Archbishop Wood supporting cast proving essential to boys basketball success

BENSALEM — Keeping Archbishop Wood senior stars Jalil Bethea and Josh Reed from big offensive games would seem to be a sensible recipe to defeat the Vikings.

District One champion Lower Merion limited Bethea (13 points) and Reed (11) to 24 in Wednesday night's PIAA Class 6A second-round state playoff contest at Bensalem, which is Bethea's average alone, yet the Vikings still prevailed 66-64.

Wood (18-8) can give plenty of thanks to its solid supporting cast that it moved on to Saturday's quarterfinal (noon at Norristown) against District One ninth-place finisher Spring-Ford.

Wood basketball junior Mike Green gets hot with 3-pointers

Junior guard Mike Green was especially productive, scoring a team-high 15 points while knocking down three 3-pointers in a frantic fourth quarter in which each school had 23 points.

"We talked about that we're not a one-man team or two-man team," said Vikings head coach John Mosco. "Mike Green stepped up and made some good plays. He was wide open. Jalil, especially, always finds Mike in practice. We found him and he shot the ball with confidence.

"Deuce Maxey was really solid inbounding against their pressure all game (and had 10 points). (Tahir Howell) scored (nine)."

Reed gives Wood solid 2nd option: Drexel recruit boosts Archbishop Wood boys basketball's offense

This wasn't the first time the left-handed Green has been a difference-maker. He hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of a come-from-behind win over Archbishop Ryan and also had four in the final period of a victory against Father Judge during the Philadelphia Catholic League regular season.

"I had to bring the energy to all my teammates," Green said. "I think a lot of guys stepped up — even if it wasn't (by) scoring. We won as a team."

Make your pick for player of year: Poll: Vote for who you think should be boys basketball player of year in Bucks County area

Wood coach preaches patience with star Jalil Bethea

Regularly facing a box-and-one defense and double-teams, the Miami-bound Bethea threw a bunch of crosscourt passes to teammates, leading to buckets for Green, Maxey and others. Bethea finished with six assists.

"Every time we play a small team like this that's not even that good, we expect the double-team coming," Bethea said. "We work on it in practice, so when we get in a game, I feel used to it and comfortable. … Mike Green came up big."

He wasn't the only one for Wood, the District 12 third-place team.

"Going into this game, I already knew it wasn't going to be a type of (typical) scoring game," Bethea said. "I feel like going into this game, I had to rely on my teammates."

Wood only trailed by one point at halftime despite the Drexel-bound Reed (five) and Bethea (four) combining for nine points. The slender Howell (seven) and Maxey (six) led the way at intermission for the Vikings.

Mosco told his players at halftime that they needed to swing the ball from side to side, rather than just one pass and a shot. He also wanted Bethea to move around more on offense, which made it tougher for the Aces to guard him.

Bethea dunk jump-starts Archbishop Wood in PIAA state playoff win

As he has done numerous times this season, Bethea ignited Wood. This time, the McDonald's All-American did it with a 3-pointer and high-flying breakaway dunk to open the fourth period. The dunk sent the huge crowd into a frenzy and gave Wood a seven-point lead that didn't go below three until the Aces' last-second 3-pointer, even with Owen McCabe's four 3s in a three-minute span.

"We get a big momentum play in a close game and it opens it up for the rest of us," Green said. "We all get super-energized and it gives us a lot of momentum."

The key for Bethea was not to get frustrated with his limited scoring opportunities and to continue moving the ball.

"When he plays under control, there's not too many people better than him," Mosco said.

Wood, which has won 14 of its last 15 and been in a lot of close games, is experienced and confident enough that it doesn't panic in tight spots.

"That's where we have to stay calm and not get too high or too low," said Green of the stretch with McCabe's 3-point onslaught.

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Archbishop Wood boys basketball supporting cast making a difference