Walker rescues Malvern in win over Germantown Academy

DeQuann Walker is still just a junior at Malvern Prep, so there's time to ponder career paths.

It says here he's CIA material.

Since early childhood, when tagged by his father, Walker has been known as "Bootsie" by pretty much everyone. Damn if we could get the reason out of him, though.

"I never tell anyone," he said, cheerily.

Saturday, in the final moments of the fourth quarter of an Inter-Ac goodie at Cabrini College, played as part of the annual tripleheader that opens league play, it appeared Walker soon would have to discuss goat status.

Instead, not long later, he and his delirious teammates were rushing to their locker room, where they chanted and yelled and had a grand ol' time while celebrating a 75-72 win, accomplished in one extra session, over Germantown Academy.

All because of Bootsie's wonderful Blocksie.

"I was down on myself for letting that happen," he said.

Hey, we have to start at the beginning of the sequence. He was talking about a steal, made near midcourt by Bucknell-bound guard Cameron Ayers, as the Friars, with the score at 60-60, held for a final shot.

"I was trying to pass it to Steve ," Walker said. "Ayers cut in front and took it, just as I was releasing it from my hand."

Ayers began heading in the other direction. Walker regrouped and did likewise. Ayers drove down the right side of the lane. And here came Walker! The springy lefty leaped. And swatted. Perfect timing. Next stop: OT.

"I felt I had a chance to get it when I was between the three-point line and the foul line," Walker said. "He wasn't going THAT fast. I got it right before it hit the backboard, so it wasn't goaltending. And I didn't foul him, either. When I messed up, I knew I had to take off after him."

The 6-3, 190-pound Walker, a wing guard, finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and two snuffs. Seven of his markers came in that extra session before he fouled out with 11.5 seconds remaining.

He got OT started with a layup on a pass from Lamon Church (18 points, seven rebounds, five assists) and provided a six-point pad, at 73-67, with a dunk on a feed from Brendan Kilpatrick (13 points). Crucial contributions over the last 20 minutes - 11 of his 13 points, eight of his 10 boards - were made by Tracy Peal, who'd been saddled with early foul trouble.

Ayers (27, four treys) and Austin Curry (20, three assists) led GA.

Walker, Church and Peal go back a ways. The first two, from Chester, and the latter, from Delaware, were AAU teammates 3 years ago when they decided to enroll at Malvern.

"Tracy was the first to decide," Walker said. "Then Lamon, then me, maybe a month-and-a-half after Lamon. I was kind of hesitant because at Chester High, with the great basketball tradition, you have a chance to win a state championship . But the more I thought about it, Malvern was the better place to be for my life. I love how the school looks, and that you get a great education. I get along great with my teammates and coaches.

"The Chester guys are always trying to get me back. I just say, 'I'm fine where I'm at.' "

Walker said he hopes to develop a better right hand and pull-up jumper and, like everyone, improve his defensive skills (late shot-blocks not included).

"From the foul line on in, I'm pretty good on offense," he said. "I CAN get to the basket."

But he can't give up the reason for Bootsie.

In other games:

** Haverford School used an 18-4 fourth quarter to stun Penn Charter, 47-45, as RaShaan Hollman scored eight of his 10 points and AJ Jones, taking a break from a football visit to Penn, made three steals and hit a 12-foot jumper with 1.5 seconds left. PC's Tom Noonan (Princeton) had 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three blocks.

** Chestnut Hill Academy almost doubled up Episcopal Academy, 49-25, as Pat Connaghan (10 rebounds, five steals) and Luke Mulvaney (five treys) scored 17 points apiece. Isaiah Baker led EA with 12 apiece of points/boards.