Battle-tested Devon Prep looks to grab second state title in program history

Devon Prep head boys’ basketball coach Jason Fisher knows his team’s 14-13 record might not look good on paper.

Yes, the record isn’t indicative of a team about to play for its second PIAA Class 3A championship in three seasons on Saturday against District 10 runner-up Franklin Area at Hershey’s Giant Center (2 p.m.). Not all teams, however, play in the Philadelphia Catholic League, which Devon Prep joined in 2018.

“I honestly don’t even know how many winning records we’ve had here,” Fisher said. “I don’t think we’ve had many since we joined the Catholic League. People outside of our area don’t really understand it. I’m sure there are people in the Erie area that are looking at our record and thinking there’s no way this team can be good.”

Devon Prep finished eighth in the PCL behind top programs, including Roman Catholic, Neumann Goretti, Archbishop Wood, St. Joseph’s Prep, Archbishop Ryan, Father Judge, and Archbishop Carroll.

Five of those teams made it to the state playoffs. Wood and Ryan made it to their respective state semifinals. Devon Prep and Archbishop Carroll are the only two Catholic League programs to advance to the championship.

Ever since Devon lost to Cardinal O’Hara in the first round of the PCL playoffs, the team has rattled off five straight wins.

Former players Lucas Orchard (Monmouth) and Jacen Holloway (Army), who won a state championship in 2022, were key contributors who graduated last year. Then senior guard Ty Mishock (Avon Old Farms) transferred out of the program.

Two starters in Mason Thear and Calvin Smith were ineligible to play this postseason due to transfer rules, which some thought might mean Devon would have to wait until next year for another deep-state run. But Fisher has been tinkering with different starting lineups throughout the postseason run.

“It was like we were back in November in the preseason still,” Fisher said. “I had no idea who was going to play. We’re still not even 100% sure going into the state championship game which guys are going to play.”

Reliable juniors 6-5 wing Zane Conlon (17.6 points, 9.0 rebounds), 6-7 wing Reece Craft (11.9 points, 6.4 rebounds), and 6-4 guard Shane Doyle (9.1 points, 5.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds) have been constant for the shorthanded Tide.

» READ MORE: Devon Prep reaches state championship, ending Math, Civics & Sciences’ final season as a program

“All three of those guys have performed at a high level and continue to get better as the year goes,” Fisher said. “Shane has taken off with the way he’s running the team. Mason was our point guard. Not that Shane couldn’t do it, but he didn’t have to.”

Senior reserves Ben Costello and Zach Orchard, juniors Mike Pergolis and Ayinde McClendon, and freshman Cooper Fairlamb have made the most of their opportunities to get the Knights back to the state final. Pergolis had a career-and game-high 22 points in the semifinal win over Math, Civics, & Sciences.

“It’s been remarkable to see these guys step up in different ways,” Fisher said. “They’ve all contributed to get us to where we are.”

Conlon, Costello, and Doyle played sparingly as underclassmen on Devon Prep’s only championship team. Now they’ll be the leaders for the Knights as they go for their second crown.

“It should be a good game,” Fisher said. “We’ve watched a lot of film on [Franklin]. They’re well-coached. They do a lot of good things. I’m looking forward to a great game.”

This story was produced as part of a partnership between The Inquirer and City of Basketball Love, a nonprofit news organization that covers high school and college basketball in the Philadelphia area while also helping mentor the next generation of sportswriters. This collaboration will help boost coverage of the city’s vibrant amateur basketball scene, from the high school ranks up through the Big 5 and beyond.