Dock Mennonite Academy Wins BAL Championship: Kehler on Hoops
Written by: Dell Jackson on February 18, 2024
Dock Mennonite Academy Wins BAL Championship: Kehler on Hoops
Article by David Kehler
Dock Mennonite Academy never trailed in winning the Bicentennial Athletic League championship 51 to 38 on Saturday afternoon at Morrisville. Dock jumped out to an early lead, largely due to effective outside shooting and four Delco Christian first quarter turnovers. The game was tied at three, otherwise Dock led all of the way. However, it never felt that Delco Christian was out of contention.
The game started with the teams exchanging turnovers, then Dock junior Justin Panaia was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer. Panaia made all three free throws. After 6’ Delco Christian junior Beau Loren made a 3-pointer, 5’ 11” Dock senior A.J. Washington hit a 3-pointer, then Dock’s Panaia scored from beyond the arc. Delco Christian responded to this surge with a 3-pointer by 6’ senior Cole Pruessner to cut Dock’s lead to 9 to 6. At this point, Dock launched an 8 to 0 run, from which Delco Christian never recovered, on a three point play on a fast break by Washington, steal and a layup by the superb Washington on a trap, and Panaia’s second 3-pointer of the first quarter. That made it 17 to 6, Dock.
Delco Christian had their strongest segment of the game in the second quarter, hitting the offensive board hard (they had eight offensive rebounds in the second frame) and defending much better. Delco Christian had a height advantage in this game, and Dock countered with a lot of inside out passes intended to get shots from the perimeter. However, Delco Christian’s offense never seemed to get into rhythm, and they trailed 25 to 17 at halftime.
Delco Christian pressed and trapped a lot in the second half. They had some success with it, forcing some turnovers and holding Dock scoreless from beyond the arc in the final 16 minutes of play. However, every time that Delco Christian would surge, Dock responded. For example, in the third quarter, after some offensive success, Delco Christian cut Dock’s lead to 33 to 26 on two free throws by 6’ 1” junior Khamai Orange. Dock quickly responded with the first of two acrobatic putbacks in the game by 6’ 2” senior Ethan Parr, a hoop inside by Washington, and a jumper by Washington to go up 39 to 26.
Delco Christian’s Joseph Gaines, a 6’ senior, had a fine fourth quarter, and his fast break layup early in the final frame cut Dock’s lead to 40-32. Dock responded with a 6 to 0 run on another acrobatic putback by Parr, this one over the shoulder; two free throws by 6’ 3” junior Tony Martin; and a drive by Washington. That gave Dock what would prove to be the biggest lead of the game at 46 to 32.
Dock is really well-coached, and they responded to Delco Christian’s half court trap in the fourth quarter by spreading the floor, making it difficult for the trap to succeed and opening up the interior for driving. To the great credit of Delco Christian’s coaching staff, they did not mar the game with futile fouling in the waning moments.
For the game, Delco Christian out-rebounded Dock 28 to 27. Dock committed 11 turnovers to nine miscues by Delaware County Christian. Dock Mennonite Academy was 11 of 14 from the free throw line, and Delco Christian was 13 of 18. Dock made four 3-pointers, and Delco Christian scored three times from beyond the arc.
Dock Mennonite Academy scoring: A.J. Washington 28, Justin Panaia 9, Ethan Parr 6, Tony Martin 5, and Vaughn Martin 3.
Delaware County Christian scoring: Joseph Gaines 9, Khamai Orange 8, Beau Lyren 7, Cole Pruessner 5, Bradford Berwick 5, Caleb Jameson 2, and Luke Bushra 2.
Delaware County Christian 6 11 10 11 – 38
Dock Mennonite Academy 17 8 14 12 – 51
For those unfamiliar with these schools, Dock Mennonite Academy is located in Lansdale, and Delaware County Christian is in Newtown Square, both being in the PIAA District 1 Class 2A classification.
On Twitter: @david_kehler
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