MALVERN, PA- Losses are never fun. Some are worse than others. They stew in your crawl day after day, and the only medicine is to get back out there and try again.
Last Friday night, Malvern Prep had dropped a 70-69 decision to Episcopal Academy despite coming back from a large deficit to tie the game in the closing seconds. The post-game mood was understandably somber.
“I just want to get back out there,” said senior guard Will Powers, who had tied the game with two long three-point swishes in the final 28 seconds. “This one stings a lot.”
Fast forward to Tuesday afternoon. The Friars greeted visiting Haverford School with a metaphorical scowl. They then conducted a clinic on how to shoot threes.
By the time it was over, Malvern had drilled 16 three-pointers, four players had scored in double figures, and the Friars (11-7 overall, 3-1 Inter-Academic League) were feeling much better after a 75-57 victory that created a three-way tie with Episcopal Academy and Germantown Academy for first place in the Inter-Ac
“We made shots today,” said Powers, whose game-high 22 points left him 34 short of 1,000 career points. “Everyone was focused. We got out early by making shots and we played very good aggressive defensive. We also did not turn the ball over when it mattered.”
Senior guard Mike Narzikul admitted that the aforementioned loss to Episcopal had left the Friars with a sense of urgency.
"Kind of,” said Narzikul. “We knew we couldn't suffer another loss. Really, the team that loses the league will (probably) only have two losses in the league, so losing today would make it that much tougher for us. I think that was our driving force. But each game presents its own challenges, so we prepare and focus for the games the same amount no matter what league team it may be.”
Though some might have figured that Malvern was favored to win, Narzikul said that type of attitude isn’t acceptable because Haverford School can give an opponent fits of frustration.
“The Princeton offense that Haverford runs is very hard to guard,” said Narzikul. “Pressuring the ball can negate a lot of their actions and back-door cuts. Also, communication and weak-side help because without the weak-side help, Haverford and the offense they run can get back-door lay-ups the whole game.”
Malvern’s first 21 points came via seven three-point shots, putting the Fords behind, 26-10, after the first quarter. Although sophomore Kharon Randolph finished with 21 points and senior Jack Marshall added 10, the Fords (6-10, 1-3) were unable to mount a comeback.
“The three ball helped us get out to an early lead and then defensively we knew we needed to apply great ball pressure without fouling,” said Narzikul. “I would say those were the biggest things for the game today, and both of those directly relate to tempo, which is obviously our biggest asset and also something we pride ourselves on. Our number one goal every game is to play at our tempo, and when we do that, we have a shot to win any game.”
While Malvern starters Ray Baran and Mike Hollingsworth scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, sophomore guard Brady Devereaux added a career-best 13 points.
“I was able to play well because of my teammates and their selflessness,” said Devereaux.
“Everybody was working together and I just happened to get a bunch of open looks. As a team nobody played for themselves. We all did our jobs and contributed as much as we could and that's why we were so successful.”
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.)