Downingtown West boys basketball team stands tall against West Chester Henderson

By Peter DiGiovannipdgiovanni07@gmail.com

DOWNINGTOWN – Thursday night at Wagner Gymnasium, the host Downingtown West boys basketball team used its height advantage to good use as the Whippets opened Ches-Mont National Division play with a 65-51 win over West Chester Henderson.

The Whippets (1-0 Ches-Mont, 2-2 overall) were led by senior star Donovan Fromhartz, who poured in a game high 27 points to go along with eight rebounds. Fromhartz drained 20 of those points in the first half when West opened up a 33-20 lead at halftime.

Brady Moore added 18 points for the Whippets, while Jayre Thomas led the Warriors (0-2, 3-3) with 20 points.

“We knew we had a size advantage at every position so we got the ball inside as much as we could,” Fromhartz said. “Then, we were able to kick the ball out and hit jump shots. We made some mistakes tonight but it is better to play like this early in the season rather than late in the year. We can watch film and get better.”

The Whippets shot 24 for 45 from the field and controlled the glass all night they did turn the ball over 17 times. With a 13 point halftime lead, the Whippets came out fast in the third period.

Moore scored the first six points in the first minute of the third period. The Whippets lead grew to 39-20 after Moore’s outburst.

“I wanted to come out fast in the second half and grow the lead for us,” Moore said. “And they were all inside baskets because we knew we had the size on our side tonight.”

Down by 19 points, the Warriors fought back gamely. After Thomas drained a 3-pointer, the Whippets lead was down to 41-28.

But, the Warriors, who turned the ball over 16 times on the night could not get the Whippets lead under 10 points. After three periods, the Whippets still held a 47-34 advantage.

The lead was sliced to 47-37 after Gabe Reinheimer hit two free throws right at the beginning of the fourth period. But Moore scored on a follow to make it a 49-37 game with just over six minutes to play in the fourth period.

The Whippets grew the lead to 55-41 when Cole Bricker scored two straight baskets and the Warriors turned the ball over twice to set up Bricker’s baskets. The Warriors shot just 17 for 55 from the field on the night, hampering their comeback chances.

Moore excited the crowd with a slam dunk and after a Warriors miss, Fromhartz scored in tight and the Whippets lead was up to 59-43 with just 3:52 to play and the Warriors comeback attempt was done for this night.

“We made a lot of mistakes tonight,” West coach Stu Ross said. “It is early in the season and we are using a lot of guys in situations. We are a work in progress but a win is always a good thing. We will put the pieces of the puzzle together.”

Downingtown West 65, WC Henderson 51

WC HENDERSON (51) Thomas 7 4-9 20, Pierce 1 0-1 2, Wesley 1 3-3 5, Cherup 0 0-0 0, DeLucia 1 3-4 5, Reinheimer 0 2-2 2, Manion 0 0-0 0, Doka-Chandler 2 0-2 4, Ranalli 53-6 13. Totals 17 15-28-51.

DOWNINGTOWN WEST (65) Critchley 1 0-0 2, Raines 1 1-2 3, Hicklin 0 1-2 1, Cannon 1 0-0 2, Whitfield 0 0-0 0, Kimble 1 0-0 2, Moore 6 6-8 18, Ross 0 0-0 0, Weisher 0 3-4 3, Bricker 2 0-0 4, Staz 1 0-0 3, Fromhartz 11 4-4 27. Totals 24 15-18-65.

WC Henderson         8 12 14 17-51Downingtown West  19 14 14 18-653-point goals: Thomas 2, Staz, Fromhartz.