Boys Hoops: Cards' Season Ends in Loss to Cheltenham, 58-50

Playing for their final time as members of the Upper Dublin boys basketball team, seniors Andrew Derr and John Decamara gave everything they had to try and lead the Flying Cardinals to a victory over Cheltenham in the District 1 AAAA basketball opener Friday night. However, as the final seconds ticked away, all they could do was look to the scoreboard, which read 58-50 Panthers, dribble the ball one last time, hand it to the referee, and walk off the court.

Derr and Decamara provided an inside-outside punch for the Cardinal and Gray, each scoring 16 points in the contest, split evenly between the two halves. Upper Dublin (13-10) didn't receive any bench points in the game, as starters Andrew Carber, Darrell Harrison, and Jared Zarwin chipped in 13, 4, and 1, respectively.

That just wasn't enough to overcome Cheltenham's (15-8) depth, as the Panthers spread their scoring between seven players, led by swingman Nafis Walker's 20 points.

“I'm proud of our guys,” said head coach Josh Adelman. “They played their hearts out, but unfortunately missed a couple shots here and there. They kept it tight, kept clawing back.”

Cheltenham would also hit 11 3-pointers in the contest against Upper Dublin’s zone defense, with seven coming in the first half to establish the lead. Things were tight in the opening minutes, as Decamara hit back-to-back threes to spark the offense and give Upper Dublin a 6-5 lead at the 6:00 mark. However, the Panthers would answer with three straight 3-pointers, the last by Walker, to take a 16-11 lead with 3:00 to play and eventually a 5-point lead into the second.

Cheltenham would open up the second frame by hitting back-to-back threes, the first a deep make by guard Toyon Wonder and the second by Walker to give the Panthers a 24-18 lead. However, after being held scoreless in the first, Derr would score consecutive baskets, the first a nice turn-around in the paint, and the second a fast break layup, to cut the lead to two.

The Panthers would again go beyond the arc to reestablish their lead, as Wonder would hit his second and Cheltenham’s Guy Henderson would score at the buzzer to take a 31-26 lead into the locker room.

The third quarter started as a back and forth affair for the two squads, with the teams trading baskets. The Cardinals found themselves able to drive the lane against Cheltenham’s tight man defense, as Carber and Decamara hit layups early. Decamara would then sink a three to cut the lead to 35-33 with 4:24 to play in the third.

Once again, the Panthers would return to the 3-point line, this time hitting four treys in six trips down the floor, including two by Walker. Despite a Decamara answer from deep and another Derr layup, the Panthers still took a 47-39 lead heading into the final frame.

The teams would trade baskets to start the fourth, and the Cardinals found themselves staring at an eight-point deficit with 7:30 to play. However, Upper Dublin would go on a 9-2 run by working in the paint, as Carber and Derr teamed up to each sink a pair from close range. Zarwin would find Derr with a pretty pass and lay-in to cut the lead to 51-50 with 1:50 to play.

However, Cardinal fouls sent Cheltenham to the free throw line on the next two possessions, and the Panthers would sink three of four to take a 54-50 lead with 1:03 remaining. With the Cheltenham defense playing tight on Decamara, it was Carber who had a look from beyond the arc to try and pull the Cardinals back within one. However, the ball clanged off the iron and all the Panthers had to do was manage the clock on the way to a 58-50 win.

Upper Dublin will now look to fill the gaps of losing four starters to graduation. Adelman had kind words his departing players.

“We have predominately a lot of seniors on our team, it's sad to see them go,” said Adelman, naming Decamara, Derr, Harrison, and Zarwin. “They've given me everything they could.”

Scoring
John Decamara, 16
Andrew Derr, 16
Andrew Carber, 13
Darrell Harrison, 4
Jared Zarwin, 1