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PENNRIDGE 55, PERKIOMEN VALLEY 37
Perkiomen Valley, despite a young roster and one of its top players in Kam Parks sitting out with an injury, was not a team Rams coach Dean Behrens took lightly.
“Mike (Poysden) is a great coach and they run their offense so well,” Behrens said. “Back screens, back doors on the baseline, they’re a tough team to defend and a lot of those boys can really shoot the three.”
It’s the kind of offense most coaches would like to have a practice to prepare for but the Rams, coming off a setback to CB West on Friday night, didn’t have that luxury. What they did have was a roster of players who understand the importance of defense.
Pennridge held the Vikings to just four first-quarter points, withstanding several long defensive possessions to get a stop and fuel their transition offense. Every rebound or stop had the Rams looking to push pace, and an 8-0 run to end the first put them ahead for good.
“Our guys handled their offense pretty well,” Behrens said. “I was disappointed they didn’t have Parks, he’s a heck of a player and I wanted to see how we could compete with that.”
Behrens lauded the defense of Colin Post, who spent the game chasing PV’s Tyler Lapetina through the screens and cuts, as well as senior Trent Fisher’s rim protecting and the rest of the players for communicating.
Fisher used his size to get the Rams offense going, leading Pennridge with 16 points. He also passed well when Perkiomen Valley sent extra defenders, dishing out five assists, including back-to-back helpers on Connor Pleibel threes in a key third quarter run.
“We’re trying to get a lot of post touches to Trent and why wouldn’t you, he did a good job around the basket,” Behrens said. “He’s really doing a good job for us not only offensively but on the defensive end.”
Perk Valley made a run early in the third, cutting the lead to 27-21 before Fisher hit a three and assisted the two to Pleibel as part of a 9-2 run.
“Our energy was great, it wasn’t a real packed gym, the weather was bad and people probably stayed in but it was a great effort by our guys,” Behrens said. “Give credit to Perk Valley – they had to drive over in this nonsense, and at the start of third quarter, they competed. We just had a little more experience at this time.”
Pennridge (13-4, 7-1 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South on Tuesday.
Game Summary brought to you by
Perkiomen Valley 4-9-10-14 37 Pennridge 11-14-16-14 55
PV (37): Quinn 2 0-0 4, Kohler 1 0-0 2, Dougherty 0 2-2 2, Lapetina 5 1-1 12, Gansz 2 0-0 4, Debebe 2 0-1 5, Miceli 2 1-1 5, Pelzer 1 0-0 3. Totals: 15 4-5 37
Pennridge (55): Connor Pleibel 3 0-0 8, Luke Yoder 2 0-0 4, Christian Guldin 4 2-2 12, Colin Post 2 3-6 7, Trent Fisher 7 1-2 16, Anthony Phillips 1 1-2 3, Colin Monahan 2 0-1 4, Justin Nicholas 0 1-2 1. Totals: 21 8-15 55
3-point goals: Pennridge – Pleibel 2, Guldin 2, Fisher; PV – Lapetina, Debebe