Bryant scores his 1,000th point as Coatesville hands West Chester East its first loss

WEST GOSHEN >> It was a night where everything went right for the Coatesville boys basketball team.

The Red Raiders rolled past Ches-Mont League National Division rival and undefeated West Chester East, 64-40. Coatesville controlled the game from the start, and in the fourth quarter, sparkling senior guard Dapree Bryant scored his 1,000 career point on a layup.

Bryant led all scorers with 22 points with Jhamir Brickus adding 18.

“I knew I needed 18 points so I was aware of the mark,” Bryant said. “And it is just a great feeling to do it among my teammates and friends. I am really being a better person on and off the court. For tonight, we jumped on them early and let them know we are still here and still the team to beat.”

Coatesville (3-0 Ches-Mont National, 4-0 overall) rocketed out to a 25-13 lead at halftime and frustrated the Vikings (2-1, 5-1) from the start with their pressure man-to man defense. West Chester East did not handle the pressure well as the Vikings turned the ball over 21 times and shot just two for 16 from the field in the decisive first half. For the game, the Vikings shot just 12 for 41 from the field.

Coatesville also held high-scoring Tym Richardson well below his average as the Vikings senior scored just five points, all from the free throw line, and 6-foot-9 Andrew Carr was left to provide the Viking offense by himself with 18 points.

“We knew they had two scorers, Andrew Carr and Tym (Richardson),” Coatesville forward John Proctor said. “We took them out of their comfort level and made it tough on them. I scored some points tonight and I will do it takes to help this team win.”

Carr came out in the third quarter and started with a slam dunk, and the Vikings crowd had hopes of a major comeback. But, Coatesville would have none of it on this night. Abdul Sabur-Stewart went strong to the hole and the Red Raiders had a commanding 27-15 edge.

West Chester East continued to turn the ball over and Bryant stripped a Viking guard at mid-court and went the rest of the way for a bucket and a 32-17 Coatesville advantage. Proctor, who had 10 points for the game, went baseline for a basket and a 38-22 Red Raider lead late in the third period. Carr scored in tight for West Chester East but Coatesville held a 40-26 lead after three quarters.

“If you know me you know my teams play defense,” Coatesville coach Marc Turner said. “Tonight, we got up on them and made them uncomfortable and we have athletes and when they play defense like tonight, they are tough to beat.”

Coatesville iced the game with a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter. Proctor took a beautiful feed from Brickus for a 42-26 lead. The Vikings came up the floor and missed a trey. Proctor took the rebound and fed Bryant, who came up the floor and scored down the lane for a 44-26 Coatesville lead.

Two more big West Chester East turnovers led to a trey from Donovan Brickus and a Proctor steal and score, and the Red Raiders finished off what looked like it might have been a close game, pulling away in an easy win..

“We are still learning and we have things to clean up but tonight I thought our defense was the difference in the game.” Turner said.

Coatesville 64, West Chester East 40
COATESVILLE (64): Bryant 9 4-7 22, J.Brickus 8 1-2 18, D.Brickus 2 0-0 5, Gregg 1 0-0 2, Sabur-Stewart 2 0-0 5, Bunch 1 0-2 2, Proctor 5 0-0 10, Stukes 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 5-13-64.
WC EAST (40): Hefferman 1 0-0 3, McCray 1 0-1 2, Dedda 0 2-4 2, Duell 1 0-0 3, Cummings 1 0-0 2, Kushner2 0-0 5, Carr 6 6-6 18, Richardson 0 5-10 5, Kulp 0 0-2 0. Totals 12 13-21 40.
Coatesville 9 16 15 24 – 64
WC East 5 8 13 14 – 40
3-point goals: D.Brickus, Bryant, J.Brickus. Sabur-Stewart, Duell, Hefferman, Kushner.