Coatesville comeback falls short

CHELTENHAM » The Cheltenham boys basketball team held off a furious second-half comeback from Jhamir Brickus and Coatesville to earn its first trip to the District 1 Class 6A semifinals in three seasons.

Brickus scored 23 of his gamehigh 30 points after halftime as the No. 6 seeded Red Raiders cut a 15-point deficit in the third down to one in the fourth but the No. 3 Panthers got just enough late baskets, stops and free throws to hold on and claim a 68-61 second round victory Friday night.

“We just had to make sure we stayed focused,” Cheltenham senior Jaelen McGlone said. “We had the lead, we had to make sure we didn’t lose the lead. We made the foul shots and the crowd kept us in it and we was cool from there.”

McGlone scored 16 of his team-high 22 points in the first half while Justin Moore added 16 points for the Panthers (23-3), who advance to face No. 7 Bensalem – a 51-43 winner over No. 18 Downingtown East – in the district semifinals 6 p.m. Tuesday at Temple University’s Liacouras Center. Top-seeded Methacton takes on No. 4 Chester in the other semi at 7:30 p.m.

It is Cheltenham first semifinal appearance since 2017 when its bid to reach the final was stopped by Coatesville.

“It’s great,” McGlone said. “Knowing that we lost to Coatesville a couple years ago at Temple, it’s good to get the redemption back.”

John Proctor added 11 points for the Red Raiders (18-7), who were looking to make their second straight district semifinal. Coatesville now hosts Downingtown East Tuesday in playbacks for PIAA seeding.

“You can’t dig yourself a 12-point deficit against a good team, that’s a tough grind then coming back,” Red Raiders coach Marc Turner said. “I give Cheltenham credit, they did what they do. I think our guys really fought particularly hard in the second half, playing with a lot of effort and a couple of balls rimmed out that I would of wished gone in but that’s the way it works sometimes.” Moore’s three-point play with 3.3 seconds left in the second quarter gave the Panthers a 35-23 lead at halftime. Cheltenham extended its advantage to 15 three times in the third – the last time at 45-20 after a Brandon Scott basket.

Brickus, however, got hot in the third, scoring all 14 of Coatesville’s points in the quarter, including a 7-0 run to pull Coatesville within 45-37.

“He was just more aggressive,” said Turner of Brickus. “Our team was looking for him so that helps. You got to understand he’s our best player, we’re going to go as far as he’s going to take us.”

Cheltenham still led 4837 entering the fourth but Coatesville’s full-court defense frustrated the Panthers and the Red Raiders scored the first eight points of the final period – pulling within 48-45 on two Proctor free throws at 5:57.

An Abdul Stewart threepoint play at 3:25 had the Raiders down 55-52 at 3:25 and after a Panthers free throw at 3:05 Dapree Bryant’s three-point play off a drive down the lane made it 56-55 with 2:56 left.

“Just for us it’s our defensive intensity,” Turner said. “I thought we picked it up, that’s who we are. And again you just can’t wait until the second half to do that.”

Two missed Cheltenham free throws gave Coatesville a chance to take the lead but Brickus was off on a three and the Panthers got the ball after a jump ball. Travis Coleman connected on a pull-up jumper for a 58-55 Cheltenham edge.

Bryant’s try for a gametying triple missed and after a Cheltenham turnover, Bryant could not convert inside and on his effort for the offensive rebound was called for a foul on Sean Emfinger, who hit two at the line at 1:27 to make it 60-55.

“We just got rushed out of our game and we weren’t taking our time,” Moore said. “We like to play a fastpaced game but smart at the same time. We just had to lock in.”

Coatesville was within 60-57 after Jaeden Brickus hit the first of two from the line at 1:11. With 1:04, Moore was fouled – he made the first, missed the second but McGlone grabbed the rebound and scored, putting Cheltenham up 63-57.

“Every time we shot a foul shot, I try to get the rebound,” McGlone said. “Extra two points, extra steal, any extra possession could help us in the long run.”

Jhamir Brickus scored to make it 63-60 before a Moore free throw at 29.1 had the Panthers leading by four. Jhamir Brickus was fouled at 20.3 seconds and hit the second from the line but Moore proceeded to connect on his two fouls shots at 14.7 for a 66-61 advantage.

An Emfinger dunk in the final seconds sealed the Panthers’ victory.

After holding a 14-11 lead at the end of the first quarter, Cheltenham started to take control of the contest in the next eight minutes. Seven straight points capped by a McGlone 3-pointer off an inbounds had the Panthers up 23-15.

After a Proctor basket made it 27-21, two from Coleman and a McGlone triple pushed the lead to 3221. Jhamir Brickus pulled the Raiders within nine but Moore drove to the lane for two and was fouled with 3.3 seconds. He hit the free throw for the 3-point play and sent Cheltenham into halftime leading 35-23.