WYNDMOOR, PA – No one expected La Salle High School’s basketball team to be 17-0 overall and 10-0 in the Catholic League, but facts are facts.
If anyone questioned the Explorers’ grittiness, it was answered January 24 in their 64-59 victory over visiting Bonner-Prendergast.
LCHS vs. MBAP - PSD Photos by Kathy Leister
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LCHS vs. MBAP - Photos by Kathy Leister
“There was a lot of hype going into this game,” said La Salle senior Titus Beard. “A lot of people were saying that we hadn’t played good teams.”
Even though Bonner-Prendergast senior star Isaiah Wong picked up his second foul only 3:04 into the first quarter and sat on the bench for the remainder of the first half, the Friars (13-3, 7-2) outscored the Explorers by 14-5 in the second quarter to take a 38-24 lead into halftime.
A comeback appeared way too steep a mountain, but the Explorers retained their poise.
“In the locker room, we said one possession at a time,” said Beard. “Can’t get it all back at once. Have to say focused and get a stop, score and get a stop, and stay with that mentality.”
Little by little, the Explorers crept closer. Entering the fourth quarter, B-P’s lead had shrunk to 45-42, and La Salle’s boisterous student body had definitely become the “sixth man.”
In the fourth, the energetic Explorers seized control. They scored the first nine to take a 51-45 lead, one they would not relinquish. Undaunted, the Friars hung around and only trailed by 62-59 with 12 seconds left. But senior Allen Powell swished two free throws with 10.5 seconds remaining to clinch the victory.
“Team defense and trying to get stops every possession, and getting good shots on offense over and over again,” said La Salle coach Mike McKee. “That was the formula. It’s not easy to do that, but there was a big difference between the first half and the second half. Give Bonner a lot of credit for that. They were really prepared to play. They really got after us in the first half.”
McKee’s players enthusiastically commandeered the “formula.” La Salle’s 45-35 advantage in the second half paved double-digit scoring by Powell (23 points) and senior Konrad Kiszka (14 along with eight rebounds), and key contributions by senior Zach Crisler (eight points, five rebounds, two assists), senior Kahlil Diarrah (eight points), Beard (six points, five assists), and junior Jake Timby (five points).
For Bonner-Prendergast, Wong led with 13 points, followed by senior Chris Haynes’ 11, Tariq Ingraham’s nine, and eight apiece by senior Mike Perretta and junior Tyreese Watson (four assists).
La Salle senior Allen Powell discusses big win over Bonner-Prendergast:
La Salle senior Zach Crisler said the Explorers take everything one game at a time:
La Salle head coach Mike McKee was pleased with the Explorer's performance:
(Video Interviews by John Knebels)
“We chipped away possession by possession and ended up making our free throws down the stretch,” said Crisler. “We were younger (last year) and we were in a lot of tight games our schedule didn’t show how good we really were. We were losing a lot of games at the end, but I think maturity really plays a part with a lot of seniors on the team. They show a lot of poise. We handle the ball, and we make our free throws.”
La Salle senior Allen Powell clinches the victory with two free throws late in the fourth quarter:
Closing seconds of La Salle's 64-59 victory over Bonner-Prendergast:
(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter@jknebels.)