TOWAMENCIN- A lockdown defense in the fourth quarter helped the Knights secure their first home victory.

The North Penn Knights (2-1) defeated the Pennridge Rams (0-3) in Tuesday night’s game with a final score of 65-52.  

The first quarter proved to be a slow start, with the scoreboard remaining stagnant until the 6-minute mark; however, after much back and forth between the two teams, Dylan Horton scored the first points of the night for the Rams at the free-throw line, after successfully taking on Corey Meade. North Penn’s Ahmaar Godhania quickly followed suit with a three-pointer, setting them into an early 3-1 lead. 

At 5:18, Norman Gee made his first point of the night with a layup, putting the Knights up 5-3. Nevertheless, the defense in the paint struggled, which was evident in the early foul trouble for Gee, who accrued two fouls. Godhania and Atkinson extended the Knight’s lead with 10 points combined as they neared the end of the first quarter. The Knights led 22-10.

“I think there was a little bit of nervousness in the first quarter since it was our first game at home, but I also believe that the Pennridge defense had much to do with it. They came out strong against us and were well prepared, “ North Penn Head Coach John Conrad stated. 

During the second quarter, North Penn had a turnover on their first possession, which set a difficult tone for the team. The defense struggled, allowing the Rams several second-chance opportunities in the paint. Although Gee broke the scoring drought for the team with an impressive triple at the 6:01 mark in the second quarter, the overall play was disjointed. Simpson managed to put up his first points of the game with a layup at 4:06, but defensive lapses continued, contributing to Pennridge’s scoring. At halftime, North Penn led 33-24, despite being outscored 14-11 in the 2nd. 

“The team was not together in their defensive plays and had a hard time defending Pennridge player Xavier Peters,who was playing a very good game,” Conrad stated.

Coming out of the half, Simpson initiated the team’s scoring with the first points of the 3rd quarter after struggling in the first half. 

“I went into the locker room at the half and regrouped myself and said I know what I am capable of, and need to go out and execute,” Simpson stated.

A rapid exchange of hoops occurred, with the Rams’ Peters contributing four points within three minutes, followed by Simpson and Meade contributing for the Knights. 

At the 5-minute mark, Pennridge narrowed the score gap to within five points at 41-36 until Tre Simpson’s rebound off Gee’s missed attempt led to another score. The Knights’ third-quarter defense was visibly tested, compounded by a critical injury, Gee, which kept him out the rest of the game. As the quarter progressed, the score stood at a tense 45-40 Knights, marking a five-point game.

“It was essential to lock in and get everyone to regroup after Norman’s injury; it was also important to go into the fourth quarter with a positive attitude,” Simpson stated.

In the first moments of the fourth quarter, the team showcased an impressive display of lockdown defense right from the opening possession, setting a solid tone despite not having one of their star players. 

“I think when Norman went down, they decided to lock up their defense and got into it. They wanted to pull out the win for him,” Conrad explained.

Godhania swiftly added the first points of the quarter with a layup. At 5:22, Lee Hammond nailed a critical three-pointer, extending the Knights’ lead to 50-40. As the game progressed, the score tightened to 59-49 with just 1:54 remaining, Simpson made significant contributions in the fourth quarter, ultimately leading the Knights to victory.

“Looking ahead, we need to pick up where we left off and get together as a team and keep going no matter what,” Simpson stated.

The Knights take on Central Bucks West at home Thursday at 7 pm as they look to extend their winning streak.