D-West downs West Chester East in key Ches-Mont National clash

DOWNINGTOWN >> Tuesday night at Wagner Gymnasium, the two undefeated teams in Ches-Mont National Division boys’ basketball – Downingtown West and West Chester East – banged heads, and the host Whippets used a furious run at the beginning of the third period to take control in a 79-61 victory.
Downingtown West (4-0 Ches-Mont, 7-3 overall) got another superb performance from point guard Dylan Blair, who scored a game high 28 points to go along with six assists. The Whippets also got a 15 point performance from Aidan Primanti, and Jake Warren added 11 points to go along with 12 boards.
The Whippets broke open a 30-26 game at halftime with a 12-0 run to start the third period and put the Vikings (4-1, 7-2) out of the game.

“We did not do anything different at halftime except we played a whole lot harder in the third period than we did in the first half,” Blair said. “We just came out with a ton of energy and took control of the game. When we play that hard we are a tough team to beat. And even when we got the lead it is fun to just feed off your teammates energy. I try to get everyone involved.”
The surge started when Primanti buried a jumper from the right elbow to make it a 32-26 game. After a Viking miss, Drew Shelton ran the floor and threw down a slam for a 34-26 Whippets lead.

A West Chester East turnover led to a Blair three-ball and the run continued with another Blair three-ball and an inside basket from Cooper Hardin. When the onslaught was over, Downingtown West held a commanding 42-26 lead just two minutes into the third period.
“We just came out with energy and turned up the heat on them,” Primanti said. “It was like we lit a match and our play just ignited. We were determined to get out to a fast start and we did that.”
Downingtown West made its first five shots from the field in the third period and shot 9-for-15 from the field in the decisive third period, outscoring West Chester East 26-18 in the quarter to take a 56-44 lead into the fourth period.

The Whippets started fast again in the fourth period as freshman Donovan Fromhartz scored on a followup to make it a 60-46 Downingtown West lead. Fromhartz had a good game off the bench, scoring 10 points for the Whippets.
West Chester East’s impressive freshman KJ Cochran scored on a three-point play and the Whippets lead was down to 60-49, with 5:56 to play in the fourth period.
But the night belonged to Downingtown West, as Kelly Bell scored inside and Blair sank another of his five three-balls on the night to give the Whippets a commanding 65-49 with just under five minutes to go.

Ryan Price then hit a three-ball, and finished the night with 20 points. West Chester East kept battling and got the Whippets lead down to 70-61, with 1:17 to play but the Whippets hit six free throws in a row.
“We just reset the game plan at halftime,’ Downingtown West coach Stu Ross said. “We came out and played a little sloppy to start the game because of the gravity of the game but we settled down at halftime and executed the game plan and we got the lead and got back into rhythm.”

Downingtown West 79, WC East 61
WC EAST (61) Kelly 1 0-0 3, Sherlock 3 0-0 6, Cox 0 0-0 0, Puchalla 0 0-0 0,Ramos 5 3-3 14, Kushner 2 0-0 4, Cochran 3 5-7 11, Gallagher 1 0-0 3, Price 5 6-9 20, Porter 0 0-0 0, Ferguson 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 14-19 61.

DOWNINGTOWN WEST (79) Blair 8 7-10 28, Bell 1 0-0 2, Froamhratz 3 4-4 10, Hardin 2 2-2 6, Owsik 0 0-0 0, Poluch 0 0-00, Zincone 0 0-0 0, Warren 5 0-0 11, Shelton 2 0-0 4, Primanti 6 1-3 15, Suarez 1 0-0 3. Totals 28 14-19 79.
WC East 11 15 18 17-61
Downingtown West 14 16 26 23-79
3-point goals: Price 4, Ramos, Gallagher, Blair 5, Warren, Primanti 2, Suarez.