Conwell-Egan Catholic hands Aliquippa first loss in PIAA state championship

HERSHEY – For a guy who must not have checked his calendar when he booked his flight to Phillies Spring Training in Clearwater, he certainly had the right perspective on the significance of Conwell-Egan Catholic’s impending battle with District 7 champion Aliquippa in the PIAA-AA championship.

In a text message he sent his son the morning of the game, Ron Kumor – father of Eagles starting forward Chase Kumor – wrote, “win today and you will walk together forever.”

Of course, Mr. Kumor was quoting the late Hockey Hall of Fame coach Fred Shero who uttered those very words in 1974 to his Philadelphia Flyers before the start of a deciding game six Stanley Cup Championship win over the Boston Bruins.

Conwell-Egan (21-8) helped complete a District 12 sweep of the PIAA boys basketball championships with Saturday’s 62-51 triumph over the previously unbeaten Quips (29-1). Philly Public League rival Constitution defeated Farrell in Class A, Neumann-Goretti got past Archbishop Carroll in Class AAA and Roman Catholic defeated Martin Luther King for the Quad-A trophy.

It is the first boys basketball state championship in Lower Bucks since Bristol got past Midland for the AA title in 1975. It is the first PIAA trophy of any kind for the school.

“We felt like we were very prepared for this game and we just gave it our all,” said Chase, a senior from Newtown who came through with 14 points. “It was my goal this year to be in this game and be in position to win it.”

“This is just an unbelievable feeling. I can’t even express it in words what it feels like right now.

“It’s awesome.”