City of Basketball Love

By Andrew Robinson (@ADRobinson3)

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MORRISVILLE — There were times last year where AJ Washington’s greatest opponent was himself.

A talented scoring guard, the Dock Mennonite Academy senior admitted there were times where he wasn’t mentally tough enough to handle bad moments or adversity on the court. This year, thrust into a leading role on a Pioneers team that has a different make-up but no less the success, Washington has handled it all.

The senior had an MVP effort Saturday, scoring 26 points as No. 1 seed Dock repeated as the BAL champion, defeating No. 2 Delco Christian 51-38.

“I just wanted to win, man, this was a really important game for us,” Washington said. “We fought so hard the whole season to prove everybody wrong basically and we wanted it more.”

Washington couldn’t point to anything specific that changed his mentality. He was given a chance at a bigger role and seized it, a case of a good player proving to himself.

“Last year, I was weak in the head a little bit, I’d get down on myself,” Washington said. “This year, that’s not happening at all. I keep it to myself and play hard every time.” 

Dock coach Mike Fergus knew this year’s team would be different. Given who the Pioneers graduated, chiefly an all-state scoring leader in Nate Lapp, this team would have to be defined by its defensive intensity.

On that end, the Pioneers have played up to their coach’s annual high standards. Saturday, they held a high-scoring Knights team to nearly half their season average but it also hasn’t been easy.

There have been injuries and guys out here and there all season, with pretty much every player on the roster having missed at least one contest. Washington was an exception, the senior a starter in every game and a dependable one at that.

“He’s really matured, which is what they’re supposed to do when they get to be seniors,” Fergus said. “They don’t always do it, but he has really matured as a person and a player and that helps him. He played phenomenal today.”

The Dock boys basketball team poses with the BAL title following Saturday's championship win over Delco Christian. (Photo: Andrew Robinson/CoBL)

Washington, a 6-foot guard, was terrific on Saturday. He not only scored half of his team’s points, he did it efficiently by connecting on 11-of-12 shots from the floor and 2-of-3 at the line while adding five rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Most of his finishes came around the rim, Washington scoring while seemingly unfazed by an aggressive and physical Delco Christian defense, but he also knocked down a pair of threes and a midrange jumper.

“I wanted to prove I could score at a high level and play defense at a high level, that was really it,” Washington said. “I would say that, I could score driving to the basket, got a few free throws in and played defense.”

Dock never trailed on Saturday, scoring the first three points and after a brief 3-3 tie, went on a 13-3 run to end the first quarter. Washington had eight points and assisted two other threes in the quarter.

The victory was also Dock’s third BAL tournament title, all of them coming under Fergus and within the last seven years. Last year’s team was an offensive powerhouse but the longtime coach said he’d savor this one because his team won it by being so rugged on defense.

“We work really hard on defense, we always have a good scout and a plan for how we’re going to guard them,” Fergus said. “The kids execute it, it’s all about the kids, we show them what to do but they have to go out on the court and execute the plan. They did, man, I was so happy for them, I love our defense.”

While Fergus had an idea early on this team could push for titles, the Pioneers playing well against a tough opening slate of games, Washington didn’t see it right away. It took the senior until about midseason to believe and getting to lift back-to-back league titles wasn’t something he was over-looking.

“It’s still surreal,” Washington said. “I think if you told me at the beginning of the season we’d be BAL champs, I don’t want to say I wouldn’t have believed it but we had to put in the work. We all had to work together as a team.”

Washington’s high level of play this year has also gotten him some interest from a host of Division III programs within a couple hours’ drive. The guard listed Gwynedd Mercy, Del Val, Albright, Alvernia and McDaniel as programs he’s been in contact with and he’s hopeful an opportunity to play at the next level will come his way.

For now, Washington and the Pioneers will turn to the postseason. They enter the District 1 2A bracket as the top seed, looking to pull another back-to-back after winning it last year but a potential third matchup with Delco Christian could await in the title game.

Washington will be ready for it, or anything else that comes his team’s way.

“I always want to be that guy, especially with two starters out,” Washington said. “I’m always trying to be that guy, for sure.”

By Quarter

DOCK MENNONITE 17 | 8 | 14 | 12 || 51

DELCO CHRISTIAN 6 | 11 | 10 | 11 || 38

Scoring

D: AJ Washington 26, Justin Panaia 9, Ethan Parr 6, Tony Martin 5, Vaughn Martin 2

DC: Khamai Orange 11, Josiah Gaines 9, Colston Pruesser 5, Bradford Berwick 5, Beau Lyen 4, Caleb Jameson 2, Luke Bushra 2