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.

29 points, and on to the state title game

Droney: Tom Droney fought through a foul to make a game-winning layup with 3.6 seconds left and then added on the free throw to give Sewickley Academy a victory over Lincoln Park, 50-47, Tuesday night in a PIAA Class A boys basketball semifinal.

On to the state semis

Droney: WPIAL champion Sewickley Academy came back to oust the Titans from the field, 66-44, Friday night at Indiana Area High School behind 23 points from all-state 6-foot-5 guard and Division I recruit Tom Droney. Post-Gazette.

Still playing

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

WPIAL wrap

Post-Gazette: Friday night, the Palumbo Center was filled to capacity. No doubt that T.J. McConnell and Sewickley Academy’s Tom Droney were responsible for some of that crowd. People do like to see individual stars. Video.

Droney: WPIAL champ

Sewickley coach Win Palmer: “When Tyler got the ball, I said 'Please find Droney.’ I’m thinking to myself. 'Please find Droney.’ I didn't even know where Tom was. Just find him because he’s going to make the shot. It might be a 2-pointer, it might be a 3-pointer, but, if you find him, he’s going to make the shot. That’s Tom.” Beaver County Times.

WPIAL title game Friday

Former St. Pete Times intern Michael Sanserino with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Tom Droney scored 26 points to lead Sewickley Academy to a 62-49 victory against Cornell in a WPIAL Class A semifinal Tuesday night at North Hills. Beaver County Times.

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.

This quote

Here: “Jamie Dixon came to the gym last year when we played Sewickley Academy to see Droney. I don’t know why he picked that game, but he did and he was one of the folks standing in the doorway watching. Naturally, the place was packed.”

McKillop on Droney

YourSewickley.com:

In all the fanfare about Sewickley Academy basketball star Tom Droney’s commitment to play for Davidson College, one notable voice was missing.

Bob McKillop, in his 21st season as head coach at Davidson, has led the Wildcats to five NCAA tournament appearances and hopes more are in store once Droney arrives next season.

But due to NCAA rules and Davidson policy regarding admissions, McKillop was unable to speak publicly about Droney until earlier this month, after the Academy senior’s paperwork was fully processed.

McKillop: “He doesn’t pigeon-hole himself into one role, and he has no sense of entitlement.”

Last night in Western Pa.

Droney with 33. His team is 5-0.

Long Droney feature

ESPN Rise:

The 6-foot-6, Davidson-bound senior point guard has an arsenal of moves at his disposal -- crossovers, step-backs, pull-ups, and a vicious spin move. But he’s at his most dangerous when passing up the rock in the early going of games and then taking over late. Last year, Droney averaged 23.7 points, 6.6 assists and 6.1 rebounds and dropped 40 in the championship as Sewickley won the WPIAL Class A title. And he did it by being patient and getting his teammates involved.

Other items I underlined: “He knows personally everyone in the crowd who’s there. He definitely averages more points at home.” ... Or the game against Clairton when, down by one with two minutes to go, Droney broke down his man and -- according to multiple witnesses -- dunked on four defenders. ... Big-name coaches like Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Jamie Dixon (Pitt) and Bob McKillop (Davidson) were spotted at Sewickley games. ... “A bigger version of Chris Herren without the baggage.” 28 last night (and a DU alert).

Droney last night

Beaver County Times: 32 after a slow start.

A much-anticipated senior season

Droney: “People definitely will be watching us. We basically have everyone back, but we have to be ready to play every night. There’s a big target on our backs.”

Droney’s team

Ranked No. 2 in Class A in Pennsylvania heading into his senior season.

Go watch Droney

If you’re in or around Wheeling, W.Va., the afternoon of Jan. 2 at the Cancer Research Classic.

Droney’s signature

The release from his school: Sewickley Academy senior Tom Droney will sign a National Letter of Intent on Thursday, November 12, at 1 pm in the Boyd Room of Hansen Library at Sewickley Academy. Tom is signing with Davidson College, a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,700 students located 20 minutes north of Charlotte in Davidson, North Carolina. Davidson competes in NCAA athletics at the Division I level. Tom will play basketball for Davidson.

His hometown paper

Droney: “I’ve always gone to a smaller school. Davidson only has 1,700 students, so it’s similar to Sewickley Academy. It has a pretty big campus for the enrollment, but visiting there, it really resembles the Academy.”

Tom Droney

Being a student: “That’s the thing that gets to me. I can watch the chest, but the leg looks like a shark bite.”