WEST CHESTER >> In a game that was played with the fervor of a district championship game rather than a third-place playback game, The West Chester Henderson boys basketball team used a strong fourth-period push to down Chester, 65-61, Friday night at Richert Gymnasium.
The win gives the second-seeded Warriors third place in District 1. They will open play in the PIAA 6A playoffs Saturday at home against Hazelton out of District 2. No. 4 Chester will host Reading at a time to be determined, also on Saturday.
The Warriors outscored the Clippers 21-16 in the fourth to overcome a one-point deficit after three. Baskets from junior Ryan Ranalli and great board work from Evan McFadden, Aaron Nelson and Graham Dickerson were keys to the thrilling win. Chester’s 6-foot-6, big man Dominic Toy, led them with 19 points to go along with 12 rebounds. The battle under the boards was intense and physical all night.
“He was the biggest dude I have ever played against,” Ranalli said. “It was a great battle the whole game with him and they love to attack the glass. I have spent countless hours in the gym and in the weight room to be ready for games like this. It was a fun game and I thought we were very competitive with them all night on the boards.”
The Warriors (23-5) got the usual big games from seniors Connor Fleet and Nyle Ralph-Beyer. The dynamic duo combined for 45 points, with Ralph-Beyer notching a game-high 23 points and Fleet adding 22.
After a 10-point lead for the Warriors early in the first, the teams stayed close to each other the rest of the way. The largest lead after the first was five points and every rebound was contested with fury.
Chester (21-4) was getting second shots most of the night and when Calvin Williams put in a follow with 3:05 to play in the fourth, they had a 55-54 advantage. But, the Warriors came right back when Fleet hit Ranalli, who buried the short jumper with 2:45 left.
The teams traded free throws, then Jesse Smith buried a three-pointer to give the Warriors a slim 59-58 lead with 1:59 to go. Toy got fouled by McFadden and hit one of two free throws to tie the game 59-59 with 1:50 left.
McFadden added four points, five blocked shots and seven rebounds in a very strong performance.
“Toy is just a great player,” McFadden said. “It was intense the whole game. It was a lot of fun to play in this type of game. My job is to run around and block shots and hit the glass. And that is what I did tonight.”
The Warriors broke the tie when Fleet again found an open Ranalli who converted from short range with 1:30 to play. Chester came down and missed on a three. But once again, the Clippers earned a second chance. This time, Dante Atkinson scored to tie things up at 61-61 with 1:14 on the clock.
After a Henderson miss, Chester turned the ball over. Smith got fouled and hit both free throws for a 63-61 lead with 37 seconds to play. Atkinson then misfired on a left corner three and Dickerson came up with the vital rebound.
After a timeout, the Warriors inbounded the ball and Dylan Delucia was sent to free-throw line. Delucia hit one of two for a 64-61 advantage. Chester tried a three that missed the mark Smith grabbed the rebound, got fouled, and made one of two from the line. The time ran out and the home crowd to a win over the storied Chester program.
“We really needed this after the Garnet Valley loss,” Henderson coach Jason Ritter said. “It is a credit to our kids, and Chester too, that they both played so hard instead of what you see sometimes in playback games. Our kids did not want to lose on their home court and this really helps us to be going into the state tournament off a win against the best program in the state in Chester.”
WC Henderson 65, Chester 61
CHESTER: Brown 1 0-5 2, D.Thompson 1 1-2 3, J. Thompson 3 2-2 10, Toy 6 7-11 19, Williams 2 1-5 5, D. Harris 2 0-2 4, J. Harris 3 0-0 7, Atkinson 4 1-2 11. Totals 22 12-29 61.
WC HENDERSON: Ralph-Beyer 8 2-4 23, Delucia 0 1-2 1, Fleet 9 2-2 22, Smith 1 3-4 6, Kearney 0 0-0 0, Nelson 2 1-1 5, Ranalli 2 0-0 4, Dickerson 0 0-0 0, McFadden 2 0-0 4. Totals 24 9-13 65.
Chester 11 21 13 16-61
WC Henderson 18 12 14 21-65
3-point go
