Strath Haven’s turnaround season ends in upset

NETHER PROVIDENCE >> A 16-win turnaround from last season meant very little once Strath Haven tipped off with Hatboro-Horsham. So did the seed difference.

Eighth-seeded Strath Haven was beaten — and beaten soundly — by No. 25 Hatboro-Horsham, 68-46, Friday in the first round of the District One Class AAAA tournament. The Hatters advance to play No. 9 Chester next week. The Panthers, despite a remarkable turnaround campaign, are finished.

Hatboro-Horsham (12-11) led 19-7 after the first quarter and 30-19 at halftime. Standout forward Clifton Moore had 28 points, including five 3-pointers. His 6-foot-7 frame helped take care of Strath Haven’s 6-foot-8 beast John Harrar, and teammate Jay Davis did the rest, dropping 22 points, including a handful of breakaway dunks.

“(Moore) played really well, they’re a very well-coached team,” Panthers coach Dave McFadden explained. “I thought they got the shots they wanted, they hit (their shots). The three bomb was our Achilles Heel earlier in the season in one of our other losses — they did their homework.”

Strath Haven (19-5) came out much more aggressive in the second half and got the deficit down to single digits at a few junctures. With each hoop, momentum looked like it could be turning. But before anything could even get close, Moore would hit a big shot.

This happened six different times during the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter. Strath Haven could never get back into the contest.

“We were confident,” said Moore, who visited with a Lafayette representative after the game. “Even if they hit a big shot, we were like ‘We got this, we got this.’ We just came down and played our basketball.”

By the midway point of the fourth quarter, the result was decided. The home side was quiet. A thrilling season was over just like that.

“They came in, they beat us,” McFadden said. “We made a play, they made two more plays.”

Harrar had just nine points. Kyree Fuller and Alex Ischiropoulos each had 10 to lead the Panthers. Without Harrar able to dominate down low, the Panthers had to look elsewhere for points.

It took them off their game, put them in a hole, and they couldn’t get out of it.

“That’s a very good team we played tonight,” Hatters coach Ed Enoch said. “We neutralized their size a little bit and tried to cut off their penetration — and we made some shots. And it helps to make some shots.”

Moore said he and his teammates scouted the Panthers on YouTube.

“We knew what we were getting into,” he explained.

The seed difference didn’t faze them. Neither did being on the road.

And neither did Harrar’s size.

“We’ve been used to playing that high-level competition, I’ve been used to playing 6-8 guys all the time,” Moore said. “So the 6-8 guy tonight (Harrar) was just another guy.”

Regardless of what transpired Friday, the Panthers were pleased with their season. Going from being a Central League bottom-feeder to near the top of the league in one calendar year is an impressive accomplishment.

The loss stings. The success of the 2015-16 season does not.

“I’m extremely proud of my guys,” McFadden said. “We knew we’d be good, with each win we got stronger, more confident. I’ve got nothing but love for these kids, I’m proud of them. They fought the whole time.”