MALVERN, PA – A signature victory. Check that. Another signature victory.
Despite trailing by nine points after three quarters and down by 11 with 6:39 remaining in regulation Tuesday afternoon, Haverford School stunned host Malvern Prep, 69-68, to clinch the Inter-Academic League title.
Final seconds before Haverford School clinches Inter-Ac Title:
The win provided the undefeated Fords (23-0 overall) with their second consecutive 10-0 season (12th time an Inter-Ac team accomplished back-to-back perfect records), and their first repeated crowns since 1957-58; the latter was tied with Malvern.
“We played a lot of prep schools, a lot of fifth-year-guy teams,” said Haverford coach Bernie Rogers. “We try to make the schedule as hard as possible. We faced a lot of different teams with a lot of different aspects of the game. When you play the best, you learn from them.”
While Haverford earned king status this year, Malvern ranked as prince. The Friars are 7-2 with one game remaining, and their only other loss was at a sold-out Haverford School on January 18, a 93-90 defeat that necessitated overtime.
Very similar to the teams’ first meeting, there were 12 lead changes – six in each half. The Fords dominated early, but Malvern trailed by only 17-16. The deficit swelled to 31-27 at halftime.
Then the Friars responded with their best eight minutes of the season. When the third quarter was complete, Malvern had outscored the Fords by 32-19 and led by 59-50. As Malvern’s boisterous student section voiced their approval, the Friars returned to their bench with excitement, but the Fords were understandably subdued.
“It was good for the crowd; it wasn’t good for us,” said Haverford senior Jameer Nelson. “I don’t even know how that happened. They just kept scoring and scoring and scoring, and we had to just cut it.”
Down by 62-52 with less than six minutes left, the Fords seized control.
Steady senior guard Gavin Burke nailed a three pointer. Freshman standout Jameel Brown made a free throw and a basket. Senior star Christian Ray scored from inside. Suddenly, the Fords had trimmed their deficit to 62-60 with four minutes left.
A free throw by Malvern sophomore Fran Oschell (19 points, five rebounds, block, steal) upped the lead to 63-60, but Burke banked in another three to tie the game with 3:08 left. Appearing unstoppable, Haverford forged in front by 68-63 thanks to another basket by Brown and a three by Nelson.
After electric Malvern junior and league scoring champion Deuce Turner (21 points) scored to make it 68-65 with 1:58 remaining, the remainder of the contest turned into a foul-fest, not that either team benefitted, as Malvern converted three of six while Haverford connected on an abysmal one of seven.
But as they have done so often over the past three seasons (65-13 overall record, 27-3 in the Inter-Ac), the Fords held on for a stirring success.
“It was unbelievable,” said Haverford coach Bernie Rogers. “They just kind of played each play and tried not to worry about the score. That’s how you are going to come back.”
Although contributions from Brown (14 points, eight rebounds, two steals, block), Burke (six points, all in the fourth quarter, along with five assists, three rebounds and a steal), Nelson (15 points), and senior Asim Richards (10 points, five rebounds, blocked shot) proved pivotal, Ray was once again Haverford’s catalyst. The reigning league Most Valuable Player balanced his 23 points with six in the first, seven in the second, six in the third, and four in the fourth.
Haverford School senior Jameer Nelson talks about what is takes to go undefeated back-to-back seasons:
Christian Ray said the Fords remained confident despite trailing in the fourth quarter:
Senior Gavin Burke appreciated his team's unselfish approach:
Freshman Jameel Brown lauds his senior teammates:
Ford's head coach Bernie Rodgers analyzes Inter-Ac championship win vs. Malvern Prep:
Of his game-high 14 rebounds, six were produced in the first half, with eight more in the second. He also added a game-best six assists. He also blocked a shot and stole a pass.
Other than that . . .
“Great atmosphere,” said Ray. “It’s always hard (to win) here. We had to fight through it, and that’s what we did. It’s a great feeling.
Haverford School vs. Malvern Prep - Photos by Mike Nance
Haverford School vs. Malvern Prep - Photos by Mike Nance
“We fell down nine, and it was a little scary. I just continued to trust my teammates. One thing at a time. We had to get every rebound. We had to get a score and then get a stop. That’s what we did in the first half.
“We have great underclassmen. A great group of seniors that fight every single day. In practice is where it starts in Coach Rogers’ culture. We play hard in the offseason, we play hard during practices, and it translates into the games.”
Brown credited Haverford School’s “grit and toughness” as the difference maker. Burke, the unselfish stalwart, gets the last word.
“We’ve been working for the past three, four years for this,” he said. “It feels great to do it.”
(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)