Sun Valley’s Vinny DeAngelo, left, goes to the basket in the first quarter as West Chester East’s Chris Anderson defends. Vanguards went on to win the program’s first district championship with the win at Temple’s Liacouras Center. PETE BANNAN – MEDIANEWS GROUP
By Matt Smith
Steve Maloney heard the questions when he signed on five years ago to coach the Sun Valley boys basketball program.
What was he thinking?
Never mind that Sun Valley is his alma mater, Maloney was tasked with rebuilding a program from the ground up.
“I had people tell me, ‘Why are you taking that job?'” Maloney said. “I had a nice assistant’s job at Strath Haven under (Tom) Dougherty. But I took the job.”
Maloney wanted the challenge because he knew what was around the corner. He saw the potential of several middle school players at the time, who today are responsible for leading the program to a piece of the Ches-Mont League title and, after Saturday’s 65-54 win over West Chester East, its first District 1 championship.
“There was an energy resurgence back into the program,” Maloney said. “We knew this (senior class) had a chance to be good, but we didn’t know we’d be wearing gold medals around our neck. “
Those now-senior players are Lance Stone, Vinny DeAngelo, Marvin Freeman and Isaac Kennon. All four were in the starting lineup at Temple University’s Liacouras Center and did what Maloney never thought was possible five years ago.
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Webmaster’s note: The PIAA District 1 – 5A Championship game between Sun Valley and W.C. East was our Game-of-the-Week and can be heard in its entirety below or on our Archived Broadcasts link listed in the menu at the top of our page.
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