Cassidy spurs CB East boys basketball win over Council Rock South in districts
SOUTHAMPTON – Council Rock South’s strategy this season has been that if you can hold the opponent to less than 40 points, you can win the game.
Unfortunately for the 15th-seeded Golden Hawks, they ran into a Central Bucks East team Friday night in the opening round of the District 1 6A Tournament that was just a tad better on defense than they were – at least on this night.
It took 32 minutes of regulation and two four-minute overtime periods but CB East (13-10) emerged a 39-36 victor. The 18th-seeded Patriots advance to face No. 2 seed and defending champion Plymouth-Whitemarsh Tuesday, Feb. 21 at Colonial Middle School.
“They made a couple shots – we were up five and they hit a ‘three’ and we were up two and they hit a ‘three,’” said Hawks head coach Derek Wright. “Sometimes, it just comes down to guys making shots.”
Trailing 20-19 at the half, CR South (13-10) put its staunch defense into action in the third period, limiting CB East to just two points, an effort that helped the Hawks take a 27-22 lead into the fourth quarter.
That’s when the Patriots unleashed their secret weapon, of sorts, sending junior guard Kyle Cassidy onto the court. The reserve guard for CB East immediately hit for two baskets, one from the right side on a backdoor layup then driving from the left side of the baseline.
Cassidy finished as the Patriots top scorer, pouring 10 points into the basket in the fourth quarter and scoring all five points for CB East in the second overtime period.
“We knew he could shoot the ball; he certainly made some big-time plays tonight,” stated Wright.
“Defensively, we were great. We did have a couple slipups in some key possessions at the end of regulation and in overtime, but overall, our defense was pretty solid.”
Defensive mistakes made by CR South in this game were hard to spot. However, with the game tied at 34-all, the Hawks had possession of the ball twice inside the last two minutes and turned the ball over both times.
“Give them credit; they executed their defensive game plan well,” said Wright. “Both teams did; they just made an extra shot or two.”
The second of those turnovers put the rock in the Patriots hands with 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. After a timeout, CB East senior Elijah Seger missed the final jumper sending the battle to overtime.
With 4:50 remaining in regulation and a 31-26 lead after a 3-point basket by South senior Kevin Newbert, the Hawks just couldn’t seal the deal.
The Patriots countered with a pair of 3-pointers by Cassidy, the second of which came after a block by South senior Ryan McNamee that put CB East on top, 32-31 with three minutes left in the fourth quarter.
CR South junior Christian Jabbar picked a good time to make his only basket, canning a 3-pointer inside the 2:30 mark. However, Seger countered with a 1-handed floater that found the net and deadlocked the score at 34.
It was Cassidy who came up with a big steal for the visitors around the 1:40 mark but the Pats couldn’t convert on the other end and McNamee came down with yet another key defensive rebound for the Hawks.
“Ryan has been great all year,” said Wright. “He’s been somebody that we could count on. Every night we know what we’re going to get from him. We’re going to get great defense, we’re going to get rebounding. We’re going to get a presence in the post.”
While there was no score in the first overtime, South had chances to take the lead a couple of times. With time winding down senior Alex Nordenholt drove to the basket but could not pull the trigger on the layup.
McNamee poked the offensive rebound off a CB East player and out of bounds, giving the Hawks another shot at redemption. Both teams exchanged misses in the final 10.8 with the Pats’ last shot coming from half-court.
Again, it was Cassidy igniting CB East in the second extra session as he canned his third 3-pointer 40 seconds in for what wound up as the winning basket.
CR South cut its deficit to a single point on two made free throws by senior Ryan Boyd but the Patriots countered with a pair made by – you guessed it – Kyle Cassidy.
A player who averages three points-per-game, Cassidy has come on of late, scoring 14 in a late season win over CB South and nine in the regular-season closer against North Penn.
“Tonight was just his night,” said Jabbar. “We tried to lock him down but he got open and made shots.”
Of course, it’s a shame any team has to lose in a battle that goes to double overtime, but especially when it’s a district playoff. Before Friday night, the Hawks had not been down this playoff road in eight seasons while CB East made states last year with upset district playoff wins over 2015 state quarterfinalist Pennsbury and top-seeded Coatesville.
“They have guys that have been through the battles,” said Wright. “This is all new for our guys.”
The 15-point explosion by Cassidy aside, this game was all about defense. South limited Pats top scorer Matt Pattyson to a single layup near the end of the first half.
CB East returned the favor however, limiting Nordenholt to a single layup in the second period. Hawks leading scorer Austin Thomas (12 pts.), after hitting a pair of 3-pointers in the first half, canned just two more the remainder of the game and was held off the board entirely in the fourth quarter and overtime.
The switching technique employed by the Pats limited open looks for Thomas and the rest of his court mates, for that matter.
“We knew what they were going to do and we were prepared for it,” said Wright. “But it’s another thing to do it in a playoff atmosphere and against a team that’s experienced.”
In addition to starters Nordenholt, Newbert, McNamee and Thomas, South waves goodbye to Boyd, Shaun Smith, Kenny Brightcliffe and Michael Krepich.
Contact Steve Sherman at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter
TOP PHOTO: Council Rock South senior Kevin Newbert (24), left, controls the ball, guarded by CB East senior Matt Pattyson (1) in District 1 6A playoff opener Friday night, Feb. 17 on the Hawks’ home court. (Steve Sherman – 21st-Century Media)
Central Bucks East 39, Council Rock South 36 (2 OT)
(Feb. 17 at CR South)
Central Bucks East 11 9 2 12 0 5 – 39
Council Rock South 9 10 8 7 0 2 – 36
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST (13-10) — Matt Pattyson 1 0-1 2; Elijah Seger 2 2-4 6; Kyle Cassidy 5 2-2 15; Cooper Fink 1 0-0 2; Ryan Plack 3 0-0 6; Collin Stein 1 0-0 2; Ben Markowitz 2 0-0 6. TOTALS — 14 6-9 39.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH (13-10) — Austin Thomas 4 0-0 12; Christian Jabbar 1 0-0 3; Alex Nordenholt 1 0-0 2; Kevin Newbert 2 0-0 5; Ryan McNamee 1 7-10 9; Shaun Smith 1 0-0 3; Ryan Boyd 0 2-2 2. TOTALS — 10 9-12 36.
3-POINT GOALS: CBE — Cassidy 3, Markowitz 2; CRS — Thomas 4, Jabbet, Newbert, Smith.
