Kennedy Catholic edges Coatesville on wild night of runs to reach state final

WILLIAMSPORT >> Normal high school basketball teams can’t withstand a 21-0 run and come back to win. 

Kennedy Catholic is not a normal high school basketball team. That’s true in more ways than one.

Kennedy Catholic jumped out to an early lead, watched Coatesville rip off a 21-0 run for a halftime lead, then came back and finished the Red Raiders off at the end for a 75-69 win in the PIAA Class 6A semifinals at Williamsport Area High School. 

The Eagles will face Pennridge in Saturday’s PIAA championship, while Coatesville’s incredible season comes to an end with a 29-3 record.

Coatesville came back from an early 7-0 hole before going on on the incredible run. The Red Raider charge was led by John Proctor and Dapree Bryant. Bryant had a big game for Coatesville, leading the team with 26 points. After one quarter, Coatesville led 23-14 and Kennedy superstar big man Oscar Tshiebwe was on the bench with two fouls.

The Eagles went to a half court trap defense in the second half and caused eight Red Raider turnovers as the tide of the game changed with Maceo Austin, who led all scorers with 31 points. Tshiebwe tallied 24 points and 17 rebounds.

“We really came here to compete hard even though we knew how big they were,” Coatesville senior Aaron Young said, “We gave it our best but we came up a little short tonight.”

The Eagles shot a red hot 11 for 17 from the field in the second half, and after turning the ball over 13 times in the first half, cut it down to five miscues after halftime. The teams battled furiously on the glass for every rebound and after three quarters, it was a 53-51 Eagles lead.

“The Coatesville guards are tremendous,” Eagles coach Rick Mancino said, “And their whole team plays so hard it is a testament to their coach.”

Kennedy Catholic started to pull away a little in the fourth quarter, but Dymere Miller drained a 3-pointer to cut the Eagles’ lead to 59-55. The teams then traded baskets and free throws and it was a 64-62 Kennedy lead until Tshiebwe threw down a slam for a 66-62 lead with 1:40 left.

“Oh man, he is a big guy,” Coatesville center Tione Holmes said, “He is strong, athletic and he has good moves. We did the best job we could with him.”

Coatesville had the ball after an Eagles turnover, but Jhamir Brickus, who had 20 points on the night, missed a three, with Austin grabbing the rebound. The Eagles sank one of two free throws to make it a 67-62 game, before Bryant got to the line and hit one of two to make it 67-63 with under a minute to play.

Mattia Acunzo went strong to the hole for the Eagles, got fouled and hit two free throws, and it looked like Coatesville was dead. Bryant gave them life with a three to make it 69-66 with 49 seconds to play.

But on this night it was meant to be for Kennedy Catholic. Coatesville turned the Eagles over, but missed two point-blank shots. Austin grabbed the rebound and hit Mike Moore with an outlet pass. Moore then fed Tshiebwe with another pass for a monster slam and the Red Raiders’ dream season was over.

“We knew after the 21 point run that they were going to come back,” Coatesville coach Fred Thompson said, “They are a very good team and in basketball, which is a great game, it is the team that makes the final run usually wins. But our kids are so tough and resilient. They had a great season and I am so proud of them.”

Kennedy Catholic 75, Coatesville 69

Kennedy Catholic 14 18 21 22 – 73

Coatesville 23 14 14 18 – 69

COATESVILLE (69): Bryant 8 9-13 26, J.Brickus 6 5-6 20, Miller 3 0-0 7, Holmes 2 0-0 4, Proctor 3 3-4 10, Young 1 0-0 2, Santiago 0 0-2 0, D Brickus 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 17-25 69.

KENNEDY CATHOLIC (73): Herster 1 2-4 4, Acunzo 5 4-8 15, Austin 12 6-9 31, Amos 0 0-1 0, Tshiebwe 7 10-12 73, Moore 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 22-34 75.

3-point goals: Bryant, J.Brickus 3 , Proctor, Miller, Acunzo, Austin 2.