By Matthew DeGeorge
Just two years ago, the bar for success at Sun Valley was measured in District 1 tournament appearances.In 2015-16, Steve Maloney’s team went through a stretch of four wins in six games late in the season. The result was inclusion in the old Class AAA tournament, a loss to Octorara and an 8-15 record. It was progress, albeit with limits.
Two years later, Sun Valley has turned that record around and then some, to 19-7. And instead of a spot in districts, the reward is the program’s first states berth in 28 years.
Sun Valley will have a long ride to savor the experience, the fifth seed from District 1 trekking out to West York High School Friday night at eight to take on District 3 third seed Northeastern at 8.
“It feels great, honestly,” senior point guard Shahir Brown-Morris said. “Just knowing that we work so hard and every coach is here early, we get extra work in. We’ve earned it, and that’s why we’ve gotten so far.”
Maloney has forged a unique ethos at Sun Valley. The Vanguards play a rotation of six, Brown-Morris the only senior. They’re not particularly tall, with Lance Stone representing, as Marvin Freeman put it, “our 5-10 center.”
(click on this link for the full story and the other PIAA 5A team reviews)