Collegium Charter topples Pope John Paul II to capture first district crown
BRYN MAWR >> It was just a pre-game scrimmage more than three months ago, but the Collegium Charter and Pope John Paul II boys’ basketball teams had an inkling at that time that it could be a precursor to something much bigger. And it was, as these two squared off on Saturday with the District 1 4A crown at stake.
“When we scrimmaged them, we figured we might end up here today,” said JPJ head coach Brendan Stanton.
“(Stanton) came to me before the game and said, ‘I told you we’d both be here at the end,’” added Collegium head coach Markel Jones.
Obviously familiar with one another, the top-seeded Cougars and second-seeded Panthers went toe-to-toe for 32 grueling minutes at Harriton High School. There were multiple ties and lead changes in the final five minutes of action, but Collegium Charter eventually eked out a 62-58 victory to capture the Exton school’s first-ever district title.
“This is huge. It’s been a battle,” said Cougars’ head coach Markel Jones. “My first two seasons we were 11-13, and then we didn’t play last season (due to COVID restrictions). So it is big to do this, especially for a program that isn’t known for having the strongest basketball tradition.”
Now 26-2 overall, Collegium gets the only berth from the district into the upcoming PIAA 4A Tournament, and it had to topple Pope John Paul (15-8) to get it. The Panthers entered the clash as the two-time district champs.
“We’ve been fortunate the last couple years to get to this game and win it,” Stanton said. “But Collegium is an awesome team. I am happy for them because I know they didn’t have a season last year. To come back from that is very impressive.”
Established stars Duce Jackson and Dinero Washington combined for 42 of the Cougars’ points, but sophomore point guard Kmari Smith made a series of game-altering plays in the final 2 minutes, 20 seconds. The West Chester resident rebounded his own miss for a bucket to put Collegium ahead 57-54, only to have JPJ’s dynamic senior guard Jaden Workman knock down a pair from the free throw line.
A steal and lay-in by Smith with 1:15 to go upped the margin back to three, but soon thereafter J.P. Baron buried two more from the line for the Panthers.
And in the final minute of regulation, JPJ had possession and several chances to tie it or take lead. Cougars’ center Travon Mack pulled down a key defensive board and made 1-2 from the line with 10.5 on the clock to make it 60-58. But on the ensuing possession, Smith and teammate Alyjah Warren forced Workman into a key turnover.
And after having just missed the front end of a one-and-one just moments earlier, Smith stepped to the line with 3.0 remaining and buried both to clinch it.
“I missed one earlier and that made me mad, but I tried to forget about it, just breath, let them go and they went in,” Smith recalled.
Smith ended up scoring all 11 of his points in the second half. Jackson poured in 16 of his team-high 22 in the second half, and Washington tallied 16 of his 20 points in the first half.
“I think our season really changed when Kmari was able to take over the point guard position,” Jones explained. “Then we could play Dinero (Washington) off the ball. I told him that I trust his judgement and that it was going to happen for him eventually. I told him to just keep pushing and he did that.”
Workman and Baron combined to score 49 points – including an incredible 21 of 22 from the line – for the Panthers. Workman finished with 27, and his 3-point play with 4:13 to go gave JPJ it’s last lead, 54-53.
“Ultimately (Collegium) made big plays, they got the 50-50 balls and in a four point game, that tends to be difference makers,” Stanton said.
“This stings and we wish we were going back to states, but the way this team battled all season – without having anyone over 6-foot-2 – I am just proud of the effort.”
The size edge played a big role in the second half when Jackson, a power forward, scored four straight inside buckets to open a 43-32 lead in the third quarter, the largest of the day. But the Panthers closed the period with an 11-2 run, setting up the close finish.
“We made the district title a goal last year when we couldn’t play,” Jones pointed out. “It was a lofty one, but we worked hard.
“We knew this was going to be a battle — (JPJ) was not just going to let us take it.”
Collegium will play an opponent to be determined (the fourth place finisher from District 12) in the first round of states on March 9. The Cougars have just one loss since late December, and have impressive non-league wins over larger Ches-Mont foes like West Chester East, Bishop Shanahan and Downingtown East.
“Being a 4A school and playing on the Bicentennial (Athletic League), we kind of load up the non-league games, so we are prepared for this,” Jones said.
Collegium Charter 62, Pope John Paul II 58
Pope John Paul 12 12 19 15 — 58
Collegium Charter 11 17 17 17 — 62
POPE JOHN PAUL – Green 1 0-0 2; Rogers 3 0-0 7; Workman 8 11-11 27; Baron 6 10-11 22. Totals 18 21-22 58.
COLLEGIUM CHARTER – Washington 6 7-8 20; Smith 4 2-5 11; Williams 0 2-2 2; Jackson 8 6-6 22; Warren 2 0-0 5; Mack 0 1-2 1; Fowlkes 0 1-2 1. Totals 20 19-25 62.
Three pointers: Rogers, Washington, Warren, Smith.
