Quaker Valley boys savor signature win over Avonworth

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, February 2, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Quaker Valley’s boys basketball team went on the road to earn perhaps its biggest win of the regular season.

The Quakers stunned Class 4A No. 1 Avonworth, 59-56, on Jan. 28 for its fifth consecutive victory and improved to 13-4 overall.

Avonworth entered the game with a 6-0 record in Section 2-4A and 14-2 overall. The Antelopes had won 13 of their past 14 contests including a 67-42 defeat of QV in the first week of January.

“In terms of importance, it was one of our bigger wins of the season,” coach Mike Mastroianni said, “but, more importantly, we played well on both ends of the floor against a high-level team.

“Not sure how much the first game impacted this game, but I think our younger players have gained valuable experience as we enter the last few weeks of the regular season, and our team continuity continues to grow in all areas.”

The three-point decision against Avonworth was the Quakers’ 12th win in 15 games. QV also also strung together a five-game winning streak in December.

Dana Kromah, a 6-foot-5 senior forward at QV, had a game-high 22 points against the Antelopes, and 5-10 freshman guard Nic Cohen chipped in with 13.

Avonworth senior guard Rowan Carmichael, the WPIAL’s leading scorer, finished with a team-high 20 points. Senior forward Noah Goetz and junior guard Carson Bellinger added 15 apiece.

With a 6-1 record, Avonworth saw its lead atop the section standings narrowed to one game with Central Valley (15-3, 5-2) and Beaver (14-4, 5-2) breathing down the Antelopes’ necks.

QV boosted its record in league play to 4-3 with games at Beaver (Feb. 4) and at home against Central Valley (Feb. 7) to close out its section schedule.

“We have a unique mix as we are still a very young team but have a good core of experienced players,” said Mastroianni, who is in his 26th year as QV’s floor boss and 33rd overall as a high school head coach.

Tags: Quaker Valley