YORK — Second-seeded West York defeated 10th-seeded Exeter 57-50 in a District 3 Class 5A boys basketball quarterfinal Thursday.
Exeter was noticeably outsized by the Bulldogs (24-2), however, the perseverance the Eagles (12-13) have shown throughout the postseason was on full display as they fought hard in the second half after trailing by eight at halftime.
Exeter outscored West York 29-28 in the second half. The extra sparks on offense were not enough to overcome a Bulldogs offense that saw four of their players score in double figures.
The Eagles started off on the right foot, capitalizing on two consecutive West York turnovers to start the game with a 4-0 lead. The game changed momentum quickly, however, as West York went on a 13-0 run.
The Eagles struggled to get good shot opportunities in the first and looked sluggish against the fast-paced Bulldogs offense. West York held a 17-8 lead after the first quarter.
Poor interior play cost Exeter in the second as the Bulldogs continued to create better shooting opportunities. The West York defense also used its extra height to its advantage and stifled the usual high scorers for Exeter.
Colin Payne, a 6-2 senior who came into the game as the leading scorer for the Eagles at 18.8 points per game, but only had two points in the first half.
Anthony Caccese, who had been giving the Eagles a huge lift scoring double-digit points in his last three games, was double-teamed for much of the first half.
Coach Matt Ashcroft noted that a major factor early was not being able to find Caccese enough in the paint as he had just six points through two quarters.
The offense started to pick up for Exeter in the third quarter. The Eagles opened the quarter on a 9-3 run. Payne finished with seven points in the third and the Bulldogs held a 37-32 lead after three.
The Eagles were able to cut the deficit to as little as two points in the fourth quarter at 43-41. West York then went on a 7-0 run to all but put it away. The Bulldogs stayed composed and made 12-of-18 foul shots down the stretch.
Payne finished with a team-high 16 points for Exeter, with 14 coming in the second half. Jaden Walker had a team-high 12 points for West York.
Exeter, which has earned a state playoff berth, will play in a consolation game Monday. West York will take on Shippensburg in the semifinals Monday.
Source: Berkshire mont