In Need, East Takes Down Henderson, 46-42

The basketball team used a triple dose of motivation to fashion a tight and tough performance Thursday night in knocking off , 46-42, before a raucous, senior night crowd at the winners’ gym.

The entertaining student section stormed the court at the buzzer as the Vikings knocked off their cross-town rivals, hitting all of their first 11 free throws and generating steals and stops in big spots all night long.  The result likely assured East a spot in the District I post-season tournament and locked up intra-city bragging rights over the Warriors until the two teams meet again next season.

“Tonight was a playoff game for us,” East coach Eric Anderson stated flatly about being on the bubble for one of 32 spots in the fight to extend the season by at least one game.  “And the kids did a great job responding.  Then, it was senior night and it was Henderson, so we had other things coming into play.”

The coach’s son, Eddie Anderson, got the Vikings going early with eight first-quarter points and Nick Scotese added five of his game-high 18 as East forged a 13-8 lead after one period.  The winners upped the margin to 11 early in the second before Henderson made a late-period run behind Spencer Rymiszewski to tie it up, 19-19, at the half.

A Chas McCormick three-pointer from deep early in the third gave the Warriors a short-lived, one-point lead but Anderson scored on a drive down the lane, Mike Brown put back an offensive rebound and Scotese converted a steal and runout to get the homecourt crowd revved up for the finish.  The turning point came late in the third when Scotese knocked down another three from the corner and got fouled, hitting the free throw to achieve the rare four-point play to put his team up by seven. 

In the fourth, Henderson pulled within two on a P.J. Costello three but Anderson and Amari Taylor were money from the free thrown line down the stretch as East maintained control in the final minute.  The victory avenged a 60-49 loss that East suffered at Henderson earlier in the season.

“I’m sure that (the District I tournament must-win situation) played a role for them,” Henderson coach Chris Bruno offered after the game.  “But it was East versus Henderson.  Throw out the records.  Give them credit.  They hit their shots.  We could have done better, but I’m proud of our guys.”

For Henderson, next up is the Ches-Mont Final Four matchup against American Division champion Octorara, which took first place over Great Valley via complicated tiebreakers.  The league playoff doubleheader is Saturday with National Division champion Coatesville meeting American Division runner-up Great Valley at 5 p.m. Henderson versus Octorara is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

East plays Phoenxville Saturday and then waits until Sunday to get confirmation from District I officials that the win over Henderson put them into post-season play.  “We’ve earned it, hopefully,” East coach Anderson continued, saluting his graduating seniors, Anderson, Brown, Taylor, Tim Durkin, Pat Forde and Marcus Lauria.  “Whatever team they put in front of us, we’ll be ready to play.”  That team could possibly be powerhouse Chester, the District I and PIAA defending champion team that is ranked nationally by various polls and media outlets.

For the Warriors, Octorara is also a handful.  “They are a strong, athletic and well-coached team,” Bruno stated about the perennial Class AAA state power.  “They’re a team that likes to play up-tempo, so it’ll be a different kind of game.”

In the girls’ varsity prelim, East beat Henderson, 50-42 behind 29 points from sophomore Nina Mazzarelli, who scored 11 in the third quarter when the Vikings pulled away.  Holly Hager and Caitlin Pavlo added eight and seven points, respectively.  For Henderson, Emily Torrance scored 15 points, Didi Twyman tallied nine, Janelle Wade eight and Katie Stec seven.

In the junior varsity contest played at Henderson, the Warriors prevailed, 45-36, behind Colin Costello’s 15 points.  Evan Anderson had 12 for East.