D’Entremont shows growth in game, as does Radnor

RADNOR — A season ago, defenses reliably knew where to find Jack D’Entremont. The Radnor wing was, more often than not, parked behind the 3-point line, the kind of spot-up shooter that is the common currency of so many high school half-court offenses.

But the goal for D’Entremont between his sophomore and junior campaigns was to be more than that, and with a three-inch growth spurt sprouting a lanky 6-5 frame, he’s literally and figuratively risen to the challenge.

D’Entremont showed what he can do Friday night, scoring a career-high 23 points – mostly in the paint – to go with nine rebounds as Radnor pulled away from Strath Haven, 63-41.

“That was a big focus in the offseason, to get better, more well-versed,” D’Entremont said. “And I feel like I’ve done that.”

Friday’s evidence was compelling, for D’Entremont and a Raiders team that has surpassed its win total of three from 2017-18. D’Entremont drained nine buckets from the field, only one a 3-pointer. On the season, he’s hit 14 3-pointers, tops on Radnor, among 45 made baskets. Contrast that to last season, when 22 of his 33 field goals were of the 3-point variety.

His scoring average has risen as his game has diversified, from 5.9 points per contest as a sophomore to 13.1 over the first nine games of this season.

Friday’s advantage was particularly marked, from the time D’Entremont jumped center to start the game opposite Strath Haven’s Justin Morris, who is by any reasonable description a guard. The height advantage for D’Entremont in the lane was blatant, and while Strath Haven fought gamely to nullify it for two and a half quarters with sheer determination, the lankier Raiders won out.

“They might have been a little bit bigger, but we just tried boxing out our best, crashing the boards and playing tough,” Strath Haven forward Brady Mutz said. “That’s what it’s all about.”

Radnor’s lead was a slim 31-29 midway through the third quarter. But it ended the frame on a 15-4 run, then outscored Haven 17-8 over the final eight minutes.

Josh Savadove beats the third quarter buzzer. After 3, Radnor 46, Strath Haven 33. 15-4 Raiders run pic.twitter.com/UZuJZEt5O3

— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) January 5, 2019

Helping that along was the ejection of Strath Haven coach Dan Spangler with a minute left in the third quarter for two technical fouls, rather harsh given the exchanges with the refs. D’Entremont hit two of the four free throws, and a Josh Savadove jumper from the elbow as time expired gave Radnor a 46-33 edge after three.

The more dooming development was delivered by D’Entremont. Instead of spotting up behind the arc and waiting for the drive-and-kick from guards Jahmir Dixon and Lewis Robinson, D’Entremont carved a place in the low blocks. That allowed driving guards to slip passes to him if defenders crashed, or if the guard got to the rim, D’Entremont was in position to clean up the mess.

PHOTO GALLERY: Strath Haven vs. Radnor

“We knew that we had a lot of matchup advantage,” D’Entremont said. “Our starting center Pat (Boujoukos) didn’t get to play much in the second half just because of how the matchup worked out, so I was in the paint offensively, and I was open. Our guards were making really good plays.”

“When I penetrate, they always leave him, so I get an easy pass,” Robinson said. “He knocks it down most of the time. He’s a great shooter.”

Justin Morris the corner 3 from Luke Edwards. Strath Haven leads Radnor 24-22. pic.twitter.com/SxnKheGjUK

— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) January 5, 2019

Robinson finished with 16 points and five assists for Radnor (5-4, 3-2 Central). Five Raiders hit 3-pointers, including two from reserve Colin Lane in the third. He finished with eight points. Radnor turned the ball over just four times thanks to the steady point-guard play of the sophomore Robinson.

Strath Haven (2-8, 2-3) kept Radnor at bay early, thanks to the tenacity of Mutz (13 points, nine rebounds). Even early in the third, they seemed to answer every time Radnor threatened to open a gap.

“I thought we played with a chip on our shoulder and ran through our plays, and played tough,” Mutz said. “We missed a few shots, but we were going shoulder-to-shoulder with them.”

Luke Edwards was held to 11 points, while Ibo Pio added nine. The Panthers were 5-for-17 from 3-point range. Thanks to turnovers, Haven attempted just eight shots in the third quarter, helpless to catch up once Radnor surged ahead in a game that had been tied at 24 at the half.

Also in the Central League:

Garnet Valley 57, Haverford 32 >> Greg Vlassopoulos poured in 10 of his game-high 20 points in a second quarter in which the Jags held a 19-2 edge to take a stranglehold. Carl Schaller added 16 points for Garnet (8-1, 4-1).

John Seidman led the way with nine points for Haverford (4-4, 2-3), while Danny Roe and Canaan Curry chipped in eight each.

Penncrest 51, Springfield 25 >> Malcolm Williams scored 22 points to lead Penncrest. Isiah Rice added 12 points, and Denzel Boyer chipped in 11 for the Lions (8-2, 5-0).

Brian Ward led the way for Springfield with 12 points.

Marple Newtown 64, Harriton 57 >> Aziz Khammassi scored 12 of his 17 points in the third quarter to go with eight rebounds, and Joey Pettinelli added 13 points for the Tigers (4-6, 2-3).

Conestoga 64, Upper Darby 46 >> Iyan Joushuasville, Diby Keita and Shareef Jones scored seven points each, but the Royals (2-6, 1-4) couldn’t get much going offensively.

In the Catholic League:

Bonner & Prendergast 58, Devon Prep 27 >> Tariq Ingraham scored 13 points, and Tyreese Watson and Donovan Rodriguez added 10 apiece as the Friars (9-0, 4-0) turned back the Tide.

St. Joseph’s Prep 57, Cardinal O’Hara 47 >> Solo Bambarra scored 12 points, and Adrian Irving added 11, but the Lions (6-5, 0-4) couldn’t keep pace. Trevor Wall led four Hawks in double-figures with 17 points.

In the Inter-Ac League:

Episcopal Academy 60, Springside Chestnut Hill 56 >> Undaunted by a 19-6 disadvantage in the third quarter, the Churchmen rallied to kick off Friday’s Inter-Ac-opening triple-header behind 21 Matt Dade points. Alex Capitano added 14 points, and Colin Chambers contributed 13 for EA (8-6, 1-0).

The Haverford School 71, Penn Charter 43 >> Christian Ray poured in 28 points, Asim Richards added 13 and Jameel Brown scored 12 for the Fords (13-0, 1-0) in the first installment of their title defense.

In nonleague action:

Collegium Charter 61, Interboro 29 >> Jared Dellipriscoli scored eight points, but that was the extent of the bright spots for the Bucs (1-8).