Marple Newtown’s Ryan Straub, left, shoots against the defense of Springfield’s Brendan McShane in a game last year. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)
By Matthew DeGeorge
Ryan Straub apologizes for the cliché, though that doesn’t diminish its truth.
A season ago, Marple Newtown lived and died by its 3-point shooting, all the way to a first-round districts exit. This season, the 3 still looms large. But it’s more about how the ball gets there.
“We preach passing up a good shot for a great shot,” Straub said. “It’s kind of a clichéd saying, but we really preach that and we trust it and rely on our teammates.”
Twice in less than 24 hours, its paid off, the latest a 52-38 win over Ridley Saturday, led by 15 points from Straub and exemplary ball movement all around.
That victory followed a 73-62 win over Lower Merion Friday, the Tigers’ first over the Aces in 11 years. Any concerns of a letdown went out the window in about three minutes, with Straub and Owen Mathes splashing home open 3-pointers. The Tigers (6-5, 6-5 Central) led by nine points after one quarter and by 15 at the half.
(click on this link for the full story and more game scores)