Germantown Academy Boys' Basketball Secures Inter-Ac Title
MALVERN, PA- After defeating Episcopal on February 5 and clinching at least a share of the Inter-Academic League boys’ basketball championship, it was impossible to find a Germantown Academy player or coach who was satisfied with that scenario.
“It’s great to guarantee at least a tie, but we want more,” junior Kyle McCloskey said then. “We will take this win, enjoy it, and then immediately think about Malvern Prep.”
On Thursday afternoon, McCloskey and his teammates travelled to Malvern for their Inter-Ac season finale against a Friars team that had lost two straight but, though eliminated from title contention, still viewed this game as an opportunity to sabotage Germantown Academy.
Playing perhaps their best eight minutes of the season, the Patriots overwhelmed the Friars (14-12 overall, 5-5 league) by a surreal 26-13 in the second quarter, led comfortably at halftime, 42-26, and managed the game the remainder of the way for a 68-56 triumph.
In winning its 23rd basketball title, Germantown Academy (21-5 overall, 9-1 league) thus became the first Inter-Ac team to win four consecutive crowns since Penn Charter took five straight from 1940 through 1944. Over the past four seasons, the Patriots’ record vs. Inter-Ac foes is a scary 37-3.
For GA coach Jim Fenerty, his 16th overall title tied him with Penn Charter legend Duke Taylor for all-time championships; his 12th outright title tied him with the equally legendary Dan Dougherty (10 with Episcopal Academy and two with Malvern Prep).
“We really played as a team and everything was clicking,” said McCloskey, whose unstoppable performance included 26 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocked shots. “It was our goal to not go into this game complacent with a tie for the league title; we wanted it for ourselves.
“I'm just really proud of how my team played tonight and incredibly happy that our seniors can go out four for four and not have to share this title. It was a great team effort.”
Also starring for the victorious Patriots were junior Evan-Eric Longino (18 points, eight rebounds) and senior Devon Goodman (16 points, six assists).
GA Secures Inter-Ac Title With Win Over Malvern Prep -photos by Mimi McCloskey
"It feels amazing to win the Inter-Ac outright,” said Goodman. “Coming into the year, we realized how special of an opportunity we had to win four titles in a row, but we knew it wasn't going to be easy. No GA team before us has ever won four in a row, so we wanted to make history, especially the seniors. Ever since freshman year, we told ourselves that we were gonna win four, and we did; I wouldn't have wanted to get it with any other groups of guys."
Senior Gabe Alter agreed.
“It wouldn't have felt the same as the last three years if we shared this one,” said Alter. “We wanted to make sure we finished strong. We were all ready. It was the biggest game of the year for us. None of us were content with sharing with (Episcopal), and the coaching staff made sure that we were ready to bring intensity from the gate and execute our stuff.”
Alter, whose battles with serious injuries cost him two seasons, was grateful.
“This was something that was very important to me,” he said. “I needed to accomplish this to try and give back to my school that has given so much to me. I left a note in my phone after we won the Inter-Ac last year saying that I needed to do everything I could to help bring this to my school this year, and I'm glad I was able to help give back to GA in that way.”
Up next for the Patriots- the 2016 Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association Tournament where they are set to play this Friday against No. 14 seed Germantown Friends School.
In the meantime, they will continue to bask on a historic season.
Kudos for a job done really, really well.
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.)