EA’s Delaney sparks Churchmen to overtime win vs. Malvern Prep

Newtown Square >> Minutes after host Episcopal Academy (9-9, 2-1) edged Malvern Prep in an 82-81 overtime thriller Friday evening – a game that featured 49 fouls, aggressive defense and numerous turnovers – Friar head coach John Harmatuk paid tribute to the settling influence of EA senior guard Conner Delaney.
“Our game plan was to put defensive pressure on EA, wear them down, but Conner Delaney is the best guard in the league,” said Harmatuk. “Both teams battled all the way, and into overtime, but Delaney’s leadership was the difference in this game.”
EA head coach Craig Conlin said, “When Conner was a freshman and a sophomore, we threw him into the fire, and it paid dividends in the long run. One thing we try to do in our program is throw the young kids out there, get them experience in games as early as possible so it will pay off in the long run. We’re throwing [freshman guard] Jack Fitzpatrick into the deep end and expecting him to swim, and we think that will pay dividends in the end. [Fitzpatrick’s] free throws were huge tonight, and so were [sophomore guard] Matt Dade’s.”
Dade was 10-for-11 from the free throw line, and finished with 27 points. Fitzpatrick was 3-for-4 from the charity stripe. And the player who led EA to victory Friday night, Delaney, scored 18 points, including a clutch three-pointer with six seconds left that sent the game into overtime.
“I was really proud of our underclassmen, Dade, [sophomore forward Jack] O’Reilly and Fitzpatrick, they made the free throws that helped us win the game,” said Delaney.
In the first quarter, Dade worked his way inside several times en route to 11 points in the period as EA got off to a 17-9 lead.
But in the second quarter, Malvern Prep unveiled a good young player of its own, freshman guard Deuce Turner, who erupted for 15 points in the second quarter alone. Turner, who finished with a game-high 30 points, hit a 3-pointer near the top of the key late in the second quarter to give the Friars (6-7, 2-1) their first lead of the night.
Also in the second quarter, EA senior star forward Nick Alikakos entered the game after being sidelined by injury for several weeks. He made contributions in spots Friday evening, finishing with eight points.
“Nick was cleared to play at 5 p.m. tonight,” said Conlin. “He saw Jermaine [Rhoden] open for a couple of layups. I’ve always thought Nick’s best ability is his passing ability.”
In the third and fourth quarter, the game remained close, with EA leading most of the way. Turner’s shooting cooled off a bit, although he finished with a game-high 30 points.
“I thought Jermaine [Rhoden] did a good job defensively on Deuce Turner in the third and fourth quarters,” said Conlin.
Episcopal held a 64-61 lead with 1:30 to play in the fourth quarter, but Malvern senior guard Tommy Wolfe drove inside to cut the lead to 64-63 with 47 seconds left. Wolfe finished the night with 14 points.
Malvern freshman guard Rahdir Hicks, who also finished the night with 14 points, hit a 3-pointer from near the top of the key with 27 seconds left to give the visitors a 66-64 lead, their biggest lead of the night to that point. Malvern’s lead was lengthened to three at 67-64 when Turner made one of two free throws with 18 seconds left.
EA brough the ball downcourt for one last shot, and with 6.6 seconds left Delaney let it fly from just outside the three-point circle, on the left side. The ball swished through the hoop and the game was tied at 67-67.
“I was trying to get one last good shot,” said Delaney. “We had made too many turnovers late in the game [that put us behind], but when I found a little bit of space just outside the [three-point] line, I let it go. When the ball first left my hand, I thought it had the right distance, but that it might be a little [too much] to the right. But it went in.”
Early in the overtime period, Delaney drove in for a basket that put EA ahead for good, 69-67. Following two missed Malvern shots, Fitzpatrick and O’Reilly each were fouled, and made the most of their opportunities, each making 2-of-2 to give the hosts a 73-67 lead.
Hicks hit a jumper and was fouled, making the free throw to cut the EA lead to 73-70. But then Dade cashed in on two free throws with 1:21 left to give the Churchmen a 75-70 lead.
Harmatuk said, “We missed some layups early in overtime, and that’s inexperience. We’ll learn from this going forward.”
In the final 36 seconds, Dade and Fitzpatrick each went to the free throw line and came through, going 4-for-4 combined to help seal the win. Dade’s two free throws with 4.3 seconds left gave EA a 82-78 lead.
“Matt Dade has looked great in spots, and we’re working on his consistency,” said Conlin. “We’ve been pushing him – we think he has a great future.
“I thought [senior forward] Kyle Virbitsky and [sophomore forward] Jack O’Reilly really played outstanding tonight. They’re our big bangers, physical players, and they’ve been solid for us this year. I’ve really been pleased by our bigs. Virbitsky was all over the place tonight diving for loose balls, and Jack O’Reilly’s rebound at the end of the game was huge.”
In a game where free throws meant so much, EA finished the night 26-of-39 from the charity stripe, while Malvern was 21-for-34.
Hicks hit a three-pointer as the clock ran out to make the final score 82-81.