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Abington, Coatesville boys advance to district final

Abington's Rob Young developed his hard-nosed basketball style while playing in pickup games at Philadelphia playgrounds and for the West Oak Lane Wildcats.

Abington's Rob Young developed his hard-nosed basketball style while playing in pickup games at Philadelphia playgrounds and for the West Oak Lane Wildcats.

"It prepared me for pretty much anything," the senior guard said. "It toughens you up, makes you bring energy to the court every time."

Young, a first-year starter, filled up the stat sheet while helping the No. 3-seeded Ghosts cruise past No. 2 Plymouth Whitemarsh, 71-67, Tuesday night in a PIAA District 1 Class 6A semifinal at Temple.

The 5-foot-9, 165-pounder produced six points, six assists, six rebounds, and four steals. Abington led, 37-20, late in the first half and was in front, 62-42, with five minutes remaining.

Of Young's solid overall effort, Ghosts coach Charles Grasty said, "That's what Rob has given us all year. He gets overlooked by a lot of opponents."

Abington will try for its second district crown in three seasons when it takes on Coatesville for top honors at 8 p.m. Saturday at Villanova. The No. 4 Red Raiders trounced No. 8 Cheltenham, 79-58, in Tuesday's nightcap.

After coming out in a man-to-man defense against PW, the Ghosts soon switched to a 2-3 zone. The Colonials shot 7 for 27 from the field in the first half.

"I don't think they were prepared for that," Young said. " We did a good job of guarding them, boxing out, and rebounding."

An erstwhile football player, Young plans to soon visit Pennsylvania Institute of Technology, a Division III program in Williamsport.

"I've also been talking to Lock Haven and Georgian Court about him," Grasty said. "He's going to be a heck of a player for whatever school gives him a chance."

Eric Dixon, a 6-7 sophomore, paced Abington (23-4) with 29 points and 10 boards (five on offense). He drained two three-pointers.

"He was feeling it, he had it going," Grasty said. "He made some unbelievable shots. He hit every shot at the right time."

Junior guard Robbie Heath contributed 15 points to the victory. Joe O'Brien, a 6-9 senior, was next in line with 13 markers, nine boards (five on offense), and three blocks.

For PW, which won last year's District 1 Class 4A tournament, Ish Horn registered 20 points. Ten of his 11 boards came on offense.

Fellow junior guard Ahmad Williams posted 12 of his 15 points for the Colonials (22-5) in the final stanza. Senior wing Matt Walker buried four treys en route to 14 points.

Coatesville (23-4) shot 28 for 43 from the line in its romp over turnover-prone Cheltenham (19-6). Freshman guard Jhamir Brickus notched 11 of his game-high 22 points in the third quarter.

The Panthers, who coughed up the ball 21 times, were led by junior guard Ahmad Bickley's 15 points.

Abington 15 22 16 18 - 71

Ply. Whitemarsh 13 9 16 29 - 67

A: Rob Young 6, Robbie Heath 15, Eric Dixon 29, Joe O'Brien 13, Lucas Monroe 3, Eric Dougherty 5.

PW: Ish Horn 20, Ahmad Williams 15, Naheem McLeod 5, Matt Walker 14, Cheo Houston 2, Alan Glover 5, Devon Lawrence 4, Kevin Tilghman 2.

Cheltenham 13 14 17 14 - 58

Coatesville 11 25 23 20 - 79

Ch: Ahmad Bickley 15, Rodney Carson 8, Kyin Healey 10, Jack Clark 9, Trevonn Pitts 10, Tim Myarick 3, Lonce Scott 1, Jordan Paris 2.

Co: Haasan Young 4, Jhamir Brickus 22, Tyrel Bladen 11, Joe Boulware 2, Kamau Brickus 12, Tione Holmes 5, Dapree Bryant 17, Avery Young 2, Sincere Scott 2, Aaron Young 2.