Brickus, Bryant lead Coatesville past Butler, set up showdown with Chester

CHAMBERSBURG >> The Coatesville boys basketball team wants its opponents to be very uncomfortable on the floor. Wednesday night, the Red Raiders caused Butler to turn the ball over 18 times on their way to a 77-72 win in the second round of the PIAA Class 6A playoffs at Chambersburg High School.

Next up for Coatesville is one of the few Pennsylvania schools with the same shade of blue in its blood as the Red Raiders.

The Red Raiders will meet Chester Saturday at a time and place to be determined.

Coatesville got the usual stellar game from Jhamir Brickus, who led Coatesville with 31 points. Dapree Bryant chipped in with 17 and the Red Raiders (28-2) ran Butler (22-6) off the floor, despite the final score making the game look a bit closer than it truly was.

“The kids were very determined tonight because they had a real nice player,” said Coatesville coach Fred Thompson. “And he was very good, but we sped them up and we played Coatesville basketball tonight.”

The player Thompson was talking about was Ethan Morton, who tallied 36 points and tried to keep Butler in the game by himself.

But Coatesville was too quick, as it consistently beat Butler down the floor, leading to nine run-out layups for the game. Bryant had nine assists and he and Brickus put on quite a show, breaking free from Tornado players.

“There is no time to play now because it is the playoffs,” Brickus said. “We are coming out for the kill. We sped them up and they kept turning the ball over and we beat them down the floor all night.”

Coatesville shot 29 for 60 from the field, while Butler was just 26 for 68 on the night. Early in the fourth quarter, Coatesville went on a 6-0 run to open it up to a 69-46 advantage and the Tornadoes were through for the night.

“I think defense is our best strentgth,”  Bryant said. “Tonight they were dead tired in the third period and we got easy baskets.”

Coatesville 77, Butler 72

BUTLER (72): Morton 10 15-16 36, Carney 8 0-0 18, Clement 2 0-0 4, Montag 3 0-0 8, Patten 3 0-1 6, Andrews 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 15-17 72.

COATESVILLE (77): D.Brickus 4 9-0 9, Bryant 7 3-4 17, JBrickus 12 6-9 31, Proctor 2 0-0 4, Ja. Brickus 0 2-2 2, Holmes 2 3-6 7, Miller 2 2-4 7, Young 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 16-25 77.

Butler 19 8 15 30 – 72

Coatesville 14 19 20 24 – 77

3-point goals: Morton, Carney 2, Clement 2, Montag 2, J.Brickus, Miller.