NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA – After one of this past weekend’s Inter-Academic League boys’ basketball games, a brief discussion centered on whether or not any team could beat Germantown Academy. The majority view was that, because of the intense rivalries among the six schools, going undefeated would be a Herculean feat.
The majority knew what they were talking about.
On Tuesday afternoon at Episcopal Academy, the Churchmen became the first squad to hand GA a loss. Behind junior forward Nick Alikakos’s 28 points and 10 rebounds, and a host of other major – and less-obvious – contributions, Episcopal scratched out a 58-56 victory.
Episcopal's Nick Alikakos scores two of his 28 points. - photo courtesy of Shannon Conlin
Heading into this weekend, Episcopal (12-5 overall), Germantown Academy (14-5), and Malvern Prep (11-7) are tied for first place in the Inter-Ac with 3-1 records.
Episcopal's Matt Woods connects on one of his three-point shots. - photo courtesy of Shannon Conlin
“I’m so proud of our program,” said Episcopal coach Craig Conlin. “We learned great lessons from the Penn Charter loss (52-36, in the Inter-Ac opener on January 8). We have fought back into first place. We realize we can beat everyone in the Inter-Ac, but we also know we could lose to everyone if we don't put forth maximum effort.”
Aside from gaudy numbers from Alikakos, junior guard Conner Delaney (eight points, 11 assists), and senior guard Matt Woods (12 points on four three-point shots), Conlin credited senior guard Kyle Sacchetta’s outstanding, blue-collar defense on GA senior Devon Goodman, who entered with a scoring average of 19 points but was held to 12.
Conlin also lauded his assistant coaches for their game-plan strategy, as well as EA’s unselfish and focused role players.
“It was all about ‘team,’” he said.
The Churchmen led by 18-15 after one quarter, 32-25 at halftime, and 46-38 after three, but the Patriots went to a four-guard lineup that, said GA coach Jim Fenerty, “gave us greater energy.”
Episcopal's Matt Woods dribbles as he plans his next move. - photo courtesy of Shannon Conlin
Eventually, the Patriots took a one-point lead, but EA’s solid free-throw late in the fourth quarter helped the Churchmen prevail.
“There’s never a ‘good loss,’ but we can learn from this,” said Fenerty. “You can't spot good teams a quarter or a half. You have to bring your ‘A’ game to win in this league.”
Fenerty was eloquent in defeat.
“Episcopal and Craig did a great job today,” Fenerty said.
Alikakos appreciated Fenerty’s brief, but glowing, assessment.
“Playing hard and playing good team defense were most important,” said Alikakos. “I think the win (a 70-69 thriller at Malvern Prep on January 15) gave us momentum, and we knew going into this game that if we lost, we probably would kill our chances at an Inter-Ac title, so we treated it like a championship game.”
In defeat, junior forward Evan-Eric Longino led the Patriots with 21 points and junior guard Kyle McCloskey added 11. Germantown Academy plays host to Malvern Prep 7:30 PM Friday; simultaneously, Episcopal visits Springside-Chestnut Hill.
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com)