Coatesville’s district dream still alive after routing Cheltenham

PHILADELPHIA >> Coatesville freshman half brothers Jhamir Brickus and Dapree Bryant have dreamed of winning a district championship since grade school.

After Coatesville took apart Cheltenham, 79-58, Tuesday night at the Liacouras Center, Brickus, Bryant and the Red Raiders are one win away from that lofty goal.

Coatesville (23-4) will face Abington Saturday night for the Class 6A title at Villanova University (8 p.m.). Abington defeated Plymouth Whitemarsh, 71-67, in the other semifinal.

Coatesville shot a torrid 25 of 48 from the field and got big games from Jhamir Brickus, who had 22 points, and fellow freshman Bryant, who added 16. Center Tyrel Bladen added 11 points to go along with nine rebounds.

“I have been dreaming of this my whole life,” Brickus said. “Once we turned up the defense it was over. I can’t wait for Villanova. I was not nervous at all to be playing here at Temple.”

Coatesville seized control of the game late in the second quarter as the Raiders caused three Panther turnovers in the last minute to score six quick points and take a 36-27 lead at the break. Cheltenham turned the ball over eight times in the quarter and 22 times on the night.

“That defense before the half gave us in control of the game,” Bryant said. “I have been thinking about winning this title my whole life.”

The Red Raiders blew the game wide open in the third quarter, outscoring the Panthers 23-17 and going nine for 10 from the foul line in the period. Jhamir Brickus had 11 points in the quarter, and Coatesville shot seven for 12 in the period.

“No moment is too big for them,” said Coatesville coach Chuck Moore. “They are an extension of me on the floor and as a coach that is a beautiful thing. These freshmen are even getting better through all of this and it is a total team effort. One through 16 that is getting it done.

Coatesville 79 Cheltenham 58
Cheltenham: Pitts 2 4-8 8, Clark 3 2-4 9, Carson 3 2-2 8, Myriack, 1 0-0 3, Scott 0 1-2 1, Henley 5 0-0 10, Bickley 7 2-3 17. Totals 22 9-17 58.
Coatesville: Bladen 4 3-5 11, Boulware 1 0-0 2, K.Brickus 4 3-4 12, J.Brickus 8 6-9 22, Bryant 4 9-11 17, Scott 0 2-2 2, Av.Young 1 0-0 2, Aa.Young 0 2-4 2, Holmes 2 1-4 5. Totals 25 19-27 79.
Cheltenham    13    14    17    14 – 58
Coatesville    11    25    23    20 – 79
3-point goals: Bickley, Clark, Myriad, K.Brickus.