Coatesville avoids another first-round loss, pulls away from Boyertown in District 1-AAAA opener
CALN — Coatesville’s John Rodriguez III wanted no parts of an early exit from the District 1-AAAA tournament.
Luckily for him, his team felt the same.
Facing a one-point deficit midway through the third quarter, Rodriguez III and Coatesville utilized a momentous third-quarter run to put away Boyertown, 57-45, in the first round of the District 1-AAAA playoffs Friday night.
“It feels great,’ the senior said. “Last year we were in this situation and we lost. We went back in the huddle (in the third quarter) and we reminded ourselves that last year we were in the same situation, we had the same chance to move on and we blew it. We couldn’t blow it this year, especially as seniors. We had to step up.’
His team raced out on a 10-0 run midway through the third and into the fourth to move past last year’s first-round loss to Harriton, 73-60. Coatesville will face No. 3 Pennridge — a 78-54 victor over Spring-Ford — in the second round Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Rodriguez III finished the game with 15 points — including 11 in the second half — while Kevin Crutchfeld finished with 13 points, including a 6-for-8 performance from the free throw line. Justus Martinez (10 rebounds) and Rome Boyer also finished with seven points as the Red Raiders utilized their man-defense to great effect, limiting the Bears to six points in the third quarter.
“I really think the key to the game was having what happened last year in everyone’s mind,’ Rodriguez said. “The coaches told us what we had to do in the defensive end (keep up defensive intensity) and if we didn’t do it in that end then it wasn’t going to work. We just focused on our man and did what we had to do.’
The win also marked an abrupt end to Boyertown’s first entrance in the District 1-AAAA playoffs since the 2009-2010 season. Christian Smith led the way with 12 points while Jerry Kapp added 11 as the Bears answered Coatesville shot-for-shot throughout the first two-plus quarters, building a 33-32 lead early in the third. However, a six-point third quarter and trouble at the free-throw line (11-for-18) spelled a quick end to a resurgent season.
“We actually had a one-point lead at 33-32 but we turned the ball over and gave them a bucket and a foul and that sparked a 10-0 run on their part,’ Boyertown head coach Mike Ludwig said. “And when you’re playing a team like this, it’s that one play that can determine the whole momentum. We didn’t make enough basketball plays in the fourth quarter.
“You have to make shots to win basketball games and we made enough shots in the first half. They had a 7-0 run in the first half and we answered. I’m proud of the way our guys battled.’
Rob Merwarth had seven of his nine points in the fourth quarter as Boyertown cut the deficit from nine to four (42-38) early in the frame. However, the Bears couldn’t overcome a 3-for-13 shooting effort in the final quarter and fell victim to Crutchfield and Martinez’s 9-for-12 effort from the free-throw line as Coatesville regained a 10-point advantage in three minute’s time.
The loss marked an end to Boyertown’s season, one in which it finished with its best record since the 2009-2010 season and with that, brought its first berth into the PAC-10 Final Four since that year.
“It was a great season with a great group of seniors,’ Ludwig said. “Our six seniors that were with us had been battling with us for four years. I’m just glad that they had the experience of playing in the PAC-10s, playing in a district playoff game and setting the bar pretty high for our up-and-coming underclassmen. It was a great group of kids, I loved being with them.’
