LANGHORNE >> Dock was eager to get its states experience underway.
“We came out aggressive,” said the Pioneers’ Steve Martin. “We picked up the tempo.”
Strawberry Mansion, the third-place team from District 12, could not keep up, as the District One Champion Pioneers rolled to a 70-35 victory in the opening round of the PIAA-2A Tournament at Neshaminy High.
“We studied them for two weeks,” said Martin, who had his shot working for 14 points. “We kind of knew what we were getting into going into the game.”
The win advances Dock to Wednesday’s second round, and a matchup with Holy Cross or .
Dock Mennonite’s Darius Ellis (32) goes up for a hard layup against Strawberry Mansion’s Wayne Cooper (34) in the first round of the state tournament Saturday afternoon.
(James Beaver/For MediaNews Group)
Fast start >> Dock had its choice of either pounding it inside or hitting from the outside, and in the first half, they did a lot of both.
Martin hit a three and two other shots for seven first-quarter points.
Big man Darius Ellis (17 pts) scored seven point inside in the opening quarter.
And Devon Jainlett (14 pts) heated up from the outside, sinking a pair of threes in the second quarter.
Versatile Dock led 38-13 by the break. And the Pioneers (21-4) also considered spacious Fred Gerst Gymnasium an ally.
“We wanted to press them the whole way because we knew with them playing in a small gym all season, since we were playing in a big gym, we wanted to tire them out and keep pressing,” Martin said.
Mansion (8-15) was led by Wayne Cooper, who had 10 points.
Dock was able to sub in by the second quarter, the contest well in hand.
“Now we just have to get ready for the second round – onto the next one,” Martin said.
Dock Mennonite’s Ralph St. Fleur (10) brings the ball up the court on a fast break against Strawberry Mansion Saturday afternoon at Neshaminy High School.
(James Beaver/For MediaNews Group)
PIAA-2A First Round
Dock 70, Strawberry Mansion 35
Mansion 7 6 14 8 – 35
Dock 16 22 17 15 – 70
Mansion: Jaquan Freeman 1 3-6 6, Sudais Robinson 2 2-4 6, Mike Jones 1 0-0 2, Wayne Bishop 2 0-0 5, Jamal Johnson 2 2-3 6, Wayne Cooper 3 3-4 10. Totals 11 10-17 35.
Dock: Jacob Derstine 1 1-2 3, Ralph Saint-Fleur 3 0-0 7, Dallas Wilder-Hamilton 4 2-4 10, Darius Ellis 8 1-2 17, Steve Martin 4 5-6 14, Devon Jainlett 4 4-4 14, Nathan Lapp 2 0-0 5. Totals 26 13-18 70.
3-pointers: SM-Freeman, Bishop, Cooper; D-Saint-Fleur, Martin, Jainlett 2, Lapp.
