PENNSBURY BASKETBALL:Falcons roll in district opener

By Rick Fortenbaugh
For Buckslocalsports

The Pennsbury High School basketball team was missing two starters last night because of injuries.

The Falcons also got limited playing time from top sub Dante Devine because of an illness and were forced to temporarily pull standout Dalton Pepper from the game after he landed awkwardly on his shooting wrist.

So does this mean Pennsbury (20-3) was involved in a competitive game against Council Rock South in a PIAA District 1 Class AAAA opener?

Forget about it.

In a game that was every bit as lopsided as the final score would indicate, top-ranked Pennsbury annihilated Rock South, 76-45.

With the victory, Pennsbury advanced to a home game against Owen J. Roberts on Tuesday night and is now just one more victory away from qualifying for the state tournament.

“We were like a walking M.A.S.H. unit tonight," said Falcons coach Frank Sciolla. “It was nice to see some of other guys really contribute."

At the beginning it was all Pepper as the University of West Virginia-bound senior blitzed Rock South with 15 first-quarter points.

Pepper poured in a 3-pointer on the first shot of the game and later scored on a sensational alley-oop layup on which he was fouled.

With the Pennsbury lead at 22-12 after the first quarter, Pepper more or less shut it down from there and finished with a game-high 23 points. He also slightly injured his wrist in the first half.
“With Pep we just wanted to be careful," said Sciolla.

Enter a whole host of other Falcons, including freshman Kieran Bolger, who impressed by connecting on three treys. You’re going to be reading that name a lot in the future because he’s a player.

“On any other team Kieran would be getting a lot of playing time," said Sciolla. “You hear all about some of the other freshman in our league, but he’s up right there with the rest of them.
“To be honest Kieran is as good a shooter as we’ve had come through here. And he has a tremendous desire to improve."

The Pennsbury lead grew to 38-19 at the half when senior guard Eddie DiRugeris finished the second quarter with a long three-pointer. He had six points in this quarter and finished with 13.

By the end of the third quarter the Falcon lead up to 58-27. Guard Jesse Krasna (10 point) finished off that period with a three-pointer of his own after Pepper had thrown down a dunk.

The fourth quarter was all about Sciolla reaching even further down his bench in an effort to not completely massacre the Hawks.
***

LINESCORES
Council Rock South 12 7 8 18 — 45
Pennsbury (20-3) 22 16 20 18 — 76

COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH
Boyd 9; Nowlin 9; Merron 6; Matthews 6; Chickin 4, Clopton 3, Silverthorn 2, Brightcliffe 2; Thomas 2, Dipaolo 2.
PENNSBURY
D. Pepper 23, DiRugeris 13; Krasna 10; Bolger 9, Devine 7; Citto 5; Kumor 3; B. Pepper 2, Ryann-Wolff 2; Sibel 2.

PIAA District 1
Class AAAA Scores

Bensalem 38, Great Valley 36
Central Bucks South 68, Avon Grove 42
Central Bucks West 60, Radnor 31
Conestoga 53, Cheltenham 38
Glen Mills 62, Council Rock North 54
Neshaminy 58, Penncrest 50
Owen J. Roberts 66, Downingtown West 53
Penn Wood 70, Chichester 30
Pennsbury 76, Council Rock South 445
Plymouth-Whitemarsh 69, Methacton 55
W. Chester Henderson 66, Coatesville 59
Chester 40, North Penn 34
W.C. Rustin 62, C. Bucks East 50
Lower Merion 48, Quakertown 28