Henderson Wins Penncrest Tourney Title

MEDIA – Now that the high school basketball season is one month old, opposing teams know what they’re dealing with when comes to town.  The Warriors want to run and they want to attack the rim.

In the championship game of the Penncrest Holiday Tournament Thursday night, the hosts had the skill and patience to force Henderson into a different kind of game but the Warriors demonstrated an admirable patience of their own in securing a 35-31 victory to win the late December affair for the second year in a row.

The successful culmination of the season-opening series of eight road games finally sends Henderson back to West Chester Tuesday night for the 2011-12 season’s first home game, a 7:30 start against Ches-Mont National Division rival Downingtown East.

“It’s going to be fun.  The players are excited to wear the white uniforms in their home gym,” said first-year Henderson coach Chris Bruno with a wide smile of relief after his team delivered down the stretch in a chess match contest of zone defenses against a team that specializes in making long range threes.  “They’ve been waiting to play in front of our own fans.”

Now 5-3 overall and 1-1 in the Ches-Mont, Henderson used its fast-paced, pressing style to take out Council Rock South Wednesday night and Penncrest coach Mike Doyle decided that a tight zone and deliberate pace would give his team the best chance to send their hometown fans home happy. 

Behind eight three-point bombs and smart, secure ball movement, it was mostly mission accomplished except for the unusual talents of Henderson’s Chas McCormick, who had 12 points, including the game-winner, and came away with the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award.

“It was frustrating, but we kept on fighting,” said McCormick, whose patented baseline floater may be Henderson’s best offensive weapon.  “It was important to stay composed and patient.”

For a Henderson team that averages over 60 points per game, the frustration came from a first quarter that ended with Penncrest ahead, 5-4, thanks to an end-of-period three from Eddie Baxter.  In the second, Penncrest’s only baskets were three threes and the Lions held a three-point lead and momentum until Henderson’s P.J. Costello knocked down a triple at the halftime buzzer to even the score at 14-14.

With the Penncrest pace making each possession critical in the third, Henderson’s Declan Kane did his part with four of his team’s eight points as the lead changed hands until Jason McCormick converted a fast break off a steal to give the visitors a 22-20 edge heading into the final eight minutes.

Chas McCormick scored the first four points of the fourth to give Henderson some semblance of control, but Lions’ sharpshooter Alex Graham hit two big threes and teammate Jim Allen tied it at 29 with another, setting up a tension-filled final three minutes.

Henderson took the lead on a David Goodman inside basket off an assist from Chas and the MVP then put the lead at four with a baseline floater.  Goodman got another easy one on a feed from Kane with 30 seconds left and Henderson’s man defense smothered Penncrest through the final ticks to close out the victory.

“They (Henderson) don’t even attempt threes.  That’s why we packed it in,” said Penncrest coach Doyle, whose team dropped to 3-6 on the season.  “Down the stretch, we just didn’t make plays.”

In the end, Penncrest made eight of 21 threes and had only three two-point baskets all night long.  Graham led all scorers with 14 while Jason McCormick added eight for Henderson.  Kane had eight points and six big rebounds without front line compatriot T.J. White, the Division I college football prospect who missed the tournament to attend a post-season gridiron all-star game in Maryland.  Jason McCormick joined his brother on the All-Tournament team.

 “It was nice to see the patience, execution and composure tonight,” concluded Bruno.  “Those are additional pieces to the puzzle.  We’re looking forward to Tuesday.  Happy New Year.”