Class 4A
#4 UPPER MORELAND 60, #12 CHICHESTER 50
The Golden Bears wasted little time before seizing control of Wednesday’s district quarterfinal contest, opening up an 18-5 lead after one quarter and extending that to 37-13 by halftime.
“We were executing from the jump,” UM coach Dan Heiland said. “We handled their pressure in the full court and in the half court very well. We were able to get our guys in high-scoring areas on the floor, and guys were making shots.
“Really, we had an answer for everything they threw at us in the first half, which allowed us to get out to that great start.”
The win not only vaulted the Golden Bears into Saturday’s district semifinal but also punched their ticket to the PIAA 4A State Tournament.
“As coaches and as players, we talk about individual goals but, more importantly, team goals,” Heiland said. “It’s always a goal to win our conference, which is always tough, and from there, the goal is to win a district championship.
“It’s only been done one time in school history back in 2013. I was a coach on that staff at a very young age, and that’s something we talk about all the time. One of the coaches on my staff, Kevin McFall, was a big contributor on that championship team. We talk about it a lot with the guys just from the stance it’s an experience you’ll never forget, and the atmosphere you play in is something a lot of high school kids don’t get to experience, and it’s something they’ll always cherish and remember.
“It’s always a goal to get to playoffs and then see what happens. You have to get there first. All the preparation and all the work you put in – you hope it’s enough to get you multiple games and opportunities to play against these teams and see what happens.”
Matt Tiernan’s 18 points led the Golden Bears while Byron Hopkins added 15 points and Stefano Garofalo also finished in double figures with 12. Colson Campbell added eight points.
“Byron Hopkins got out to a great start – he scored at least half of his 15 points in the first half,” Heiland said. “Matt Tiernan was just consistent throughout the game offensively and defensively. He played like Matt Tiernan knows how to play.
“Stefano Garofalo had another strong start, and Bo Meakim did a great job controlling the pace and bringing the ball up and getting us into the sets we wanted to get into. Rashim Lancit did a great job defensively, and Colson Campbell and Jake Tiernan did a tremendous job off the bench, giving us great minutes and contributing in the box score as well.”
Upper Moreland (15-8, 9-7 SOL) will travel to #1 Radnor for Saturday’s district semifinal game.
Chichester 5-8-19-18 50
Upper Moreland 18-19-11-12 60
Chichester (50) – Mazen Sayet 10, Akhir Keys 6, Zaiyin Keys 6, Vince Wildrick 14, Eyan Thomas 4, Isaiah Diggs 4, Carlton Cordy 6.
Upper Moreland (60) – Byron Hopkins 15, Bo Meakim 4, Jake Tiernan 3, Matt Tiernan 18, Stefano Garofalo 12, Colson Campbell 8.
3-point goals: Chichester – Vince Wildrick 4, Carlton Cordy 2, Mazen Sayed, Akhir Keys, Zaiyin Keys; UM – Byron Hopkins 2, Colson Campbell 2, Stefano Garofalo.
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