SPRINGFIELD >> La Salle scored the first 15 points and never looked back in its 60-20 win over Germantown Academy in the Triangle Club of Montgomery County 47th Annual Basketball Tournament Friday night at La Salle College High School.
The Explorers didn’t allow a point until the final 75 seconds of the first quarter and held an 18-6 edge after eight minutes.
“A lot of communication, being on the same page, running our stuff,” La Salle senior Chris Williams, who scored eight of his game-high 16 points in the first quarter, credited for the fast start, “getting the best shot possible.
“We knew the matchup and we knew we could handle them pretty well. We knew if we got out to a good start we could put them away early.”
After Williams dominated the first quarter, it was Horace Simmons who took control of the second. The junior scored all 10 of his points in the second quarter. He hit a pair of threes and threw down a two-handed dunk in front of a packed La Salle student section.
The Explorers took a 37-9 lead into halftime and quickly went ahead by 30 points in the third quarter to initiate the running clock. The advantage grew to 37-13 at the end of the third quarter before ballooning to 60-20 at the final whistle.
Williams, Simmons and Connor Seiberlich each hit two three-pointers in the game and Joe Shields also knocked one home from distance.
“We work a lot in the offseason,” Williams said. “We all can shoot well. We take pride in our three-point shooting.”
The La Salle defense limited the Patriots to just six made field goals in the game and seven or less points in each quarter.
“Switching and double-teaming handoffs,” Williams said of the defensive success. “Really just pressuring the ball.”
Blake Smith led Germantown Academy (2-1) with nine points.
La Salle will face Norristown for the tournament championship at 8 p.m. Saturday. GA faces Wissahickon in the third place game at 6:30 p.m. Both games are at La Salle.
La Salle 60, Germantown Academy 20
Germantown Academy 6 3 4 7 – 20
La Salle 18 19 10 13 – 60
GA: Leo McElroy 1 1-2 4, Andrew Dougherty 2 0-0 5, Blake Smith 2 5-6 9, Luke Marvin 1 0-0 2, Bryce Rollerson 0 0-0 0, Cole Putnam 0 0-0 0, Flinn Brooks 0 0-0 0, Henry Wescott 0 0-0 0. Total 6 6-8 20.
LS: Chris Williams 5 4-4 16, Nix Varano 3 0-0 6, James Bartchak 2 0-0 4, Connor Seiberlich 2 0-0 6, Joel Halferty 0 0-0 0, Horace Simmons 4 0-0 10, Anthony Rivers 1 0-0 2, Tim Jennings 2 1-2 5, Caleb Bryant 1 2-3 4, Ryan Sorge 1 0-0 2, Joe Shields 2 0-0 5. Total 23 7-9 60.
3-point goals: GA: Dougherty, McElroy. LS: Williams 2, Seiberlich 2, Simmons 2, Shields.
