West Chester East pulls away to beat back Downingtown East

WEST GOSHEN >> There’s only one thing more satisfying to a coach than an opening season victory — to open league play with a win.

For West Chester East girls basketball coach Eris Listrani, add timely shooting with strong defense and a dash of grittiness and the Ches-Mont League National Division lid lifter was as pleasing as a perfectly baked batch of Christmas cookies.

The Vikings used a 9-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to take control of a close game and pull away for a 42-34 victory over Downingtown East at Jack Byrne Gymnasium on Tuesday.

“It feele great,” said Listrani. “Anytime you can win in the Ches-Mont and this division, it’s a good thing. Every game is a battle and they showed a grittiness and a toughness.”

That toughness manifested itself on the defensive end. They held D-East to just four field goals in the second half in 22 attempts, outscoring the Cougars 22-13 in the final 16 minutes. The Cougars shot 13-for-52 (25 percent) for the game.

“We talked at halftime about limiting their second chance shots,” added Listrani. “We forced them into taking some tough shots. That grittiness and scrappiness limited them into one and done efforts.”

“It was a good learning experience for us,” said Downingtown East coach Darren Domsohn. “I think all our players have the ability to score. It comes down to confidence and believing in themselves. That’s the main thing I want them to take from tonight.”

The Cougars held a slim 21-20 lead after halftime. Points were tough to come by in the third. The two teams combined for 17 points in the quarter. The Vikings outscored the Cougars 10-7.

D-East took a 28-27 lead late in the quarter on a short jumper by Grace Hodges, The Vikings came back on a 3-pointer from the left side by Kayla Miller — one of two for her on the evening — to give the Vikings a 30-28 lead, one they will not relinquished.

Miller was playing in her first game of the season after returning from an injury.

“This is her first game back since injuring her ankle in our second scrimmage,” Listrani said of Miller. “She gave us a couple of threes and energy on defense. I’m happy for her.”

The Vikings then scored the first seven points of the fourth to take the game by the scruff of the neck. The run was punctuated by a three from Lyla Flowers to give them a 37-28 lead with 4:31 left. Hodges scored on a layup to break the spurt to trail, 37-30.

But, it was their last basket until Eileen Hewitt scored with a little over a minute left.

The Vikings saw the game out to open their Ches-Mont account.

Sofia Keith paced the Vikings with 12 points, Annie Kerns added eight, while Miller and Flowers had two 3-pointers apiece for six points.

“I was looking forward to this game. It was a big win,” said Keith. “I had a couple of rough games, then I had a talk with the coaches. I had to work on confidence and take the shots. I did it and I feel 10 times better.”

Ari Smuda scored eight points in the second quarter en route to a co-team-high nine points along with Hodges. Myra Johnson chipped in with six.

Both teams get back to it on Thursday with the Vikings hosting crosstown rival Henderson and the Cougars visiting Penn Wood in a nonleague contest.

West Chester East 42, Downingtown East 34
Downingtown East: Aldridge 2 1-2 5; Denning 0 0-0 0; Bell 0 0-0 0; Hewitt 2 1-2 5; Johnson 2 2-2 5; Smuda 4 1-4 9; Hodges 3 2-4 9. Totals: 13 7-14 34.
WC East: Kubasko 2 1-2; Kerns 3 2-2 8; Bickle 0 0-0 0; Keith 5 2-2 12; Kushner 1 2-2 4; Rogers 0 0-0 0; Miller 2 0-0 6; Flowers 2 0-0 6. Totals: 15 6-8 42.
Downingtown East 9 12 7 6 — 34
WC East 13 7 10 12 — 42
3-point goals: Hodges, Kubasko, Flowers 2, Miller 2.