Spring-Ford reaches states in double overtime thriller over Cheltenham

CHELTENHAM >> Spring-Ford’s season looked like it might be over. For seniors Ryan Hagan, Robert Bobeck and Noah Baker, that meant ending their careers without a state playoff appearance.

The Rams trailed Cheltenham by three after a pair of free throws by Zahree Harrison in Tuesday’s state qualifying game with just more than 11 seconds remaining.

Spring-Ford head coach Chris Talley put the ball in the hands of Baker. He drove, jump stopped and found an open Hagan waiting on the wing.

“As soon as I caught it, I just let it fly,” Hagan said. “It felt good coming out.”

Ryan Hagan hit the big shot that sent the game into overtime. Here he is on the big 3 and @BoysSF clinching a state berth. pic.twitter.com/MSvelT2SYa

— Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue) February 27, 2019

 Hagan’s shot fell through the bottom of the net, extending Spring-Ford’s season for at least five more minutes.

After Hagan’s shot kept the Rams’ season alive, Spring-Ford survived two overtimes to hold on for a 62-61 win and clinched a spot in the state tournament for the first time since 2016.

Baker scored 17 points, Bobeck scored 15, and Hagan added 14 points in the win.

“I’ve been thinking about it since sophomore year,” Baker said. “I just wanted to be in the state tournament. Now that we got a shot, we’re (going to) make some noise.”

Ryan Hagan ties it 55-55. We are headed to OT. pic.twitter.com/H0ZcoYvL4e

— Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue) February 27, 2019

 Cheltenham (17-9) defeated Spring-Ford (18-9) in the second round of the District 1 tournament in 2017. The game clinched a state playoff spot for the Panthers and sent the Rams into the district playback bracket where they lost to Downingtown West in another game to clinch a state berth.

“I kept that on my shoulders,” Baker said.

Things stayed close throughout Tuesday’s game, with neither team leading by more than five points the entire way. Cheltenham entered halftime up, 25-22, after junior Zahree Harrison knocked down a three.

Things were tied once again a the end of the third quarter before Harrison drilled another three to put the Panthers up, 41-38, heading to the fourth. Harrison led the Panthers with 24 points in the final game of an impressive junior campaign.

“He works hard, puts a lot on his shoulders, and we’re thankful that we have him,” Cheltenham head coach Patrick Fleury said. “It was a great year for him. I think he’s progressing well.”

Cheltenham led 53-52 entering the final minute of regulation. Senior forward Kyin Healey twice came up with huge blocks two preserve the Panthers’ lead.

Healey grabbed his own rebound on the second one and found Harrison, who put the Panthers up 55-52 with 11.2 remaining. It set the stage for Baker to make a play and Hagan to knock down the shot and send the game into overtime.

“It was basically just my turn to make a play and find the opportunity to get us tied,” Baker said. “When I drove, I saw Ryan open, took a jump stop, passed to him, and I trusted he would make the shot.”

There was not much action in the first overtime. Cheltenham wound the clock down to get a shot late in the period before Baker drew a charge to get Spring-Ford back the ball.

Baker had the ball in his hands once again, driving to the lane before finding Zack Skrocki for a mid-range jumper in the corner that didn’t fall, and the two teams entered the second overtime with the score still, 55-55.

Spring-Ford scored the first five points of overtime to grab a 60-55 lead with two and a half minutes to play on a Hagan three. After a basket by the Panthers, senior guard Jalen Mickens got a steal, went down the court and slammed the ball plus the foul, celebrating with the Cheltenham student section after the play.

Mickens came off the bench to score 20 points for Cheltenham in the loss, including a number of fast break dunks. His play tied the game 60-60 with just under two minutes left.

“Mickens is our X-factor, our energy guy,” Fleury said. “He’s definitely a great player.”

The hero in the first half for Spring-Ford was Robert Bobeck, who scored 11 of his 15 points before halftime and cleaned up the offensive glass. He didn’t score another field goal until he put the Rams up 62-60 with just more than a minute left in double overtime.

“He’s been playing well,” Hagan said. “Him inside is nice. I like it.”

Both teams exchanged possession a handful of times before Cheltenham had the ball with 14 seconds left, trailing 62-61. Harrison got a good drive, but his shot rimmed out. Bobeck was there to secure the rebound with 1.2 seconds left. After he missed the free throws on the other end, the Panthers’ desperation heave was no good.

“The kids are great,” Fleury said. “Amazing kids, they fought hard, did everything we asked. It was an inopportune ending. A lot of things could have gone our way…We just came up short.”

Spring-Ford’s first state playoff appearance came in 2014. The Rams added another appearance in 2016. After a two-year absence, Tuesday’s win clinched their third state playoff berth in the past six season.

“It means a lot,” Hagan said. “We’re really excited, and I hope we can win.”