Boys Basketball: Patience pays off for Haverford

HAVERFORD — There’s a little grin that dawns on the faces of Keith Heinerichs’ players when you start dissecting the Haverford offense.

It’s a grin of knowing acceptance. But then acceptance — of tendencies that may be counter to their basketball instincts — seems to be a prerequisite for Heinerichs’ system. And the success the Fords have accumulated this season makes the adjustment period, however uncomfortable, worthwhile.

The Haverford players acknowledge that it takes a certain type of player to navigate Heinerichs’ system: Not just an astute one able to grasp the ball and player movement that defines the halfcourt sets, but also one patient and faithful enough to believe the third-year coach when he says that the first look isn’t necessarily the best.

That system will receive one of its stiffest tests of the season Tuesday night when No. 23 Haverford travels to No. 7 Abington in the second round of the District One Class AAAA playoffs. The winner qualifies for the PIAA tournament, while the loser heads to playbacks.

Last Friday, the Fords put on a clinic in upsetting No. 10 Upper Darby, 53-39. They shot more than 50 percent from the field (13-for-23) and a stunning 6-for-7 from 3-point range in earning their first playoff win in 13 years.

The guiding principles of Heinerichs’ offense contain layers. The emphasis is on ball movement, constantly shifting the point of attack to open lanes and opportunities. But contained within is a mandatory patience and an unspoken unselfishness. The looks will come with time and meticulous probing of the defense, and if the look isn’t there, then run the sets again.

That mindset has guided the Fords to a 14-9 record this season. More remarkably, their ability to shorten games has resulted in an 8-2 record in games in which they score in the 40s.

Unsurprisingly, it requires a special type of player to orchestrate the offense. That’s where guards Jack Donaghy and Mike O’Halloran come in.

O’Halloran is averaging 8.7 points per game as the team’s secondary scoring threat behind Tom Leibig. Donaghy is at a more modest 4.5 ppg as a dish-first, true No. 1.

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Haverford's Jack Donaghy, left, knocks the ball loose from Upper Darby's Torey Green in the Fords' District One Class AAAA playoff win Friday. The Fords will challenge Abington Tuesday. (Times Staff/ROBERT J. GURECKI)