Octorara too much for Kennett in latest edition of old rivalry

ATGLEN >> Monday night at Octorara High School, two old Southern Chester County League foes renewed their fierce rivalry. This time the host Octorara Braves got the best of visiting Kennett, running away with a very impressive 72-51 nonleague win over the Blue Demons.

Octorara’s 6-foot-7 junior big man Naji Hamilton tortured the smaller Blue Demons as he scored a game high 29 points to go along with 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. Octorara held a big edge on the offensive glass, getting multiple shot opportunities time and time again.

“We stress getting on the glass in practice,” Hamilton said. “Coach (Gene) Lambert, always tells us to get the rebound and get the shot up and make it inside. We had a big rebounding edge tonight on them.”

The Braves (10-8) led every step of the way after getting out to an 11-0 lead on the Blue Demons (3-14). Octorara forced 17 Kennett turnovers on the night and the Blue Demons coughed the ball up six times in the first quarter and 12 times in the first half, which led to a 33-24 Octorara edge at halftime.

“We had a lot of energy early in the game,” Hamilton said. “We jumped on them early with our defense and made them chase us the rest of the game.”

Kennett could not cut into the Octorara lead in the third quarter. Every time the Blue Demons looked like they were making a charge, they turned the ball over and stopped their momentum. Andrew Hertz led the Blue Demons with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. Kennett shot just 20 for 51 from the field and were getting blasted on the glass.

Kennett was down 51-41 at he end of three quarters and the Braves came out to start the fourth in no mood for a Blue

Demon comeback. Octorara unleashed a torrid 13-0 run to ice the game.

Hamilton started the run with a nice spin move inside for a 53-41 lead. Kennett then misfired on a three. The Blue Demons missed their first eight shots in the fourth period. Keith Lambert drained a trey from the left corner to keep the Braves humming.

Kennett then committed an offensive foul and the Braves got a layup from Bruin James for a 58-41 advantage. Phil Brandon then hit two straight jumpers for the Braves, and Hamilton, fittingly, finished the 13-0 spurt with a putback, one of his four follows on the night. Hertz ended the Octorara splurge with a three but the Blue Demons were out of the game by then, and the Braves moved closer to a District 3 playoff spot. The Braves shot a torrid 30 for 54 from the field for the game and outscored Kennett 21-10 in the fourth period.

“It is real good to keep the old rivalry going,” Octorara coach Gene Lambert said. “We played them all the time in the old days of the SCCL. Tonight, we played very hard basketball nd we played very good defense. When we share the ball like we do tonight and get it into Naji in a good spot we are very tough to beat. We are coming together now. we are 10-8 and we are shooting for a playoff spot and go from there. I really like this team and i feel we are coming together any the right time.”

Octorara 72, Kennett 51

KENNETT (51): Frazier 2 0-0 4, Augustine 2 0-0 5, Schmidt 2 2-2 6, Hertz 7 2-4 20, Ebaugh 2 0-0 5, Guzzio 1 0-0 2, Lower 1 0-0 2, Hassal 2 0-0 5, Nichols 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 4-6 51.

OCTORARA (72): Brandon 7 2-2 16, James 3 2-3 8, Brown 2 0-0 4, Lambert 2 0-0 5, Shatto 0 2-2 2, Keating 1 0-0 2, S.Toney 1 0-0 2, Hamilton 13 3-3 29, Taylor 0 2-2 2, K.Toney 1 0-0 2. Totals 30 11-12 72.

Kennett 16 8 17 10 – 51
Octorara 19 14 18 21 – 72

3-point goals: augustine, hertz 4, Ebaugh, Hassal, Lambert.