Exeter Township Defeats Warwick 67 to 59 in a PIAA District 3 Class 5A Seeding Game
Written by: Dell Jackson on February 29, 2024
Exeter Township Defeats Warwick 67 to 59 in a PIAA District 3 Class 5A Seeding Game
Article by David Kehler
Exeter Township defeated host Warwick 67 to 59 on Wednesday night to capture 5th place in the PIAA District 3 Class 5A tournament. Both teams have qualified for the PIAA state championship tournament, so this was a contest to determine the seeding of these squads for the state tourney.
The teams were similar both in terms of composition and styles of play. These squads are led by upperclassmen, neither team had a height advantage, and neither had a particularly tall player. Both squads did a lot of substitution. On offense, the teams played uptempo, ran plenty of motion, and relied a lot on screens. Post play was not a significant part of either attack. Both played aggressive man-to-man defense. Neither had a notable quickness advantage. The coaching was very good on both sides. The game was close all of the way, and the eight point margin of victory was the largest lead of the game. Attesting to the competitiveness of this contest, there were 11 ties and seven lead changes.
The decisive factors in the game were Exeter’s significant advantage on the boards and their getting to the free throw line 12 times in the fourth quarter.
The first quarter was very close. There were three ties in the first frame, the last one at 10. At that point, Exeter launched a 7 to 0 run on two free throws by 6’ junior Carter Redding, a free throw by 6’ 1” sophomore Jayden Ware, a floater by 6’ 2” junior Aiden Dauble, and a hoop inside by 6’ 3” senior Reece Garvin. This gave Exeter a 17 to 10 lead, and they led until midway in the third quarter.
Neither side had an advantage in the second frame. Warwick had scored three times from beyond the arc in the first quarter, but Exeter’s perimeter defense tightened in the second period, and the home side didn’t hit a 3-pointer until the third quarter. However, Exeter had ball security issues in the second quarter, committing five turnovers in the period. Warwick’s main scoring thrust in the second quarter came from 6’ 3” junior Caleb Johnson, who scored three field goals and a free throw during that span on a drive, a power move, and a putback. Throughout the game, Johnson was the Warwick player who had the most success scoring inside. Exeter led 30 to 25 at halftime.
Exeter dominated both boards in the second half, out-rebounding Warwick 23 to 12 in the final 16 minutes of the game. During that span, Exeter had 10 offensive rebounds to Warwick’s eight defensive rebounds. However, Exeter committed seven turnovers in the third quarter, providing Warwick with opportunity after opportunity to score. Trailing 32 to 27 early in the third quarter, Warwick tied the game on a follow by 6’ 3” sophomore Ya’Majesty Washington and then a 3-pointer by Washington. The teams traded scores for the balance of the third quarter, and Warwick led 43 to 41 going into the final frame.
Warwick went up 45 to 41 at the outset of the fourth quarter on a drive by 6’ 3” senior Trevor Evans. Exeter recaptured the lead at 46 to 45 on two free throws by 6’ 3” senior Kevin Saenz and a 3-pointer by Saenz. Warwick responded with a drive by Johnson and a hoop inside by 6’ 1” senior Carter Horst on an in-bounds play. That made it 49 to 46, Warwick. Exeter countered with a drive by 6’ senior Alex Kelsey, who had a sensational fourth quarter. With 4:45 left in the game, Warwick committed their fifth foul of the quarter, and that was the turning point of the game. Kelsey sank two free throws, and Exeter went up 50-49. Warwick would never again lead from that point. But, there was no quit in Warwick. They battled on even terms until Warwick’s Horst scored inside to tie the game at 57 with 2:11 left. Exeter went up by two on a spectacular flying layup by Ware, then Warwick tied it at 59 on a drive by Johnson. In the waning moments of the game, Exeter closed it out on an 8 to 0 run on put-backs by Garvin and Saenz, a free throw by Kelsey, a put-back by Dauble, and a free throw by Dauble. In all, Exeter scored 26 points in the fourth quarter, 13 of them by Kelsey, who made seven of eight free throw attempts in the final frame.
For the game, Exeter out-rebounded Warwick 42 to 27. Exeter committed 16 turnovers, and there were 12 Warwick miscues. Exeter was 21 of 28 from the free throw line, while Warwick was six of 16 from the stripe. Exeter made two 3-pointers, both by Saenz. Warwick scored five times from beyond the arc.
Exeter scoring: Alex Kelsey 21, Kevin Saenz 13, Jayden Ware 11, Reece Garvin 10, Aidan Dauble 8, Carter Redding 2, and Brady Murray 2.
Warwick scoring: Caleb Johnson 17, Ya’Majesty Washington 14, Carter Horst 12, Trevor Evans 9, Cody Ryan 4, and Mason Burr 3.
Exeter Township 17 13 11 26 – 67
Warwick 13 12 18 16 – 59
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