Photos: Krystal Williams
By: Josh Abrams
PHILADELPHIA – Ask La Salle head coach Ashley Howard about Saturday afternoon’s classic Big 5 non-conference finale against city-rival Penn, and he’ll keep it short but straight to the point.
“A war,” the Explorer-leader expressed. “That’s what the Big 5 is, always. We got our first Big 5 win of the year, an opportunity to build momentum on winning two games in a row.”
The first six minutes of the contest indicated that it would be an onslaught in favor of the Explorers as two of their local products got the scoring going early. Jhamir Brickus (Coatesville) and Clifton Moore (Hatboro Horsham) each tallied six early points to jumpstart the Explorer offense out to a 14-5 lead at the first media timeout.
Penn head coach Steve Donahue would use that timeout to bring in four of his bench players, leaving leading scorer on the season Jordan Dingle as the lone starter. When La Salle junior Josh Nickelberry hit his first three of the game to make it 22-7, the change seemed to be all for naught. But the Quakers would not surrender this early. Dingle and Jonah Charles sparked two different 7-0 runs to cut the deficit down to 24-22. Dingle, Penn’s leading scorer on the season, had the attention of Howard most likely from the moment he started preparing for this game.
“Going into the game we made the decision to focus on (Dingle),” said Howard. “Our game plan was to contain him as best as we could. We didn’t want to let him be the one to beat us, and I thought we did a good job of that.”
La Salle vs. Penn - Highlights by Josh Abrams:
Understandably so; the sophomore guard came into today’s game averaging just over 20 points per game on a pretty efficient 44 percent FG. And even with the Explorer defense holding him to a modest 12 points on just 4-12 FG, the Quakers would not go away. After a Christian Ray (Haverford School) tip-in layup gave La Salle an eight point advantage with seven minutes left in the first half, Michael Moshkovitz and Jelani Williams helped keep Penn around, pacing the team in scoring to end the first half and keep La Salle’s lead at five.
Howard gave a lot of praise and credit to Donahue for making the adjustments that he made throughout the game, particularly the aforementioned subbing of four of his five starters.
“We had that stretch where we started off the game really hot, they made subs and then Jonah Charles and (Jordan) Dingle drilled some threes. Then after that (Michael) Moshkovitz hit a three and I think that was his first one all year,” said Howard.
It most definitely was. The 6’7” forward born in Jerusalem hit his first three pointer of the season in a crucial Big 5 match-up that left nothing out of the realm of possibility.
“Just typical Big 5 ball where anything can happen,” said Howard. “The guy who hasn’t made a three all year is finally going to make one, the guy who’s been struggling from beyond the arc comes off the bench and scores 18 (in reference to Jonah Charles).”
The Explorers’ biggest test of the game would come in the second half. A 19-10 Quaker run gave Penn a 54-50 lead, one they hadn’t held since 2-0 to start the game. The lead for Donahue’s squad grew to seven with just over 14 minutes on the scoreboard after a George Smith three-point-play. It was a welcome sight for a head coach trying to guide an inexperienced team through a now-six-game losing streak amongst other struggles.
“We’ve had a really rough stretch through these first 13 games,” said Donahue. “A lot of games away from home for a group of players with little-to-no court experience. But today I thought we fought back and getting defensive stops turned out to be our best offense.”
Anwar Gill, who paced both teams with seven assists, scored the next four points for La Salle and assisted Moore on an and-one layup, which tied the game at 57. It’s a connection that sits very well for the latter.
Post Game Interview with La Salle head coach Ashley Howard - Video by Josh Abrams:
Post Game Interview with Penn head coach STEVE DONAHUE - Video by Josh Abrams:
“It’s been great,” said Moore. “He’s just such a great driver and defenses have to respect that. It makes it tough on them because either they help off (of his driving) and leave me open or it’s an easy bucket for him.”
Ray, a standout 2019 graduate from the Haverford School, tied the ballgame up at 67 with his second three pointer of the contest. From there it was the Explorers who held onto the lead for good. Gill and Moore connected yet again, and Brickus had two huge buckets down the stretch to help La Salle cushion its lead to 5 at the last media timeout.
A constant all afternoon, Penn hung tough and even got within a possession after Dingle nailed his fourth three-pointer of the game to cut it 76-74. A final look from the corner nearest his bench fell off the side of the rim, Moore secured the rebound and the Explorers held on.
“Once we got down 7 I thought we did a really great job of locking in on the defensive end and rebounding as a team. Hats off to Steve (Donahue), man. He’s got a really great team,” said Howard.
Donahue knows how rough his team has had it so far this season but he also knows that it can’t be the excuse every time out.
La Salle vs. Penn - PSD Gallery by Krystal Williams
“We have to be more physical. Our defense needs to be more physical especially. I thought we competed for a long stretch, enough to get us back in it. But they sensed our attentiveness and that ultimately made the difference. If we want to make a run at an Ivy (League) Championship we’re going to have to be much better overall on the defensive end,” said Donahue.
The Explorers improve to 5-4 with the win and travel to Bucknell next Saturday. The Quakers fall to 3-10 on the season and will shift their focus to final exams; their next game will be a much-desired home game versus James Madison on December 28, concluding their non-conference schedule.