NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA – What. A. Game.
In the rich, and somewhat ancient, history of the Inter-Academic League, countless basketball contests have garnered legendary status. Include Friday night’s Episcopal Academy vs. Malvern Prep as one of them.
When it was over, Episcopal’s fans were storming the court to celebrate a riveting 70-69 victory in an event that had more twists and turns than a Harry Potter plot.
“That was really intense,” said a drained Episcopal junior guard Conner Delaney. “Definitely something that will be memorable for all of us.”
It was Delaney who furnished the winning point – a free throw with 10.7 seconds remaining in regulation. Now becoming one of the area’s top point guards, Delaney was arguably the game’s Most Valuable Player. He handled the ball on virtually every EA possession and had nary a turnover. He scored 19 points and dished five assists.
Conner Delaney scores winning basket with 10.7 seconds left
Alikakos being congratulated by coach Conlin
“He’s a tremendous kid,” said Episcopal coach Craig Conlin. “He’s a character kid. Unbelievably bright. I think he scored a 35 out of 36 in the ACT."
“That intelligence carries over onto the court. He makes great decisions. He gets other players involved but he’s not hesitant to score when the situation needs it.”
Delaney admitted that he felt a bit anxious as he stepped to the free-throw line in a tie game with a packed house – probably about 70-30 in favor of the host Friars – intensely watching his every move.
He connected on the first, and then the second, but a lane violation negated the point, and Malvern Prep had a chance to win the game with a basket. But Episcopal’s defense stood the test, and both teams returned to their locker rooms with a 2-1 record in the Inter-Ac.
Episcopal is now 11-5 overall; Malvern Prep 10-7.
“I was definitely nervous,” Delaney said. “I didn’t want to let anyone down. I tried to stay calm and just shoot like I normally do.”
Heading into the game, the most watched player was Delaney’s teammate, junior Nick Alikakos. The 6-foot-, 7-inch forward began the night with 998 career points.
Nick Alikakos scores 1,000th point
With 5:54 remaining in the first quarter, Alikakos sent the Churchmen faithful into a long frenzy when he swished a forward-hand layup and catapulted himself into rare company, as he became the ninth Churchman to accept an invitation to the 1,000-point club.
In a classy move by Malvern Prep, the game was halted momentarily to allow Alikakos’s teammates, coaches, and parents an immediate opportunity to congratulate him for his prestigious achievement.
Later, as his teammates continued to whoop and holler in the locker room, Alikakos described his moment in the spotlight.
“I’m really happy that I did it,” said Alikakos, who ultimately was presented with the souvenir basketball. “It was nice to get it over with early. It was special because I was able to celebrate it with people close to me. Having my family there and being able to give my mom a hug was special.”
Nick Alikakos talks about victory
Alikakos, the Inter-Ac’s leading scorer, finished the evening with 27 points. However, he fouled out with his team leading, 65-59, with 1:36 left in the fourth quarter. The Friars then outscored the Churchmen by 10-5 down the stretch.
According to Conlin and several players, the fact that Episcopal was able to close out the win – despite being without their leading scorer – can render positive dividends down the road.
Nick Alikakos hugs his mom after scoring 1,000th point
“It was a character win,” Conlin said. “It was a great test for us. Malvern did a good job of coming back, but we didn’t get rattled. We have something we call a ‘Next Play’ philosophy, meaning that no matter what happens, good or bad, you put the play behind you and move to the next one.”
The Churchmen appeared to have the win secured. Behind junior guard Jermaine Rhoden rebounding like a man possessed – he finished with a career high 16 – and the scoring of Alikakos, Delaney, and senior guard Matt Woods (11 points overall; six points and 4-for-4 on free throws in the fourth quarter), the Episcopal led, 69-63, with 37.6 seconds remaining.
Then Malvern senior guard Will Powers suddenly supplied a final boost of energy that rocked Malvern’s stately gymnasium. Guarded closely in the backcourt, Powers nailed a three-point heave from college distance to cut the Friars’ deficit to 69-66 with 27.9 seconds left. One possession later, yet another three-pointer from near-NBA range tied the game at 69-69 with 12 ticks remaining.
With the Malvern fans going absolutely berserk, Delaney drew a quick foul, and his free throw supplied the margin of victory.
“It was a tough game to lose,” said Malvern junior guard Tommy Wolfe, whose 19 points were comprised of six field goals – four of which were almost circus-like – and seven free throws. “We got back in it and were in a good position to get a win. I think we’ll be okay.”
As an eighth grader, Wolfe was a teammate of Alikakos on West Chester’s St. Maximilian Kolbe parish basketball team that finished 37-1 and advanced to the state finals before losing to a team from host Pittsburgh.
Malvern's Tommy Wolfe compliments his opponent
“I’m glad for Nick,” said Wolfe. “He’s a great player and always works hard. I’m proud of him for scoring 1,000 points. He deserves it.”
Powers, whose team-high 22 points included 17 in the second half and nine in the fourth quarter, appeared visibly fatigued. Such was the expected aftermath of a two-hour affair that at various stages resembled a free-for-all to the tune of 43 foul calls and an amazingly balanced 57 free throws taken – 29 for Episcopal and 28 for Malvern.
Reminded of his late-game heroics that fell just a tad short, Powers reluctantly talked about himself in first person.
“We try to do what is needed, because no one cares who does the scoring,” said Powers, whose teammate, senior forward Mike Hollingsworth, chipped in with an underrated 13 points, seven of them in the first quarter. “At the end, I shot more because the situation called for it, and I guess I have started to become more of a scorer and maybe don’t shoot enough. I don’t know.”
The two teams will meet again on February 2, this time at Episcopal.
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.)