Schools
Penncrest Wins in Final Seconds of Basketball Season Opener
Penncrest tops Chichester in final seconds to notch their first victory of the season.
The boy’s basketball team looked strong on opening night with a 51-48 win over Chichester at Strath Haven. After a hot start and a 36-17 lead at half-time, the Lions cooled down before two free throws by Jimmy Allen sealed the deal for Penncrest.
1 2 3 4 Final Penncrest (1-0) 24 12 7 8 51 Chichester (0-1) 3 14 17 14 48
IN SHORT:
Penncrest came out firing on all cylinders in their first game of the season. Behind the shooting of senior guards Alex Graham and Jimmy Allen, the Lions jumped out to a 24-3 lead at the close of the first quarter.
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However, Chichester's Rob Pittman didn’t back down from the challenge. The Eagles guard/forward scored a team-high 13 points and helped bring Chichester back before half-time. The Eagles comeback continued in the second half, and they narrowed their deficit to just nine points going into the fourth quarter.
Despite relenting their large lead, the Lions finished down the stretch with efficient shooting and great execution. Junior Eddie Baxter played well at point guard for the Lions, effectively beating the Eagles pressure and leading the offense.
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Senior forward Dillon Rogers handled the rebounding load for Penncrest with eight boards; the Lions missed junior center Kalvin Simpson most of the game due to early foul trouble. Rogers played a selfless game from the post, going 2-for-2 from the field and dishing six assists.
With just a one-point lead and five seconds remaining in the game, Jimmy Allen knocked down two clutch free throws for Penncrest to shut the door on Chichester. Allen ended with a game-high 17 points.
LION OF THE GAME:
Jimmy Allen: Allen had a remarkable night from the field, shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arch and 5-for-5 overall. On top of his 17 points, three rebounds, and two assists, he hit the game-winning points from the foul line.
OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES:
Team captain Alex Graham provided an offensive boost for Penncrest with 13 points, as did Ed Baxter with nine. Dillon Rogers came up big for the Lions, leading the team in rebounds and assists.
COACH'S TAKE
"There is nothing more meaningless than a half-time lead. We let them back in it, but we finished strong at the end and got the win. That’s what’s important." — Penncrest Head Coach Mike Doyle
UP NEXT:
The Lions host Glen Mills Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Glen Mills defeated Strath Haven by one point Friday night, 51-50.
