VIDEO: Boys Basketball Team Cruises into Championship

Confidence was the word of the night for Upper Dublin as it was able to defeat Phil-Mont Christian 53-31 in the opening round of the Cardinal Classic Invitational.

The Flying Cardinals came out focused and determined, as the veteran team improved its record to 6-2 on the young season.

In the final game of a quadruple header, the Cardinals got major minutes from junior forward Andrew Carber. The three-sport athlete was able to utilize his entire 6’7” frame to gain a clear height advantage against a Falcon team that had just two players 6’3” or taller. The Patch Player of the Game finished the contest with a team high 16-points and earned high praise from Upper Dublin coach Josh Adelman after the game:

“He’s a great player, everybody on the team knows it, and Andrew knows it. Sometimes we get upset with him when he doesn't finish down low, and that he takes the ball up sometimes not as strong as he should, but when he takes it up strong he finishes. He’s just fun to watch.”

When Carber was not scoring the ball, he was helping to slow-down a potent Falcon attack led by senior Mike Hutson. The 5’9” guard was able to make the most of his speed and athleticism, scoring all nine of his team’s points in the first quarter.

Not shying from Hutson’s one-man-show were Cardinal seniors Darrell Harrison and John Decamara. The center/guard duo combined for ten of the twelve Cardinal points scored in the opening period.

Decamara, a three-year varsity starter, made two key three pointers in the first quarter, which according to Coach Adelman helped to boost the team.

“When John starts hitting threes, what happens is he gets his confidence level up. He’s our leading scorer, so when everybody sees him doing well they step up their game," said Adelman.

The presence of the senior leader helped to spread out the Falcons’ defense in the second quarter. Now being faced with a man-to-man defense, instead of a zone, Cardinal big men Carber, Harrison and Andrew Derr went to work in the paint. The trio poured in nine total points during the second frame, growing the Upper Dublin lead to 26-18 at the end of the first half.

The Cardinals burst out with a 19-point third quarter, which Adelman says was aided by a few key half-time adjustments.

“If we didn't have the push up the floor, we told the guards to make sure we are getting the guys posted up and hitting them," said Adelman. "Then you saw Carber get about three layups, and once that starts happening it's a snowball effect and everyone starts making baskets and then we get confidence.”

Carber scored ten points in the third quarter, including a dagger three-point bucket dashing the visitors’ hopes of a comeback.

The final quarter brought little scoring excitement for either team. However, Adelman did empty the Cardinal bench, allowing reserve guard Collin O’Donnell to land his name in the box score.

Next on the docket for the Cardinals is a Thursday (7:00PM) date with Penn Charter (4-4) in the Cardinal Classic Championship Game. The Quakers defeated Wyomissing 64-41 in its first round match-up.

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Upper Dublin

12

14

19

8

53

Phil-Mont Christian

9

9

8

5

31

Phil-Mont Christian

Mike Hutson – 18

Micah Baldez – 2

Zach Dolton – 9

Clayton Cooper – 2

Upper Dublin

Collin O’Donnell – 2

Tyreek Magruder – 2

Darrell Harrison – 11

Andrew Carber – 16

John Decamara – 14

Andrew Derr – 4

Blair Weiss – 4

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