Jones, Guers key as Germantown Academy tops Episcopal Academy, 54-35

Craig Conlin was hoping for a different thanks-for-all-you-did present from his former basketball pupils at Germantown Academy.

In the opener of Saturday's Dan Dougherty Inter-Academic League tripleheader, Conlin, taking over at Episcopal Academy after 14 years of service at GA, was forced to watch seniors Beau Jones and Greg Guers put some of his past teachings to work.

With Jones and Guers each scoring 14 points and combining for 22 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive end, the Patriots gained control early and ripped Conlin's Churchmen, 54-35, at Cabrini College.

"We obviously weren't doing a good enough job of boxing their guys out," said Conlin, a former standout forward at La Salle High and La Salle University.

Conlin was an assistant under longtime GA coach Jim Fenerty, and also guided the school's baseball team. At Episcopal, he replaced legendary boss Dan Dougherty, who ceremoniously threw up the first tip-off and whose name is now attached to the tourney.

Of Conlin, Fenerty said: "He's a terrific young coach and he's going to do a great job. We love him and root for him every game, except two."

Jones, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound forward, finished with 16 boards (seven on offense), 3 assists, 2 steals, and a blocked shot. He had a double-double, with 11 points and 10 rebounds, in the first half.

"Craig Conlin taught me everything I know about being a low-post player, about rebounding, about playing with toughness," Jones said. "It was an emotional game for me."

Guers, a 6-1 swingman who will concentrate on baseball at South Carolina Upstate, notched six boards (three on offense) and two assists. Down the stretch, he made all four of his free-throw attempts.

Jones, of Chestnut Hill, is headed to Delaware to play lacrosse as an attackman. In GA's last outing, a 62-42 nonleague win over Olney, the 18-year-old was credited with 18 rebounds, tying Ted Skuchas (6-11 center, Class of 2002) for the school's single-game record.

"With rebounding, I try to put myself in a good place and just go hard after the ball," Jones said. "It's definitely about heart, but you have to play smart, too."

The Patriots, who improved to 8-6 following a 1-5 start, shot 18 for 53 (34 percent) from the field. Fueled by several second-chance baskets, they comfortably led, 28-12, at the break.

"I'm most disappointed with the way we performed as a team," Conlin said. "We didn't show what we've been working on since Nov. 15."

EA shot 17 for 51 (33.3 percent) from the floor and committed 17 turnovers. The Churchmen (7-6) were paced by senior swingmen Dan Mengel (16 points) and Taylor Wright (seven points, 10 boards). Senior guard D.C. Gaitley hauled in 10 boards.

For GA, senior guard Jimmy Hammer (6 for 6 from the line) chipped in 11 points, 5 steals, 2 assists, and 2 boards. Julian Moore, a 6-8 sophomore, had six points, six boards, and two blocks.

Episcopal Academy   6 6 12 11 - 35

Germantown Academy   15 13 9 17 - 54

EA: D.C. Gaitley 2, Dan Mengel 16, Taylor Wright 7, Adam Strouss 4, Brian Metzler 6.

GA: Neil Lindner 9, Greg Guers 14, Julian Moore 6, Beau Jones 14, Jimmy Hammer 11.