Malvern Prep Still A Contender For Inter-Ac Title After Victory Over Penn Charter.
PHILADELPHIA, PA-Ever since losing to Germantown Academy on January 22, Malvern Prep has been playing every game as though it were the proverbial do-or-die.
Simple mathematics explains why.
The loss to GA was Malvern’s second in the Inter-Academic League, and because GA and Episcopal have only lost one game apiece, the Friars will be eliminated with a third league loss.
That explains why Malvern exhaled an enormous sigh of relief on January 29 after a close-at-it-looks 65-61 victory against a Penn Charter team that poses as a dangerous spoiler, especially when competing at home.
“We were definitely relieved,” said Malvern senior Mike Narzikul. “Every Inter-Ac game is tough, but especially when you play Penn Charter at home in their beautiful gym. They always play very well at their place.”
The Friars (13-9 overall, 5-2 league) stormed in front, 10-2, but the Quakers (10-7, 2-4) methodically climbed back into contention and eventually snared a 59-58 lead with 2:30 remaining in regulation. With the crowd now sensing an upset, the Friars needed a huge contribution.
To that point, senior Mike Hollingsworth (season-high 16 points), sophomore O’Shaan Alison (11), junior Ray Baran (10), Tommy Wolfe (9), and Narzikul (9) had been supplying the offense. But when the Friars face clutch time, they look to their top scorer, senior Will Powers, to provide heroics.
Despite being double-teamed and ultimately held to 10 points, Powers converted a highlight-reel three-point play, and Malvern regained the lead at 61-59. Three defensive stops, along with three free throws, clinched the triumph.
“It was big,” said Powers, who one game earlier had scored his 1,000th career point. “Every game is like a championship for us. We have no margin for error.”
Although daunting, Powers enjoys the anxiety.
“We can’t take anything lightly,” he said. “Every possession means something. It makes it so much more fun.”
Malvern Prep's Mike Narzikul's Strong Offense Dominates Scoring 2 of Total 9 Game Points -photo by Zamani Feelings
Malvern Prep's Will Powers "Powers" Through Penn Charter's Defense to Regain Lead -photo by Zamani Feelings
Malvern Prep's Mike Hollingsworth Scores a Season-High 16 Points -photo by Zamani Feelings
Narzikul complimented the Quakers on their all-around performance.
“They out-toughed us in the third quarter, getting to loose balls and things like that,” he said. “They’re bigger and stronger than we are, and because their defense was very good, we had to make threes in transition. We sent through stretches when we didn’t play as a unit, and we have to play as a unit to be successful.”
Malvern has an enormous opportunity to, at minimum, tie for the Inter-Ac title. The Friars visit Episcopal Academy tomorrow (3:45). On February 5, they visit Haverford School. The season finale is on February 9 at Germantown Academy. If they Friars win their final three games, and the winner of the Germantown Academy vs. Episcopal Academy game scheduled for February 5 loses another game, then Malvern would win the league outright.
“One game at a time,” said Narzikul.
Penn Charter junior Adam Holland, who scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds, was encouraged by his squad’s ability to come back after its lackluster start.
Because he is one of four underclassman starters, along with junior Mike Hnatkowsky (10 points), junior Dylan Burnett (11 points and 9 rebounds), and sophomore Mason Williams (14 points), Holland notices silver linings in defeat.
“Our coach (Jim Phillips) has done a great job with the younger guys,” said Holland. “We were 4 and 21 last year. The program has been transformed, and each win, loss, and practice helps build us.
“This game tested us, and we’ve had some other tough losses that were tests, but they are educational losses. I’m glad I’ll be back to see what happens next year.”
In the meantime, the Quakers will attempt to make life difficult for Germantown Academy tomorrow. They close out with a visit to Springside-Chestnut Hill and a home contest against Haverford School.
“When I was a freshman, we beat Haverford School at the end of the year and knocked them out of contention for the championship and Germantown Academy won it,” said Holland. “The idea is to play every game hard. Just get better every day.”
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.)
