Lofton a difference maker for Academy Park in win over Chichester

UPPER CHICHESTER — Shermik Lofton knew from the scouting report Thursday night that he’d have a chance to make a difference against an undersized Chichester squad. But a rough start shooting didn’t bear that out.

As Lofton stuck with it, on the defensive end and on the boards, it wasn’t hard to see the evening as a microcosm of the Academy Park senior’s season. He’d started the campaign, in which he’d be relied on as a featured scorer for the first time, with several underwhelming outings. But with time and patience, Lofton has picked up his game.

Thursday was no different, Lofton scoring 20 points and grabbing 13 rebounds as AP handled Chichester, 71-60, in a frenetic and error-strewn Del Val contest.

“I started off slow and I make sure I finish strong at the end,” Lofton said. “I always try to finish strong. Sometimes you come out in a game slow, but it’s about how you put it together, though.”

He was referring this game but could’ve easily meant his season. Though he exploded for a career-high 26 points in the third game against Neshaminy, he failed to build on that success initially, held to single digits in three of his first seven games. He’s been in double-figures in all 10 games since (outside of a three-game injury absence). Thursday was his fourth 20-point game in eight outings.

Wait for it …. Naseim Harley from 65 feet and in!
At half, AP leads Chichester 38-29 pic.twitter.com/vluTZBO6HD

— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) February 1, 2019

The trend is even larger for Lofton. He averaged 9.1 points per game as a sophomore, but his production dipped to 7.1 last year on an AP team beset by injuries. This season, he’s risen his output to 14.1 ppg for the Knights (14-6, 5-3 Del Val), who’ve won four of five and are in position to host a game in the District 1 Class 5A playoffs.

The key against Chi was to keep focused, even through a first half in which he shot 3-for-9 from the field but still had 10 points. He made four of his six attempts in the second half, tallying seven fourth-quarter points as AP slowly distanced itself.

“Sometimes, it’s easy,” Lofton said. “I’ve just got to take my time with it, though, make sure I finish, don’t rush shots while playing in a wild game like this.”

Teammate Naseim Harley provided the unquestioned highlight, tossing in a buzzer-beater just before half from the opposite free-throw line, a banked-in 75-footer that gave AP a 38-29 edge at halftime.

“It’s not too often it goes in,” Harley said. “I just got lucky that last shot. … It gets everybody’s energy going. Everybody sees that I’ve got that energy and we just tag onto it.”

“It gives us a rush,” Lofton said. “It makes us all smile and keep our heads up because we’ve got some energy going into the second half.”

Harley, who fouled out with 6:28 to play, scored a game-high 21. The fouls were a price to pay for AP’s signature swarming defense, which caused 24 Chichester turnovers (though the Knights coughed the ball up 22 times in a game often played at breakneck speeds). AP’s full-court press pocketed 15 steals, led by Derrick Northern’s four. It kept Chichester (3-17, 2-6) off-balance the entire game.

Not until the fourth quarter, with both teams exhausted to an occasional walking pace, did the Eagles unlock the press consistently. By then, there wasn’t time to catch up.

PHOTO GALLERY: Academy Park vs. Chichester

“It’s pretty hard but you’ve got to stay with the pace they’re running and everybody’s got to flash to the ball, come to the ball and be strong with the ball,” Chichester senior guard Calvin Church said. “… Everybody’s got to keep their head and keep playing hard.”

Josh Hankins led the Eagles with 20 points, though his output slowed after three 3-pointers and 11 points in the first quarter. That owed partially to him leaving the game twice after hard falls near the basket, returning both times.

Jamese Lundy-Byrd scored 16 points, albeit on 4-for-14 shooting, and Church added a typically brilliant eight points, 14 rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks. The Eagles were outrebounded, 50-36.

Northern paired 12 points with eight rebounds, five assists and four steals, and Tyree Estes was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field for nine points before he also fouled out.

A free throw by Lundy-Byrd midway through the second quarter gave Chichester its final lead at 27-26. Aided by Harley’s heave, AP closed the half on a 12-2 run that stretched to 18-2 in the third. Its largest lead stood at 16, at 53-37. Chi hung close in the fourth but never got within eight.

Though not the prettiest in execution, Thursday provided a glimpse at how AP has coalesced. From last year’s young squad, a savvier unit has emerged with clear roles and ample supplies of scorers and hard workers. That has Harley and company thinking that they can finish the season on a strong note.

“The confidence is getting really high because we’re all starting to figure out our role and we’re starting to blend now,” Harley said. “Coming toward the end of the season, we all starting to glue. It took a while, but we’re finding ourselves.”

Also in the Del Val League:

Penn Wood 80, Interboro 47 >> Desman Johnson led all with 19 points, and Tekye Cannon added a season-high 11 for the Patriots. Zac-Chae’us Williams and Keivon Stevens added nine points each for Penn Wood (12-7, 5-3).

Damon Dukes (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Jared Dellipriscoli (10 points, six assists) celebrated Senior Day with strong outings for the Bucs.

In the Central League:

Haverford 53, Upper Darby 49 >> John Seidman hit three 3-pointers and scored a game-high 23 points, and Danny Roe added 20 points, included a perfect 7-for-7 from the line. The Fords (11-7, 7-6) outscored UD, 17-9, in the final eight minutes to rally for the win.

Jack Cavanaugh scored 15 points, and Diby Keita added 12 for the Royals (7-11, 6-8), who dropped their fourth straight game.

Penncrest 56, Radnor 28 >> Malcolm Williams was a perfect nine-for-nine from the field for 19 points, and Matt Arbogast accumulated a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Lions (14-5, 11-3). Isaiah Rice added six points, six rebounds and six assists.

Lewis Robinson led Radnor with eight points (9-9, 5-8), and Jack D’Entremont added seven.

In nonleague action:

Phoenixville 61, Chester Charter School for the Arts 59 >> Bruce Rogers and Devante Morris scored 11 points each, but Phoenixville outscored CCSA by 10 points in the fourth quarter to rally for the win. The Sabers (9-10) missed three chances to tie the game in the final 10 seconds.

Tyler Howard collected 10 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for CCSA.