Smuda, Downingtown East top Rustin for first Ches-Mont tourney title

EAST GOSHEN >> Downingtown East knew the path to its first Ches-Mont League title would be a tough one.

But when junior star Bella Smuda put the Cougars on her back, there would be no denying East’s dreams of a crown.

With a big second half, and 29 points and 12 blocks from Smuda, Downingtown East secured its first Ches-Mont League title with a 55-39 win against West Chester Rustin Thursday. 

Smuda could not be stopped, totalling 19 points in the second half alone, as the Cougars took care of the Golden Knights all night. 

“I tried everything,” said Rustin coach Jim Powers of his defensive strategy for Smuda. “I tried man, zone, I ran out of ideas of how to keep that kid off the glass and get what she wanted.” 

Rustin began the game on a 7-0 run that was quickly answered by Downingtown East with a 7-0 run of its own.  

In the second quarter, the offense was much more consistent, with the each team’s offense finding its stride. Smuda notched 10 points in that frame alone, and Oliva Gatto hit her third three of the game for the Knights with 3:20 left to play in the half. It was a hard fought quarter with nine different players scoring, but concluded with Rustin holding a slight edge going into halftime, leading 23-21. 

“We talked about being more patient offensively, making sure we isolate better, but overall we’re just trying to stay with what we do,” Schurtz said about his halftime adjustments. 

Downingtown East dominated the third quarter from the start with Smuda finishing a pair of three-point plays in the opening minutes. Dakiya Daniels responded for Rustin, splitting the defense for a pretty layup to end Smuda’s run, but the Cougars would go on an eight-point streak en route to outscoring Downingtown East, 19-5, in the quarter. On the other hand, the Golden Knights saw the game slip away while they struggled offensively and defensively, watching their two-point halftime lead turn into a 12-point deficit. 

“I think our defensive job, limiting them to one shot in the third quarter,” Schurtz said. “With a great shooting team like that you don’t want to give them multiple looks at the basket, so we did a nice job rebounding and limiting them to one shot per possession. 

“I think we did a nice job playing team basketball, we were patient on the offensive end,” Schurtz said. “We talked a lot about situationally trying to get the ball to the rim whether it be with the drive or a pass to the post. In the third quarter we did a really nice job getting the ball up to the rim.”

The Golden Knights cut the lead down to eight early in the fourth with two threes from Becca Magrone and Julie DiCampli, just to see the Cougars go on a 7-0 run fueled by Smuda with yet another and-one of the game, which essentially sealed the victory for East. 

The Cougars (19-5) and the Golden Knights (17-7) both look forward to the District 1 playoffs, beginning this weekend.

Smuda’s 29 points led the Cougars, while freshman Lauren Kent added 15 of her own. The duo accounted for all but 11 of the Cougars’ points. 

“Bella is our leading scorer but she is also a competitor,” Schurtz said. “In the third quarter she had back to back and-ones, which really got us going.

“A couple other players played particularly well for us, Kent did a really nice job taking the ball to the rim, Brennan’s defensive effort on Daniels was outstanding, but overall it was a great team win.

“We celebrated, but then we talked about what’s next, who’s next, what do we have to go do next,” Schurtz said. “This is a great win, but that’s not our main goal so we have to get ready for what’s next.”

While the heartbreaking defeat might seem like a disappointment for Rustin, Powers could not have been prouder of his team. 

“I was proud of them, it was a good season. We have been fighting all year and we don’t have any size, Henderson has a 6’2”, and we got away with that on Saturday. But Bella at 6’5 is just too much for us,” Powers said. “They fought and I was so proud of them that they fought like fought this year. We lost in this game last year and didn’t know if we’d get back this year. It was a touch and go if we would be able to be competitive and get here but they did. I am proud of them and I would rather lose with them than win with someone just for the way they fought.”

Downingtown East 55, West Chester Rustin 39

West Chester Rustin: Shivers 1 0-0 3, Piona 1 1-2 3, Gatto 3 0-0 9, Magrone 3 0-0 7, DiCampli 2 0-0 5, Daniels 4 1-2 9, Costin 1 1-4 3

Downingtown East: Denning 1 1-2 3, McFillin 0 2-4 2, Kent 5 5-10 15, Brennan 1 0-0 2, Smuda 12 5-6 29, Meakim 1 2-2 4

West Chester Rustin 9 14 5 11 — 39
Downingtown East 9 12 19 15 — 55

3-point goals: Gatto 3, Magrone, DiCampli, Shivers