Coatesville survives West test to make states

CALN » When you go up against a talented team like the Coatesville Red Raiders, you better do a lot of things right and execute well, because otherwise, no matter how hard you play, you will find yourself on the losing end.

Tuesday night, in the second round of the District 1 Class 6A playoffs, Downingtown West battled its heart out for 32 minutes. But 21 turnovers and some missed defensive rebounds were the Whippets’ undoing as Coatesville turned a tie game at the end of the third quarter into a relatively easy 56-46 victory.

The win secures Coatesville a berth in the PIAA playoffs for the first time in four seasons, and sends the fourth-seeded Red Raiders into Friday night’s District 1 quarterfinal, where they will host No. 5 North Penn. The Whippets (15-9) go into the play-

back bracket and will host Hatboro-Horsham Friday also, as Tuesday’s eight losing teams begin the quest for two state bids.

Coatesville sealed the game at the foul line, hitting eight of nine free throws in the final frame, with a six for six showing from freshman Jhamir Brickus being the difference. The talented rookie led all scorers with 21 points and went 11 for 14 from the charity stripe for the game.

“I keep my composure at all times,” Brickus said. “And I just pretend I am at a practice and am the only one in the gym. And to make the state playoffs as a freshman is a great feeling. I am one for one.”

The two teams battled furiously for the first three quarters, ending each period with the game tied. Coatesville did a better job of attacking the Downingtown West zone defense in the second half and won the decisive battle of the boards at both ends.

“These guys have battled all season,” said Coatesville coach Chuck Moore. “To make the state playoffs for the first time since I have been here is a great feeling and a great accomplishment for these kids. I will

go to battle with these guys against anybody and to beat a team three times in one season is tough to do.”

With the game going back and forth with just over five minutes to play, Coatesville (21-4) turned up the pressure defensively again on the Whippets. After Brickus hit one of two free throws to make it a 3837 game, the turnover bug hit the Whippets again. Brickus stripped Wayne Anderson, drove the floor and scored a layup for a 39-38 Coatesville lead. Another West turnover resulted in a Kamau Brickus layup and a 41-38 Coatesville lead.

“Our defense sets up our offense,” said Coatesville sophomore Tione Holmes. “We practiced defense a lot in practice for this game and we thought we could create turnovers. My job is to come off the bench and play tough defense and create offense.”

With the deficit still at three points, Greg Barton went strong to the hole for the Whippets and got fouled. Barton missed both free throws but Matt Carson, who had a big game leading the Whippets with 14 points, put in a follow and it was a 41-40 game. Avery Young rebounded a Coatesville miss and scored on a put back to make it a 4340 game. Jhamir Brickus took a feed after a Whippet jumper misfired and drilled a 3-pointer from the corner to widen the Coatesville lead to 46-40.

However, the Whippets were not done. George Gordon took a pretty feed from Barton and scored in tight to cut the lead to 46-42. After Jhamir Brickus buried two free throws to make it a 48-42 game, West freshman Will howard buried a jumper to make it 48-444 with 3:04 left to play.

After a timeout, Coatesville went four corners to take time off the clock and the Whippets had to foul. That’s when Dapree Bryant and Jhamir Brickus, two Red Raider freshmen, went eight of nine from the line to propel Coatesville into the quarterfinals against North Penn.

Downingtown West coach Stu Ross praised his teams effort but was not pleased with the turnover count.

“I mean the kids played with a lot of grit and heart,” Ross said. “But 21 turnovers and some missed defensive rebounds did us in tonight.’