Game Recap: Malvern Prep 67, Penn Charter 54

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Malvern Prep clinched a second-place finish in the Inter-Ac with a wire-to-wire win over visiting Penn Charter. The Friars were led by the dynamic 1-2 punch of junior swingman [player_tooltip player_id='2194375' first='Nick' last='Harken'] (24 points) and sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2703264' first='Logan' last='Chwastyk'] (22 points), with sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2450669' first='Carter' last='Smith'] pacing Penn Charter with 22 of his own.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2194375"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":3490635,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698d6aa24f179"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coming off just recently scoring his 1,000th career point, Harken showed no signs of slowing down with a workmanlike 24-point effort. Against a Penn Charter team lacking in terms of physical strength, the junior swingman consistently put on his hard hat and went to work near the basket, getting there in any way imaginable and converting efficiently in traffic. As usual, he was effective in the floor game as well, hauling in rebounds from the backcourt to help create extra possessions or kickstart the transition attack going the other way. Harken is heavily on the radar of high-academic scholarship-level programs and his performance offered a clear window as to why.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2703264"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698d6aa24f20f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Forming as dynamic a 1-2 punch as there is in the Inter-Ac, Chwastyk teamed with Harken to pound Penn Charter inside to the tune of 22 points. The highly-touted sophomore forward was effective carving out space near the basket for duck-ins or early seals, showing strong hands and swift touch as a finisher in the halfcourt. He flashed his shooting touch and showed his burgeoning athleticism on a momentum-swinging dunk to beat the third-quarter buzzer. It was seemingly just another day at the office for Chwastyk as he continues to string together productive performances and establish himself among the top sophomore forwards nationally.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2450669"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698d6aa24f28d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leading an undermanned Penn Charter group that had been blown out by Malvern earlier in the year on its home floor, Smith put together a standout performance despite the loss, keeping things within a couple possessions all the way until the closing minutes. The star sophomore impressed with his ability to put the team on his back while still playing largely mistake-free basketball. He racked up 22 points with his trademark slithery drives and smooth pullup shooting, mixing in some opportunistic scrap points within the flow. Smith also shined as a playmaker, routinely drawing help and making the timely, simple read to set up his surrounding shooters. Defensively, he was a factor in passing lanes and showed his advanced ability as a secondary rim protector from the backcourt. It was easy for anyone looking on to see why Smith is considered among the best of the best in a deep sophomore class across the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2851254"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698d6aa24f308"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stepping up as a key third scorer behind Harken and Chwastyk, Melniczak delivered an efficient 15 points from the backcourt in support. He helped set the tone early as Malvern took control, knocking down a pair of first quarter 3's. He would go on to hit his first five shots of the game, missing just one while adding in another third-quarter 3 that helped keep Penn Charter at bay. Melniczak shows he can play both on and off the ball, with likely more playmaking ability than he's asked to show given the surrounding personnel. With a couple years of starting experience under his belt at the varsity level, this should be a key spring and summer for him to begin establishing some momentum on the recruiting trail.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3490643"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698d6aa24f38e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Continuing a breakout senior season in league play, Comitale was the only Quaker besides Smith in double figures with his 12 points. The off-ball guard stuck to his bread and butter, knocking down 4 3's as a routine beneficiary of Smith's penetration. He kept the ball moving effectively against the zone and showed smart instincts for relocating to open space along the perimeter. A program kid who's slowly risen his way up the ranks at Penn Charter, Comitale has shown he deserves a spot on somebody's college roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->