Shanahan advances to league’s Final Four

DOWNINGTOWN >> For most of the scholastic boys basketball season, Bishop Shanahan has played outstanding team defense. Friday night, the Eagles did it again as they held Downingtown East to a ninefor-38 shooting night as the hosts posted a convincing 5127 win in Ches-Mont League National Division regular-season finale.

Shanahan (10-2 Ches-Mont, 16-6 overall) led throughout the contest, and broke things open with a 10-0 run in the second period. David Angelo led with nine points, while John Kozinski chipped in with eight as the Eagles put nine players in the scoring column.

“Defense has been our biggest strength this season, Bishop Shanahan coach Ken Doyle said. “We have really being playing defense very well this season, and tonight with it being Senior Night and everything, we really picked it up on that end of the floor. Our offense sometimes is a work in progress, but our defense has been solid all season. We wanted to end the regular season strong and to win 10 games in the Ches-Mont National is a big accomplishment.”

Leading, 10-9, after one period, Shanahan came out on fire in the second stanza. Center Kevin Dodds got thing rolling as he drove the baseline past two Cougars (6-6, 14-8) for a basket. Downingtown East, which was playing without point guard Malik Slay, who was out with the flu, turned the ball over and Joe O’Malley hit Dodds with a perfect pass for a layup, and it was 14-9.

Another East turnover resulted in O’Malley burying a three-pointer for a 17-9 advantage. Ryan Cahill missed a jumper and the Eagles roared down the floor and O’Malley, who had five assists, hit Angelo in stride for another three-ball to make it 20-9, forcing East coach John Goodman into a timeout to try to stop the floodgates.

“Our defense sets up our offense,” O”Malley said. “And we have been playing good defense all season. Tonight, we wanted to finish the season strong and get ready for the playoffs. All week in practice we had a one-and-done mentality, and we played with that mindset tonight.”

Shanahan had control of the game right there as they went into intermission leading 2716 after shooting 10-for-21.

The Eagles shot a torrid

“We have really being playing defense very well this season, and tonight with it being Senior Night and everything, we really picked it up on that end of the floor. Our offense sometimes is a work in progress, but our defense has been solid all season.” – Bishop Shanahan coach Ken Doyle

19-for-38 for the game. East, meanwhile shot just five-for-21 in the opening half. East could not buy a basket as they missed six layups on the night. It also seemed that Shanahan got every loose ball.

The Eagles were not done scoring yet. John Kozinski hit a jumper to start the second half. East still could not buy a bucket and when Angelo buried his third trey of the night, Shanahan held a 32-16 edge and Goodman tried to stop the run with another timeout.

“It is no secret we have had a very trying month,” Goodman said. “We were ravaged by the flu bug, which included me, but I love my team and next week in district’s, we have a chance to do something no other East team has done and that is win a district game. I still believe this team will bounce back and I love this team.”

Shanahan broke the game open in the third period, outscoring the Cougars, 14-7, to end the period with a commanding 41-23 lead.

Dan DiBeneditto sprung off the Eagles bench to knock down two jumpers, one a three-ball in the fourth period and Thomas Ford had four of his five points in the final frame when the Eagles held the Cougars to just four points.

Shanahan now heads into the Ches-Mont Final Four on Tuesday, where they will face American Division champion Great Valley.

“It is nice to have a team with a lot of guys that can score,” O’Malley said. “If one guy is not having a good night we can pick him up. We are really looking forward to the ChesMont playoffs because it is our first time and we are confident because we are really playing well right now.”