City of Basketball Love

Stephen Pianovich (@SPianovich)
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In the waning minutes of Del-Val Charter’s biggest game of the year, one-by-one, some of their best players kept making the same, frustrated walk to the bench with five fouls.

“It was like watching my life flash before my eyes,” said senior forward Wade Lowman, one of four Warriors starters to hit the foul limit in Saturday night’s Public League Championship game against Constitution.

But those players got to return to the court, doing so in a celebration moments later. Even with almost its entire starting lineup sidelined, Del-Val pulled away from the Generals for an 84-74 win and Public League title. Makhi Morris, the lone starter to not foul out, led the way for the Warriors with 26 points and was named the game’s MVP.

Late in the game, though, it wasn’t just Morris making plays. Even Del-Val’s reserves, who see limited court time, stepped up in five of the most critical minutes of the season and helped the Warriors maintain a comfortable lead against Constitution in a whistle-filled fourth quarter.

That did not come as a surprise to head coach Jason Harrigan.

“They came in and closed out the game, and it was a close game there,” Harrigan said. “That’s ultimate team effort. I’ve never seen anything like it. Everyone was a part of it and it feels so good. That’s what it’s all about, it’s amazing.

“…The thing is, we’ve been wanting this for so long, our guys in practice, they always give us a good look. We always compete. And I know how they can compete and I know that they want it just as bad.”

Morris was the most essential in that effort, hitting three 3-pointers and getting another nine of his points from the foul line. The junior also got an important message from those who are usually on the court with him late in the game.

“Everyone was telling me I had to step up and be a leader,” Morris said. “They kept telling me I needed to bring it home. So we went out and did it.”

Added Harrigan: “Makhi is a hard worker every single time out. He’s consistent, and he doesn’t get a whole lot of press or anything like that. But everybody on that team has been playing well and he’s a catalyst of that. He’s been here putting in work since ninth grade, and I’m ecstatic for him right now.”

After the buzzer and handshakes, Del-Val got its trophy at St. Joseph’s Hagan Arena, and the celebration got underway. An elated group was joined by friends and family for multiple hugs, dozens of photo-ops and one dousing of their head coach with a water cooler.

In the second quarter, it seemed like a Del-Val title would be a foregone conclusion as the team started the period on a 25-10 run and opened up a 40-20 lead. Nothing went right for Constitution during the stretch, and the team was hit with two technical fouls, including one for coach Rob Moore.

The Generals trailed by 11 at halftime, but didn’t go away. They mounted a 17-1 run, which spanned the two halves and eventually narrowed the Del-Val lead to three points. This charge, and the Generals’ offense all night was led by point guard Tamir Green, who finished with a game-best 33 points.

In a game littered with fouls, free throws were a large factor, one that Del-Val dominated. The Warriors went an impressive 33-for-38 (86.8 percent) from the foul line, while Constitution went 22-of-39 from the charity stripe. The Warriors also had an advantage on the glass, and Lowman had a team-high 10 rebounds to go with 18 points.

It was the second consecutive season Constitution fell short in the Public League title game, but the team will have the rest of the postseason to defend its PIAA Class A championship. Meanwhile, Del-Val will also move on in the Class AAA state tournament. But the program is not going to forget Saturday night any time soon.

“They all feel so good and the school feels so good,” Harrigan said. “It’s going to change their outlook on how they prepare for things and it’s going to give the school a sense of pride which we definitely need.”