2 weeks Ago By Peter DiGiovanni
By Peter [email protected] – The Devon Prep basketball team continued to roll through the PIAA 4A playoffs, as the Tide easily defeated Bishop Shanahan, 64-40, in the state quarterfinals Friday night at Coatesville High School .The Tide will play Valley View in the semifinals next Friday at a time and place to be determined.
Devon (22-4) broke the game open with a 15-0 run to start the second period and outscored the Eagles 16-1 in the quarter to take a 31-13 halftime lead.Devon Prep’s Zane Conlon goes for the basket as Bishop Shanahan’s Sean Griffin defends. Tom Silknitter for Daily Local NewsReece Craft led all scorers with 23 points to go along with 11 rebounds.
Calvin Smith added 14 points, including four three-pointers and Zane Conlon tallied 11 points for the Tide.Devon Prep’s bench reacts during the fourth quarter of the Tides’ win against Bishop Shanahan. Tom Silknitter for Daily Local News“We established things down low early in the game,” Craft said.
“We saw on film that they like to make teams shoot three-pointers, so we changed things up, and Zane and I established things under the basket. This team has the same feel as last year. We are a very tight group that keeps each other accountable and we all play for each other.
”With a 15-12 lead after one period, the Tide came out firing in the second period. Shane Doyle started the 15-0 run with an inside basket to make it a 17-12 game.Devon Prep head coach Jason Fisher reacts during the Tides’ win against Bishop Shanahan Friday.
Tom Silknitter for Daily Local NewsSmith then drained a three-pointer and Craft and Conlon scored baskets down low during the run. Anthony Aquila hit one of two free throws for the Eagles (20-10) to stop the Tide run. The Eagles shot 0-for-10 in the period and trailed 31-13 at halftime.
The Eagles also had nine turnovers by halftime.“We started to play one on one in the second period,” Eagles coach John Dougherty said. “We have to play five on five, not one on one.
But, this was a great group and the seniors have set a baseline for future teams to follow.“After we lost the district championship to Pope John Paul last March, this group just worked and worked and they made it to the state quarters for the second time in three years. Now, we just have to get over the hump.
But, Devon is a great team and they are so well coached. I hope they win the state title.”Bishop Shanahan head coach John Dougherty in the second quarter against the Tide.
Tom Silknitter for Daily Local News.The Tide shot 12 for 27 from the field in the first half and 26 for 43 for the game, while the Eagles were a frigid 12 for 46 from the filed. Sean Griffin led the Eagles with 15 points.
The Eagles closed the gap to 31-18 early in the third period but inside baskets from Craft and Conlon and a corner three-pointer from Smith got the Devon Prep lead up to 38-18.Devon Prep’s Mason Thear stretches out for the loose ball. Tom Silknitter for Daily Local News“I really felt comfortable shooting the ball tonight,” Smith said.
“Coach (Jason) Fisher told me to shoot if I was comfortable and it is great to have everyone having so much confidence in you. This is a team with great chemistry. We start five seniors and we all sit together at lunch in school and we push each others buttons in a positive way.
”The Tide outscored the Eagles 33-27 in the second half and both coaches cleared their benches with about four minutes to go in the fourth period.Bishop Shanahan’s Andrew Corcoran and Devon Prep’s Reece Craft battle for a rebound. Tom Silknitter for Daily Local News“I thought our defense in the first half was the best we have played in a long time,” Fisher said.
“And we established Reece and Zane down low early in the game and that is something we have worked on lately.”Devon Prep 64, Bishop Shanahan 40.BISHOP SHANAHAN (40) Ambrose 1 0-0 3, Aquila 1 2-3 4, Corcoran 3 2-2 9, Encarnacion 0 2-4 2, Griffin 5 3-4 15, Keenan 2 1-2 5, Maddrey-Ryalnder 0 2-2 2, Nestor 0 0-0 0, O’Sullivan 0 0-0 0, Cunningham 0 0-0 0.
Totals 12 10-17 40.DEVON PREP (64) Thear 2 0-0 5, Pergolis 1 0-0 2, Smith 5 0-0 14, J.Craft 0 0-0 0, Fairlamb 0 0-0 0, R.
Craft 10 3-5 23, Conlon 4 3-4 11, Fisher 0 0-0 0, Doyle 4 1-1 9. Totals 26 7-10 64.Bishop Shanahan 12 1 13 14 – 40Devon Prep 15 16 16 17 – 643-point goals: Ambrose, Corcoran, Griffin 2, Thear, Smith 4.
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