Upper Dublin surges past Hatboro-Horsham

UPPER DUBLIN >> Upper Dublin went into the fourth quarter down by one and came away with a 13-point victory.

Said guard Corby Watkins: “I think it was our defensive energy that really put us over the top for tonight’s game. Our main focus was to really lock down the shooters and to not let them touch the ball. We did that tonight and we got a win.”

The Cardinals held visiting Hatboro-Horsham to just six points in the fourth, pulling away to a 59-46 victory in the Suburban One League American Conference opener for both teams.

“We were very disappointed with how we played the third quarter,” said coach Chris Monahan, who has guided the Cards to a 3-1 start. “Mainly, we had to get after their shooters. They have two guys — (Lid Johnson) and (Jack Marvin) — that if you leave them open, they’re gonna make it. They hurt us that quarter. So we didn’t execute. Fourth quarter — completely different story.”

Johnson hit a game-high four threes in the contest for the Hatters (2-2) but was held to two points in the decisive final frame. Marvin hit a trio of threes but was held scoreless in the final eight minutes.

“I felt like it was a good game plan tonight. Play defense, and our offense was better,” Watkins said.

Watkins was driving and capitalizing in transition, scoring the game-high with 18.

Baskets by Mike Slivka and Bazel Brady pushed the Cardinals in front, 43-40, early in the fourth and Upper Dublin was on its way. Jason Williams soon hit a three to widen the gap to seven.

“We’re good when we’re balanced,” Monahan said of his squad, which got 18 from Watkins and 11 each from Williams and Brian Klammer. “Any given night, we can get five guys in double figures.”

A steal by Williams led to a pass underneath to Brady, who was fouled, and then he hit both free throws to give the Cards a 50-41 edge with 3 minutes to play.

Crisp passing on the offensive end was punctuated by a Drew Stover layup, making it 54-43 and locking it up for Upper Dublin.

Hatboro-Horsham played well throughout, getting 15 points from inside force Jake Schacki.

“It was our defense (that hurt us). We needed to get more stops,” Schacki said. “We had to get back on transition defense better and faster. That, ultimately, was the main reason why we lost.

“I love this team, coming to practice every day and working with them. We just have to make it click.”

Upper Dublin jumped out to a 7-2 lead early.

The Hatters began to settle in, eventually taking a 10-9 lead on a layup by Schacki.

Slivka answered at the other end for the Cardinals, his layin providing an 11-10 edge at the end of the first quarter.

Upper Dublin began to heat up from the outside, back-to-back threes by Klammer and Slivka stretching the Cardinal advantage to 24-15.

The Hatters stayed close though, hitting a pair of threes of their own. Johnson hit both, cutting the margin to three.

But it was Upper Dublin that closed out the first half strong. Brady found Stover underneath, and then soon after Klammer hit another three, making it a 29-23 game at halftime.

Hatboro went up 40-39 by the end of the third but then Upper Dublin took control.