Exeter finally breaks out, stuns Wilson in Berks quarterfinal

Even as the late-season losses piled up, one after another after another, Exeter basketball coach Matt Ashcroft remained upbeat. He kept saying his team, which ended the regular season with seven losses in eight games, was close to turning it around.

Monday they did, stunning third-seeded Wilson 55-51 in a Berks Conference quarterfinal at West Lawn.

“I”m so proud of those kids, they were incredible,” said Ashcroft after the sixth-seeded Eagles (11-11) advanced to the semifinals for the first time in four seasons.

They’ll play second-seeded Berks Catholic Wednesday at 6 at Santander Arena.

The Eagles got a game-high 21 points from senior wing Colin Payne and a career night from 6-6 center Anthony Caccese, who had 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Exeter led 15-12 after one quarter and stayed in front the whole way. The Bulldogs (14-8) made it a one-possession game in the final quarter but Payne and Caccese each hit a pair of free throws and Teddy Snyder scored six of his 11 points in the final quarter.

“I can’t say enough about how happy I am for these kids,” said Ashcroft. “To be able to take positives from loss after loss after loss . . . The kids stayed together. Tonight we put it all together, and what better time to do it than the first round of playoffs.”

Defense, as usual, was a key for the Eagles. They limited Wilson’s top player, Cameron Jones, to a season-low two points.

“He’s not only one of the best players in the county, but he’s one of the few three-level players,” Ashcroft said of Jones. “Against someone that good, all you can do is make them work, and he had to work for everything he got. You’ve gotta credit our guys. Zyion Paschall and Alex Kelsey (who guarded Jones) were unreal, unreal.”

Ashcroft had praise for all his guys but was especially impressed with Caccese, who had never scored more than 16 points in a game. He had 13 in the first half.

“He’s the kind of guy, he turns it on when the lights come on,” Ashcroft said. “He was possessed; he refused to be denied. It was far and away his best performance for the biggest game of his career.

“You can’t look back at the success (he) had on the football field (as a starting offensive lineman for the District 3 Class 5A champions) and say that didn’t help his confidence and his competitive spirit. The biggest game of his career he goes for 19 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks and completely dominates.”

The Eagles were once again playing without 6-6 junior Joey Schlaffer, who missed his third straight game with a wrist injury. He averages 10.6 points per game, second on the team.

“He means everything to us,” Ashcroft said. “For the kids to step up and get a win like that in Joey’s absence, I’m so happy for our kids.”

He said Schlaffer remains day-to-day; he has not ruled out a return this season.

Cleveland Harding led Wilson with 14 points. Ofure Odiale had 11.

The Bulldogs were playing without head coach Matt Coldren, who was ejected from the regular season finale last week at Reading High and was serving a one-game PIAA-mandated suspension.

Wilson’s season will continue in the District 3 Class 6A Tournament. They’ll play at No. 8 Waynesboro Feb. 22.