By Matthew DeGeorge
By law, it being a Del Val League contest, Tuesday night’s game between Chichester and Penn Wood had to come down to the final possession.
A five-point first-quarter edge for the Eagles didn’t matter. Nor would Penn Wood’s eight-point lead at the break, nor its six-point bump after three.
One way or the other, in an unusually tight season of a league that requires no accelerant, the game would be decided in the final minute.
Penn Wood went 6-for-6 at the line in the fourth quarter and 4-for-4 in the final minute to eke out a 44-41 win.
The result is a balm to Penn Wood’s playoff hopes in Class 6A, leveling its record at 9-9. For Chichester (8-10, 2-4), relatively more secure in the Class 5A field, it means that the Eagles’ four Del Val League losses have come by a combined seven points, including a one-point loss at Penn Wood.
Penn Wood’s triumph came thanks to Bellvin Smith and the Patriots’ work on the boards. Smith, a freshman guard, tallied a game-high 15 points, including PW’s only three made 3-pointers on 16 attempts.
(click on this link for the full article, subscription may be required)