Foul Shots Proved to be the Difference

WILLIAM TENNENT 48, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 43

Foul shooting, according to coach Robert Mulville, has been a point of emphasis. In Monday’s non-league game, foul shots proved to be the difference.

The two teams entered the fourth quarter deadlocked 28-28. Derrik Cosenza buried 10-of-11 from the charity stripe in the fourth and the Panthers were 16-of-17 overall in the final frame, outscoring their hosts 20-15 in the quarter.

“We grabbed about a four-point lead with three minutes left in the game, and then we were able to control the ball,” Mulville said. “Cosenza has worked hard at improving his foul shooting, and actually, the whole team has.

“We have made it a focus just because it’s hard to put things in, so at least you’re getting some time to practice some shooting so you can shoot a high percentage from the foul line.”

Sparked by nine points from Cosenza, the Panthers took a 19-14 lead into halftime. The Golden Hawks erased that lead with a 14-9 third quarter. Colin Martin led the way with five points.

Cosenza led all scorers with 23 points, which included a 13-for-17 effort at the foul line. Dom Sulpizio added eight points while Matt Miller and Jay Stanfield each had six.

Martin scored 14 points – 11 in the second half – to lead the Golden Hawks. Joey Purcell added seven while Stephen Dosa and Joseph Venuto both had six points.

The win was the fourth without a loss for the Panthers and snapped a three-game winning streak for the Golden Hawks.

“Our defense overall as a team was huge,” Mulville said. “We had Ryan Emmerich take a charge with about 20 seconds left to go when we were up five. We inbounded the ball, got fouled, made two foul shots, and that put us up seven. That was huge.

“The defense from Michael Scheller, Matt Miller and Ryan Emmerich – that was really, really good. Michael Scheller works his butt off all the time. He’s always on what we consider the other team’s best scorer, and Miller’s in that same boat and Emmerich too. Emmerich gives us a spark off the bench.

“Those things don’t show up in the stats. JP McAnulty doesn’t play a lot, but when he gets in there, he’s effective. The bench is really playing well for us overall.”

William Tennent (4-0, 3-0 SOL) will host Lower Moreland on Wednesday, and Council Rock South (3-3, 2-2) will travel to Truman on Tuesday.

Game Summary Brought To You By

William Tennent         10-9-9-20   48 Council Rock South     9-5-14-15   43

William Tennent (48) – Dominic Sulpizio 2 2-2 8; Walter Young 1 0-0 2 Matt Miller 2 2-2 6; Jay Stanfield 2 2-2 6; Michael Scheller 1 1-2 3; Derrik Cosenza 5 13-17 23; TOTALS 13 22-25 48.

Council Rock South (43) – Stephen Dosa 2 0-0 6; Joey Purcell 2 3-3 7; Anthony Burns 2 0-0 4; Colin Martin 4 0-0 11; Joseph Venuto 3 0-3 6; Shane Dawson 1 0-0 3; Greg Holloran 1 0-0 3; TOTALS 15 3-6 43.

3-point goals: WT – Dom Sulpizio 2, CRS – Colin Martin 3, Stephen Dosa 2, Shane Dawson, Gavin Holloran.