MC&S boys drop state title game to Kennedy Catholic

HERSHEY - Math, Civics and Sciences' improbable run in the PIAA playoffs ended Friday at the Giant Center after the Mighty Elephants were unable to climb one of Class A's biggest mountains.

Sagaba Konate, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound senior who wears a size 15 shoe, led District 10's Kennedy Catholic to a 71-60 victory, claiming its seventh state basketball championship.

Konate, a native of the Republic of Mali in West Africa, scored 17 points, grabbed 22 rebounds and blocked two shots.

"I think that, considering the circumstances, my guys came out here and fought hard," said MC&S coach Danny Jackson. "They did their best defending [Konate], which I think was the difference in the ball game today. We just didn't really have a match for him."

Despite their youth, the Mighty Elephants (15-15), who did not start a senior, cut a nine-point halftime deficit to 37-36 with 5 minutes, 49 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Eagles (28-2), however, responded with an 11-0 run that seized control for good.

"We had a good season," said junior wing Malik Archer, who led MC&S with 21 points. "Everybody thought we wouldn't make it, but we proved them wrong and got here. It was a learning experience that we got here, and we're hungry for next year."

Archer scored eight points in the third quarter. Junior guard Tymair Johnson and sophomore forward Edward Croswell (seven rebounds) added 10 points apiece.

Konate, a West Virginia recruit, finished 5 of 7 from the field and 7 of 9 at the foul line. He also grabbed seven offensive rebounds for the Eagles, who won their first state title in 15 years.

"That was my last, best game ever," he said. "That was my last game, and that kind of motivated me."

Senior guard Jason Austin scored 16 points while Drew Magestro added 14, including hitting 4 of 7 shots from beyond the three-point line. Channing Phillips added 10 points for the Eagles, who outrebounded MC&S, 45-34.

Despite its relative inexperience, MC&S, which also finished runner-up in 2014, forced 15 turnovers and committed only two.

"They listen," Jackson said. "They were very coachable. They did whatever we asked them to do, no questions asked. And they played with a chip on their shoulders because most of them, before this run, they weren't known. No one knew Ed Croswell. No one knew [sophomore] Kwahzere Ransom. They were playing with a chip, knowing we had something to prove. It was fun. It brought me back to life, coaching."

Kennedy Catholic 21 16 13 21 - 71

MCS 15 13 11 21 - 60

KC: Jason Austin 16, Channing Phillips 10, Sagaba Konate 17, Mohamed Konate 6, Drew Magestro 14, Maceo Austin 6, Carmen Schuville 2.

MCS: Saheed Peoples 9, Kwahzere Ransom 2, Edward Croswell 10, Tymair Johnson 10, Malik Archer 21, Ja'Quill Stone 5, Nazir Gossette 3.

@AceCarterINQ