Wood holds off Ryan in Catholic League playoff

Despite what the surname might suggest, one freshman member of Archbishop Wood High's basketball team was not in a Rush.

Of course, he wanted to play for the varsity - who doesn't? - but he was also fine with improving while awaiting his turn, which likely was going to come next season.

But then seniors Drew Greenfield and Sam McCain became unavailable due to injuries and, presto, there was Tommy Rush, occasionally seeing meaningful minutes in varsity contests. And when Jack Walsh, son of coach Jack Walsh, likewise suffered an injury Jan. 30, Rush became an important cog.

Now? He can say he made the difference in a Catholic League playoff game.

Wood Wednesday night outlasted visiting Archbishop Ryan, 53-48, in a first-rounder witnessed by a full house worth of spectators, and Rush tallied six points.

No big deal, admittedly. But it was what he did at the other end of the floor that stood out in such bold relief.

Tweet! With 4:27 left in the first quarter, guard Kyle Adkins, Wood's Mr. Lockdown, and someone who had done a wonderful job on Eric Fleming in the teams' regular-season meeting, incurred his second personal foul. Ryan's franchise guard had already notched seven points and one could only imagine how many more he'd collect with a fresh-faced frosh trying to stick him.

Fleming, who had scored 29 Monday night in a preliminary playoff vs. Conwell-Egan, finished this one with 17. But three came in the final seconds and three more were free throws, and Fleming was unable to even launch a shot through the entire second quarter.

"He's a great shooter. One of the best we've seen all year," Rush said. "He came out on fire. Couldn't miss a shot even with Kyle in his face.

"I can't really say I knew I'd be the one to cover Fleming once Kyle got his second, but I wanted to. I like shutting people down. Getting in their heads. I think the coaches knew I'd bring the most energy."

As the night wore on, Rush exuded class along with brass. Not once was he spotted directing trash-talk toward Fleming.

"I didn't say anything," the lefty confirmed. "That's not me. Well, I did tell him 'Good shot' a couple times. I respect the guy, but I'm not afraid of him."

Considering his success, one might think that Rush has spent the whole season guarding star guard Joe Getz in practice.

"I'm usually on the same team with Joe," he said. "I don't think I've covered him once. But I always work hard in practice, no matter who I'm covering. Defense has always been my thing.

"I didn't really feel pressure. I just had to stick him. I had to stay in front of him and keep my hands up and especially not let myself get caught in the screens. If I did, I had to have my hands up so I could contest any shot."

In a way, strange as this will sound, Rush's handcuff act almost became a detriment.

Unable to get much from Fleming, the Raiders instead turned loose Christian Rivera throughout the second half. Pretty much having his way against slower defenders, Rivera again and again embarked on strong, and lengthy, drives to the hole.

He finished with 20 points, with 18 coming beyond intermission and his heroics helped Ryan storm back from a 35-23 deficit to take a 45-44 lead with 2 1/2 minutes remaining.

On the play that produced that lead, Rivera made a steal at halfcourt, dashed down the floor and took a pass from Kyle Slawter (five assists) for a layup.

Ah, but there would be a turnaround. At 1:17, Adkins drove about three-quarters court for a layup after victimizing Rivera for a poke-it-from-behind steal. Wood scored the next five points on free throws and Adkins provided the final arithmetic with a double-bonus at 1.4 after Fleming had mad-bombed a lengthy trey.

Wood's quarterfinal, at La Salle, will take place tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Getz, also muffled to a large degree (by Mike Rymal and Tyler Reed), managed 19 points. Ten came on a four-shot burst (two treys) in the third quarter. Shane Neher (14, seven rebounds) and Joe LoStracco (nine, six) helped inside. Fleming (seven) and Rivera (six) topped Ryan in rebounds.

Rush, who lives in Chalfont, came to Wood via a middle school in the Central Bucks system.

When asked whether he thinks the man in the stands appreciates defense, he smiled and responded, "I hope so."

He added, "To me it's the most important part of the game . . . Your offense might not be there, but you can always play defense."

Even against Getz?

"Not him," Rush acknowledged. "He's still too quick for me." *