Exeter boys basketball wins first District 3 championship in school history with victory over Manheim Central in Class 5A final

Mar. 2—HERSHEY — It was a happy and historic day for Exeter Thursday at Giant Center.

The Eagles, in their first appearance in a District 3 boys basketball championship game in 40 years, handled Manheim Central 67-53 in the Class 5A final to win the program's first district title.

"It's amazing," Exeter senior Zyion Paschall said. "This is our first one (district win) ever. It's just unbelievable to me. Hopefully, we can go win states now."

Thursday's victory continues the Eagles' run of historic accomplishments. They won their first division title since 1984 this season, then advanced to their first Berks Conference final since 1974, where they lost to Reading High 70-63 after leading by 10 points with less than five minutes left.

Third-seeded Exeter (23-6) showed it had learned from that rough night.

"Sometimes in life, you have to go through the fire in order to see what's on the other side," Exeter coach Matt Ashcroft said on what he told his kids after the loss to the Red Knights. "To be able to take that gut punch that we took two Fridays ago and come win four straight games against four really good opponents, it just says what's in that locker room in terms of intestinal fortitude and mental toughness."

After going down 8-6 early in the first quarter, Exeter took the lead and never looked back against the top-seeded Barons (20-5). Not surprisingly, four players scored in double figures for the typically balanced Eagles.

"We felt like we were the better team," said Exeter center Anthony Caccese, an All-Berks pick who finished with a game-high 22. "We felt like we had the advantage especially inside and that we could 'D' up their shooters."

The University of Delaware football commit also was part of the school's first district championship football team in 2021.

"Makes me feel great, man," Caccese said. "It's just great making history. I just love the fact that it's going to last forever. I can't wait to come back to school and see those two banners on the wall."

Exeter got off to a quick start after a Kevin Saenz layup on its first possession. The first quarter ended in a 13-13 tie as both teams traded baskets.

Caccese started the second quarter with a layup, then a block on the other end that led to a basket by Exeter's Alex Kelsey.

With a few minutes remaining in the half, Paschall had a flashy assist to Reece Garvin, who would convert the three-point play.

Caccese scored 16 in the first half, and the Eagles went into the locker room leading 32-23.

Exeter also did a good job in the first half against Manheim Central's Trey Grube. The All-State pick at guard last season, who came in with 1,707 career points, scored just six in the first half.

"Make Trey Grube work," Ashcroft said on his team's game plan. "We wanted to be there on the catch and force him left. He's a special basketball player. Scoring, gifted shooter, whatever you want to say. We made him work (for his points)."

In the third quarter, the Barons went on a 7-2 run to cut their deficit to 44-37 with eight minutes to play.

In the fourth, the Eagles — in the district final for the first time since 1983, when it lost to York Catholic, and fourth time overall.— did not allow any type of comeback.

Exeter led by as much as 17 points, and outscored Manheim Central 23-16.

Saenz finished with 12 points, Garvin had 11, and Paschall 10. Garvin was playing for the first time since suffering an injury in the loss to Reading High.

Grube finished with 19 points and Aaron Enterline had 14 for the Barons.

Exeter will open the PIAA Tournament at home against Fox Chapel, the seventh-place team from District 7, on Friday, March 10.

For now, though, the Eagles will enjoy having hoisted a District 3 championship trophy for the first time.

"The last two weeks felt like six months," Ashcroft said. "With all the emotions up and down, I'm so happy for these kids."