Church Farm School succumbs to Bristol in district final

PLYMOUTH MEETING — Sometimes being there before really is a help. For the inexperienced Church Farm basketball team — playing four sophomores and a freshman — they just could not seal the deal in Saturday’s District 1 Class AA championship against fourth-seeded seeded Bristol.

The Griffins were working on their 13th different starting lineup of the season and had lost five starters — all guards — since the beginning of the season. Still, the gutsy Church Farm squad had a 15-point lead with just over four minutes to play in the fourth period.

But, six turnovers later, the teams were in overtime. Sieed McFadden scored on a put back with 7.2 seconds left in overtime to give Bristol the district title with a thrilling 65-63 come-from-behind victory at Colonial Middle School. It was the second straight district crown for the Warriors.

Mike Mohamed had a last-second attempt to keep the game going, but his baseline shot fell short. Mohamed — the lone Church Farm senior — had a splendid game with 33 points and six points as he singlehandedly tried to will his team to victory.

“We knew coming into the season we would be strong,’ Mohamed said. “But we lost all those guys and it got tough. But today, these guys gave everything they had out there. They just have not been in pressure situations like this before with a big crowd making that kind of noise. We just could not sustain, but these guys gave everything for us today.’

PLYMOUTH MEETING — Sometimes being there before really is a help. For the inexperienced Church Farm basketball team — playing four sophomores and a freshman — they just could not seal the deal in Saturday’s District 1 Class AA championship against fourth-seeded seeded Bristol.

The Griffins were working on their 13th different starting lineup of the season and had lost five starters — all guards — since the beginning of the season. Still, the gutsy Church Farm squad had a 15-point lead with just over four minutes to play in the fourth period.

But, six turnovers later, the teams were in overtime. Sieed McFadden scored on a put back with 7.2 seconds left in overtime to give Bristol the district title with a thrilling 65-63 come-from-behind victory at Colonial Middle School. It was the second straight district crown for the Warriors.

Mike Mohamed had a last-second attempt to keep the game going, but his baseline shot fell short. Mohamed — the lone Church Farm senior — had a splendid game with 33 points and six points as he singlehandedly tried to will his team to victory.

“We knew coming into the season we would be strong,’ Mohamed said. “But we lost all those guys and it got tough. But today, these guys gave everything they had out there. They just have not been in pressure situations like this before with a big crowd making that kind of noise. We just could not sustain, but these guys gave everything for us today.’