Cheltenham Falls to Top-Seeded Methacton in District Title Game

Photos provided courtesy of Richard Owens. Check back for a gallery of photos.

District One 6A Final

#1 METHACTON 73, #3 CHELTENHAM 48

Less than two minutes remained in the opening quarter of Saturday’s district title game when Jeff Woodward, Methacton’s 6-9 center, converted an easy layup in close, giving the Warriors a 16-4 lead.

“All day,” a Warrior fan shouted.

And it was a scenario that was repeated too often for the Panthers, who spent the game trying to dig their way out of an early hole. It didn’t happen, and the top-seeded Warriors certainly had something to do with that, executing with precision, burying shots and taking it to the Panthers.

“It’s not how we wanted to end February,” Cheltenham coach Patrick Fleury said. “It’s humbling for me to understand there’s a lot more work to do.

“I blame myself – I feel like I could have put them in better positions. They played hard, very hard. We just didn’t make shots that I felt we normally could make.”

Jaelen McGlone brought his team within striking distance. His three made it a 16-7 game, but Methacton senior Erik Timko answered with a three in the closing seconds of the first quarter, giving the Warriors a 19-7 advantage.

Back-to-back baskets by McGlone to open the second quarter – including a three – pulled the Panthers to within seven, 19-12, but Woodward converted a three-point play out of a Methacton timeout, and the Warriors began to once again extend their lead.

The Warriors took a 43-21 lead into halftime and added to that advantage in the third quarter. The Panthers held a 17-14 edge in the fourth quarter, battling to the final horn.

“Coming into the game, our guys knew they had to be ready to go because Cheltenham has had a great season – they really defend at a high level,” Methacton coach Jeff Derstine said. “I’m just proud of how our guys came out and handled that.”

Fleury’s message to his team after the game was simple.

“Turn to, not on,” the Panthers’ coach said. “Obviously, everybody is upset about what just happened. For us, there’s more improvement we need to do, which is a good thing. It’s just going back to the drawing board.

“They obviously are a very good team – hats off to them. For us, I think we just came out flat. We got one run and we never really got another one.”

Timko’s 27 points, which included three 3-pointers, led the Warriors. Woodward – bound for Colgate University – finished with 20 points.

“He played very well,” Fleury said of Woodward. “They were patient with him. They use him as a facilitator as much as a scorer. He’s 250, and Dave Pope is 6-6, 160, a 100-pound difference, but that wasn’t the thing in the game.

“Obviously, he helps them a great deal. He changes their dynamic a great deal, but he graduates next year. I still got some in the tank so we’ll see.”

McGlone (11 points) and Travis Coleman (10) were the lone Panthers in double figures. Justin Moore added eight points.

“We have to turn out attention to the state tournament,” Fleury said. “The one thing that’s good for us is we’re still playing.

“Now it’s really one-and-done. I hope the loss burns enough that we don’t want to feel it anymore for the remainder of the year. Other than that, we just go back to the drawing board. I’ve just got to be better and I will be. They played hard. For all my kids – I’m super proud of every one of them. “

Cheltenham (24-4, 14-0 SOL) will face District XI’s fourth place team – Easton – in Saturday’s opening round of the PIAA 6A Tournament.

Game Summary brought to you by

Methacton            19 24 16 14 – 73

Cheltenham           7 14 10 17 – 48

Methacton (73) – Owen Kropp 2 2-2 6, Brett Eberly 1 0-0 3, Brett Byrne 3 0-0 7, Erik Timko 11 2-2 27, Jeff Woodward 9 2-4 20, Cole Hargrove 3 0-0 9, Mike Merola 0 1-2 1. Totals: 29 7-10 73

Cheltenham (48) – Travis Coleman 4 2-3 10, Brandon Scott 2 1-2 3, Justin Moore 4 0-0 8, Jaelen McGlone 4 0-0 11, Sean Emfinger 1 0-0 2, Rasheem Dearry 1 0-0 3, Saleem Payne 1 0-0 3, Brandon Hawkins 2 0-1 4, Brandon Bush 0 2-2 2. Totals: 19 5-8 48

3-pointers: Methacton – Timko 3, Hargrove 3, Eberly, Byrne; Cheltenham – McGlone 3, Dearry, Payne