Boys Basketball: Unbeaten Radnor young but far from inexperienced

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NETHER PROVIDENCE — A glance at a Radnor boys basketball roster that shows four juniors in the starting lineup paints the picture of a youthful team.

But with two juniors that have been in the rotation since they were freshmen, and one returning as the program’s leading scorer, the Raptors are anything but green.

As a result, through eight outings this season, they’re also unbeaten.

The latest installment was furnished by 16 points from Charlie Thornton and 24 turnovers forced from a short-handed Strath Haven whose bench got even shorter Tuesday in a 56-38 Radnor victory.

“Even though we’re starting four juniors, we have so much experience and time playing with each other, that it’s just like any other games,” said Danny Rosenblum, a junior who has been groomed to run the point since he was a freshman. “We’re just going out there and playing our game and we trust each other.”

If there’s any question about the depth, Radnor (8-0, 4-0 Central) led at halftime despite zero points from leading scorer Jackson Hicke. The 6-6 wing struggled in a 3-for-12 shooting night with nine points. But he still contributed nine rebounds and pitched in to a smothering team defensive effort.

“Without Jackson scoring in the first half, everyone stepped up together,” Thornton said. “Teams like to key on Jackson because he’s such a good player, but everyone here can hit an open shot and be able to get to the rim well.”

Radnor spread the responsibility around. Thornton led the way on 8-for-10 shooting, much of his offense generated by his constant presence in passing lanes. He pocketed three steals to go with seven rebounds. Rosenblum had four points, four steals and four rebounds. Pierce Justice buried a pair of 3-pointers for 10 points.

The real spark came from Cooper Mueller, the new starter among the bunch. The junior scored 13 points to go with four assists and six steals, both team-highs. In a poignant illustration of the program’s growth under sixth-year head coach Jamie Chadwin, Mueller on Tuesday played the under-the-radar scorer role that Hicke occupied last year behind 1,000-point guard Lew Robinson.

A year later, when defenses focus on stopping Hicke like they once did Robinson, Mueller can shoulder the burden. And on the carousel spins.

“I think he definitely has learned to expose defenses and force turnovers,” Rosenblum said of Mueller. “He’s been very helpful on the defensive end. But also offensively, when they’re keying in on different people, he definitely has his opportunities.”

Strath Haven’s task got no easier when Jaden Jauregui limped off in the second quarter with a leg injury. He hit two 3-pointers in the first quarter and has been the offense’s focal point all season. It came on the day that Matt Shuler, the incumbent starting point guard who injured his shoulder in the Panthers’ District 1 final football win, was cleared to play, though he didn’t get in the game. Alonzo Ogunde, another starter, was also unavailable.

Still, the Panthers (3-6, 1-3) hung tough. Jack Edwards supplied six of his team-high 11 points in the second quarter to get within three at half, 24-21. A 3-2 zone stifled Radnor, who started 2-for-11 from 3-point range. And the Panthers turned up the defensive intensity to force 13 turnovers.

“Those two play big roles and I play well with them,” Edwards said of Jauregui and Shuler. “But even when they’re not in, I know I have to pick up my team and hit shots for them.”

Defense turned up, Radnor caused four turnovers on the first six Haven possessions of the third quarter, threatening to pull away. Haven’t wouldn’t go quietly, though, and when Stevie Freeman canned a line-drive 3-pointer with 1:45 left in the third, the Panthers were suddenly within two at 32-30.

But Radnor finished on a 24-8 run. Rosenblum picked a Haven pocket and outletted for a Hicke 3-point play. Mueller followed by pilfering a pass at midcourt and swooping in for a hoop and the harm. He missed the free throw – Radnor was 4-for-11 in that department – but Thornton worked the glass for a putback and a four-point possession. Thornton ended the frame with a third-chance bucket at the rim.

In less than 90 seconds, Radnor went from up two to up 11. With it, the win counter clicked up from seen to eight, though that isn’t cause for celebration just yet.

“I don’t think we’re worried about 8-0 right now,” Rosenblum said. “We’re trying to take it one game at a time. But it definitely puts a target on our back and we know that, so we just have to come out harder every week.”

Also in the Central League:

Haverford 51, Garnet Valley 43 >> Nick Colucci was clutch again for the Fords, scoring 17 of his 19 points in the second half as Keith Heinerichs picked up his 100th win in charge of the Fords.

Colucci hit three consecutive 3-pointers in the third quarter to put Haverford ahead. He was 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in fourth quarter to seal it. JR Newman added 20 points for Haverford.

Logan McKee led Garnet Valley with 13 points. Max Koehler scored seven of his nine points in the fourth to help the Jags threaten.

Marple Newtown 56, Harriton 41 >> Eric McKee scored a game-high 20 points and led the passing parade with six of Marple Newtown’s 13 assists in a victory. McKee added five rebounds. Matt Cantwell chipped in 11 points for the Tigers (6-2, 3-1).

Penncrest 43, Springfield 32 >> Saahir Lee scored 18 points to go with four assists and six boards as the Lions held a 27-17 edge after halftime.

Ben Stanton paired seven points with seven rebounds, and Quinten Perilli paired four points with 15 rebounds.

Ryan Johnston and Mike O’Donnell scored nine points each for the Cougars.

In the Ches-Mont League:

Sun Valley 61, Kennett 53 >> Chris Kwaidah buried three 3-pointers for a team-high 19 points as the Vanguards scored 23 points in the final quarter to pull away. Evan Richardson scored 18 points, and Noah Griffin added 13.

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Matthew De George

Matthew De George
Matthew De George is the Asst. Sports Editor and the lead Union writer for The Daily Times.

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