Faith Christian edges Phil-Mont Christian in crucial BAL showdown
EAST ROCKHILL >> Faith Christian entered Friday night’s Bicentennial Athletic League game against Phil-Mont Christian facing a must-win situation to stay alive in the in the league race.
The Lions have a distinct home court advantage. The small court packs in fans right on top of the court. It gets packed and it gets loud. And perhaps most importantly for Faith, it traditionally plays Phil-Mont very tough at home.
“It’s definitely a Lions Den, it’s got its own unique atmosphere and obviously when the girls double up with the boys it brings more people out,” Faith coach Dave Forker said.
Faith’s home-court advantage stood true again as it completed the season sweep of Phil-Mont as it closed out in the fourth quarter to edge the Falcons 48-41.
“You got to give them credit, I don’t know how some of their shots go in,” Phil-Mont coach Bill DeHeer said. “I don’t see them play other (teams), I see tape here and there but they play us better than anyone else.”
The key sequence in the game came at the start of the fourth. Ashley Forker hit a field goal just four seconds into the quarter to open the scoring and pull the game even. After getting fouled in the back court Maddie Brodish knocked down both free throws.
Brodish was sent to the line when Kayla Griffin committed her fifth foul putting her over the limit and out of the game. DeHeer was then issued a technical foul for not putting in a substitute quick enough for Griffin. Faith then hit both of the technical free throws and scored when it got the ball back to cap an 8-0 run to start the fourth.
“You don’t ever blame a game on the officials but in 28 years I’ve never had an official that never came to me,” DeHeer said. “You have (20) seconds to put in a sub and he never came to me.”
Phil-Mont was able to get the game tied but couldn’t generate enough offense down the stretch as Griffin was fouled out and eventually Keyen Green as well.
Green and Tracey Goodman anchored the Phil-Mont offense and defense as they usually do. The duo combined for 27 of the Falcons 41 points including a game-high 17 points from Green despite fouling out early in the fourth quarter.
“We did as good as we could and they’re still so dominant in there,” Forker said. “It’s not just their height, they’re extremely athletic, they watch the ball, (they have good) timing. They get cheated because they are tall but they’re very gifted athletes and very good and skilled basketball players, they’re not just tall.”
Even though Phil-Mont was swept by Faith, it still controls its own destiny to win the league as the Falcons still have four key league games, including two tough tests against New Hope Solebury Monday night and Jenkintown Thursday night.
