City of Basketball Love

Jared Leveson (@jared_leveson)
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NEWTOWN — Macon Emory and Gabe Tanner are Perkiomen’s key returning players from last year's PAISSA Championship team. 

They are also roommates. 

It’s been a perfect fit so far because they’re both night owls and are easy going. But it's also worked out because they’re both focused on becoming the best teammates they can be for this deep Perkiomen squad. 

In a rematch of the 2023 PAISAA Championship, the duo’s chemistry and leadership translated into a dominant 73-45 win over the George School (0-1) on Wednesday night. 

“We knew it was their home opener,” Tanner said. “We knew they wanted to get us back from last year. I was trying to get the boys jacked up to match their energy, even beat it, and we were just trying to come out and kill them from the jump.” 

“It was one of those wins that we knew we had to come in and impose our will,” Emory, the 2024 Delaware commit added. 

Tanner, a 2025 guard who’s received an offer from Saint Joseph’s and is fielding interest from Virginia, Providence, and Marquette, looked in control and let the game come to him. The 6-foot-4 junior finished with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, two rebounds, three assists, and one steal. 

Emory missed the team’s past two practices due to familial commitments and came off the bench. He still contributed big minutes and totaled 11 points, five rebounds (four offensive), one steal, and a block. 

The pair are both playing different roles than they did last year. Tanner went from a secondary scorer and follower to a primary scoring option and leader.

“Starting off it was hard,” Tanner said. “Coach B would really lay it on me.”

“I wasn't ready for it.”

Perk was stacked at the forward spot last season with Thomas Haugh (Florida) and Preist Ryan (Coppin State) leading the way, with those two graduating and a few others gone, the Panthers suddenly became a guard-oriented group this offseason.

Due to Perkiomen’s lack of size, the 6-foot-8 and lanky Emory has moved from the wing to front court. 

“Growing up, I was always the tallest so I played a lot of ‘4’ and ‘5’, so I’m kinda used to it,” he said. “But a big difference is I have to be more physical with these big guys. A lot of them are a lot stronger than me, might be taller, might be more skilled in the paint. 

“I just have to be more physical.” 

The combination of their attitudes and connection with one another has helped them overcome early season adversity. Head coach Thomas Baudinet is proud of how the two have adjusted.

“Gabe has a lot of talent and a lot of versatility,” he said. “[He] just needs to have more consistency. Tonight was a good night, that's what we want him to be able to do every single night on the floor.

“Macon is very unselfish,” Baudinet continued. “Always willing to do whatever you ask him to do. It is hard on his body to guard guys who are bigger and stronger and he hasn't complained about it once. He’s improved rebounding. He’s improved in the post.” 

Wednesday night was a different game than their last meeting back in March where Perkiomen escaped with the championship by the hairs on their neck after two clutch technical free throws by Bobby Rosenberger (St. Francis) in the waning seconds of overtime.

George lost key contributors like Christian Bliss (Virginia), Kachi Nzeh (Xavier), Dante Weise (D-II Saint Rose), and Carson Mastin (Miami). While Perkiomen lost Rosenberger, Haugh and Ryan. 

Despite the departures, both teams reloaded.

George School returned Luke Bevilacqua, added freshman point guard Tyler Sutton, and senior Tristan Guilloutte, who made his George School debut on his first day of classes after transferring from St. Joe’s Prep.  

But Emory and Alfredo Adessa contained Guilloute and Bevilacqua who had 17 and 12 points, respectively.  

Perkiomen’s new additions like KJ Cochran (17 points), Alex Zakheim, and Hayden Johns had strong performances, knocking down shots and getting the steals needed to stave off any late runs from George. 

The Panthers used their game conditioning and experience to their advantage. Perkiomen already had five games already under their belt before facing George, who was playing in their season opener. Dealing with Perkiomen’s 10-man rotation and pressure defense, George struggled to catch their breath at times. 

Perkiomen led 15-13 after the first quarter and then proceeded to take control of the game in the second, where the Panthers outscored George 29-6 while Tanner and Emory combined for 17 points in the frame. 

The Devon native Emory capped the second quarter off with an authoritative two-handed slam that gave the Panthers a 42-21 lead at the half.

“We weren't playing as a team,” Emory said about Perkiomen’s first quarter. “[Our] defense was kind of lacking a little and we let them get inside too much.

“We tightened those things up and (became) unselfish moving the ball and we started hitting shots too which is always a good thing, it always helps and that's what gave us the big leap.” 

Tanner and Emory carried their coaches' message onto the floor after the first quarter break. They directed traffic, encouraged their teammates, and kept them focused. 

The pair know that themselves and their team still needs time to develop and adjust. Their living situation will only further, and maybe even expedite their growth as players and teammates. 

“I love getting to know him,” Tanner said.

“We’re always talking, always laughing, always having a good time in the room,” Emory added.  “It definitely translates on the court.” 

By Quarter:

PS: 15 | 29 | 19 |12 || 73

GS: 13 | 6 | 8 | 16 || 45

Scoring: 

PS: Gabe Tanner 18, KJ Cochran 17, Hayden Johns 14, Macon Emory 11, Alex Zakheim 9, Lucas Orchard 4

GS: Tristan Guilluote 17, Luke Bevilacqua 12, Ivan Ryabov 6, Tyler Sutton 6, Luke Melniczak 3, Kasey Fleming 1