Cherokee beats Eastern behind two steady sophomores
Tony DiCaro says he has been playing with Owen McGlashan "forever." McGlashan says he and DiCaro have "always been together."
Tony DiCaro says he has been playing with Owen McGlashan "forever."
McGlashan says he and DiCaro have "always been together."
But that was in youth sports and on the AAU circuit. This season, the two athletes are making memories and winning titles at the varsity level.
The sophomores combined for 24 points Tuesday night to spark Cherokee to a 60-55 victory over Eastern in an Olympic Conference clash of Top 25 teams and South Jersey Group 4 playoff contenders.
DiCaro, a lead guard, made four three-pointers and buried both of his free throws at the 38-second mark to help Cherokee hold off Eastern's desperate rally from a 17-point deficit in the first half.
McGlashan, a swingman, scored 10 points with six rebounds and a pair of steals as Cherokee (16-6, 6-2 in the division) earned a share of the Olympic American crown with school district rival Lenape.
"It means everything," McGlashan said of earning a share of the division title. "A lot of people thought we couldn't do it this year and we proved them wrong."
Junior forward Tymere Bennet scored 16 points, including a pair of dunks, for Cherokee, the No. 7 team in the Inquirer Top 25.
Junior guard Troy Edwards scored 15 points and junior forward Ryan Ems added 14 for No. 20 Eastern (11-12, 3-5).
Eastern coach Kevin Crawford said Cherokee's hustle in the first half helped the Chiefs burst to a 25-8 lead and set the tone for the game.
"They've had our number recently and it's been loose balls," Crawford said.
Cherokee coach Eric Cassidy said he told his team Wednesday that the Chiefs won a division title only five previous times in program history.
"I said, 'Let's make it six,' " Cassidy said. "It's something nobody can take away from them, having that on the board. When they're old and I'm older, they can come back and say, 'I played on that team.' "
DiCaro, whose father, Tony, was a star player at Cherry Hill West and St. Joseph's, said he has been playing with McGlashan since sixth grade.
"School team, AAU for two years, travel team," DiCaro. "It seems like we've been together forever."
McGlashan said the sophomores have an almost instinctive sense of the other's presence on the court.
"I know where he's going to be and he knows where I'm going to be," McGlashan said. "It's best when we're on a fastbreak and I'll pull up and kick it out to him and he'll make the three.
"Our chemistry together, it's crazy ridiculous."
Both players made some sophomore mistakes on Thursday night in the Vikings' gym but also compensated with plays that showcased their skill and athletic ability.
"For sophomores [to start for a division champion] in this conference, that's something," Cassidy said. "You just don't see that. They're playing against grown men and they're 15, 16 years old."
Cherokee's immediate future is the upcoming South Jersey Group 4 tournament, where the Chiefs are seeded fourth.
But with a loaded sophomore class led by DiCaro and McGlashan, the Chiefs' longer-term future looks bright as well.
"The two of us, with how hard we work, I think we're just going to continue to get better and better," DiCaro said.
Cherokee 15 15 13 17 - 60
Eastern 4 13 17 21 - 55
C: Tymere Bennett 16, Brendon Connolly 1, Tony DiCaro 14, Jordan Hayes 3, Tyler Ludlikowski 8, Owen McGlashan 10, Steve Gervasi 8.
E: Darren Gibson 7, Onye Okoro 6, Troy Edwards 15, Jesse Barbera 11, Ryan Ems 14, Colon Prendergast 2.
@PhilAnastasia