Penn Charter tops Malvern Prep in independent schools playoff

THERE'S A REASON Sean O'Brien primarily rubs elbows - almost till they bleed - with Uncle Chris at all family gatherings.

They share the hoops kinship, folks.

The O'Brien brothers displayed skill and variety while starring at La Salle High in the late 1970s/early 1980s, with the chain extending from Neil (baseball, shortstop at Temple) to Chris (point guard for '81 Catholic League champs, Drexel) to Doug (rowing, Arizona State).

Sean tried to mirror his dad, Neal. Really, he did.

But one day as a fifth-grader, though he was having success as a shortstop and pitcher, he came home and made an announcement that could have been a bombshell.

Bye-bye, baseball.

"What'd my dad say? Geez, that was so long ago, I can't even remember," Sean said, smiling. "But I do know he wasn't upset. Even though his best sport was baseball, basketball's the one he likes the most.

"Baseball's too slow for me. So much time just standing around. There's just more . . . I don't know . . . Let's see . . . There's just more playing in basketball. Nonstop playing. You're always running. Always being active. I also like the excitement from the fans. How everybody's into it. There's lots of energy."

O'Brien, a 6-2, 170-pound junior combo guard, spoke early Thursday evening, after leading Penn Charter to a 44-37 win over visiting Malvern Prep in the quarterfinal round of the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Tournament.

He shot 5-for-9 from the floor (3-for-5 on treys) and 7-for-7 at the line for 20 points, while adding two assists, four steals and five rebounds.

O'Brien is receiving steady contact from schools in the Ivy and Patriot leagues, and even Notre Dame has sent two letters.

Form or personalized?

"Well, they did have my name on there," he cracked. "I'll take it."

O'Brien's best moment Thursday came midway through the fourth quarter. Down by just 34-31, Malvern was still hopeful of claiming a win over a team that had conquered it twice during the Inter-Ac League season.

But then Mike McGlinchey, a football star who's bound for Notre Dame, accepted a pass from David Huber and converted a twisting layup. Then, zip, just like that, the score was 38-31.

What happened?

"After Mike scored on his post-touch, I wanted to pressure No. 10," O'Brien said, referring to Sam Ramagano. "He made a move, but he must have faked out the inbounder, because that guy passed it right to me. I was right under the basket.

"Easiest bucket of the game. I took it."

Otherwise, scoring was difficult.

"The first time we played them, they worked really hard to not let me get the ball," O'Brien said. "I expected that again. It was physical out there. Just have to ice things up for tomorrow.

"I think I have about 20 bruises . . . At least."

In Friday night's semis, set for Malvern, it'll be Germantown Academy vs. Haverford School at 6:30, then PC vs. Kiski, of western Pennsylvania, at 8:15. Malvern likewise will host Saturday's 6:45 championship game.

"The past 2 years, we lost in the first round," said O'Brien, who lives in Lafayette Hill. "When we looked at the bracket this year, we definitely thought we could make a run. We've won twice and now we'll try to finish it off. We do know the competition will be tough."

McGlinchey finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, while Demetrius Isaac, who sometimes plays out front so O'Brien can snipe from the wing, managed seven points and three assists.

For Malvern, Andrew Bargmann (16) and Jimmy Gordon (10) led in points, Jeff Hagen claimed nine boards, and Ramagano dished three assists.

One free throw by Gordon advanced the Friars within 40-37 at 39.1, then O'Brien clinched the win by going 4-for-4 at the stripe.

Early in his PC days, O'Brien also played soccer as a center midfielder. The see-ya moment for that sport occurred last year.

"Basketball's the one I love, so I decided to focus on that," he said.

Look. Over there. In the corner. Uncle Chris is nodding his approval.

Matter of fact, so is Dad.