Matt Ashcroft-Exeter

Matt Ashcroft never lost faith. The Eagles’ third-year head coach has been telling everyone involved with his program that the team is improving and their record doesn’t reflect how good they are. Despite losing four in a row and seven of their last eight games, the players didn’t waiver either. #6 seed Exeter beat #3 seed Wilson 55-51 in the Berks County quarterfinals at West Lawn. The (11-11) Eagles led 15-12 after the first quarter. Three consecutive layups by Anthony Caccese made it 21-12 early in the second period. The 6’6, 265-pound junior erupted for a career-high 19 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Caccese (OT) and Colin Payne (QB) were a big part of Exeter’s District 3 championship football team. They came through again with a lot on the line. Caccese and Payne combined for 25 of the Eagles’ 30 points in the first half. Exeter was on top 30-25 at the break. The (14-8) Bulldogs trailed by one point in the third quarter. Payne, who finished with a game-high 21 points, sank a top of the key 3-pointer with thirty seconds remaining in the period. The Eagles held a 43-35 edge entering the fourth quarter. Wilson increased its defensive intensity over the final eight minutes. Turnovers by Exeter allowed the Bulldogs to get out and run. The Eagles’ advantage was trimmed to 50-46 with just over a minute to go when Caccese got a wide open layup. Teddy Snyder (11 points) converted an easy basket after Exeter broke Wilson’s pressure with 24 seconds to play. That shot made it 55-48 until freshman guard Madyx Gruber banked in a triple from the right corner with twelve seconds left. The Bulldogs, who were without head coach Matt Coldren, wouldn’t score again. Coldren received two technical fouls in their previous game at Reading. Ryan Trupe served as head coach against Exeter. Coldren hadn’t missed a game in his 27 years as an assistant and head coach at Wilson. The Eagles held junior point guard Cam Jones to a season-low two points. Ashcroft said it was a team effort, but he gave a lot of credit to 5’9 junior Zyion Paschall. Cleveland Harding ended up with a team-high 14 points. Junior forward Ofure Odiale chipped in with eleven points including seven in the fourth quarter. Gruber and Aidan Melograna each provided eight points off the bench. Melograna hit two of Wilson’s five 3-pointers. All of his points were in the first quarter. The Bulldogs were 8-12 from the charity stripe, while the Eagles went 10-13. Joey Schlaffer missed his fourth straight game for Exeter. The 6’6 junior is out with a left wrist injury. The Penn State football commit averages ten points and seven boards. Ashcroft mentioned that Caccese has shown flashes of dominance, but needs to be more consistent. Payne entered the week as the third-leading scorer in the county at 19ppg. Ashcroft said that the 6’3 senior wouldn’t be denied. Payne drilled three 3-pointers giving him 48 this season. Ashcroft noted that Payne is one of the few players in Berks County who can score at all three levels. Ashcroft knows a little something about filling it up. He was a 1,000-point scorer at Central Catholic before becoming a two-time all-conference selection at Albright where he made 167 triples for the Lions. Ashcroft believes that Santander Arena is one of the best venues in this area. His team will meet Berks Catholic there in the semifinals at 6pm on Wednesday. Ashcroft gave a preview of that matchup and had some fun talking about his former coach Snip Esterly. Wilson will return to action next week as the #9 seed in the District 3-6A playoffs.