Sun Valley Eclipses Deficit, Posts 58-50 Win Over Patriots

When it comes to the Great Valley High boys basketball team, there is never a dull moment.

Just when you think the Patriots are going to run away and win a game with ease, the tide turns and they are fighting for their lives. Then that fight becomes a challenge and, when all is said and done, a loss.

That's exactly what happened on Friday night when the Patriots took on Sun Valley. They went ahead big-time, then watched the Vanguards (3-16 overall, 1-11 league) catch up and pass them for a 58-50 Sun Valley victory.

In a contest that sometimes resembled roller derby (for those who remember the "sport"), the frantic pace resulted in numerous turnovers and many uncalled fouls but made for a quick (1:10 including halftime) night.

The way things started out, it looked like the Patriots would have a win before fans even got comfortable in their seats at the Ches-Mont League American Division contest.

After a layup by Brad Sherry at 4:50 of the first quarter, Great Valley had a 12-2 lead. That went to 15-2 a few seconds later when Sherry nailed a three-pointer, and by the time the quarter ended — on a put-back basket from William Patton — the Pats were sitting pretty with a 19-7 lead.

The second eight minutes were a totally different story. As quick as Great Valley came out firing and hitting, they were just that cold, connecting for just two field goals from Nate Cohen and Tim Shackelton. Meanwhile, the Vanguards were mounting their rally and, after the Pats went ahead 21-9, stormed to 25-17 on back-to-back baskets by Ryan McMinn at 2:07 and got a bucket from Billy Hudson at 11.3 seconds then a tap-in by Kyle Miller (10 points) with .06 seconds left to get within 23-21 of Great Valley.

The break between halves did absolutely nothing to aid the Patriots cause as they still couldn't locate the basket when the third quarter started and saw their lead disappear in a snap of the fingers.

McMinn (13 points) continued his torrid night and at 6:34, tied the contest at 23-23 with a layup and was fouled. He missed the freethrow but it only temporarily delayed the inevitable when, at 6:03, Drew Giampietro stole the ball under his own basket, laid it in, and the Vanguards had come back for a 25-23 lead.

Great Valley would never see the lead again. Jim Nolan's crew just couldn't score, and the Pats went 3:17 of the quarter without a single point. After Giampietro canned a bucket (27-23) and Hudson threw down a trey (30-23), GV finally broke the drought on a layup and follow-up foul shot at 4:43 to get within 30-25.

It would be the only field goal of the quarter and only third in two periods for the Pats. By the end of the third the Vanguards had built a 40-27 advantage.

Give Great Valley credit, however, as they hung in and made things tough for the Delaware County team in the fourth quarter. The Vanguards pushed ahead to 46-30 and 48-38 leads while the Pats chipped away. They were down by 10 (52-42) with 1:33 to play.

Sherry hit a three at 53.2 seconds to cut the margin to six (54-48) but Sun Valley capitalized on the free throw bonus of two points after 10 team fouls and knocked down four of six attempts in the final 4.8 seconds to nail down the 58-50 win.

Sherry led Great Valley with 18 points, while Cohen chipped in with 9.

Information on upcoming games

Whether or not the season has ended for the Patriots remains to be seen and will be determined at the District 1 seeding meeting on Sunday. At  10-11, where the Pats will qualify remains to be seen, as the seedings are determined by a formula that involves records of other teams, strength of schedules, bonus points, etc.

One thing that could hurt Great Valley is a game lost with West Chester Henderson last week because WCH had to make up a National Division game with Avon Grove. The Warriors (15-6) represent a lot of points that could have aided the Patriots cause.

Whether that change hampers GV's entrance into the annual 32-team fracas won't be known for a few days.