Mike Lotito’s layup lifts PW over Cheltenham

WHITEMARSH >> If you didn’t check the calendar before heading out to the boys basketball game between Cheltenham and Plymouth Whitemarsh Friday night, you wouldn’t believe it was early January.

Both teams entered the game with perfect 5-0 records in Suburban One League American Conference play and Colonial Gym was filled to the rafters, creating a playoff atmosphere.

The game didn’t disappoint either. A physical contest for all 32 minutes came down to the last shot — a reverse layup by Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Mike Lotito in the final seconds to lift the Colonials to a 64-62 victory.

“I figured we only had — what — four or five seconds on the clock,” Lotito said. “We had to get a quick bucket, a quick shot off. So I faked the handoff and went for the layup.”

PW was playing from behind the entire second half and took its first lead, 56-55, on an and-one basket by Ahmin Williams with 3:26 left in the game.

Moments later, the Panthers had the ball down by three, 62-59. With a minute remaining, guard Khalil White drilled a corner three-pointer to tie the game.

White was getting it done for Cheltenham all game. The senior scored 21 points and was often the Panthers’ answer to PW’s pressure defense.

“Khalil is determined,” Cheltenham coach John Timms said. “It’s that heart and determination and his competitiveness that keeps us running. We make sure we draw up plays for him whenever we need a major basket and I was elated that he was able to stay focused today — in this environment — and come through for us.”

All tied at 62, PW held the ball until there was 14.6 seconds left and called timeout to set up Lotito’s game-winner.

The Colonials were able to win the game without leading scorer Xzavier Malone down the stretch. The senior heading to Rider University picked up his third foul with two minutes left in the first quarter and sat until halftime. After scoring 12 of his 14 points in the third quarter, Malone picked up two fouls within five seconds — an offensive charge and a reach-in on the ensuing possession — with 58.6 left until the fourth, trailing 45-41.

It was not an unfamiliar situation for PW. Malone, who is nursing a right leg injury, sat out Tuesday night’s win against Springfield Montco.

“We were off,” Lotito said of Tuesday’s game. “We didn’t know what we were doing without him. I think we got our kinks out playing without him, that way when he was out in the fourth we were able to mesh and play well with good chemistry.”

Both coaches were happy that their teams got to experience this type of environment at this point in the season to get ready for what is coming later in the season.

“We treated it like a playoff game,” Timms said. “We understand that in order to win a conference, you have to play well in another team’s atmosphere. This was a playoff atmosphere and it was a great test.”

“The last two minutes were very good for us,” PW coach Jim Donofrio said. “While we have seniors on the team, we’re a young team as far as being together … The last two minutes we executed — which is a big sign.”

Round two between these SOL American heavyweights is Feb. 2 at Cheltenham.