting on 11-of-12 from the foul line.
“We went up three, they ended up missing a shot, and they had to start fouling,” Tingle said. “Mike Murray had a huge game last night – he had 26 and 12, and he wound up scoring 11 in overtime.
“He had two baskets and was 7-of-8 at the foul line. Matt Drapkin was 4-for-4 in the overtime from the foul line.”
The win was the fifth in a row for the suddenly streaking Redskins.
“We were 5-9 at one point,” Tingle said. “Basically, I keep telling the kids we have to take it one game at a time and go 1-0 today. We did it five straight times and we have to keep it going.”
Drapkin led the Redskins with 20 points, which included a 10-for-11 effort at the foul line. He also had five rebounds. Murray finished with 19 points and was 11-for-12 at the line. He pulled down seven rebounds. Jimmy MacDonald finished with a double-double that included 12 points – 10 in the second half – and 11 rebounds.
“Our two bigs played very good,” Tingle said. “We held Alex Dietz to 4-of-6 from the foul line, and that’s it. Shutting him down was big, but their big kid had 27.”
Michael Farley – who scored 27 – kept the Titans in it, scoring eight points in the first half and 15 in the second half. Mike Waltrich added 12 points, and Josh Consoletti had 10. Both players connected on a pair of 3s.
Neshaminy (10-9, 6-5 SOL) will travel to Holy Ghost Prep on Monday for a non-league game. Central Bucks South (10-10, 5-5) will be on the road at North Penn Tuesday.
Game Summary brought to you by
Central Bucks South 7-8-14-19-5 53
Neshaminy 7-13-10-18-15 63
Central Bucks South (53) – Mike Waltrich 4 2-2 12; Josh Consoletti 2 4-5 10; Alex Dietz 0 4-6 4; Michael Farley 9 9-12 27; Totals 15 19-25 53.
Neshaminy (63) – Jimmy MacDonald 5 2-2 12; Matt Drapkin 4 10-11 20; Damon McGovern 3 0-2 6; Mike Murray 4 11-12 19; Sean Curley 2 0-0 6; Totals 18 23-27 63.
3-point goals: CBS – Josh Consoletti 2, Mike Waltrich 2, Neshaminy – Matt Drapkin 2, Sean Curley 2.