Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Gym Dandy: Best of the best of the last 20 years
Covering as many Chester County basketball games as I have over the last 20 years, I always think that some home teams have an advantage over visiting tams just by the sheer exuberance of the home fans. And don’t think that many teams’ runs are not aided by the roar of the home crowd.
Here are the top five home court advantages I have witnessed on area hardwoods.
1
OXFORD (OLD) >> The Hornets’ former gym, which gave way to the new spacious home six years ago, was a true pit, in the coziest sense of the word. First of all, it may very well have been the hottest place on Earth, and I truly think then-coach Sean Harvey had the heat cranked up on purpose.
When the Hornets were one of the better teams in the state, the fans used to bang on the heating grates at the top of the stands, and when Oxford got on a roll, that place was defeating.
2
COATESVILLE >> The Red Raiders’ Ross Kershey Gymnasium is a very intimidating trip for visiting teams. Not only does the place have the history of so many wins, the home crowd is boisterous and rails at every call that goes against the Red Raiders. Coatesville also always has one of he better student sections in the area.
With the Red Raiders sitting at 16-1, and at the top of the District 1 Class 6A playoff point race, the gym has become the best current homecort advantage in the area.
3
BISHOP SHANAHAN >> The Eagles’ gym is not that large, but it feels like every noise is amplified 10 times over. The place really rocks when Shanahan plays one of the Downingtowns or Coatesville. The stands are right on the court, and every inbounds pass feels like the players are in the first row of bleachers. A true home court advantage.
4
DOWNINGTOWN WEST >> What Wagner Gymnasium may lack in intimacy, it makes up for in size and volume. The stands are huge, and when both sides of the court are full, it can be as loud as a Sixers game. The Whippets usually have a big student section that only adds to the atmosphere.
5
WEST CHESTER EAST >> Jack Byrne Gymnasium, the Vikings’ new home, serves as a suitable replacement for the old East bandbox, which more closely resembled a broom closest. Byrne Gymnasium is not that large, but the acoustics serve as a loud reminder to the visiting team that they are not welcome. A good student section for East also serves as an asset to the home team.
*** Well, there are my five best home court advantages over the last 20 years. Feel free to email me your picks
*** Last week we had a story on the first all-black basketball team in the Ches-Mont League from West Chester Henderson. I wanted to note that a year earlier, Coatesville coach Ross Kershey fielded a black starting five in 1967-68, but had white players on the bench. My apologies for any confusion.