Great Valley clamps down on defense to sink Kennett
EAST WHITELAND >> Thursday night at Great Valley, the host Patriots showed that defensive intensity can turn a game just as much as hot-shooting or fast breaks.
Trailing Kennett by eight at halftime, the host Patriots turned up the defensive intensity and held the Blue Demons to just 18 second half points on a five for 22 shooting nightmare, adding up to a 54-43 Ches-Mont League American Division win for the Patriots.
“We just made a decision at halftime in the locker room to pick up the intensity because this was a must-win game for us in the league and in the playoff race,” Great Valley junior Mike Corrigan said. “And we got some transition baskets off our defense and we have to get those baskets.”
Great Valley (4-2 Ches-Mont American, 7-8 overall) outscored the Blue Demons (1-4, 3-10), 18-5, in the third quarter after trailing by eight at halftime. Kennett forged its lead on the strength of Ethan Schmidt’s four long 3-pointers. Schmidt finished the game with a game-high 23 points, nine in the second half.
But, one could see that things were going to be different in the third quarter. Kennett missed its first eight shots from the field and Great Valley stormed back to take its first lead of the night when Will Fredrick scored off a steal and it was a 27-25 Patriots lead. Great Valley went on a 10-0 run to start the third and Kennett was powerless on the offensive end. The Patriots went six of seven from the field in the third, getting some easy transition baskets off their defensive work.
Fredrick led Great Valley with 20 points, including three 3-pointers, and after Schmidt downed a three to give Kennett a 30-29 advantage, Josh Stehle then drained one of his own and Great Valley took a 32-20 lead to give the Patriots a lead they would not relinquish. Stehle added 13 points for the Patriots to go along with six rebounds, and Bryce Broxton added eight points.
“We just decided to turn up the intensity on defense,” Fredrick said. “We have been practicing playing this type of defense all season, and tonight we started to play like we practice. It was a great to get this win on our Senior Night.”
Kennett did not fare much better in the fourth quarter, shooting just three for 12, as Great Valley slowly pulled away. Corrigan drove the lane hard and scored in tight to give Great Valley a 39-33 lead with 5:10 to play. After a Blue Demon miss, Great Valley ran a pretty back door to Fredrick and it was a 41-33 Great Valley lead.
Stehle then widened the Patriots lead to 43-33 with a nice bucket in the lane. After another Kennett misfire, Stehle drove the lane, got fouled and hit both free throws to make it a 47-33 lead, and Great Valley hit its free throws down the stretch to come away with a very important win. Coming into the game the Patriots were in the 16th and final spot to qualify for the District 1 Class 5A playoffs, so this was a very big victory.
“This being Senior Night we started out a little slowly,” Great Valley coach CJ Savage said. “We got a little caught up in it and in the locker room at halftime we stressed that defense would get us back in the game and the kids did a great job in the second half. What was really important is that our defense got us some transition baskets and that is Great Valley basketball. The kids did a real nice job tonight.”
Great Valley 54, Kennett 43
KENNETT (43): Schmidt 7 3-4 23, Hertz 5 3-4 13, Augustine 0 0-1 0, J.Lower 0 1-2 1, Z.Lower 1 0-0 3, Ebaugh 1 0-0 3, Nichols 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 7-11 43.
GREAT VALLEY (54): Stehle 3 6-8 13, Fredrick 8 1-4 20, Corrigan 2 2-3 6, Craig 0 0-0 0, DiMedio 1 0-0 3, Broxton 2 4-6 8, Thomas 0 2-2 2, Sioutis 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 15-23 54.
Kennett 18 7 5 13 – 43
Great Valley 7 10 18 19 – 54
3-point goals: Schmidt 5, Z.Lower, Ebaugh, Sthele, Fredrick 3, DiMedio.
