Boys basketball: Pennridge downs Knights

The Pennridge boys basketball team is showing the league who they really are.
After a slow start, the Rams appear to have put things together. They traveled to North Penn on Tuesday and defeated their hosts, 77-62, in a Suburban One League Colonial Division game.
Although the Knights had the early lead, the Rams shot the ball well and by the end of the first quarter took a 19-15 lead that they never relinquished.
They had three players in double digits; Xavier Peters led all scorers with 19 points including three 3-point goals, Jude D’Agostino poured in 17 with one 3-pointer and Matt Campione added 15 with three 3-point goals.
All of D’Agostino’s point were in the first half, setting up the Rams for success.
“I was guarding No. 35 (Milind Pulugura), we knew he was their big shooter, and he got hot early,” said D’Agostino, a senior. “He had 21 the other day (against Central Bucks West) so my main focus was just to try to shut him down. We did an all right job of that, he still got off some threes, but then I got hot early and thankfully was able to help us out a lot.
“They got the early lead but I just played the role I needed to, getting rebounds, boxing out, just pushing the floor as much as I can. To get on a hot streak like that, it means a lot to me. My high score this year was 15 and I beat that in the first half of this game with 17 so that was super exciting and I’m glad I was able to do that for the team.”
Justin McCormick and Tommy Cramer each scored nine points with McCormick hitting two 3-pointers, and Justin Nichols had eight to round out the evening for Pennridge.
North Penn won the first meeting of the season, 79-53.
“Last time they beat us pretty good,” Peters said. “I know a lot of the kids on the team wanted to win this one. We wanted to prove that we’re not what our record shows. We’re better than our record. We want to prove everybody wrong. We’re not a bad team. We’re a good team. This is the real us.
“We played great defense, we hit threes, we were aggressive. We played well. I’m proud of us.”

Peters is a freshman starter for Pennridge.
“I came into the season just wanting to be myself and play the best I could whether I was on JV, varsity, whatever,” he said. “I don’t feel pressure as a varsity starter. I just play the way I always play. It’s a lot of fun playing for the fans and I’ve definitely gained a lot of confidence.
“At the beginning of the season I wasn’t as aggressive but now I feel like I found my place, found my rhythm, got to know my teammates.
“This year I’d like to see us win our next four games and next year, I think we’ll be pretty good and the following years as well.”
The win stopped a two-game skid for the Rams (5-3 SOL, 3-9 overall), and ended a four-game win streak for the Knights, who were coming off a big comeback victory over CB West on Monday. The loss was a setback for North Penn’s aspirations to the SOL Colonial title. The Knights (7-6, 10-9) are now two wins behind leader Central Bucks South with three games to go.
“That’s what we want to do, be the spoilers,” D’Agostino said. “Our hope now is to knock out some teams from playoff contention.
“We’ve been struggling for wins this year and we’ve only got a few more games left. It’s hard to not pack it in and just collapse on yourself and not play anymore, but this team is all fighters. Not a single one of us has stopped competing or lost hope. We know the chance of making the playoffs is real slim, but we’re still working hard every day.
“This is a big confidence boost for us after two losses. We lost to (Central Bucks) East early in December so we’re just out for revenge against all the teams that beat us earlier in the season. Hopefully we can turn it around.”
D’Agostino will study exercise science and physical therapy at West Chester next year, with an eye toward becoming a physical therapist.
“This is my last year of playing,” said D’Agostino, who will focus on lifting after the season. “I cherish every moment with these guys and I want to be on the floor as much as I can.”
The Rams are back in action on Thursday, hosting CB East in a makeup game at 7 p.m. They also have games remaining against CB West, Souderton and CB South.

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