Del-Val Charter boys win Public League title

Del-Val coach Jason Harrigan painstakingly put together a game plan for the Public League championship game Saturday night against Constitution.

Harrigan believed he had prepared his team for anything that could have possibly happened at St. Joseph's University's Hagan Arena.

There was one scenario, however, he hadn't anticipated.

Although four starters fouled out early in the fourth quarter, the Warriors held off the Generals, 84-74, to claim Del-Val's first Public League title.

"I thought of every scenario in the last three days that could happen in this game," Harrigan said. "I did not think of that one. That was the only one I could not imagine. We had so many guys foul out. We had guys who hadn't played meaningful minutes in weeks came in and closed out the game."

In a disjointed game featuring a combined 55 fouls (Del-Val 33, Constitution 22), Del-Val (22-4, 7-3) found a way to hold off the hard-charging Generals (15-11, 4-6).

Mahki Morris, named the game's most valuable player, was the lone Del-Val starter to not foul out. The junior wing finished with a team-high 27 points.

Tamir Green led the Generals, who have lost three straight Public League title games, with 34 points on 13-of-29 shooting. (Constitution won in 2012.)

Constitution senior guard Anthony Satchell began the procession of foul-outs with Del-Val ahead, 59-51, with about 5 minutes, 30 seconds left.

Shortly after, senior guard Semaj Motley became the first Warrior to face disqualification, followed by sophomore wing Antwuan Butler, who fouled out with 5 minutes, 7 seconds left.

"I hate being on the bench," said Butler, who finished with 12 points. "I can't do anything. But I felt so good that they could keep their composure and make it happen."

Motley finished with 11 points.

In reserve, junior guard Mikel Sullivan added four, fourth-quarter points. Senior forward Wade Lowman finished with 14 points and nine rebounds before fouling out.

Waheem Lowman (10 points), Morris, Nazir Thomas, and Rashae Nixon finished for Del-Val.

"That's an ultimate team effort," Harrigan said. "I've never seen anything like it. I'm ecstatic for them. Everyone is a part of it. It feels so good and that's what it's all about."

Del-Val Charter 15 26 23 20 - 84

Constitution 10 20 24 20 - 74

DVC: Semaj Motley 11, Waheem Lowman 10, Wade Lowman 14, Mahki Morris 27, Rashae Nixon 4, Antwuan Butler 12, Dwayne Coleman 2, Mikel Sullivan 4.

C: Tamir Green 34, Jamaal Brown 5, Youssef Diabate 6, Leeron Wills-Worthy 2, Tyree Mitchell 8, Nasir Randolph 3, Maurice Waters 10, Anthony Satchell 6.

@AceCarterInq