Droney and Sewickley: state champs

After the win: “I was really excited to play even though I was really sick. I still had a little energy to get it going. I can’t thank my teammates enough for being supportive and playing great. … I woke up and I felt terrible. But I was going to play. We didn’t come this far not to play. Everyone stepped up and we won. I just tried to play as best as I could; play my best. … This is the best feeling in the world. I’ve never felt anything like this -- and it hasn’t totally hit me yet.” Beaver County advance. Tribune-Review gamer.

Droney’s (pre-Davidson) legacy

Beaver County Times:

Tom Droney has been so focused on winning a state championship that he’s never really thought about his legacy. But with one game left in his high school career, Droney’s reputation as one of the all-time greats from western Pennsylvania is etched permanently in stone.

State championship tomorrow. Reading Eagle. Post-Gazette.

Still playing

Droney: low-scoring slog on the way to on the way to the state quarterfinals. Beaver County Times.

After this afternoon’s game in Charlotte

In Pittsburgh: Droney. In Atlanta: Stephen.

Droney and defense

Beaver County Times:

Palmer said that Droney’s future college coach, Davidson’s Bob McKillop, told the Sewickley star that while he was a very good offensive player, he needed to work on his defense if he wanted to play at the college level.

“He’s taken that to heart and he plays some kind of defense,” Palmer said. “We could have him going out there scoring 35 points per game and doing all those sorts of things, but we don’t because what he does for us means so much.”

“I want to guard the other team’s best player,” Droney said. “I’m taking pride in my defense this year and hopefully it will pay off.”

The Bounce: “Everyone has been talking about Tom Droney, this and that, and he averages 23 points per game. There are other guys in the area averaging more, but people don’t understand -- I believe he is the best player in the area.”

Last night in Pa.

Beaver County Times:

There was really no need for Tom Droney to show off. Already signed to play at Division I Davidson College, Sewickley Academy’s senior guard had obviously made an indelible impression on Wildcats coach Bob McKillop.

But with McKillop watching from the stands at Cornell High School Tuesday night, Droney offered a reminder, a reassurance perhaps, of why he was recruited to the North Carolina School.

From late in the first quarter through the early stages of the second quarter, Droney scored 17 straight points for the Panthers and personally turned a 12-8 deficit into a 25-20 lead. Cornell never threatened again as Sewickley Academy won the Section 4-A game 62-47.

Droney

On the lists of Beaver County athletes of the week and also McDonald’s All-American nominees. Last night: 18 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.

Droney last night

Beaver County Times: 32 after a slow start.