Defense rules the day as Coatesville downs WC Henderson

CALN >> To play effective team defense in basketball, it takes a combination of heart, effort and toughness. Thursday night at Ross Kershey Gymnasium, the host Coatesville Red Raiders clamped down on West Chester Henderson and came away with an impressive 56-45 Ches-Mont National Division win.

Coatesville (4-1 Ches-Mont, 8-4 overall) held the potent Warriors (2-2, 6-5) to just 14 first half points and only 24 after three periods on 10 for 32 shooting through the first three periods. Henderson also committed 15 turnovers and the Raiders were on their way to a decisive victory. The Warriors only scored five points in the second period.

“All we preach and practice playing defense,” Coatesville coach John Allen said. “We held Springfield to 36 points the other night and although we scored just 39 points, it was exactly what we wanted to do. Tonight, the kids played really hard. They want to play hard and we held a good team to just 45 points. I am very happy with the kids’ effort and I am happy for them.”

Coatesville led from start to finish in the one-sided affair as junior Zuri Harris led all scorers with 20 points while Jeremiah Marshall added 14 and Dior Kennedy chipped in 11 points. Harris had 11 of the Raiders’ 24 first half points.

Coatesville held a 23-14 lead at halftime and kept up the defensive pressure in the third period, forcing five Henderson turnovers. The Raiders’ offense kept things in hand, and when Marshall scored on a runner it was 31-22 late in the third period.

Jesse Smith then scored on a driving layup for the Warriors, but the flashy Kennedy took the ball hard to the basket to make it 34-24. After three periods the Red Raiders had the game in hand with a 38-24 advantage. Kennedy had eight of his 11 points in the second half and had six in the fourth period.

“We focused on defense and stopping their guards,” Kennedy said. “I feel we have the best guards in the Ches-Mont and we can be a dominant five on the floor. I refocused in the fourth period and scored when we spread the floor and we clamped down on them the whole game.”

Henderson shot the ball better in the fourth period as the Warriors went seven for 13 from the field, and when Kyle Ralph-Beyer drained a 3-ball and the Coatesville lead was 11 with 4:52 to play in the fourth period.

But the Red Raiders were too tough on this night. Marshall scored inside to make it 42-29. Connor Fleet went hard to score inside for Henderon to make it a 42-34 game with 3:23 to play in the fourth period, but there would be no fourth period magic for the Warriors.

Kennedy and Harris scored off Warriors’ turnovers, and although Henderson outscored the Red Raiders 21-18 in the final period, the outcome was never in doubt.

Coatesville shot 22 for 46 from the field and were never in danger of losing its lead. The Raiders were also 10 of 11 from the free throw line

“We focused on stopping their guards and we did that tonight,” Harris said. “And they liked to attack the basket and we took that away. We have a dominant team and we showed it with our defense tonight.”

Coatesville 56, West Chester Henderson 45

W.C. HENDERSON — Ralph-Bayer 4 1-3 11, Bell 0 0-0 0, K. Smith 3 2-4 9, Fleet 3 2-3 8, J. Smith 3 0-0 6, Surowiec 4 1-1 9, Nelson 1 0-0 2, McFadden 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 6-11 45.

COATESVILLE — Harris 8 4-5 20, Kennedy 4 3-3 11, Peoples 0 2-2 2, Brown 1 0-0 2, Marshall 6 1-1 14, Fowlkes 1 0-0 2, Lynch 0 0-0 0, Proctor 1 0-0 3, Van Orden 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 10-11 56.

WC Henderson                               9 5 10 21 — 45
Coatesville                                        13 10 15 18 — 56
3-point goals: Ralph-Beyer 2, K. Smith, Marshall, Proctor.