Downingtown West downs Coatesville in overtime

CALN<< Ches-Mont League basketball games are known for intense, physical and halter skelter action. Monday night at ross Kershey Gymnasium Downingtown West and host Coatesville locked up in another fierce battle. The teams went at each other for more than 32 minutes Monday night. When it was over, Downingtown West came away with a thrilling 58-56 win in overtime over the Red Raiders.

The Whippets (1-1 ches-Mont, 4-2 overall) outscored the Red Raiders (1-1, 4-2) 11-9 in the overtime period and the outcome was not decided until the Whippets impressive sophomore Donovan Fromhartz hit a free throw with 1.6 seconds to play to make it a 58-56 final. A last second Coatesville heave went awry and the Whippets had a very big Ches-Mont National Division win.

“We like to play a very tough nonleague schedule and we have done that the last two years,” Downingtown West coach Stu Ross said. “And it is for these situations. We like to think our schedule helps us when we get in these crazy league games. I thought our young guys really came together tonight and Dylan blair was his usual great self. This was a big league win for us. Coatesville is always very tough especially here at home.”

Downingtown west led almost from start to finial, leading by five points at halftime and carrying 34-25 lead into the fourth period. But, the Red Raiders started to turn the Whippets over in the fourth period and after four quick points off turnovers by Dior Kennedy, the teams were tied at 41-41 with 3:58 to play in the fourth period. Kennedy led Coatesville with 14 points while Fromharctz led all scorers with 20 for the Whippets.

The two teams battled down to the end of the period with Blair scoring in tight to give the Whippets a 47-45 lead with 1:45 to play in the fourth period. But Jeremiah Marshall hit two free throws with 21 seconds to play to forge a 47-47 tie and send the game to the extra period. Coatesville outscored the Whippets 22-13 in the fourth period to forge the tie.

Downingtown West scored the first six points in the overtime period to take a 53-47 lead. Froamhrtz scored on an and one and after a Red raider miss, Joe Suarez drained one of his three three-balls for the six point lead.

But Coatesville would not go away. Marquis Peoples drained a long three-ball to make it a 55-52 game with 1:42 to play. Coatesville was pressing the Whippets almost full court now but Blair is a master point guard and he directed the Whippets out of trouble almost every time up the floor. But Coatesville came up with a turnover on a Downingtown West in bounds pass with 51 seconds left and the Whippets holding a slim 55-54 lead.

After a Coatesvilel timeout Zuri Harris drove the lane hard but his shot rimmed out and Antonio Lewis came down with the rebound for the Whippets and got fouled. Lewis drained both free throws for a 57-54 Whippets lead with 12 seconds left.

The Red raiders came down the floor and missed on a three-ball but Jake Van Orden scored in tight to make it a 57-56 game with 4.5 seconds to play. The Whippets successfully inbounded the ball and Fromhartz was fouled with 1.6 seconds to go. He hit one of two but it was enough to give the Whippets a much needed 58-56 Ches-Mont National win.

“I have been in a lot of these types of games so I  am pretty used to pressure situations,” Blair said. “The atmosphere is crazy and there is a lot for stuff going on but we got through it. We also got a lot out of a lot of our players and it was a total team effort tonight to get the win.”

The loss was the first in the Ches-Mont for the young Red Raiders and first year coach John Allen said it is all part of the learning process for his young team.

“This was an up and down game and a lotto back and forth,” Allen said. “We wanted to speed them up and we got to them in the fourth period when we made our run. We just fell a little short but I am extremely proud of my team and their effort and now we have to forget this and get ready for West Chester East tomorrow.”

Downingtown West 58, Coatesville 56, overtime

DOWNINGTOWN WEST (58) Blair 5 4-6 14, Lewis 0 2-2 2, Bell 2 1-2 5, Lasher 0 0-0 0, Neuhas 2 1-2 6, Fromharctz 8 2-3 20, Suarez 3 2-2 11. Totals 20 12 17-58.

COATESVILLE (56) Harris 1 7-8 9, Kennedy 6 1-1 14, Peoples 4 0-0 11, Marshall 2 3-7 7, Van Orden 4 0-0 8, Brown 0 0-0 0, Proctor 0 0-0 0. Fowlkes 3 0-0 7. Totals 20 11-16 56.

Downingtown West 13 9 12 13 11-58
Coatesville               5 12 8 22 9-56

3-point goals: Neuhas, Fromhartz 2, Suarez 3, Kennedy, Fowlkes, Peoples 3.