City of Basketball Love

Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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WYNNEWOOD — Fazl Oshodi knew the ball had to come down at some point.

As teammate Nigel Pierman’s free-throw attempt bounced way up, Oshodi went from one side of the lane to the other around a pack of bodies boxing out.

When gravity finally took its course — after three more bounces — he was there for an easy putback to put Friends’ Central up by three in the final seconds of Tuesday’s Friends Schools League semifinal against Westtown

Just a few moments later he rebounded another miss, this time securing the ball and a 62-59 comeback win that sent FCS to its first league title game since 2016. The Phoenix will play top seed Academy New Church, a 52-45 winner over Friends Select, in the title game Friday at 8 p.m. at  La Salle University’s Tom Gola Arena.

“I saw everyone stand there, so I went around everybody, made an athletic play and put the ball back in,” said Oshodi, who was deservedly at the center of the student section’s court storming after the buzzer. “It was all heart.”

FCS senior Muhsin Muhammad scored 22 points and Oshodi added 17 in the win. Westtown junior Cameron Wallace led the Moose with 19.

Friends’ Central was staring at a 40-25 deficit at halftime after Westtown freshman Wilson Udo banked in a triple from halfcourt at the buzzer. It was one of six first-half 3s for the Moose, including three from junior Jayden Forsythe (11 points).

There was no panic in the Phoenix locker room. Less than two weeks ago they stared down a 13-point deficit at the half against Chi State Prep (Ill.) before rallying for an OT win. First-year coach Devin Coleman could see the confidence in his group even as the double-digit deficit lingered after half.

“Coach Dev, he didn’t have to say anything to us,” Oshodi said. “It was like, ‘We know what we have to do. We’ve been here before.'”

Oshodi breathed some life into the comeback attempt with 3:05 left in the third quarter when he followed a 3-pointer with an and-one to pull the Phoenix within single digits. Muhammad had 10 in the period, but FCS still trailed double digits, 52-42, entering the fourth.

After a small rally, FCS went back down double digits a few minutes into the final period. That’s when the Phoenix defense took over as a bucket by Westtown’s Jayden Kelsey to make it 59-49 marked his team’s last points of the game.

“We started guarding full court every single possession, and they started turning the ball over,” Muhammad said. “That’s really what helped us turn it up and go on that run.”

Freshman guard Patrese Feamster finally tied the game for FCS with less than a minute left when he stole the ball and went the other way to make it 59-59. Oshodi gave FCS its first lead since the early moments of the game on a free throw with 33.1 seconds to play.

After another defensive stop, Pierman went to the line with a chance to put the Phoenix up three. He missed both, but Oshodi cleaned up the second miss. The celebration was on when Forsythe’s contested look was no good on the other end.

“We just never quit,” Muhammad said. “We just had to fight the whole time. I’m just so proud of everybody. To be a senior and this is your last chance, it feels great.”

After breaking an eight-year absence in the league title game, the Phoenix now have another drought to break. They haven’t won the league since 2011 when Coleman was a player.

“We’re excited to get back there,” Oshodi said.

“There’s more to do Friday. We’re ready.”

By Quarter

WT  22 | 18 | 12 | 7 || 59
FCS  23 | 11 | 22 | 13 || 62

Scoring

Westtown: Cam Wallace 19, Jayden Forstyhe 11, Malik Rasul 9, Jayden Kelsey 7, Daveyon Lynder 6, Jahmare Memphis 4, Wilson Udo 3.

FCS: Muhsin Muhammad 22, Fazl Oshodi 17, Patrese Feamster 9, Su-meer Alleyne 8, Reid Belcher 4, Nigel Pierman 2.

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Friends’ Central girls ward off ANC’s upset bid

While Academy New Church did its best to hang around, Friends’ Central proved too much to overcome in the second half of Tuesday’s doubleheader at Friends’ Central.

FCS junior forwards Kaiya Rain Tucker (18 points, 13 rebounds) and Logyn Greer (15 points, 14 rebounds) posted double-doubles, and junior guard Nal’la Bennett added 13 points and five assists in a 69-46 victory that clinched a spot in Friday’s FSL title game. For the second straight season, the Phoenix will play top seed Westtown, an 88-44 winner over Shipley.

After her team didn’t finish the first half the way it wanted to, Tucker tried to set the tone and have others follow her lead.

“I contributed to the energy, getting rebounds, pushing the ball," she said. "It was like, ‘I don’t want to lose this game.' … Everyone kind of fed off it.”

FCS, which knocked off ANC 58-21 on Jan. 10, stormed out to a 23-5 lead after a quarter of play. ANC seniors Xola Wade (21 points) and Arianna Frank (14 points) broke the Lions out of the offensive rut to get back in the game. They combined for 15 in the second quarter to keep FCS within range, 34-24. 

Wade continued to do damage in the third quarter, helping cut the deficit down to single digits, but a six-point spurt to close the period gave FCS a 56-41 advantage. There were chances to make things dicey, but ANC couldn’t string enough buckets together to whittle away at the deficit.

The Phoenix locked up ANC defensively in the fourth, holding the Lions to just five points in the final eight minutes like they did in the first quarter. 

Now a mammoth of a challenge awaits Friday against a Moose group that’s won the last three league crowns and defeated a Tucker-less Phoenix team 77-18 on Jan. 5.

“We have to prepare for our get-back,” Tucker said. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to play the first game. I’m going to contribute to this upcoming game with energy, perseverance. I don’t care how much you’re down by. Play hard.”

Friends’ Central 69, Academy New Church 46

By Quarter

ANC  5 | 19 | 17 | 5 || 46
FCS  23 | 11 | 22 | 13 || 69

Scoring

ANC: Xola Wade 21, Arianna Franke 14, Ahlexus Villefranche 3, Omega Wade 3, Bre Molock 2, Te’a Richards 2, London Lynch 1.

FCS: Kaiya Rain Tucker 18, Logyn Greer 15, Nal’la Bennett 13, London Mayo 7, Sydney Williams 6, Phoenix Walker 6, Ki’yari King 2, Saniyah Washington 2.