Rochester's 39 Lifts Kennett Over Henderson

KENNETT SQUARE -- For the first time this season Saturday afternoon, dropped a nail-biter and also likely lost their hope for a District I Tournament home game, falling, 74-69, in a Ches-Mont inter-division contest at Kennett High School’s Reynolds Gymnasium.

Junior forward Maalik Rochester was on fire, hitting nine threes and totaling 39 points in an offensive display that had the Warriors coaches and players shaking their heads.  He scored 17 points in the first nine minutes of the game as the Blue Demons grabbed a 24-12 lead and his steal and individual fast break in the third quarter ended up as the turning point of the game.

“You can plan all day and night and you’re not going to stop a shooter when he’s on like that,” sighed Henderson coach Chris Bruno.  “We had a hand in his face.  P.J. Costello and David Goodman were on him.  And we tried to make him work harder on defense.”

Henderson still controls its own destiny in the fight for second place and in the Ches-Mont National Division and the accompanying berth in the league’s “Final Four” tournament next month, but hope for a District I Tournament home game are probably gone.  Conversely for Kennett, hopes for the Ches-Mont “Final Four” are slim because of two Ches-Mont American Division losses to Octorara, but the quality win over Henderson keeps the Blue Demons alive for a District I home game.

“He was in a zone tonight, that’s for sure,” Kennett coach Mike Fergus nodded in reference to his 6-1 sharpshooter.  “And we accomplished a couple of our other objectives, avoiding turnovers and guarding against their dribble drive offense.”

The Warriors made the mistake of falling behind on the road against a quality team with deficits of 6-0, 16-6  before getting on track behind the inside and outside shooting of junior Declan Kane.  The third-year starter converted two threes and a low-post move to bring the Warriors back to within eight and then Jason McCormick erased that margin singlehandedly over the next two minutes, evening the count at 31-31. 

With the game still tied early in the third, Rochester and Henderson’s David Goodman traded threes and the Warriors had tangible momentum.  Rochester then turned the tide by leaping to intercept an in-bounds pass and heading upcourt enroute to an uncontested layup.  Jason McCormick’s attempt to thwart the runout by grabbing his shirt was ruled a flagrant foul and Rochester converted both free throws.  On the ensuing Kennett possession, freshman Vaughn Jenkins scored two of his 15 points on an offensive rebound and Henderson never got closer than three the rest of the way.

Senior point guard Kenshi Kobayashi hit a drive and three of four free throws in the final 1:10 to negate clutch baskets by Kane and Costello as the game clock ticked down..

“It took us awhile to get into our offensive rhythm, but I’m proud of our guys,” offered Bruno, whose team dropped to 12-7 with Avon Grove on tap Tuesday night (7:30 p.m.) at Henderson.  One week later, the Warriors will try to secure the “Final Four” berth at home against Downingtown West (7:30 p.m.) and the regular season finale is Thursday, Feb. 9, at West Chester East.

Jason McCormick ended up with 20 points before fouling out, twin brother Chas had 10 and Costello finished with nine.  Kane tied  a season-high with 17 and was joined by Scottie Cullinan in the rebounding wars against the taller Blue Demons.  For Kennett, Spencer Hyland added eight points and Kobyashi scored with seven.  One statistician had Rochester missing only one three point shot all afternoon.   

Henderson emerged victorious in the junior varsity game with Mark DiMatteo delivering 16 points, Colin Costello 12 and Cameron Naulty 11.