Penn Wood ousts Conestoga
There was a sense of urgency last night for the Penn Wood boys' basketball team. "It was time to step up," reserve guard Chris White said.
There was a sense of urgency last night for the Penn Wood boys' basketball team.
"It was time to step up," reserve guard Chris White said.
There was good reason. A PIAA District 1 Class AAAA title game appearance was at stake. So the Patriots came up with clutch foul shots.
Third-seeded Penn Wood made 13 of its final 14 free throws and defeated second-seeded Conestoga, 62-52, in a district semifinal at Temple's Liacouras Center.
The victory advanced Penn Wood (23-3) to its first district final since 1992. The Inquirer's fourth-ranked team in Southeastern Pennsylvania will play eighth-seeded Norristown, a winner last night over Pennsbury, at 9 p.m. on Friday at Villanova.
The area's sixth-ranked Pioneers (25-3) will play fourth-seeded Pennsbury in a district tournament consolation game.
The Patriots were protecting a 45-41 cushion with 4 minutes, 54 seconds remaining before their near-perfect stretch from the foul line. Those clutch free throws halted Conestoga's late runs and clinched the victory.
Guards Tyree Johnson, Duane Johnson, Aaron Brown and White combined to make the decisive foul shots.
Tyree Johnson, a 5-foot-9 junior who finished with 23 points, went 4 of 4 from the line during that stretch.
Duane Johnson, a 6-6 senior who added 11 points, went 2 for 2 from the line in the fourth quarter. The three-year starter also scored the 1,000th career point in the victory and takes 1,002 points into Friday final.
Brown made 3 of 4 free throws in the decisive stretch as the 6-5 sophomore finished with 11 points. And the 5-8 White went 4 of 4 from the line during the crucial moment.
It was the only points of the game for White, who was celebrating his 18th birthday.
"When I was on the line, I was like 'We need these,' " said White, who scored Penn Wood's final four points. "I didn't score all game, so I was really like, 'We need these.' I only had one choice. If you miss them, you look bad."
Penn Wood's clutch foul shots overshadowed Jake Cohen's standout performance. The Pioneers' 6-10 senior center finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks, 4 assists and a steal.
Penn Wood 15 16 12 19 - 62
Conestoga 17 9 10 16 - 52
PW: Tyree Johnson 23, Aaron Brown 11, Dequan Pelzer 3, Duane Johnson 11, Chris White 4, Thomas White 4, Shawn Oakman 6.
C: Zach Shapiro 2, Matt O'Hara 6, Michael D'Angelo 5, Doug Jakiela 14, Jake Cohen 25.