Delco Christian stifled by Phil-Mont’s dogged defense

Wyatt Harkins (30) looks to get Delco Christian’s fastbreak going. The senior guard scored 13 points, but was held well below his season average by Phil-Mont Christian’s smothering defense in Saturday’s District One Class A final.

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By Matthew De George

All season, Delco Christian has been a study in perseverance — through injuries, suspensions and myriad suboptimal predicaments.

Try as they might, against Class A juggernaut Phil-Mont Christian Saturday, those absences were too glaring to conceal.

The Falcons intensified their defense after halftime, muzzling the Knights’ limited options and restraining DC to 15 points after the break in a 58-41 triumph in the District One final at Council Rock South High School.

No. 6 seed Delco Christian (14-12) trailed by just one at the half and surged ahead, 33-32, with 2:25 to play in the third quarter. But top-seeded Phil-Mont (28-1) scored 26 of the game’s final 34 points to run away with the title.

Phil-Mont’s dogged deterrence on the defensive end finally tipped the scales. The Falcons’ length closed out shooters on the perimeter and accounted for seven blocked shots — three each for rangy 6-foot-2 guard Noah Baldez and sturdy 6-foot-4 forward David Giuliani — and many more altered drives to the rim.

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