Penn Charter downs Episcopal in Inter-Ac tripleheader
Dylan Burnett is difficult to describe on the basketball court. His teammates and coaches at Penn Charter have tried. On Friday, the 6-foot-1 junior's defensive intensity sparked the Quakers to a 52-36 victory over Episcopal in Game 1 of the Inter-Ac's season-opening tripleheader at Philadelphia University.
Dylan Burnett is difficult to describe on the basketball court. His teammates and coaches at Penn Charter have tried.
On Friday, the 6-foot-1 junior's defensive intensity sparked the Quakers to a 52-36 victory over Episcopal in Game 1 of the Inter-Ac's season-opening tripleheader at Philadelphia University.
The consensus among his teammates is that Burnett plays the game like a human car seat, although the meaning of that description wasn't immediately clear.
"I didn't get it at first, but I've just come to embrace the name," Burnett said, smiling.
"I didn't quite understand it," said Penn Charter coach Jimmy Phillips. "They had to translate it for me."
Evidently, Burnett "locks up" offensive opponents the way a car seat restricts a child.
"Click it or ticket!" joked junior guard Adam Holland, who came up with the moniker. Holland led the team with 14 points (all in the second half).
However you describe him, Burnett was the defensive catalyst in the Quakers' feisty effort against the Churchmen (9-4, 0-1). Now, Penn Charter (7-3, 1-0), which only had one league win last season, has already seen progress.
"It was really huge to come out strong the entire game," Burnett said. "We beat them offensively and defensively, but mostly defensively."
Episcopal junior Nick Alikakos, who entered the day as the league's leading scorer (25.5 points per game), worked extremely hard for 19 points on 6 of 17 shooting.
As a team, Episcopal shot just 12 of 41 (29 percent) from the field.
For most of the first half, Burnett guarded Alikakos after senior Harrison Williams got in foul trouble.
In the second half, Williams (10 points) returned to guard Alikakos, who has an offer from Penn.
"I thought Dylan Burnett was great tonight," Phillips said. "He doesn't care if he ever shoots the ball and he doesn't need shots. He's a long, lanky, deflection-gettin', anticipatin', strange bird of an athlete."
With 2 minutes, 44 seconds left and the Quakers ahead, 43-30, Burnett flung his body on a loose ball for a steal. He lost control of the ball, but Williams dove on it and called a timeout.
Burnett said he has always played with a reckless disregard for his body. He finished with three points, four rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots.
"I guess my mind-set is to just try hard," he said. "It doesn't matter who you're up against. You just have to go; If you get injured, oh, well."
Malvern Prep throttled Springside Chestnut Hill, 70-37, in Game 2. Will Powers led all scorers with 18 points.
Germantown Academy held off Haverford School, 60-50. Gabe Alter led the Patriots with 19.
Penn Charter 6 13 12 21 - 52
Episcopal 5 8 8 15 - 36
PC: Adam Holland 14, Harrison Williams 10, Evan Ferrell 4, Dylan Burnett 3, Ryan Holmes 4, Jake McCain 7, Mason Williams 8, Justus Sanders 2.
EA: Nick Alikakos 19, Connor Delaney 7, Jermaine Rhoden 5, Colin Phillips 2, Jack O'Connell 3.
Malvern Prep 23 22 17 8 - 70
Spring. Chestnut Hill 8 12 10 7 - 37
M: Will Powers 18, Ray Baran 5, Tygee Leach 3, Mike Narzikul 8, Tommy Wolfe 4, Brady Devereaux 6, O'Shaan Allison 5, Liam Wheeler 2, Ryan McNulty 2, Danny Sullivan 3, Mike Hollingsworth 14.
SCH: Conor McAdoo 4, Sean Simon 4, Zuri Peyton 15, Xavier Bell 3, Chris Alleyne 4, Charlie Trey-Masters 7.
Germantown Acad. 10 16 18 16 - 60
Haverford School 10 7 18 15 - 50
GA: Gabe Alter 19, Kyle McCloskey 18, Devon Goodman 16, Bailey Whitman 5, Cole Storm 2.
H: Jack Marshall 3, Kharon Randolph 24, Tom McNamara 4, Joe Dignazio 6, Asim Richards 5, Gavin Burke 8.
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