WEST GOSHEN – Basketball is a game that is usually won by the team that plays at a tempo that is comfortable for them. Monday night at West Chester East High School, Pottstown shook off a first half that saw West Chester East slow the game down and take a one point lead into the locker room at intermission.
It was apparent that the Trojans were not comfortable in the half court game.
The second half was a far different tale as East shot too many 3-pointers and suffered through a 2-for-13 shooting nightmare in the third period. Pottstown upped the tempo, started to get out on the floor, ran and outscored the Vikings 18-6 in the period.
The Trojans went on to a 64-57 nonleague win over the Vikings. Pottstown was led by Rich Duvivier’s 26 points and Bryant Quill’s 23 points and eight rebounds.
“We talked at halftime about getting out on the floor and playing our game,’ Quill said. “We like to play up tempo and in the first half we played their game. In the second half we wanted to push the ball and they couldn’t keep up with us. And we don’t get tired because we run an awful lot in practice.’
Evan Anderson led the Vikings (2-3) with 29 points and Dom Steifel chipped in with 10 for East. In the first half, the Vikings shot 11-for-23 from the field, but most of those shots were from in tight and after a nice mixture of passes from a half court set.
East controlled the first half tempo and got 16 first half points from Anderson and some good inside play from Tyrone Richardson and Zae Murray. Anderson and three 3-balls in the half and East looked like they were going to beat the more athletic and taller Trojans.
But in the second half, East started to jack up more outside shots and the Vikings, a small team could not get the offensive rebounds and the Trojans (3-3) got out on the break, beating the East defenders down the floor. A nice alley-oop to Quill made it a 32-28 Trojans lead early in the third period. But, Steifel went strong to the hole to cut the lead to 32-30.
Pottstown followed with an 8-0 run to make it a 40-30 lead.
Quill swooped in from the left side for a layup to start the run. Jayce Beasley scored in tight and then hit two straight 3-pointers. One from Quill and one from Duvivier, who had four 3-pointers on the night, put the Trojans up 40-30.
Pottstown ended the third quarter with a 45-34 lead and had control of the game. The Trojans were beating the Vikings badly on the boards behind Quill and Beasley, who had nine rebounds for the game.
“We talked about not taking bad shots and penetrating to the basket at halftime,’ East coach Eric Anderson said. “And then two out of our first three shots in the third period were three pointers. We are a small team and long shots lead to long rebounds because we do not have that big horse inside to get the rebound.
“I think the guys got caught up in the game and lost sight of what we were trying to do tonight. And Pottstown is long and athletic and they got out on the floor and ran and a one point lead turned into a big deficit in no time.’
East did not quit however. Behind Anderson and Stiefel, the Vikings clawed their way back to 63-55 with just 28 seconds to play.
But Quill hit two free throws and the Trojans held the lead safe and came away with a nonleague win over a former Ches-Mont rival. Pottstown hurt their cause by turning the ball over six times in the fourth period but held on for the win.
“We have played four games in five nights, but we are in great shape and it was good to get the win the way we played tonight.’ Quill said.

Recent News
-
WINTER SPORTS
/ 11 hours agoLansdale Catholic gets first win over Archbishop Wood, moves into tie for PCL lead
WARMINSTER >> Olivia Boccella checked the numbers Tuesday. The Lansdale Catholic junior, a superb...
-
WINTER SPORTS
/ 12 hours agoDelco Boys Basketball Roundup: Grand night for Joyner, Seidman and Hicke
It was a night to remember for Upper Darby’s Yassir Joyner, Haverford’s Googie Seidman...
-
WINTER SPORTS
/ 12 hours agoBoys Basketball: Historic win for Chichester earns Del Val title, may knock Chester out of playoffs
CHESTER — Chichester’s boys basketball team arrived at the Fred Pickett Memorial Gymnasium Tuesday...
-
WINTER SPORTS
/ 12 hours agoMercury roundup (Feb. 7): Perk Valley girls basketball finishes regular season 21-1
GIRLS BASKETBALL Perkiomen Valley 54, Villa Maria Academy 40 Highlights: Perk Valley wrapped up...
-
Boys Basketball
/ 12 hours agoCB East rolls past North Penn to claim outright SOL Colonial title
TOWAMENCIN >> An overtime loss last Friday to Souderton denied the Central Bucks East...
By Mike Cabrey -
WINTER SPORTS
/ 13 hours agoCoatesville races away from Avon Grove to book spot in Ches-Mont Final Four
COATESVILLE >> It took a long time for heralded guard Tina Nicholson to become...
By Bryan Davis -
WINTER SPORTS
/ 13 hours agoDLN local roundup: Malvern Prep basketball squad edges Penn Charter
The Malvern Prep basketball squad defeated Penn Charter, 70-68, Tuesday, with a strong second-half...
By papreplive -
Boys Basketball
/ 14 hours agoHenderson staves off Bishop Shanahan’s comeback bid
DOWNINGTOWN >> It is never too late to learn something about your team. And...
-
WINTER SPORTS
/ 14 hours agoThe Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media Local Roundup (Feb. 7th): New Hope claims share of SOL Freedom with win over Upper Moreland
Girls basketball New Hope 52, Upper Moreland 43: New Hope opened up the game...
By Dan Arkans -
Girls Basketball
/ 14 hours agoNorth Penn comes out hot, earns impressive win over rival Central Bucks East
BUCKINGHAM — North Penn brought a playoff intensity to its regular-season finale, jumping quickly...
By Kev Hunter -
WINTER SPORTS
/ 14 hours agoDowningtown West’ seniors lead win over Downingtown East
DOWNINGTOWN >> On a special Senior Night at Downingtown West, Whippets boys basketball coach...
-
FALL SPORTS
/ 23 hours agoUpper Merion’s Cyrus Palladino stands out at national event
It’s been a busy couple of months for Upper Merion junior Cyrus Palladino. The...
By Ed Morlock