Boys Basketball: Coatesville topples Chichester in season opener

CALN >> Tuesday night at Ross Kershey Gymnasium the Coatesville boys basketball team fired a very loud warning shot to the rest of the Ches-Mont League that it will be a handful for any and all comers this season.

Sparked by super sophomore guard Dior Kennedy, and the strong inside play of senior Jaylin McNeil, the Red Raiders rolled over Chichester 65-46, in the season opener for the Red Raiders.

Coatesville already had a 14-point advantage at halftime but the Raiders came out hot in the third period. Jaeden Brickus made a nice pass inside to McNeil who scored, got fouled and completed the 3-point play. McNeil had 11 points on the night to go along with 11 rebounds, and he was a thorn in the side of every Chichester player that ventured into the lane.

“My job is to rebound and the coaches wanted me to box out and control the board tonight,” McNeil said. “And I like to rebound and get the ball so we get moving on the break and we get more possessions. We needed to rebound to get the win and now we get ready for (Downingtown West) on Thursday.”

Chichester made a mini-run at the Red Raiders late in the third period after two inside baskets by Isaiah Diggs, who had 10 points for the Eagles. After Ed Swinton scored on a two-on-one fast break the Coatesville lead was down to 10 with 2:45 left in the third period.

But Chichester missed on its next three possessions, all 3-point tries, and Coatesville assumed command of the game again. Brickus, who poured in 18 points, scored on a runner and then after an Eagles’ turnover, Kennedy drained a jump shot from the elbow, and after three periods the Red Raiders had a 41-29 advantage and control of the game again.

Kennedy, who led all scorers with 21 points, started things off in the fourth period by draining a long 3-pointer for a 44-29 Coatesville lead. Chichester came down the floor and got whistled for an offensive foul and the Red Raiders were off and running again with Kennedy taking a pretty pass from Brickus for an easy layup and the Red Raiders held a 46-32 lead with 6:05 left in the fourth period.

The Eagles tried valiantly to make another run at Coatesville as point guard Mazen Sayad drove the lane for a bucket. Sayad led the Eagles with 12 points on the night. But Coatesville got an inside basket from McNeil on a follow and then after the 18th Chichester turnover of the night, Kennedy threw down a slam and that was it for the visiting Eagles. The Red Raiders had a very impressive opening night victory.

“I was not nervous at all with it being my first varsity game,” Kennedy said. “It is just playing basketball, the game that I love. People are sleeping on us and we want to bring the title home to the city. We will be ready for Downingtown West this Thursday.”

The non-league victory was a good start for the Raiders, and head coach Marc Turner talked about the impressive performance of his team.

“It was a little ugly at times but we did not have all our guys tonight,” Turner said. “And I thought we played with energy, and Dior is a special sophomore that is learning to play and he is learning to play defense, which you have to do if you want to play for me.”

Coatesville 65, Chichester 46

CHICHESTER — Sayed 3 4-6 12, A.Keys 2 0-0 5, Swinton 1 0-0 2, Diggs 5 3-3 10,, Z.Keys 3 3-3 10, Wildrick 1 0-0 2, Anderson 2 0-0 4. Totals 17 8-14 46.

COATESVILLE — Taylor 2 0-0 4, Kennedy 9 2-3 21, Brickus 8 1-3 18, Lawrence 1 0-02, Marshall 2 0-0 6, Sellars 1 -1-1 3, McNeil 4 3-5 11, Proctor 0 0-0 0, Allen 0 0-0 0, Scott 0 0-0 0, Langley 0 0-0 0. Evans 0 0-0 0. Totals  27 7-12 65.

Chichester                            10 8 11 17 — 46
Coatesville                            14 18 9 24 — 65
3-point goals: Zayed 2, A. Keys, Z. Keys, Kennedy, Brickus, Marshall 2.