Great Valley boys clinch state berth with OT win

Staff photo by Brad Spahr/Great Valley's Mikal Bridges rises for a layup during Tuesday's District 1 Class AAAA playoff victory over Central Bucks So

By PETER DiGIOVANNI

cpn11716@comcast.net

EAST WHITELAND -- District 1 playoff games are won by the teams that can shake off adversity in a hurry and come back to regain their composure and get the coveted win to move on. Tuesday night the third-seeded Great Valley boys basketball team raced out to a huge early lead against No. 14 Central Bucks South but had to go into overtime to defeat the Titans and move on in the the District 1 Class AAAA playoffs.

The Patriots led every step of the way until late in the fourth period, but had to watch as a potential game-winning C.B. South shot fell short at the regulation buzzer. But the overtime period belonged to Great Valley and behind Mikal Bridges’ game-high 22 points, the Patriots held off the stubborn Titans, 60-57 in overtime.

Great Valley (25-1), which clinched a state playoff berth with the victory, now moves on to the quarterfinals to host No. 6 Methacton on Friday night, with the winner going to Temple University and the District 1 Final Four.

"Their coach, Jason Campbell, had a quote in the paper that his team no matter who they play will fight and claw to the end and that is what they did tonight," Great Valley coach Jim Nolan said. "We had leads on them, but could not put them away."

The Patriots jumped out to an early 14-5 lead after the first period on the strength of 3-pointers from Cyree Ames and Brad Sherry and inside buckets from Bridges. The advantage went to 18-5 early in the second after Bridges scored on a floater down the lane. Great Valley shot 10-of-14 from the field in the first half.

But the Titans (16-8) got three-point scoring from Chase Vonder Schmalz, who sank a trio of three-balls on the night. His long 3-pointer at the second-period buzzer drew the Titans to within 22-17 at halftime.

Great Valley extended its lead in the third period, but suddenly the Titans started beating the Pats on the boards, which helped up an exciting finish. Schmalz hit a 3-ball with 1:24 to play to draw C.B. South within 46-44. Moments later, point guard Kevin Raymond hit two free throws to tie the score at 48-48 with 45 seconds to play.

Each team had chances to win in regulation, the last one fell to Raymond, who missed on a runner at the buzzer and the teams went into overtime.

Nate Cohen, who had nine rebounds and played tough defense all night, helped Great Valley get off to a quick start in the extra session and later talked about starting quickly at the beginning of the game and overtime..

"I like to try to get out early and give some of our guys a spark," Cohen said. "When some guys start slow, I feel I have to get going early. But this time of the year we need everybody getting going the whole game and that is what happened in overtime."

Cohen scored to follow a Bridges free throw to give Great Valley a 51-48 lead. Matt Scamuffo hit one of two free throws, then Mike Gregory sank one of two for the Patriots and a 52-49 advantage with 2:03 to play.

Raymond missed a jumper that Brad Sherry rebounded. Ames then fed Bridges in the low post, where he was fouled. Bridges, who hit 11-of-15 from the free-throw line, sank one of two for a 53-49 lead with 1:26 to play.

"We wanted to go to me in the low post so I could either score or go to the free-throw line," Bridges said.

Then Bridges made the play of the game as he darted in front of Scamuffo and stole Raymond’s intended pass, drove down the court, scored, got fouled and hit the free throw for a 56-49 bulge with 1:02 left.

Scarmuffo hit another three to keep the pesky Titans in the game, but Gregory sank two more free throws to send Great Valley into the quarterfinals.

"The goal has been to make the state playoffs, which we did tonight, and get to Temple." Bridges said.

C.B. South now goes into the consolation bracket to try to advance to the state playoffs, but Campbell was not talking about what lies ahead for his team.

"We never give up no matter the score, but we dug ourselves a big hole in the first and second periods," Campbell said. "All year these kids have battled and they did the same thing tonight."

Great Valley 60, C.B. South 57

C.B. SOUTH: Raymond 4 6-6 15, Scarmuffo 2 4-6 9, Rudnick 2 1-1 5, Vonder Schmalz 4 5-5 16, Tamny 3 0-2 6, Dennis 1 0-0 2, Ohntrup 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 18-22 57.

GREAT VALLEY: Bridges 5 11-15 22, Gregory 1 7-8 9, Ames 4 1-2 10, Cohen 2 2-6 6, Geiss 0 2-4 2, Buchholz 1 0-0 2, Sherry 4 0-0 9, Alston 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 23-35 60.

C.B. South 5 12 17 14 9 -- 57

Great Valley 14 8 15 11 12 -- 60

3-point goals: Vonder Schamlz 3, Raymond, Scarmuffo, Sherry, Ames, Bridges.

 

Great Valley 60, C.B. South 57

C.B. SOUTH: Raymond 4 6-6 15, Scamuffo 2 4-6 9, Rudnick 2 1-1 5, Vonder Schmalz 4 5-5 16, Tamny 3 0-2 6, Dennis 1 0-0 2, Ohntrup 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 18-22 57.

GREAT VALLEY: Bridges 5 11-15 22, Gregory 1 7-8 9, Ames 4 1-2 10, Cohen 2 2-6 6, Geiss 0 2-4 2, Bucholz 1 0-0 2, Sherry 4 0-0 9, Alston 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 23-35 60.

C.B. South 5 12 17 14 9 -- 57

Great Valley 14 8 15 11 12 -- 60

3-point goals: Vonder-Schamlz 3, Raymond, Scarmuzzo, Sherry, Ames, Bridges.

Updated District 1 basketball playoff results

Boys

Class AAAA

Second Round

Tuesday, Feb. 19

Chester 85, Strath Haven 44
Upper Darby 47, Harriton 41
Ridley 64, Norristown 61, OT
Abington 66, Penn Wood 52

Lower Merion 75, Penncrest 42

Coatesville 65, Hatboro-Horsham 57

Great Valley 60, C.B. South 57, OT

Methacton 54, Souderton 45

Friday, February 22
Quarterfinals

(9) Upper Darby at (1) Chester, 7 p.m.

(13) Ridley at (5) Abington, 7 p.m.

(10) Coatesville at (2) Lower Merion, 7 p.m.

(6) Methacton at (3) Great Valley, 7 p.m.

9th-10th Place Consolations

(25) Harriton at (16) Strath Haven, 7 p.m.

(12) Penn Wood at (4) Norristown, 7 p.m.

(15) Penncrest at (7) Hatboro-Horsham, 7 p.m.

(14) C.B. South at (11) Souderton, 7 p.m.

Semifinals and Consolations Feb. 26, Championship and Consolation March 1.

Ten teams advance to states

Class AAA

First Round

Friday, February 22

(6) Lower Moreland at (3) Pope John Paul II, 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 23

(8) Octorara at (1) Holy Ghost Prep, 7 p.m.
(5) Pottstown at (4) Upper Moreland, 7 p.m.

(7) Phoenixville at (2) Glen Mills, 3 p.m.

Semifinals scheduled for Feb. 27, Championship March 2.

Two teams advance to states

Girls

Class AAAA

Second Round

Wednesday, February 20

Spring-Ford 52, Downingtown West 31

Central Bucks West 52, Springfield (Delco) 45

Pennsbury 48, Neshaminy 41

W.C. Rustin 54, Methacton 49
Mount St. Joe 49, Central Bucks East 44

Boyertown 47, Garnet Valley 38

Upper Dublin 58, Abington 28

North Penn 35, Souderton 34

Quarterfinals

Froday, February 22

(8) Central Bucks West at (1) Spring-Ford, 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 23

(20) Pennsbury at (12) W.C. Rustin

(7) Boyertown at (2) Mount St. Joe

(6) North Penn at (3) Upper Dublin

9th-10th Place Consolations

Saturday, February 23

(24) Springfield (Delco) at (16) Downingtown West

(5) Methacton at (4) Neshaminy

(18) Central Bucks East at (10) Garnet Valley

(14) Abington at (11) Souderton

Semifinals and Consolations  scheduled for Feb. 27, Finals March 1, Consolations March 2.

Nine teams advance to states

Class AAA

First Round

Tuesday, February 19

(1) Villa Maria, bye

Gwynedd Mercy 49, Upper Perkiomen 44

(4) Lower Moreland, bye

Sun Valley 66, Phoenixville 51

(2) Radnor, bye

Merion Mercy 43, Villa Joseph Marie 34
(3) Pope John Paul II, bye

Chichester 54, Nazareth Academy 41

Quarterfinals

Friday, February 22

(9) Gwynedd Mercy at (1) Villa Maria, 7 p.m.
(10) Merion Mercy at (2) Radnor, 7 p.m.
(6) Chichester at (3) Pope John Paul II, 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 23

(5) Sun Valley at Lower Moreland, 1:30 p.m.
Semifinals scheduled for Feb. 26, Championship and Consolation March 2.

Three teams advance to states

Red Raiders shake off Kennett to reach second round

Staff photo by Tom Kelly IV/Coatesville's Emmett Hunt puts up a shot inside during Friday's 58-47 victory over Kennett in the District 1 boys baskplayoffs.

By PETER DiGIOVANNI

cpn11716@comcast.net

CALN -- Three short nights after a very emotional Ches-Mont League championship win over Great Valley, Coatesville looked like they had a bit of a hangover Friday night in the opening round of the Boys District 1 Class AAAA playoffs.

Coatesville was far from its best, but solid offensive rebounding from Tyler Burke and Leroy Hoggard, pushed the 10th-seeded Red Raiders to a hard-fought 58-47 win over No. 23 Kennett.

Burke tallied 11 points to go along with nine rebounds, while Hoggard had 11 points and eight boards. Burke came off the bench in the second period with Coatesville (19-6) nursing a two-point lead and immediately went to work, scoring six second-period points off the offensive glass, pushing the Red Raiders to a 27-22 halftime edge.

"It took me a while to come back from football," Burke said. "I have lost 10 pounds since football ended and I feel like I finally have my legs back. My game along with Leroy is to bang the boards, do the dirty work and get putbacks. We have a lot of guys who can shoot, so I just like to go to the glass. I feel if we practice hard, we can play with the big names in the district."

Kennett (14-9) got a big game from Maalik Rochester who led all scorers with 17 points, including three 3-pointers. The senior hit a long three-ball to start the third period to draw the Blue Demons to within at 27-25. After Emmett Hunt hit three free throws for Coatesville, Chris Jones bounded down the lane for a bucket and a 32-25 lead.

Kennett, which shot just 1-for-12 from the field in the second when they were outscored 14-5, did not shoot much better in the third. The Blue Demons were 3-for-11 from the floor in the third, and it crippled their chances of springing the upset. Kennett was outscored 28-12 in the middle periods.

"We did not shoot real well," Kennett coach Mike Fergus said. "But where we really got hurt was on the glass. We knew they crash the boards and that they are a very deep team, but we could not stop them. That is the kind of team they are."

With Coatesville up 32-25, Rochester missed a jumper and Hunt beat everybody down the floor, took a pass from Vinnie Williams to score to put the Red Raiders up 34-25. When Williams hit a long 3-ball late in the third, Coatesville was ahead 39-27 and Kennett could not close the gap.

"Kennett is a very good team and they had Rochester scoring and (Vaughn) Jenkins hitting the boards for them," Coatesville coach Rick Nelms said. "Tonight, I thought they were focused and ready to play after the Great Valley win, but it was an ugly win for us.

"Tyler Burke really came through for us. He was the last guy to come back from football and tonight, he did not miss a layup and really did a good job for us on the boards."

Coatesville’s lead went to 45-31 early in the fourth after Hunt followed a miss and Kennett, despite playing very hard, could not make up ground. Coatesville will now travel to No. 7 Hatboro-Horsham next Tuesday in second-round play. The Hatters eliminated Downingtown East on Friday night.

With Kennett’s season over, Fergus talked about his young team, which loses just two seniors.

"We were ready to play tonight and I was very proud of their effort. These kids have come a long way since the start of the season. We just did not have enough tonight."

　

Coatesville 58, Kennett 47

KENNETT: Rochester 6 2-2 17, Kobayashi 4 7-7 15, Jenkins 3 1-3 7, Jones 2 2-2 6, Boulden 1 0-0 2, Hyland 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 12-14 47.

COATESVILLE: Burke 4 3-4 11, Hoggard 4 2-2 10, Hunt 3 4-5 10, Jones 4 2-3 10, hollingshead 4 0-1 8, Boggs 1 0-1 2, Williams 1 0-0 3, Lewis 0 3-6 3. Totals 21 14-22 58.

Kennett 17 5 7 18-47

Coatesville 13 14 14 17-58

3-point goals: Rochester 3, Hoggard, Williams.

Updated District One playoff results

Boys

Class AAAA

First Round

Thursday, February 14

Central Bucks South 63, Wissahickon 55

Friday, February 15

Chester 86, W.C. Rustin 58

Strath Haven 47, W.C. Henderson 45, OT

Harriton 53, Council Rock North 51

Upper Darby 45, North Penn 44
Norristown 63, Plymouth Whitemarsh 53

Ridley 61, Cheltenham 58, 2OT

Abington 84, Oxford 53

Penn Wood 69, Perkiomen Valley 66

Lower Merion 59, Conestoga 42

Penncrest 49, Spring-Ford 47

Hatboro-Horsham 61, Downingtown East 51

Coatesville 58, Kennett 47

Great Valley 51, Harry S. Truman 40

Methacton 67, Bensalem 49

Souderton 59, Pennsbury 43

Second Round

Tuesday, Feb. 19

Chester 85, Strath Haven 44
(25) Harriton at (9) Upper Darby
(13) Ridley at (4) Norristown
(12) Penn Wood at (5) Abington

(15) Penncrest at (2) Lower Merion

(10) Coatesville at (7) Hatboro-Horsham

(14) C.B. South at (3) Great Valley

Methacton 54, Souderton 45

Quarterfinals and Consolations scheduled for Feb. 22, Semifinals and Consolations Feb. 26, Championship and Consolation March 1.

Ten teams advance to states

Class AAA

First Round

Friday, February 22

(6) Lower Moreland at (3) Pope John Paul II, 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 23

(8) Octorara at (1) Holy Ghost Prep, 7 p.m.

(5) Pottstown at (4) Upper Moreland, 7 p.m.

(7) Phoenixville at (2) Glen Mills, 3 p.m.

Semifinals scheduled for Feb. 27, Championship March 2.

Two teams advance to states

Girls

Class AAAA

First Round

Friday, February 15

Central Bucks West 62, Great Valley 30

Springfield (Delco) 56, Upper Darby 51
W.C. Rustin 65, Bishop Shanahan 47
Boyertown 52, Wissahickon 33
Garnet Valley 50, Downingtown East 48, 2OT
Souderton 51, C.B. South 37

Saturday, February 16

Spring Ford 70, William Tenent 32

Downingtown West 60, Norristown 47
Neshaminy 60, Penn Wood 47

Pennsbury 54, Council Rock South 48

Methacton 46, Council Rock North 38
Mount St. Joseph 73, Bensalem 37

Central Bucks East 52, Conestoga 40

Upper Dublin 46, Ridley 32

Abington 53, Perkiomen Valley 42

North Penn 47, Upper Merion 28

Second Round

Wednesday, February 20

(16) Downingtown West at (1) Spring-Ford, 7 p.m.

(24) Springfield (Delco) at (8) Central Bucks West

(20) Pennsbury at (4) Neshaminy

(12) W.C. Rustin at (5) Methacton, 7 p.m.

(18) Central Bucks East at (2) Mt. St. Joe

(19) Garnet Valley at (7) Boyertown

(14) Abington at (3) Upper Dublin

(11) Souderton at (6) North Penn

Quarterfinals and Consolations Feb. 23, Semifinals and Consolations Feb. 27, Finals March 1, Consolations March 2.

Nine teams advance to states

Class AAA

First Round

Tuesday, February 19

(1) Villa Maria, bye

(9) Gwynedd Mercy at (8) Upper Perkiomen, 7 p.m.

(4) Lower Moreland, bye

(12) Phoenixville at (5) Sun Valley, 7 p.m.

(2) Radnor, bye

(10) Merion Mercy at (7) Villa Joseph Marie, 7 p.m.

(3) Pope John Paul II, bye

(11) Nazareth Academy at (6) Chichester, 7 p.m.

Quarterfinals scheduled for Feb. 22, Semifinals scheduled for Feb. 26, Championship and Consolation March 2.

Three teams advance to states

Powell leads Rustin girls to first district playoff win

By ANDY EDWARDS

aedwards@dailylocal.com

WESTTOWN -- It’s hard to imagine a program with no history of postseason success feeling disrespected by a No. 12 seed and a first-round home game in the district playoffs.

But coming into Friday’s clash with Bishop Shanahan fresh off a Ches-Mont championship and undefeated in 2013, that’s exactly how the West Chester Rustin girls basketball team felt.

Ultimately, the perceived slight was all too real to the Golden Knights, who used it as motivation to make some history of their own.

Noelle Powell poured in a game-high 25 points, making 15 of 17 free throws and leading three Golden Knights in double figures as Rustin (19-5) pulled away from a game Shanahan squad to post a 65-47 victory on its home court in the first round of the District One Class AAAA tournament. The win was the 17th in a row for Rustin, and more importantly the first girls district playoff victory in school history. Emily Walls came off the bench to score 11 crucial points and Anna Steinmetz chipped in 10 for the Golden Knights, who are just a win away from their first PIAA playoff berth after setting up a second-round date with either No. 5 Methacton or No. 28 Council Rock North next Wednesday.

"We’re a lot better than they made us out to be," said Walls, who added four rebounds and a steal in one of her best performances of the season. "I feel like it made us more motivated to come out stronger than we’ve always been and finish out the game, definitely."

Christine Lawrence impressed with a team-high 18 points for the Eagles (14-8), who came out firing and led 17-14 after the first quarter thanks to Jordan Ogden, who scored eight of her 14 points in the opening period. But Powell ignited a 14-2 run to start the second quarter, scoring a pair of buckets and assisting on two others to help the Golden Knights take command. Shanahan, which also received 11 points and nine rebounds from Rachel Parker, pulled to within 43-35 on a free throw by Lawrence in the first minute of the fourth before Rustin scored the next 13 points, six of them by Powell, to put a bow on its historic victory.

"The girls definitely came to play tonight," Shanahan head coach Mary Anne Keenan said. "They played from start to finish, and they executed our game plan. Rustin is a good team. Actually, they’re a great team. They have shooters, they have defensive players. They have a lot."

On this night, the Ches-Mont champions simply had too much. Adashia Franklyn finished with nine points and nine rebounds, Casey Warley added seven points and seven rebounds of her own, and Powell was there every step of the way, delivering four assists and four steals in a dominant floor game that kept the Eagles at arm’s length all night. The Golden Knights’ star guard scored 13 points in the fourth quarter as Shanahan attempted to make a run, calmly sinking free throw after free throw and running Rustin’s offense to perfection.

"We’re definitely learning how to play with each other and where each other wants the ball," Powell said. "We really are excited for the future, and we think we can go pretty far. We’re excited."

No one more so than Walls. Not normally known for her scoring, Walls gave the Golden Knights a big lift in the first half, scoring seven points in the second quarter as Rustin started to make its move. The sophomore buried a deep three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer to give Rustin a 35-24 lead at intermission, then scored back-to-back baskets to restore some order after Lawrence pulled the Eagles to within eight early in the final period.

"I’m feeling awesome," Walls said. "It was definitely a team win. We came out a little rough in the beginning, but I think towards the end we fought for it...We still stuck together as a team and pulled out the win.

"Normally I’m not a top scorer or anything. I guess I was kind of feeling it today."

"It was a huge lift," first-year Rustin head coach Leah Kim said of Walls’ performance. "I knew she had potential in her. It was just an issue of when she had to step up and concentrate and play. If we can get that out of her every night, it makes us an even tougher team."

Whether or not they do, the Golden Knights figure to be a tough out for the remainder of the district playoffs. Rustin hasn’t lost since a 54-38 setback at the hands of Perkiomen Valley on Dec. 27, and the first-time league champions are playing as well as anybody. With plenty of talent on their young roster, the Golden Knights just needed a strong presence to guide the ship. They found it in Kim, who stepped in for Colette Dugan and has scripted a historic season in no time.

"I did not make the history," Kim said. "The girls made the history. They come in and they want to work, and they’re determined kids. I’m excited for them that they did get that opportunity and they did achieve that goal, but we’re not done. We’re not really satisfied with that...We’d like to make a little run here."

The chance comes Wednesday. With another victory, which may have to come on the road against fifth-seeded Methacton, the Golden Knights can rewrite the history books once more.

"It’s huge," Kim said of being on the doorstep of states. "I would encourage everybody to come out. I think we’ll be ready."

　

W.C. Rustin 65, Bishop Shanahan 47

BISHOP SHANAHAN: Briglia 0 0-0 0, Lawrence 6 3-3 18, Cusick 1 0-0 2, Ogden 6 2-3 14, Wirshup 1 0-0 2, Clark 0 0-0 0, Dreiling 0 0-0 0, Habbel 0 0-1 0, Julianna 0 0-0 0, Parker 4 3-5 11. Totals 18 8-12 47.

W.C. RUSTIN: Warley 2 2-4 7, Walls 4 2-2 11, Steinmetz 4 0-0 10, Hoy 0 0-0 0, Powell 5 15-17 25, O’Hare 1 0-0 2, Franklyn 3 4-5 9. Totals 19 23-28 65.

Bishop Shanahan 17 7 10 13 -- 47

W.C. Rustin 14 21 8 22 -- 65

3-point goals: Lawrence 3, Walls, Steinmetz 2.

　

　

　

Coatesville boys edge past Great Valley for league title

Staff photo by Vinny Tennis/Coatesville's Leroy Hoggard rises for a jumper during Tuesday's victory over Great Valley in the Ches-Mont boys championship

By PETER DiGIOVANNI

cpn11716@comcast.net

EAST MARLBOROUGH -- Championship basketball games are normally fiercely contested battles between two teams who desperately want to be called champions. More often than not the team that imposes its will down the stretch will be the one celebrating at the end of the game.

At a jam packed Unionville High School on Tuesday, Coatesville took over the game in the fourth period from Great Valley and captured the boys Ches-Mont League Final Four Tournament championship with a thrilling 51-46 victory and knocked the American Division titleists from the ranks of the unbeatens. The Red Raiders return to the Ches-Mont throne after losing to Octorara last season.

Coatesville (18-6) trailed, 30-27, after three, but outscored the Patriots (23-1) 24-16 in the final period, fueled by the sparkling guard play of Chris Jones, who tallied 14 points and Dre Boogs, who had a team-high 16. Coatesville shot 7-for-9 in the fourth after going 11-for-30 in the first three periods.

"We started to play solid defense in the fourth period and stopped reaching," Jones said. "I think we got them rattled and our crowd was great and we just fed off the atmosphere tonight. It means a whole lot to win the Ches-Mont after losing to Octorara last year. We wanted to show people we are still the power in the Ches-Mont League."

The game was played mostly at Great Valley’s pace for the first 24 minutes. After Mike Gregory drained a 3-pointer and Mikal Bridges, who led all scorers with 22 points, threw down a slam, Great Valley led, 30-24, with 1:02 left in the third. Coatesville got closer after Jones scored in tight, got fouled and hit the free throw to make it a 30-27 game after three.

Emmett Hunt had a three-point play to start the fourth and tie the score at 30-30. Coatesville then turned up the pace of the game and the pressure on Great Valley, which had only eight turnovers coming into the fourth, but two very big ones to turn the tide of the game.

Leroy Hoggard used his quick hands to force the first Great Valley miscue and then scored on a layup. Boggs stole a pass and went high above the rim for a monster slam and Coatesville’s crowd erupted as the Red Raiders took a 34-31 lead with 4:23 to play.

"We changed defenses a few times in the fourth period and then Dre got us going with that slam," Coatesville coach Rick Nelms said. "We have a deep team and that really helped us tonight. Great Valley is a very good team."

Bridges knocked down a 3-ball to draw Great Valley to within 37-36. But, Jones came right back and went down the lane for a bucket, Bridges then missed a jumper and Boggs fed Jones for a basket and a 41-36 adavantage with 2:23 to play.

"We started to impose our will on them in the fourth period," Hunt said. "We really wanted this because we lost last year and Nelms let me play a lot this year and I just wanted to help the team. Tonight it was Chris, the last game was Dre and the game before that was Jaquan (Hollingshead). We have a lot of guys just like football. you never know who is going to make a play."

Boggs made the next big play going straight to the rim for a score and a 43-38 advantage with 1:43 to play. Chris Geiss scored for the Patriots to make it a 43-40 game with 1:27 to play.

But, Jones drained two free thorws and Boggs hit one of two while Great Valley missed on two possessions and Coatesville celebrated another Ches-Mont League title.

The loss was the Patriots’ first of the season and with the Class AAAA District 1 playoffs coming up Friday, coach Jim Nolan hopes his team can recover quickly.

"The two turnovers and some offensive rebounds hurt us," Nolan said. "We hope the kids have a little amnesia and forget about this one, but learn from their mistakes and come out ready on Friday."

Great Valley was given the number three seed in Tuesday’s District seeding meeting and will host No. 30 Harry S Truman on Friday. Coatesville earned the No. 10 seed and will entertain No. 23 Kennett.

　

Coatesville 51, Great Valley 46

GREAT VALLEY: Bridges 8 4-4 22, Sherry 2 1-2 6, Geiss 3 1-5 7, Gregory 3 0-0 7, Cohen 1 2-4 4, Ames 0 0-0 0.

Totals 17 8-14 46.

COATESVILLE: Boggs 5 6-10 16, Jones 5 3-3 14, Hunt 3 2-3 11, Hoggard 2 0-0 4, Hollingshead 3 0-2 6, Burke 0 0-0 0, Williams 0 0-0 0, Lewis 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 13-20 51.

Great Valley 4 16 10 16-46

Coatesville 7 8 12 24-51

3-point goals: Sherry, Gregory, Bridges 2, Jones, Hunt.

Rustin overwhelms West for first Ches-Mont crown

Staff photo by Vinny Tennis/Rustin's Adashia Franklyn rises for a layup during Tuesday's Ches-Mont girls basketball championship game at Unionv

By BRAD SPAHR

bspahr@dailylocal.com

EAST MARLBOROUGH - To be the best, you have to beat the best.

For quite some time, the Downingtown West High School girls basketball team had been atop the Ches-Mont throne, as the defending league champs had gone 26-1 in league tilts dating back to the 2010-11 season.

West Chester Rustin didn’t just beat them on Tuesday night in the championship game of the Ches-Mont Final Four Tournament, they put on an absolute clinic that showcased team basketball at its finest. The Golden Knights put four different players in double-digits and led from wire-to-wire on their way to a 61-48 victory in front of a packed crowd at Unionville High School to claim their first league title.

West Chester Rustin (19-5 overall), who doesn’t dress a single senior, won its 16th straight game by completely overwhelming a very good Downingtown West (17-6) squad. They forced 17 turnovers while mixing in numerous different defensive looks, and were tremendously unselfish offensively as they continually found the open player for easy inside baskets off cuts. They led 32-21 at halftime and 50-34 after three quarters.

Junior forward Adashia Franklyn netted a game-high 16 points for the Golden Knights and pulled down 11 rebounds as well.

"This means a ton to be the first Rustin team in school history to win the Ches-Mont championship," said Franklyn. "We have a lot of respect for Downingtown West, but we certainly weren’t fazed by them coming in.

"The nerves were there because this was such a big game. We didn’t wanna lose. We wanted this so bad. We played so well as a team, and our unselfishness was key."

West Chester Rustin had four different sophomores all step up in a big way: forward Casey Warley (12 points and eight rebounds), forward Anna Steinmetz (12 points, including eight in the first half), guard Katie O’Hare (12 points) and guard Noelle Powell (nine points).

Powell and Franklyn, two of the top players in the league, were each held to four points in the opening half.

"We thought we would be in good shape if we held those two in check," said Downingtown West coach Dave Johnson. "But they had a lot of role-type players step up in a big way.

"We simply got hit by a hot team tonight. All the credit in the world goes to them. We got beat by a better team plain and simple, and there is no shame in that."

The National Division champion Whippets got a team-high 15 points from senior forward Kayla Feairheller, 10 of which came in the first half. Sophomore guard Maddie Dew added 13 points, including three 3-pointers that helped keep her team in the game. Senior forward Lindsay Galczynski added nine points, and eight boards.

Rustin, the American Division champs were just too much on this night.

Warley, Steinmetz and O’Hare combined for 24 of the team’s 32 first-half points.

"Credit to Downingtown West they came out in a box-and-one on Noelle, and that’s something that she hadn’t seen all year," said first-year Rustin coach Leah Kim. "But we made every extra pass, and I don’t think one single girl was selfish out there for us.

"That’s the kind of team game we are looking for. That has been our goal all year to play that way."

Powell, who had scored a game-high 20 points in the Golden Knights’ 39-31 semifinal win over Downingtown East on Saturday, was just happy to see her team make school history.

"We played excellent," Powell said. "We came out hard and did what we wanted to do right from the start.

"This is an awesome feeling right now to be champs. We wanted this so bad."

West Chester Rustin, who starts four sophomores and a junior, are going to be a scary team in the future. On Tuesday night, though, they showed that their time is now.

"I’m so happy for the girls," said Kim. "I’m a perfectionist and I ask a ton of them every day at practice, and they work so hard and give me everything they have.

"They were so excited for this game all day. I couldn’t be happier for them. They played their hearts out and they deserve this."

W.C. Rustin 61, Downingtown West 48

W.C. RUSTIN: Warley 6 1-3 12, Steinmetz 6 0-0 12, Powell 2 5-6 9, O’Hare 6 0-0 12, Franklyn 6 4-6 16, Hoy 0 0-0 0. Totals: 26 10-15 61.

DOWNINGTOWN WEST: Dew 5 0-0 13, Camden 1 0-0 2, E. Kuhlman 3 0-1 7, Galczynski 3 3-6 9, Feairheller 5 3-3 15, Schanck 0 0-0 0, Supplee 1 0-0 2. Totals: 18 6-10 48.

W.C. Rustin 15 17 18 11 – 61

Downingtown West 11 10 13 14 – 48

3-point goals: Warley, Dew 3, E. Kuhlman, Feairheller 2.