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Sports

D-West Drops Henderson in Must Win Game

Tenacious zone, off-night does in Warriors, 45-31

The Downingtown West High School basketball team held normally high-scoring to just 14 points over the final three quarters enroute to a much-needed, 45-31 victory to keep hope alive for a District I Tournament playoff spot in Ches-Mont National Division action Tuesday night at Henderson.

The Whippets had plenty at stake and played like it through the final 25 minutes, suffocating the Warriors with a tenacious, tight zone on a night when even the easy shots often produced by Henderson’s vaunted running game rolled off the rim.

With their Ches-Mont Final Four spot locked up, the Warriors had less to play for but the loss will hurt their District I seeding as post-season play approaches.  Now 13-8 overall and 8-3 in the Ches-Mont National, Henderson closes the regular season Thursday night in the intra-city rivalry game at West Chester East.  As the second place finisher behind Coatesville in the division, the Warriors will play the winner of the Ches-Mont American Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Oxford High School.  Coatesville meets the American’s Division second place team at 5 p.m.  The winners play for the Ches-Mont Championship Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Oxford.

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“They executed their game plan and we didn’t,” offered unhappy Henderson coach Chris Bruno.  “We had a week off.  We didn’t execute.  I have to do a better job of getting these guys ready.”

The Warriors actually seemed ready in taking a 14-7 lead early, when it looked like it would be a happier night for five seniors in their final high school home game.  P.J. Costello, David Goodman, Derek Rosenthal, Tony Silver and T.J. White all participated in the pre-game senior night ceremony that elicited appreciative applause from the sizeable home crowd. 

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From the six-minute mark of the first period through to the final buzzer, though, it was almost all Downingtown West, with the visitors putting together a 22-6 run to grab a nine-point lead at intermission.  Matt Maguire scored D-West’s first nine points to keep it competitive early and then his teammates took control, never trailing again after Brandon Carson’s offensive rebound put-back gave the Whippets a two-point lead midway through the second.

“Our season was on the line and the seniors stepped up,” smiled D-West coach Jason Ritter.  “If we don’t go 2-0 this week, we don’t go to the District Tournament.  Getting back on defense was the key.  Henderson can run as well as Coatesville.  We’ve been in a slump.  Our shots hadn’t been falling.  Tonight, they were.”

Henderson made one run during the third quarter, closing to within four points on a Jason McCormick three from deep, but Maguire got a steal and a basket to make it six at the end of the period.  Sophomore Matt Long was the star of the final period with six points and a key steal as the visitors went up 16 and coasted to the win.  Maguire and Long both scored 13 points.  Jason and Chas McCormick each had 10 for Henderson.

“It (D-West’s must-win situation) could have been a motivation for them, but we still have to play Henderson basketball and we didn’t do that,” Bruno continued.  “Now, we have to be ready for East on Thursday and it’s a cross-town rivalry game.”

The win lifted D-West to 6-5 in the Ches-Mont National with Downingtown East on tap in their own rivalry game Thursday night.  It was a big win for the Whippets, now 11-9 overall, and they may also need Thursday night, too, to get into post-season play.

 The Senior Night ceremonies also included a tribute to Henderson assistant coach Tom Weeks, who played for Henderson, graduating in 1971, and has been part of the program since that time.

Downingtown West topped Henderson, 58-55, in the junior varsity contest.  Colin Costello led the way for the Warriors with 15 points and Mark DiMatteo added 12.

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