Pennsbury fell to defending district champion Chester in Friday night’s District One AAAA game at Villanova University on Friday night. To view game action photos, check back later this weekend.
By Scott Huff
Villanova – Pennsbury senior Steve Ciotti’s desperation three-point attempt kissed off the front of the rim at the buzzer, - and as the ball fell harmlessly to the floor, the Falcons failed to force overtime in a 52-49 loss to Chester in the PIAA Quad-A District One final.
Pennsbury might have kissed the game away as well. The Falcons failed to hold leads of 18-5 in the second quarter; 31-23 at halftime; and 45-36 with 2:47 left in the third period. The aggressive man-to-man defense that forged the leads transformed into a passive zone defensive team as Pennsbury battled foul trouble all night against the lightning quick Clippers.
“To be very honest, they could not score on us when we played man-to-man,” insisted Pennsbury head coach Bill Coleman. “But we had all that foul trouble, and we were forced to play zone against them. We played a two-three zone, and maybe we practice that once a week.
“It is much more difficult to rebound out of a zone,” added Coleman. “And Chester hurt us off the offensive boards with second chances and easy baskets. And their pressure got to us a little bit in the second half.”
Pennsbury junior guard Mekhi Bryant has been terrific all season for the Falcons. But on the big stage in the district final, Bryant spent large chunks of time on the Pennsbury bench with foul trouble.
“We can’t blame it on the officials, but it is tough to play the game trying to avoid fouls,” said Bryant who finished with just five points. “We came out and attacked them, but we let them come back.”
Another Falcon who spent far too many possessions of the bench with foul trouble was 6-foot, 8-inch junior Derrick Woods. Wood – who scored 10 points – is the lone effective post player for the Black and Orange.
“Playing with the fouls it very difficult,” admitted Woods who was forced to battle 6 foot, 8 inch Clipper senior Tyrell Sturdivant (17 points) all night. “You play the game differently trying not to foul, and sometimes you foul when you usually don’t. It was a hard way to play the game.”
Pennsbury – when in its trademark man-to-man defense – looked to be the better team for the first three periods of the game.
The Falcons soared to a 16-5 first period lead as junior Cameron Jones fired home a trio of three-point baskets. Jones would finish the game as the leading scorer for Pennsbury with 17 points.
Pennsbury would race off the court at halftime with an eight-point lead thanks to a buzzer beating three-point field goal by Nigel Johnson. Johnson played an effective game for the Falcons and finished with nine points on a trio of three-point baskets.
The third period saw Pennsbury maintain most of its advantage as Jones, Woods, Johnson, Ciotti, and Bryant all scored important points. The Falcons led 45-39 as the final period began.
And then the wheels fell off the district championship bus.
Poor shooting (2-14), turnovers (7), and poor defensive rebounding led to Chester winning the quarter 13-4 – and the game at 52-49.
“We have to put this game behind us and get over it quick,” said Bryant as the Falcons will begin PIAA Quad-A state tournament play as the # 2 seed from District One. “I think we played hard at times, but now we have to play hard for 32 minutes.”
Play hard Pennsbury man-to-man defense – and not get into foul trouble.
Pennsbury Falcons 16 15 14 4 * 49
Chester Clippers 5 18 16 13 * 52
Pennsbury: Cameron Jones 17; Derrick Woods 10; Nigel Johnson 9; Mekhi Bryant 5; Steve Ciotti 4; Walter Allen 3; and Jimmy Flagg 1.
Chester: Tyrell Sturdivant 17; Mahir Johnson 10; Conrad Chambers 9; Khaleeq Campbell 6; Brewster Ward 6; and Keyonte Watkins 4.
- Log in to post comments
