Underdog DC looks to reprise role in title game

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By Matthew De George

With the benefit of hindsight, instances of promise were obvious in Delco Christian’s up-and-down season. Few shone as brightly as the Jan. 6 encounter with Phil-Mont Christian.

Shorthanded due to injuries, the Knights hung tight with the Falcons — who were then soaring toward Bicentennial League supremacy — in a 79-70 setback.

The Knights can rectify that near-miss Saturday at noon, when they play for the District One Class A title against top-seeded Phil-Mont at Council Rock South High.

Though the vagaries of the Bicentennial’s hodgepodge membership makes district seeding notoriously unreliable, there’s little doubting that Phil-Mont deserved the No. 1 ranking. The Falcons are riding a 24-game winning streak, last losing to Church Farm Dec. 10, the only blemish on a 27-1 record.

Phil-Mont trounced No. 4 Collegium Charter, 67-34, in Tuesday’s semifinal, booking passage to states.

The Falcons are a daunting matchup. They play fast with four players averaging in double-figures, led by 6-foot-8 forward Sean Griffin’s 15.5 points per game. The length of 6-foot-5 Osaze Thornton and 6-foot-4 David Giuliani create problems, while senior guard Noah Baldez helps keep all the offensive horses pulling in the same direction.

Delco Christian, however, is no stranger to the underdog drill. As the No. 4 seed last year, it upset No. 1 Christopher Dock in double-overtime in the semis to get to states before handling Jenkintown, 50-41, in the final.

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