BOYS BASKETBALL: La Salle hits free throws down stretch to close out Conwell-Egan

FAIRLESS HILLS — Practice pays off.

After not getting off to the best start from the free-throw line across the first month of the season, La Salle emphasized foul shots at practice. Against Conwell-Egan Monday night, free throws helped the Explorers close out a win.

La Salle went 11-for-14 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and picked up its first Philadelphia Catholic League win of the season over Conwell-Egan, 56-50, at Conwell-Egan Catholic High School.

“(Free throws have) been something we’ve been working on,” La Salle coach Ryan Ansel said. “If you look at the percentages, we’ve struggled at the line at times, so it was good to see when we needed to, in a battle, we were able to knock them down and create separation.”

“We’ve been keying in on free throws at practice,” La Salle junior guard Tyler Branson said. “We’ve just been trying to get better as a team at shooting free throws. Usually I get to the line a lot, but the past few games it’s been hard. I know when I get to the line to take my time and knock them down, especially in the clutch moments.”

The Explorers (1-1 PCL) scored their final 10 points of the game from the free-throw line. They led, 46-45 with 2:11 remaining, when Branson stepped to the charity striped and knocked down two shots. He went 6-for-6 on foul shots down the stretch while Pryce Alston was 1-for-2, Max Okebata 1-for-2 and Nick Neri 2-for-2.

Alston put the Explorers in front for good when he split a pair of free throws with 1:34 left to give La Salle a 49-48 lead. Conwell-Egan came up empty on its next three possessions while Branson and Okebata made it 54-48 from the free-throw line. That score held until the final three seconds of the game.

La Salle’s defense held Conwell-Egan scoreless on five of six possessions from the 3:42 mark of the fourth quarter until there were just 2.4 seconds on the clock.

“Down the stretch when we needed to we turned it around,” Ansel said of the defense. “After that one blunder (allowing an offensive rebound), we were able to box out, rebound and hold the ball. Not get too sped up and turn it over.”

Branson and Alston led La Salle with 12 points apiece. They drew fouls consistently throughout the night, which led to three Conwell-Egan starters fouling out in the fourth quarter.

“Down the stretch they didn’t have their guys they wanted to go to,” Ansel said. “As a coach, I know how tough it is to have reserves in and try to call something on the fly and save your timeouts. I thought (getting those guys in foul trouble) was important for us down the stretch.”

The Explorers also got a big boost from their bench. Nathan Walsh, who was the 10th man into the game, grabbed a steal and beat the buzzer before halftime to send La Salle to the locker room with a 23-21 lead. Patrick Flaherty hit a three-pointer to end the third quarter and made a basket to start the fourth to make it 41-35 La Salle. Ryan Damon hit two shots, including a transition layup early in the fourth to give La Salle a three-point lead.

“They’re always ready,” Branson said. “In practice, they always play hard. Pat, Nate. Damon – he always crashes hard and gets the boards offensively and he puts them back. Pat is a great shooter when he shoots the ball, so we tell him to be ready to shoot. Nate, when he gets in, he’s a good scorer. He came in and did what he’s supposed to do.”

Jasir Ross led Conwell-Egan (0-2 PCL) with 12 points. Dominic Dorsey, Myles Moore and Justin Bobb – the three players who fouled out – scored 10, nine and eight points, respectively.

PCL play continues Friday when La Salle hosts Devon Prep. Conwell-Egan remains at home against Cardinal O’Hara.

La Salle 56, Conwell-Egan 50

La Salle 8 15 16 17 – 56

Conwell-Egan 13 8 14 15 – 50

LS: Tyler Branson 2 7-8 12, Max Okebata 2 3-6 7, Nick Neri 0 3-4 3, Jaxson Carroll 4 0-0 9, Pryce Alston 5 2-3 12, Patrick Flaherty 2 0-0 5, Jayden Carr 0 0-0 0, Ryan Reing 1 0-0 2, Ryan Damon 2 0-0 4, Nathan Walsh 1 0-0 2. Total 19 15-21 56.

CE: Dominic Dorsey 3 3-3 10, Jasir Ross 4 3-5 12, Myles Moore 3 3-5 9, Matthew Tollerson-Irby 1 0-2 2, Justin Bobb 4 0-0 8, Cole Zalewski 3 0-0 7, Jared Velez 1 0-0 2. Total 19 9-15 50.

3-point goals: LS: Jaxson Carroll, Tyler Branson, Patrick Flaherty. CE: Dominic Dorsey, Jasir Ross, Cole Zalewski.