Career night by Zyion Paschall carries Exeter to tournament championship

Exeter’s Zyion Paschall was primarily a ballhandler and defensive stopper last season; he’s much, much more now.

The 5-10 senior guard continued to show off his expanded offensive game Thursday, scoring 16 points to lead the Eagles to a 69-55 victory over the host Falcons in the Cedar Crest Holiday Tournament.

Paschall was named tournament Most Valuable Player after recording 10 assists, three steals and a career-high scoring total. He hit six straight free throws in the final quarter as the Eagles (5-1) closed out their first holiday tournament championship in four years.

“He was just outstanding,” Exeter coach Matt Ashcroft said. “He’s such a calming presence on the floor; he doesn’t really get fazed. Any time things are getting crazy (we say): ‘Zyion, go get the ball.’ “

Things got a little crazy at times as the Falcons (4-4) quickly trimmed a 37-31 halftime deficit by opening the third quarter with a pair of 3-pointers to tie it.

Exeter, getting a pair of third-quarter 3’s from Reece Garvin, opened its lead to 15 before Cedar Crest rallied again.

“Every time we tried to pull away, they’d hit a 3,” Ashcroft said. “They just don’t quit. They kept coming at us.

“We withstood three furious runs that they made (but) it was defense (that saved us). We responded well when we had some adversity, which is great. We got a stop whenever we needed it.”

Paschall had 20 assists in the tournament, several of them by getting the ball inside to 6-7 Anthony Caccese.

The Delaware football recruit scored a game-high 20 points and joined Paschall on the all-tournament team. Caccese also had 10 rebounds and blocked three shots.

Kevin Saenz scored 15 points and Garvin 10 for the Eagles. J’veon Reyes-Vegas had a team-high 17 for Cedar Crest.

The win helps Exeter maintain its strong standing in the District 3 Class 5A power ratings; it is second behind Milton Hershey, the lone remaining undefeated Class 5A team in the district.

Things get tougher for the Eagles Friday afternoon when they play at Spring-Ford, which is off to a 7-1 start.

Exeter returns to league play Tuesday with a crossover game against Berks Conference Division I favorite Reading High at Reiffton.

Exeter’s last holiday tournament championship came at the Spartan Holiday Tournament in 2019, Ashcroft’s first season as head coach. The Eagles beat Lancaster Mennonite and Wyomissing.