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Out of the many takeaways West York can pull from this season, the one that sticks out most is growth.
Coach Garrett Bull witnessed it firsthand. The Bulldogs, despite a relatively young roster, never stopped growing into themselves and their capabilities as a squad.
Their achievements speak for themselves. West York split a regular season YAIAA Division II title, reached the district semifinals, won its first state playoff game since 2007 and stood as the lone YAIAA team in the playoff picture ahead of its Class 5A state quarterfinal against Hershey at Northern York.
And although Hershey delivered a 57-46 blow that ended West York's run in the state tournament, that won't take away from its accomplishments.
Vote: Vote now! Choose your 2024-25 GameTimePA boys basketball Player of the Year
Vote: Vote now! Select your 2024-25 GameTimePA YAIAA girls basketball Player of the Year
"Out of all the teams I've had in nine years, this team, from the beginning of year to the end, has made the most gain," Bull said. "It's just really good basketball. Tonight, we just came down a little bit of strength and physicality ... I think we're just as good a basketball players as Hershey. I think they're just a little stronger."
The Bulldogs had been itching for a rematch for two weeks. The Trojans knocked them out in the District 3 semifinals back in February.
They knew they had a chance at a rematch before they won their second round game. Hershey had advanced to the quarterfinals earlier this week due to a double forfeiture from Meadville and Uniontown after a fight broke out in the stands during the two's first round matchup.
"I kind of make light of it," Hershey coach Paul Blackburn said. "I have respect for Meadville and Uniontown, but that had nothing to do with us. If we're the beneficiary, fine, we're the beneficiary of it. We did what we were supposed to do, we're still doing what we're supposed to do and we're reaping the rewards."
When presented with opportunity, West York entered Friday on a warpath. It never maintained more than a six-point lead throughout the game, but it held Hershey at arm's length for the better part of three quarters. Hershey didn't take a lead until the third quarter on a 3-pointer, and West York forced a tie just over a minute later.
For the first half, the Bulldogs knocked around the Trojans and slowed them down. Conrad Beatty and Breckin Lasher dominated the boards as the rest of the Bulldogs put up shots. Jaedyn Kohler, second only in scoring to Grady Hoffman's 11 points, put up 10 points before the break.
"We played a little diamond and one tonight, which we had last game but we didn't play it at all, and that gave them some problems," Bull said. "We led more tonight than we did the first game. That was probably because my guys were a little uncomfortable attacking them and how to try to score. That's the best defense we've seen all year."
Scoring runs bounced the lead between both teams. West York surged on a 7-0 run through the middle of the third quarter to retake control before Hershey responded with five answered points of its own.
The stalemate didn't last. Hershey bore down on West York and all but silenced it from the field through the final five minutes. The Trojans strung together a 17-0 run through the end of the fourth quarter to retake the lead for good.
Friday, although bitter in the moment, is a day the Bulldogs will remember. Bull knows that his players won't forget. They broke a state tournament dry streak that had run for almost two decades and took the Trojans to task all night. That's something that shows with growth.
"It's certainly something to be proud of," Bull said. "This is a game that we believed we could win. There's no way, shape or form that we felt by any means we were any sort of underdog in this game. Obviously, you got to give Hershey credit. They rose up to the occasion too."
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: West York boys fall to Hershey in PIAA 5A state quarterfinals
Continue reading...
Coach Garrett Bull witnessed it firsthand. The Bulldogs, despite a relatively young roster, never stopped growing into themselves and their capabilities as a squad.
Their achievements speak for themselves. West York split a regular season YAIAA Division II title, reached the district semifinals, won its first state playoff game since 2007 and stood as the lone YAIAA team in the playoff picture ahead of its Class 5A state quarterfinal against Hershey at Northern York.
And although Hershey delivered a 57-46 blow that ended West York's run in the state tournament, that won't take away from its accomplishments.
Vote: Vote now! Choose your 2024-25 GameTimePA boys basketball Player of the Year
Vote: Vote now! Select your 2024-25 GameTimePA YAIAA girls basketball Player of the Year
"Out of all the teams I've had in nine years, this team, from the beginning of year to the end, has made the most gain," Bull said. "It's just really good basketball. Tonight, we just came down a little bit of strength and physicality ... I think we're just as good a basketball players as Hershey. I think they're just a little stronger."
The Bulldogs had been itching for a rematch for two weeks. The Trojans knocked them out in the District 3 semifinals back in February.
They knew they had a chance at a rematch before they won their second round game. Hershey had advanced to the quarterfinals earlier this week due to a double forfeiture from Meadville and Uniontown after a fight broke out in the stands during the two's first round matchup.
"I kind of make light of it," Hershey coach Paul Blackburn said. "I have respect for Meadville and Uniontown, but that had nothing to do with us. If we're the beneficiary, fine, we're the beneficiary of it. We did what we were supposed to do, we're still doing what we're supposed to do and we're reaping the rewards."
When presented with opportunity, West York entered Friday on a warpath. It never maintained more than a six-point lead throughout the game, but it held Hershey at arm's length for the better part of three quarters. Hershey didn't take a lead until the third quarter on a 3-pointer, and West York forced a tie just over a minute later.
For the first half, the Bulldogs knocked around the Trojans and slowed them down. Conrad Beatty and Breckin Lasher dominated the boards as the rest of the Bulldogs put up shots. Jaedyn Kohler, second only in scoring to Grady Hoffman's 11 points, put up 10 points before the break.
"We played a little diamond and one tonight, which we had last game but we didn't play it at all, and that gave them some problems," Bull said. "We led more tonight than we did the first game. That was probably because my guys were a little uncomfortable attacking them and how to try to score. That's the best defense we've seen all year."
Scoring runs bounced the lead between both teams. West York surged on a 7-0 run through the middle of the third quarter to retake control before Hershey responded with five answered points of its own.
The stalemate didn't last. Hershey bore down on West York and all but silenced it from the field through the final five minutes. The Trojans strung together a 17-0 run through the end of the fourth quarter to retake the lead for good.
Friday, although bitter in the moment, is a day the Bulldogs will remember. Bull knows that his players won't forget. They broke a state tournament dry streak that had run for almost two decades and took the Trojans to task all night. That's something that shows with growth.
"It's certainly something to be proud of," Bull said. "This is a game that we believed we could win. There's no way, shape or form that we felt by any means we were any sort of underdog in this game. Obviously, you got to give Hershey credit. They rose up to the occasion too."
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: West York boys fall to Hershey in PIAA 5A state quarterfinals
Continue reading...
