Archbishop Wood and Dock Mennonite Academy Advance in PIAA State Championship Tournament: Kehler on Hoops

Written by: Dell Jackson on March 14, 2024

Archbishop Wood and Dock Mennonite Academy Advance in PIAA State Championship Tournament: Kehler on HoopsArticle by David Kehler

Wednesday night’s doubleheader at Bensalem is a prime example of why the PIAA state championship tournament is really great. One of the key features of the tournament is that there is no seeding, so it’s possible that there can be sensational games between leading teams in the early rounds of the tourney. Such was the case on Wednesday night, as Archbishop Wood and Lower Merion were matched in a Class 6A second round game. If the tournament were seeded, the eventual Class 6A championship game might have been Wood vs. Lower Merion, as these are two of the very best squads in Pennsylvania. But, there’s no seeding, so the Wood vs. Lower Merion showdown occurred in the second round of the tournament. In a complex game of very high quality, Archbishop Wood advanced to the Class 6A quarterfinals with a thrilling 66 to 64 victory. In the highly competitive opening game of the doubleheader, Dock Mennonite Academy defeated Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter 48 to 45 in a Class 2A second round game. All four of the teams in the doubleheader were exceptionally well coached.

Lower Merion, the champion of the Central League and of PIAA District 1, has a fabulous basketball legacy. It is one of Pennsylvania’s greatest traditional powers. Archbishop Wood, one of the top teams in the best league in the state, the Philadelphia Catholic League, has been a perennial state championship contender in the years since John Mosco became the coach. As such, the Wood-Lower Merion game was a high level showdown, and the contest lived up to anyone’s reasonable expectations. The quality of play was outstanding, the run of play was dramatic, and the outcome was in doubt until late in the contest.

The Wood-Lower Merion game had three distinct segments. At the outset, the game was played in a very uptempo fashion. Wood likes to play at a fast pace, and Lower Merion was able to match it. In particular, 6’ 2” Lower Merion senior John Mobley was really quick and was obviously comfortable running with Wood. Overall, Lower Merion did not seem uncomfortable when Wood pressed the pace. In the shape of things to come, both teams scored a few hoops from beyond the arc in the first frame. Significantly, Lower Merion was also able to score inside on a couple of baskets by 6’ 5” senior Jayden Robinson. The game was close throughout the first frame—there were four lead changes and a tie—but Wood was much stronger on the boards in the first eight minutes of play. In the first quarter, Wood out-rebounded Lower Merion eight to four, a pattern that would continue throughout the game and have significant consequences.

The second and third quarters were played at a more deliberate pace and were very tactical. In particular, Lower Merion occasionally was in a four corners set, the offense that was developed years ago by North Carolina coach Dean Smith. Over the years, Lower Merion has used the four corners, at times as their base offense. It is a very effective high school offense, providing that the team has a good ballhandler in the “Phil Ford” position at the center of the court out by the 10 second line. That wasn’t a problem for Lower Merion vs. Wood—they had a couple of kids who could handle that responsibility really well. Lower Merion used the four corners for a couple of purposes, to lure Wood out of zone defensive schemes and to lull Wood into complacency and then pounce. Wood didn’t fall for this, but Lower Merion’s offensive tactical variations were a major factor in keeping the game close. Lower Merion led 32 to 31 at halftime.

Archbishop Wood scored first in the third quarter on a hoop inside by 6’ 1” senior Josh Reed, and they led the rest of the way. Like the second quarter, the third period was played more tactically. Every time that Wood would extend their lead, Lower Merion would counter, typically with drives on the hoop. Throughout the second half, Lower Merion used timeouts to blunt Wood’s momentum.

The third phase of the game began at the outset of the fourth quarter. Wood opened the scoring in the final period with a 3-pointer by 6’ 4” senior Jalil Bethea, a McDonald’s All American. Then, on a fast break, Bethea slammed a spectacular tomahawk dunk, giving his side a 48 to 41 lead, and Lower Merion called a timeout. When play resumed, Lower Merion scored on a power move by Robinson. Wood responded with a 3-pointer by 5’ 11” junior Mike Green and a fast break dunk by Bethea. That made it 53 to 43, Wood, and Lower Merion took another timeout.

From that point, both squads unlimbered their long range artillery. Lower Merion struck first, with two 3-pointers by 5’ 10” senior Owen McCabe. Then, Wood’s Green scored from beyond the arc, and Wood led 56 to 49. Lower Merion’s McCabe countered with a very long 3-pointer, and, following a layup by 6’ 3” Wood senior Tahir Howell, McCabe made his fourth 3-pointer of the fourth frame. That made it 58 to 55, Wood. Once again, Wood’s Green hit a 3-pointer, giving his side a 61 to 55 lead, from which Lower Merion never recovered.

The really decisive moments of the game occurred early in the third quarter, when Wood’s Bethea hit a 3-pointer and followed it with a stupendous dunk. Bethea is most effective when moving in the direction of the basket, as he was in that sequence.

Wood won the game on the boards. They decisively out-rebounded Lower Merion. Significantly, Wood had 14 offensive rebounds to Lower Merion’s 13 defensive rebounds.

For the game, Wood had a 32 to 22 rebounding advantage. Wood committed 14 turnovers to 10 miscues by Lower Merion. Wood was 13 of 18 from the free throw line, while Lower Merion was 11 of 14 from the stripe. Wood made eight 3-pointers, and Lower Merion scored 10 times from beyond the arc. There were three ties and seven lead changes.

Archbishop Wood scoring: Mike Green 15, Jalil Bethea 13, Josh Reed 11, Deuce Maxey 10, Tahir Howell 9, and Milan Dean 8.

Lower Merion scoring: Owen McCabe 15, Jayden Robinson 15, John Mobley 14, Carson Kasmer 11, Adam Herrenkohl 7, and Justin Mebane 2.

Archbishop Wood    15     16    12    23 – 66
Lower Merion           18     12     9     23 – 64

Archbishop Wood advances to the Class 6A quarterfinals on Saturday vs. Spring-Ford at a time and a place to be determined. Lower Merion’s superb season concludes with a 26-2 record. Wood was the only Pennsylvania team to defeat Lower Merion this season.

Dock Mennonite Academy defeated Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter 48 to 45 in the first game of the doubleheader in a PIAA Class 2A state championship tournament second round game. Dock is the champion of the Bicentennial Athletic League and of PIAA District 1. Sankofa is a member of the Philadelphia Public League.

Many of the teams in the Philadelphia Public League play a playground style of basketball. Sankofa is not one of them. The Dock-Sankofa game was tactical all of the way. 

Sankofa was quicker than Dock, and, in the first quarter, Sankofa forced four Dock turnovers. Midway through the second quarter, Dock began to set up their offense further away from the basket, making it more difficult for Sankofa players to hedge and to collapse on the ball. On offense, Sankofa had lots of structure, using 1-4 sets and double stacks. One play that they ran three times featured picks on either side of the player guarding the point guard, with the point guard driving past one of the picks. I’d never seen that play before.

Dock picked up the pace in the third quarter, and it worked to their benefit. Late in the third quarter, 6’ 2” Dock senior Ethan Parr hit a 3-pointer to give his side a 32 to 29 lead, and they led for the rest of the game. Determined Sankofa kept it close, and with 16 seconds left, 6’ 3” sophomore Nafis Dubose cut Dock’s lead to 47 to 45. Dock responded with a free throw by 5’ 11” senior A.J. Washington to close out the game.

Dock had a substantial rebounding advantage, 29 to 17. Dock had 12 turnovers, and Sankofa had 10 miscues. Dock was an awful 12 of 26 from the free throw line, and Sankofa was 10 of 18 from the stripe. There were three ties and two lead changes.

Dock Mennonite Academy scoring: Ethan Parr 12, Tony Martin 10, Michael John 10, A.J. Washington 9, Vaughn Martin 6, and Kobe Dollison 1.

Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter scoring: Nafis Dubose 10, Asim Hardy 10, Jasir Henderson 9, Jameel Brown 7, Nasir Williams 5, and Terrance Fortson 4.

Dock Mennonite Academy                   8    10    20    10 – 48
Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter  9     12    11     13 – 45

On Saturday, Dock will play Holy Cross in the Class 2A quarterfinals at a place and a time to be determined. Sankofa’s season concludes with a 13-14 record.

On Twitter: @david_kehler

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