Young Cougars can’t stay with powerful Raiders
By Drew Diehl, Correspondent, The Times
UWCHLAN — After back-to-back losses to Chester High School and Reading High School, the Coatesville Red Raiders (2-2, 1-0 Ches Mont National) responded in a big way on Thursday night with a 65-48 victory over Ches Mont foe Downingtown East (2-1, 0-1 Ches Mont National).
“I just told them to keep their heads up.” First-year Coatesville coach Chuck Moore said. “After two hard-fought losses, I just wanted them to keep their spirits high early in the season.”
After a tightly contested first quarter—15-14 in favor of Coatesville—the Red Raiders exploded for 28 points in the second quarter while limiting the Cougars to just 12 points to enter the half leading 43-26.
Led by junior point guard, Kevin Crutchfield—eighteen points on the night, six for ten shooting, and five for five from three—the Red Raiders started off the game 21 for 26 in the first half.
“Against Chester and Reading, we just couldn’t make shots.” Moore said, “Making shots, we get into a certain rhythm, and that spreads to defense as well.”
Heading into the third quarter down 43-26, Downingtown East came out eager to make a run. After two threes by junior guard, Marquan Gallimore—ten points on eight shots—and a basket by sophomore forward, Cary Angeline, the Cougars found themselves within nine of the Red Raiders. Coatesville would not be stopped though, and made a few baskets of its own to end the third quarter up 54-40.
Speaking of the Downingtown East run to start the third quarter, Crutchfield said, “That’s basketball, and we kept our composure.”
After a big first half, with fourteen points on eight shots, East’s Cary Angeline was stymied in the second half, scoring eight points on fourteen shots. Coatesville keyed in on the young Cougar after half time, and as a result, the Coatesville defense allowed only 22 second half points.
“Down low he has a lot of good post moves.” Senior Tyler Burke said of Angeline, “He’s a hard guy to defend.”
Playing stall-ball for a large portion of the fourth quarter, the Red Raiders outscored the Cougars eleven to eight en route to a final score of 65-48.
After a 2013 Ches Mont Championship and an invitation to the PIAA AAAA playoffs, the Red Raiders hope to build on their first Ches Mont win with their next league game coming at home against Avon Grove.
The next league matchup for the young Cougars is away against West Chester Henderson. With the promise of stellar 6’7” forward, Angeline, the Cougars should bounce back for a promising Ches Mont season.
Coatesville will easily run over anyone in the Chestmont. This team is better than last years squad and should make it to the Final Four in states.