Blair leads Downingtown West into Ches-Mont Final

WEST CHESTER >> Experience counts in a lot of endeavors, but maybe none more than the last two minutes of a basketball game. Downingtown West senior point guard Dylan Blair took control of the Ches-Mont League Final Four semifinal against West Chester Rustin on Saturday afternoon at Hollinger Fieldhouse when his team desperately needed him.

The Golden Knights, who lost to West by 26 points three weeks ago, played the favored Whippets dead even until Blair scored six of his game-high 18 points in the final two minutes, breaking a tie game to will the Whippets to a very hard fought 51-46 win.

The Whippets (18-5) will play Unionville, a 60-32 winner over West Chester East in the other semifinal, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. for the Ches-Mont championship.

“I mean I have been in these situations a lot of times before, so I’m used to playing in games like this,” Blair said. “We were in districts the past seasons and a state playoff game last year. These tight games are a fun experience, maybe not for the coaches, but I enjoyed the game today. They played a lot harder than they did the first time we played them and they were hitting their shots, so it was good to move on and get a chance now to play for the league title.”

It was also the 100th career win at Downingtown West for coach Stu Ross.

“To be honest, I am really at a loss for words to describe how I feel about winning 100 games at Downingtown West,” he said. “I have to credit the kids, the administration and the parents for all their support. they have been great. To win 100 games at a great place like Downingtown West is special.”

Rustin (11-12) trailed the Whippets by just 24-23 at halftime. They received a big first half from senior Ian Schlesinger, who scored 10 of his team-high 15 points in the first 16 minutes. The Golden Knights were nine for 20 from the field in the first half as they also held their own with the bigger Whippets on the glass.

Rustin showed they would not go away easily when they came out and shot a torrid six-for-eight from the field in the third quarter. Conversely, West shot a frigid two-for-14.

After a Blair three-pointer gave the Whippets a 44-43 lead late in the third. The Golden Knights got baskets from Sam Sproull and Tyler Giunta to end the period with a 37-34 advantage.

Rustin outscored the Whippets, 14-10, in the third and the crowd at Hollinger could feel an upset in the making. But, the Whippets did not wilt away in the corner.

They came out fighting in the fourth.
West shot five for eight from the floor in the quarter and outscored the Golden Knights, 17-9, to take home the win. The Golden Knights cooled down, making just two of their 15 attempts in the fourth.

The teams went back and forth in the fourth, with three lead changes in the first six minutes. When Chase Hatton drained two free throws for the Golden Knights, the game was tied 44-44 with just 1:18 to play.
The Whippets brought the ball up the floor and Kelly Bell, who was huge for West with 12 points and 10 rebounds, fed Blair, who was fouled on a shot attempt with 59 seconds to play. Blair hit both free throws for a slim 46-44 lead.

“Rustin really played hard today,” Bell said. “They were really battling us on the boards and hitting shots. I am looking to score more as the season has gone on and I was fortunate today to get some needed points.”

Trailing by two, Rustin turned the ball over at half court, then fouled Ryan Barker, who hit one of his two free throws for a 47-44 lead with 46 seconds to play. Moments later, Giunta was fouled attempting a three-pointer. He made two of the three free throws and it was a 47-46 Whippets with 40 seconds left.

Barker made one of two free throws to make it 48-46 with 34 seconds left. Rustin again tried to drain a three, but Sproull missed the mark. Crispino grabbed the rebound, but his follow missed. Bell grabbed the rebound and fed Blair, who was fouled with 18.2 seconds left.

Blair drained both free throws to give West a 50-46 edge. The Golden Knights’ magic ran out as two shots went awry and Blair made one of two free throws to ice.

“I want to give Rustin coach Vince Mostardi a lot of credit,” Ross said. “He did a great job having his kids ready to play. We missed on some shots, but give their defense a lot of credit. It is nice to have a guard like Dylan who has been through these types of games before and we are able to put the ball in his hands.

“He has been in playoff games before and last year against West Chester East in the Ches-Mont final. He brings a whole lot to the team and he is invaluable in crunch time.”

The loss was a tough one for the Golden Knights, who begin District 1 5A play Friday at Upper Dublin.

“We have talked all season about giving this kind of effort for four periods and we did that today, Rustin coach Vince Mostradi said. “I could not be any prouder of the kids. They played one of the best teams and best guards in Dylan Blair toe-to-toe for 32 minutes and gave it everything they had.”

Downingtown West 51, WC Rustin 46
WC RUSTIN: Nochumson 1 0-0 3, Giunta 5 4-4 14, Hatton 3 2-4 9, Schlesinger 6 0-0 15, Crispino 0 0-0 0, Sproull 2 0-0 5, Taross 0 0-0 0. Totals  17 6-8 46.
DOWNINGTOWN WEST: Blair 5 6-9 18, Lewis 0 0-0 0. Bell 6 0-2 12, Barker 0 2-4 2, Neuhas 0 0-0 0. Fromhartz 6 1-1 13, Suarez 2 0-0 6.
West Chester Rustin  13 10 14 9-46
Downingtown West    16 8 10 17-51
3-point goals: Nochumson, Hatton, Schlesinger 3, Sproull, Blair 2, Suarez 2.