Norristown Comes Up Short at State Basketball Tournament

SOUTH WHITEHALL – Despite its recent success, including a District One title in 2009 and a state runner-up showing in 2008, expectations were subdued for the Norristown boys’ team going into the 2010-11 winter basketball season.

An early exit at districts last year coupled with the graduation of several starters left many people, including Head Coach Mike Evans, guessing about how the Eagles would fare.

And as disappointing as Saturday’s 56-44 season-ending loss was to Allentown’s William Allen in the first round of the PIAA Class AAAA state championship tournament, it also culminated in what could only be described as yet another successful season.  

“They overachieved a lot at 21-6. That’s more than you could ask for this group,” said Evans in summarizing the season. “Nobody thought we could be in our league or advance this far.”

That the Eagles were still playing this late in March may have been a surprise. Even more shocking was that they trailed by only five points with 4:22 left in the game despite a significant disadvantage in height and shooting a dismal 15 percent (5 for 33) at halftime. Down by 15 points (38-23) to start the final quarter, senior Aaron Webb, who led Norristown with 20 points, cut the deficit to 43-38 with a 3-pointer ahead of a driving layup and subsequent free throw.

“It kind of clicked that I had to start being more aggressive,” Webb said. “I tried to get my team involved early, but when we went down I had to step up.”

Unfortunately, the Eagles’ game-long shooting woes returned, misfiring on five of their next six possessions while the Canaries (23-4) quickly rebuilt the lead to double digits highlighted by a pair of spectacular slam dunks by 6-foot-7-inch DaQuan Holiday (20 points, 19 rebounds) and the 6'6" Jalen Cannon. Holiday’s jam, one of several by Allen in the game and perfectly timed following a missed shot loudly energized an already decidedly hometown crowd at Parkland High School.

With their tallest players (all reserves) topping off at 6'4", the Eagles were forced to defend Holiday and Cannon with much smaller players such as 6'2" Rasheed Johnson and 6'3" Tevin Bush. By themselves, Holiday and Cannon (12 points, 16 rebounds) combined to out-rebound the Eagles 35-23. Shooting guard Branden Harrington chipped in with 14 points.

The talented trio will lead the Canaries, who are making their first state appearance since the 2005-06 season, into a second-round game with LaSalle (20-5) on Wednesday.

Saturday’s game flopped from the start for the Eagles as they misfired on their first nine shots, not scoring until 4:09 had elapsed with a Johnson 3-pointer from the right side of the key. Yet even with the sluggish start, including six first-quarter turnovers, Webb lifted the Eagles to their only lead, 7-5, with a driving layup at the 2:10 mark.

But a 12-0 scoring run by Allen had the Eagles in pursuit the rest of the way.

The disparity in height, combined with 25 percent shooting (17 for 67), proved too much to overcome.

"[Their height] wears us down. We’re undersized,” Evans said. “Our guards have to play big men. And then we didn’t hit our shots. We dug ourselves a hole. And then we fight and fight and we cut it to five – then we ran out of gas.”

Richard Bouknight drained two of his three treys in the final 1:55 to bring the Eagles back within eight with 1:17 left, but by then it was too late.

Now, Webb and Johnson head a group of six seniors who depart the program, which made the state playoffs for the fourth time in the past seven years. The exodus leaves only one returning senior, Bouknight, and with it another round of questions for next season.

One of those leaving the team, senior Maleek Williams, didn’t seem too concerned.

“We’re always short, but we’re always fast,” he said. “We’re leaving the team in good hands.”

William Allen 56, Norristown 44

NORRISTOWN (44) -- Webb 8-22 1-2 20; Williams 3-11 0-0 6; White 0-8 0-0 0; Johnson 2-10 2-4 7; Bush 0-2 0-0 0; Jahquan Hargrove 0-3 0-0 0; Bey 0-0 0-0 0; Bouknight 3-6 0-0 9; Bryant 0-1 0-0 0; Jahbri Hargrove 1-1 0-0 2; Evans 0-2 0-0 0; Gordon 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 17-67 3-6 44.

WILLIAM ALLEN (56)— Harrington 6-16 2-6 14; Rodriguez 1-6 0-0 3; Brown 1-6 1-2 3; Cannon 5-17 2-3 12; Holiday 8-11 4-5 20; Ayers 0-1 4-4 4; Fletcher 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 21-59 13-20 56.

Norristown 7 5 11 21 -- 44
Bayard Rustin 11 14 13 18-- 56
3-point goals: Webb (3), Johnson, Bouknight (3), Rodriguez.