Boys Basketball: Brennan’s defense helps Garnet Valley pull the plug on Strath Haven

NETHER PROVIDENCE >> When Strath Haven and Garnet Valley retreated to their locker rooms at halftime Wednesday night, the Panthers were easily the more satisfied side in their game-plan execution. They pounded the ball into the post to Cooper Driscoll. They hit 3-pointers via Jordan Graves. They dampened the tempo to a languid pace and were rewarded with a three-point lead. But when the Jaguars adapted and zigged, the Panthers didn’t have a corresponding zag. And they didn’t have Austin Laughlin, either.

The Garnet Valley guard poured in a game-high 28 points, including the go-ahead basket early in the third quarter and the first eight points of the fourth to salt away a 68-47 Central League win, Garnet Valley’s eighth consecutive victory. Laughlin’s scoring brilliance aside, he was the effect of the comeback, with Garnet Valley (10-3, 7-2) trailing for the first two and a half quarters. The cause was a bolstered interior defense that denied Driscoll after halftime.

The Strath Haven senior forward scored nine points, grabbed four rebounds and dished three assists in the first half, dictating the Panthers’ halfcourt offense. But after the break, he didn’t attempt a field goal, thanks to the combination of Cade Brennan’s fronting defense, help-side D from Greg Vlassopoulos and others and the constant harassment of the Panthers guards by Garnet Valley’s backcourt.

“We just really wanted to put pressure on them,” Brennan said. “I just wanted to not let the ball in the post, and I think I accomplished that. I got a lot of help from my teammates because I was playing the front side of him and I would get a lot of help from the back.”

Without the low-post element of the Panthers’ potent inside-out game, less room was afforded perimeter shooters, leading to a 6-for-16 day from 3-point range. Driscoll scored 10 points, as did Jordan Graves (eight in the first half). Ryan Morris led the Panthers (7-6, 4-5) with 16, but they were doubled up, 48-24, after halftime as Garnet Valley turned up the pressure and the pace of play.

“Garnet Valley did a great job, fronting (Driscoll), doubling him, making sure we didn’t go to him. And that led to some frustration,” Strath Haven coach Dan Spangler said. “We don’t necessarily rely on Cooper to do everything. We have other guys that are strong enough and good enough to make plays. We just couldn’t make shots. They just made more plays than we did.”

Click HERE to read the full article.