West Chester East outlast Downingtown West to secure Ches-Mont Final Four berth

DOWNINGTOWN >> When it gets this late in the regular season and playoff and league titles are on the line, one would expect a hard, physical, contentious basketball game. 

Tuesday night at Wagner Gymnasium, we got that and more, as visiting West Chester East outlasted host Downingtown West, 61-55, to clinch second place in the Ches-Mont National Division and a berth in the Ches-Mont Final Four against the Ches-Mont American Division winner Saturday at 1 p.m. at Oxford.

National champ Coatesville will face the American runner-up in the second semifinal.

West Chester East (9-3 league, 18-4 overall) led from start to finish Tuesday night, but had to hold off a furious Downingtown West (8-3, 16-5) rally that fell just short. Andrew Carr led all scorers with 24 points to go along with his 12 rebounds, and Tym Richardson chipped in with 15 points, including two long threes.

“This means everything for us,” Carr said. “It has been a long time since West Chester East was in the playoff and it is just a great feeling. The game was very physical and we had to play our best. We have improved since the beginning of the season. Downingtown West beat us the first time and they are a great team so we needed our best tonight.”

The Vikings held a 46-40 lead after three quarters and outscored the Whippets, 15-14, in the frenzied final frame. 

Carr got things going as he scored in the lane for a 48-40 Viking lead. But the Whippets came back as Naseem Roberson went strong to the basket to make it a 48-42 game. Carr came right back to score inside and got fouled. When he hit the free throw it was a 51-44 West Chester East lead that would climb to 55-46 before Downingtown West made a charge. The Vikings built their lead on hot 22 for 42 shooting from the field.

Will Howard, who scored 15 points to go along with eight rebounds, drained a long three from the top of the key to make it a 55-49 game with a little over three minutes to play in the fourth. After a Viking miss, Roberson scored in tight and it was suddenly a 55-51 game with 2:08 to play. 

The Vikings brought the ball down the floor, lost control and the Whippets grabbed possession. Cam McCole scored in the lane to make it a 55-53 game with 1:37 to play. The Whippets shot just 19 for 46 on the night. but they had the Viking lead down to two points with

1:05 to play.

“It was a very intense game,” West Chester East forward MJ Kushner said. “It was over the top intense. We really wanted to get in the Final Four and now we want that banner for the school.”

West Chester East did not come undone, even with their lead down to two. Ben Delaney drove to the basket, got fouled and hit two big free throws for a 57-53 West Chester East advantage with 58 seconds left. The Whippets came down the floor and Sean Kaiser missed on a three, but Delaney, who was fouled again, missed the front end of a one and one and the Whippets still had life. 

Roberson was fouled by Carr, and he sank two big free throws to make it 57-55 and West Chester East called timeout. Carr drove to the hoop, got fouled and hit one of two free throws for a 58-55 lead. Downingtown West came down the floor and Hunter Blair tried a jumper from the corner but Carr blocked his shot, the Vikings came down the floor and Carr was fouled and hit both free throws to seal the victory.

“This means the world to the kids and the school,” West Chester East coach Tom Durant said. “And we have gotten great fan support all season. Look at all the kids who came over here tonight to support us and Eric Anderson was sitting in the stands. That is what West Chester East is all about. Now I can look at Eric’s picture up there from his great 1999 team. He coached here a long time and he came out to support us tonight.

“And the kids played so hard tonight and they really deserve this,” Durant said. “And to beat a real good team like Downingtown West on their floor is a great thing because Stu Ross and all their coaches do a great job. And Will Howard and McCole are so tough. McCole had 33 against us the first time so we knew how good they are.”

West Chester East 60, Downingtown West 55

WC EAST (60): Anderson 1 1-2 3, Delaney 1 2-3 4, Merten 3 0-0 7, Trowery 3 0-0 8, Carr 8 7-9 24, Richardson 6 1-2 15, Kushner 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 11-16 60.

DOWNINGTOWN WEST (55): Howard 5 2-2 15, Blair 1 0-0 3, hillsginger 2 0-0 5, Kaiser 1 2-2 5, McCole 6 4-5 16, Roberson 4 2-2 11. Totals  19 10-11 55. 

West Chester East 17 12 17 14 – 60
Downingtown West 14 12 14 15 – 55

3-point goals: Merten, Trowery 2, Carr, Richardson 2, Howard 3, Blair, Hillsginger, Kaiser, Roberson.