Men’s Basketball Season Review: Phantoms Fly into the Playoffs
(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA • April 2, 2020)
Signature Win: The Phantoms rallied back from a 10-point deficit on Feb.6 on their way to an 81-77 victory over host Salem Community College. Guard Josh Grant led the way with 20 points while Shawn Mendez and Mike Mallon chipped in with 19 and 17 points, respectively. “It was a hard fought victory that went back and forth up until the final two minutes of the game,” shared head coach Larry Yarbray, Sr. “Shawn was in foul trouble in the first half and only played about five minutes, therefore everybody had to step up and play together. We made a run in the second half with our full-court press and we closed the game out in the last two minutes.
Season Notes: The Phantoms won five of their last six to close out the regular season on their way to qualifying for the regional tournament for the first time in three years … Seeded 11th in the regional tournament, the Phantoms lost to Middlesex, 79-63, in opening-round play … Mike Mallon topped the squad with an average of 19.2 points per game. He also led the team in three-point shooting percentage (38.1), free-throw shooting percentage (71.6), and minutes per game (36.9) … Shawn Mendez ranked first on the team in total rebounds per game (15.7), offensive rebounds per game (7.1), defensive rebounds per game (8/6), shooting percentage (50.8) and blocks per game (1.6) while finishing second in scoring average (17.4). Mendez concluded his memorable season among the national leaders in rebounds per game (second), offensive rebounds (third, 170) and total rebounds (fourth, 376). Mendez was a model of consistency as he authored eight 20-plus rebounding efforts and 13 multi-block outings … Josh Grant (14.3) and Yohance Garner (12.1) also averaged double figures on the season for the Phantoms ...Grant ranked 18th nationally with 6.6 assists per contest.
Awards:
- Division III Men’s Basketball All-Region XIX Selection: Shawn Mendez (third team)
- Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference All-League Selections: Shawn Mendez (first team), Mike Mallon (second team)
- Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Player of the Week: Josh Grant (11/11), Shawn Mendez (2/4)
- Fall 2019 Dean’s List: Prince Griffon, Shawn Mendez, Steve Willis
Looking Ahead: Yarbray Sr., who will be in his fourth year on the Phantoms’ sidelines in 2020-21, aims to continue to build the program with an eye on becoming a mainstay at the top of the conference.
