CB West bests Phoenixville to reach District 1-AAAA quarters
DOYLESTOWN >> A tight game in the fourth quarter with a PIAA berth on the line might faze other teams, but Luke Irons and Central Bucks West boys basketball team have faced pressure plenty of times before Tuesday night.
“We’ve played in a lot of big games over the years,” Irons said. “(Central Bucks) East-West is always crazy atmospheres. A lot of us were in the state playoff hunt two years ago.”
Seventh-seeded West showed their experience in the crucial moments against visiting No. 10 Phoenixville, as a strong defensive effort to slow down Christian Kelly and the Phantoms along with a pair of 3-pointers carried the Bucks to a 40-32 victory in the second round of the District 1-AAAA Tournament.
“Our composure has gotten way better from the beginning of the season to the end of the season,” Bucks coach Adam Sherman said. “Guys look more comfortable in the spotlight, which is really what you want to see.”
CB West lost Cal Reichwein — heading to Lafayette as a preferred walk-on — less minute into the contest as the senior reinjured his left knee. But the balanced Bucks led for all the fist half and when Phoenixville went ahead 21-19 in the third, West answered six straight points and held on to clinch its second state appearance in three seasons.
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling,” said Irons of making states. “We got a taste of it out sophomore year. A lot of us weren’t main contributors at the time, a lot of us were swing players or role players off the bench.
“For Cal to go down like that second play of the game, he’s our guy, for us to come back as a team everyone play their role, took everyone to do their job to get back, it was awesome.”
Central Bucks West (22-4) advance to face No. 2 Plymouth Whitemarsh — a 60-56 second-round win over No. 18 Academy Park — in the quarters Friday at PW. West beat the Colonial 53-46 in overtime in the Suburban One League Tournament semifinals Feb. 6
“It’s going to be a matter of us playing our game,” Sherman said. “It’s really simple — play the right way on defense, play the right way on offense and hopefully we’ll come out on top.”
Christian Kelly had 14 points to pace Phoenixville (20-5), which hosts Academy Park Friday in the 9th/10th playback quarters.
“We were trying to get up in his grill, make him put the the ball on the floor more. He’s a great player when you can give him space and he can use his length,” said Irons of Kelly. “We tried to make him a shooter but he’s got unbelievable mid-range and great length when he’s going to basket. And we were able to slow him down, thankfully. He hit some unbelievably tough shots, got to give him credit, he’s a great player.”
CB West led 19-15 at halftime, but the Phantoms began the third quarter with six straight points. Kelly was fouled scoring on a putback and made the and-one at 6:33 while Avery Close buried a 3 off an inbounds pass for a 21-19 Phoenixville advantage.
The Bucks, however, with a 6-0 run of their own. Jake Reichwein got a bucket inside while a Billy Power reverse layup put West back up. Irons scored on a drive to make ti 25-21 before Jeff Conboy’s bucket had the Phantoms within two entering the fourth quarter.
Two Erich Hohenleitner free throws with 7:00 remaining had West up 27-23 before Hunter Herschell’s triple cut the margin to one. But Irons answered with a 3 of his one, while Reichwein’s three-point play inside gave the home side a 33-26 lead.
Jumpers by Conboy and Kelly had the Phantoms within two, yet CB West again responded with a 3-pointer, this one from Connor Kelly to make it 36-30.
“They were big,” Irons said. “Once they started to push, we hit those that really kind of got them back on their heels again. We were able to keep it going.”
A Close jumper cut the Bucks’ lead to 36-32 but free throws from Irons and Lynch sealed West’s trip to the quarters.
CB West was up 13-9 after a quarter. A Power basket and a Irons foul shots gave the Bucks a 19-13 lead with a minute left in the half before Kelly connected on a baseline jumper to make it a four-point game at the break.
