Archbishop Wood-powered Keystone Blazers roar back in Donofrio Classic Quarters

CONSHOHOCKEN — It was just like old times for the Archbishop Wood boys basketball team…

Actually, it was just less than a month ago that the likes of Jalil Bethea, Carson Howard, Deuce Maxey, Tahir Howell and Mike Green powered a state-tournament run, and now they’re a major reason Keystone Blazers/Thurm are into the semifinals of the 61st Annual Donofrio Classic.

Bethea poured in a team-high 28 points Wednesday night, Howard scored 26 and Maxey added 17 as Keystone roared back from an early 13-2 hole and 46-41 deficit at halftime to lock down a 112-97 victory over Team Awesome at the Conshohocken Community Center at the Fellowship House.

Said Howard of what keyed the second-half surge: “playing tough defense, really locking down, and closing out on their three pointers especially because in that first half, they were shooting really well. We had to stop that and make them drive the ball.”

The win advanced Keystone to a semifinal game Monday night.

Bethea drained a trio of threes and also dished to Howard inside. The duo combined for 33 points in that pivotal second half.

“Crashing the boards – that’s what I do,” said Howard, who is headed to Division II East Stroudsburg. “Just getting out there, playing tough. It was a great game for my teammates and it was a lot of fun.”

Added Howard of lacing ’em up with his Viking teammates again: “So much fun. Playing with Deuce, Mike, Jalil and Tahir – all the people I’ve been playing with all year. And it’s fun, even after our season ended, to be able to play some games so it’s fun.”

Howard scored around the 12-minute mark to put Keystone up 65-63 and Bethea nailed a three from the corner moments later to provide a 68-65 edge.

Cian Medley (Camden, N.J.) was a force for Team Awesome, scoring a game-high 39 points, but Keystone had control down the stretch.

Good ball movement afforded Maxey a wide-open three from up top and then Maxey’s pull-up jumper extended the lead to 10, 83-73.

The 6-foot-8 Howard slammed it home to keep Keystone comfortably in front, 93-84, and the Bethea-to-Howard combination clicked again, making it a 104-92 margin inside of the three-minute mark.

Keystone powers into the semifinals.

“We want it bad,” said Howard. “Wanna be up there with the greats…”

Keystone Blazers/Thurm 112, Team Awesome 97

Keystone 41 71 – 112

Awesome 46 51 -97

Keystone: Jalil Bethea 11 3-4 28, Carson Howard 12 2-2 26, Tahir Howell 2 0-0 4, Jeremiah Lee 1 0-0 2, Deuce Maxey 6 4-6 17, Thomas Sorber 6 2-3 14, Jake West 7 5-7 21. Totals 45 16-22 112.

Awesome: Olin Chamberlain 0 2-2 2, Dasear Haskins 7 1-3 18, Davion Hill 6 3-4 18, Jaron McKie 3 1-2 10, Cian Medley 11 10-12 39, Cornelius Robinson 3 3-6 10. Totals 30 20-29 97.

3-pointers: K-Bethea 3, Maxey, West 2; A-Haskins 3, Hill 3, McKie 3, Medley 7, Robinson.