Haverford School’s Gavin Burke, right, takes a ball up court as Malvern Prep’s Tygee Leach gives chase in the third quarter of a game between the teams Tuesday. The Fords came from behind to deliver a 69-68 victory and an undefeated Inter-Ac season. (Pete Bannan/Digital First Media)
By Matthew DeGeorge
Christian Ray paused for a moment before identifying the play that made him believe.
Down nine points with a chance to go down 11, Ray’s Haverford School senior classmate Jameer Nelson Jr. stood his ground on the edge of the lane while Malvern Prep’s Rahdir Hicks jumped up and through him for an offensive foul.
“That’s when I knew, ‘come on, we’ve got this,’” Ray said.
Malvern eventually would stretch that lead to 11 in the fourth quarter. But Nelson’s toughness in that moment had its effect, the first of many veteran plays from the Fords Tuesday afternoon.