Fast-starting Bishop Shanahan defeats West Chester Rustin

DOWNINGTOWN >> It is said that the race goes to the swiftest. Thursday night at Bishop Shanahan High School, the Eagles boys basketball team reaffirmed that saying as they played a near flawless first half en route to a 43-35 win against West Chester Rustin.
The Eagles jetted out to a 24-10 lead at halftime and were up 13-2 at one point in the first period.
The visiting Golden Knights made a run at the Eagles in the fourth period but could not close the deal and Bishop Shanahan held on for the non-league win. Will O’Loughlin led all scorers with 15 points.
“We really like to start fast and we were sharing the basketball really well in the first half,” O’Loughlin said. “We did that the other night at Kennett and we came out fast again tonight. In the second half we started to play too much one-on-one basketball and it nearly cost us the game. The coaches warned us at halftime but we just did not play as a team in the second half.”
Bishop Shanahan (4-2) shot 9-for-20 in the first half and completely dominated the game, holding West Chester Rustin (3-3) to just three points in the second period. The Golden Knights did not score a point until the 1:51 mark of the second period. the Eagles were controlling the boards, limiting Rustin to just one shot. Charles Adams had four points to go along with his five rebounds and was a first half presence inside for the Eagles
“This is my first year on the team, and when I get a chance to play, I want to come through for the team,” Adams said.
In the second half, the Golden Knights started to show some energy that was missing in the first half. The Golden Knights forced 10 second-half Eagle turnovers, and after three periods Shanahan led 29-17.
“We are young and we are just learning to play together,” Bishop Shanahan coach John Dougherty said. “In the first half we did a good job of sharing the basketball and we got away from it in the second half. Our football team went along way and these guys are just coming back and learning to play basketball together.”
West Chester Rustin shot just 13-for-48 from the field on the night and the inability to hit the big shot hampered the Golden Knights comeback. But when Ian Schelssinger scored inside after an Eagles turnover, the Shanahan lead was down to 37-31 with 1:53 to play in the fourth period. Schlessinger led the Golden Knights with 14 points.
The Eagles brought the ball down the floor and O’Loughlin was fouled. He hit two free throws to make it a 39-31 Eagles lead with 1:46 left to play. The Golden Knights then turned the ball over, one of 15 West Chester Rustin turnovers on the night and Bishop Shanahan brought the ball up the floor.
Zane Domsohn was fouled but he missed both free throws to give the Golden Knights life. Destined McCray drove strong to the basket and scored to make it a 39-33 game with 57 seconds to play.
West Chester Rustin would get no closer as the Eagles, who shot just 11-for-25 from the free throw line, got two big free throws from Anthony D’Addezio.
“We got away from sharing the basketball and we missed some foul shots but we are just learning about each other.” Dougherty said.

Bishop Shanahan 43, WC Rustin 35
WC RUSTIN (35) Hasson 0 0-0 0, McCray 4 0-3 9, Giunta 1 0-0 2, Murray 1 0-0 2, Nocmason 0 1-2 1, Hatton 0 0-0 0, Seelus 1 0-0 2, Taross 1 0-0 3, Sproull 0 0-0 0, Schlessinger 4 4-4 14, Shoup 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 5-9 35.
BISHOP SHANAHAN (43) D’Addezio 1 4-4 6, Domoshn 4 3-9 13, Kapczynski 1 0-1 2, O’Loughlin 5 3-4 15, Alexander 1 0-2 2, Adams 2 0-0 4, Bodner-Tims 0 1-5 1. Totals 14 11-25 43.
WC Rustin 7 3 7 18-35
Bishop Shanahan 16 8 5 14-43
3-point goals: McCray, Taross, Schelssinger 2, Domsohn 2, O’Loughlin 2.