Bristol boys basketball hangs on in BAL opener

NEWTOWN SQUARE – Two-time defending champion Bristol didn’t make it into the District One Class AA Tournament this year. But that didn’t stop the Warriors in the opening round of the Bicentennial Athletic League (BAL) playoffs.

Facing Delco Christian – who beat Bristol twice during the regular season – Feb. 8 in enemy territory, the Warriors, mostly in the form of senior Deonte Harris, proved to be too much for the Knights.

Bristol held on for a 66-64 victory to advance to the quarterfinals, thanks to Harris, who poured in 33 points including four 3-pointers to keep the Warriors alive in the tournament.

Delco Christian (12-11) cut a 33-26 halftime deficit to 59-58 in the fourth quarter, but it was as close as the Knights would get. Bristol converted a steal into a layup to kill any hopes of a comeback by Delco.

For their efforts, the 10th-seeded Warriors (8-15) will take on No. 2 seed Church Farm, a 74-63 winner over Christopher Dock, in a quarterfinal game tonight (Tuesday, Feb. 9) in Exton.

With 1:23 remaining, Devin Hill hit a 3-pointer from the left side to pull the Knights within a point at 59-58. But Harris hit a pair of layups to put Bristol on top 63-59 with 21 seconds left. Senior Dom Sica helped seal the win by making 3-of-four foul shots in the last 10 seconds.

Junior Ronnie Garrison also came through for the Warriors, scoring 15 points. Sica chipped in with nine points and Carter Kelley, Samir Brisbon and Alex Jerbos added three points each to Bristol’s effort.

Hill and Wyatt Harkins led Delco with 17 points apiece. Jordan Parks added 14 points and Brandt Fisher 10.

Bristol 66, Delco Christian 64

(Feb. 8 at Delco Christian)

BRISTOL (8-15) — Deonte Harris 12 5-9 33, Ronnie Garrison 5 4-6 15, Dom Sica 3 3-4 9, Carter Kelley 1 0-0 3, Samir Brisbon 1 0-0 3, Alex Jerbos 1 1-1 3; TOTALS — 23 13-20 66.

DELCO CHRISTIAN (12-11) — Devin Hill 5 5-7 17, Wyatt Hawkins 5 6-8 17, Jordan Parks 4 5-5 14, Grant Fischer 3 4-5 10, Nazim Trammell-Wells 1 0-0 2, Jalen Johns 1 0-0 2, Elijah Thomas 0 2-2 2; TOTALS — 19 22-27 64.

Bristol                     12 21 19 14 – 66

Delco Christian  13 13 17 21 – 64

3-POINT GOALS: B — Harris 4, Kelley, Brisbon, Garrison; DC — Hill 2, Parks, Hawkins.