Richardson’s three beats buzzer, sends West Chester East to quarterfinal against Unionville

Tym Richardson with the game winner to send WC East to the 5a State quarterfinals @WCEVikings @WCEastBBall @DLNSports @PeteDLN @PaPrepLive @bbsociety_ @TymRichhhh @apc_andrew pic.twitter.com/YrKVxjbLJt

— Evan Werley (@Ejsteeler87_) March 11, 2020

 

READING >> Tym Richardson wanted the ball.

In a timeout with 17 seconds left, and Tuesday’s PIAA Class 5A boys basketball semifinal against Pottsville tied at 35-all, the West Chester East senior told head coach Tom Durant he wanted the ball.

Richardson took a pass from classmate Andrew Carr, dribbled down the clock to three seconds, and buried a 3-pointer from the right side, beating the buzzer for a 38-35 win over the Tide and a spot in the state quarterfinal against league rival Unionville at a time and place to be determined. Unionville defeated West Chester Rustin, 61-49, Tuesday night to reach the quarterfinals.

“I told coach I really wanted the ball at the end,” Richardson said. “Ee did not want it to go to overtime so I knew I had to take the shot and make it. It felt good the minute it left my hand. I knew it was in. And they were a very good team and they played us tough. It was good for us to be in a tight game. We really had to work tonight. This will help us.”

West Chester East (28-2) fell behind the Crimson Tide (22-6) at halftime as Pottsville took a 19-12 lead at intermission behind 15 first-half points from senior Kevin Schenk. East shot just five for 23 in the first half, and Carr, who led all scorers with 19 points, had just four points at halftime. Richardson led the Vikings with just five points.

@TymRichhhh u did not just do that! @WCEastBBall @__Fisch @PaPrepLive pic.twitter.com/kA7nDNlg78

— Quincy 🤙🏽💙 (@_quincc_) March 11, 2020

It seemed the Vikings were having trouble with the Crimson Tide’s tough man to man defense.

But, West Chester East changed defenses and suddenly the Pottsville shots stopped falling. The Tide shot just four for 19 in the second half when the Vikings went to matchup zone. Schenk had just two points in the second half, as he led Pottsville with 17 points. Carr took over the game for the Vikings, and helped the East defense hold the Crimson Tide to just four points in the third quarter, cutting the Pottsville lead to 23-21 after three quarters.

Carr scored in tight to tie the game at 23 right at the start of the fourth period. But, Raeff DiCello buried a three and the Tide clawed their way back in front, 26-23. The teams traded baskets, with East going inside to Carr time and time again. When the Vikings star scored on a turnaround in the lane, it was a 30-29 Viking lead with 3:52 to play. Besides leading the game with 19 points, Carr hauled down nine rebounds and blocked two shots.

“We started to get more confidence offensively in the second half,” Durant said. “And Tym made a great shot at the end. In the first half that ball may have hit off the rim. We went to Andrew late in the game and he came through. I think they had some trouble with our matchup zone in the second half.”

Pottsville turned the ball over after Carr’s basket and Richardson’s strip and score made it a 32-29 East lead. After a Pottsville miss, the Vikings went down low to Carr again, and the workhorse delivered for a 34-32 Viking advantage.

But Pottsville did not go away. With the score 34-32 and the ball, the Vikings elected to run clock. Richardson took a feed from Mike Dedda and got fouled. Richardson hit one of two and the Vikings led 35-32 with just 42.3 seconds to play.

Pottsville brought the ball up the floor quickly and Mason Barnes drove the lane and scored, got fouled and sank the free throw for a 35-35 tie with 33.2 seconds to play. East called timeout to set up the last play and the eventual game-winner from Richardson.

East brought the ball in, Carr took a feed from Dedda and gave it up to Richardson near midcourt. The Viking senior dribbled away some clock and moved closer to the basket, and with three seconds left, Richardson let it fly. The shot found nothing but net and the Vikings beat the buzzer, and the Vikings bench erupted with East fans storming the court in a wild celebration.

“This was a great team win and Tym made a great play,” Durant said. “This was a struggle tonight like we were in earlier in the year against a good North Catholic team and Academy of New Church. I hope this win and how hard the kids had to work carries over for us.”

West Chester East 38, Pottsville 35

POTTSVILLE (35) Schenk 6 3-4 17, Barnes 3 1-2 8, DiCello 2 0-0 5, Sukenna 2 0-0 5, Stanton 0 0-0 0, Savato 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 4-6 35.

WC EAST (38) Dedda 1 0-0 2, Duell 0 1-2 1, Kushner 0 0-0 0, Carr 9 1-2 19, Richardson 6 1-2 13, Heffearn 1 0-0 3. Totals 17 3-6 38.

Pottsville 8 11 4 14 – 35
WC East 5 7 9 15 – 38

3-point goals: Schenk 2, DiCello, Sukenna, Richardson 2, Hefferan.