Whippets and Vikings square off for Ches-Mont boys hoops crown
WEST CHESTER >> Something’s got to give.
The matchup for Tuesday’s Ches-Mont Boys Basketball Championship Game pits a Downingtown West squad that has reigned over the league all season, against a West Chester East program that is making its third consecutive appearance in the final.
The clash, to take place at 8 p.m. at West Chester’s Hollinger Field House, will be the third meeting between these two rivals this season. The Whippets swept the two regular season contests, winning 79-61 at home in mid-January, and then outlasting the Vikings 45-38 at Bryne Gymnasium.
“Beating a team three times in a season is definitely a challenge,” said West head coach Stu Ross.
“The most important thing is our guys have been here before, so let’s play like we have been here,” East mentor Tom Durant added. “Downingtown West we played twice and lost to them twice, so there’s a lot of tape to look at.
“They have some talented players, so our talent has to step up. It’s talent versus talent, now. It’s like the Super Bowl — all talent.”
The Whippets are 17-5 overall, cruised to the Ches-Mont National crown, and have topped league opponents in 13 of 14 outings. The lone exception was a regular season ending overtime stunner at West Chester Henderson. The Vikings (16-6 overall) have a 12-4 mark against Ches-Mont foes and are looking to capture their second league title in three years.
“We’re be prepared for (Downingtown West). We’re going to mentally locked in and we’re going to play,” said East’s Jack Kushner, a junior guard.
“I am expecting West Chester East’s best effort,” Ross added. “We’ll give ours. We have to be ready to play as hard as they always do.”
Despite going head to head multiple times each season, there is no lack of respect between the two programs. Whippets’ star point guard Dylan Blair echoed Ross’ contention about the Vikings.
“They play hard,” he said. “Coach Durant really instills that in his players. So we have to match their energy. And their fans are on you from the tip until the end.”
Durant countered: “They’re well coached (and) Stu does a great job. Good players, good coaches, good competition, so we expect a good game. It’s an exciting time. We’re blessed and lucky to be here.”
Regardless the outcome, both the Whippets and Vikings are poised to make some noise in the upcoming District 1 6A Playoffs. Seeded sixth in the 24-team field, West gets a first round bye and will play the (11) Central Bucks South-(22) Plymouth Whitemarsh winner in round two of Feb. 22. East is the seventh seed and will take on the (10) Conestoga-(23) Abington winner that same evening.
West is coming off an impressive defensive performance in the semifinals that resulted in a 51-25 dismantling of Sun Valley. East outlasted C-M American champion Great Valley 59-52 in the other semifinal.
“West Chester East will have to withstand some runs because Downingtown West is tough,” said Sun Valley head coach Steve Maloney. “They have some very good isolation players.
“(East) will have to rebound, play good defense and not turn the ball over.”
With Blair and senior Cooper Hardin, the Whippets have a backcourt that can put a lot of pressure on defenses. And with 6-foot-11 junior Jake Warren, 6-6 senior Drew Shelton and 6-5 freshman Donovan Fromhartz, West has the county’s most formidable front lines.
“We just want to bring something back to Downingtown West,” Blair said. “We haven’t won (the Ches-Mont title) since 2016 and we definitely want to have that taste again.”
The Vikings will counter with some length, like 6-3 sophomore forward Josh Sherlock, 6-7 junior center Stanley Porter and 6-2 sophomore guard-forward Ryan Price. And East will have future star K.J. Cochran, a 6-3 freshman swingman, who missed the most recent outing against the Whippets.
“Having KJ back adds another layer of offense that we will have to deal with,” Ross said.
Sherlock scored a team-high 19 points against Great Valley. He is the son of Jason Sherlock, who is the West Chester Henderson Principal and the President of the Ches-Mont.
When asked about his team’s third consecutive berth in the league title game, Durant said: “It’s an overused word, but it’s the culture. You just can’t win by making shots. You win by the whole package in terms of defense, rebounding and every loose ball has to be your ball.”
The clash will be broadcasted live by WCHE (95.3 FM).
