Upper Dublin’s Ryan Mulroy, 13, defends as Sun Valley’s Aaron Freeman looks to pass during the District 1 Class 5A semifinals at Upper Dublin High School on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (MediaNews Group)
By Christian DeFranco
Like Marty McFly, the Upper Dublin Cardinals were just trying to get back to the year 1985.
The last time the Upper Dublin boys’ basketball program reached the district championship game, Michael Jordan was an NBA rookie. “Careless Whisper” by Wham! was the No. 1 pop single. And, well, “Back to the Future” hadn’t quite arrived in theaters yet (until that summer).
But no flux capacitor was necessary for this year’s Cardinals to become the first group to reach the district championship game since the 1984-85 team, which won the district title that season.
No plutonium was needed either, unless you count a barrage of 3-pointers, as second-seeded Upper Dublin buried No. 6 Sun Valley 55-25 in Saturday’s District 1 Class 5A semifinals in an historic victory at The Nest.
Other UD squads have reached states, which these Cardinals had already clinched, but this accomplishment stands on its own.
“It’s really cool,” Upper Dublin coach Morgan Funsten said. “All the credit to the kids, who have put in so much work to get here. To have the opportunity to win a district championship for the first time in 39 years, it’s special. We’re looking forward to it.”
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