Dixon helps Radnor find its feet at postseason looms

In the 2018-19 season finale, Radnor beat Strath Haven, 48-46, to clinch a District 1 Class 5A playoff berth. It paved the way for the Raiders to be dispatched by Unionville in the first round of the postseason and Haven to cap a moribund 3-19 season, leading to an offseason coaching change.

Thursday night, Radnor wound up on top, again by a 48-46 margin. But where last year’s combatants combined for a mere 14 wins, the total this year stands at 29 and counting. Both are in position to host District 1 Class 5A playoff games. Both qualified for the first installment of the extended Central League playoffs, to start Saturday.

And both face incalculably brighter horizons now then they did a year ago.

“It’s been a great four years,” said Radnor’s Colin Lane, one of seven Raiders celebrating senior night, a group that endured its three-win campaign as sophomores. “It’s been a great journey. We’re just going to keep getting better, keep getting stronger and keep going as a team.”

“A lot (different), honestly,” Strath Haven’s Matt Shuler said. “Last year we were 3-19 and we had a lot of improving to do. It’s nice to be one of the top teams in the Central League and be competing this year.”

The matchup is the latest close-to-the-vest battle in the 40s waged by the teams this year. And it carried playoff intensity, fitting since these teams could meet a couple more times down the road.

Both teams clinched spots in the six-team Central League playoffs. Garnet Valley (14-2) and Lower Merion (12-4) are the top two seeds and receive byes. A win by Penncrest (11-5) granted it the third seed. Strath Haven (15-6, 9-7 Central) fell to the sixth seed, playing Saturday at 3:30 at Lower Merion.

Radnor (14-8, 9-7) and Haverford (13-8, 9-7) meet, the Fords getting the four seed, Saturday at 3:30 at Garnet Valley.

Thursday’s affair was typically hard-nosed for a pre-playoff contest. The Raiders took the lead for good with an 11-0 run in the second quarter, a Josh Savadove 3-pointer sealing an eight-point edge at the break, 25-17.

Strath Haven threatened, getting within four early in the third before a 7-0 spurt by Radnor, then Haven nudged within three with a minute to play before Radnor did just enough at the line.

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Radnor’s Jahmir Dixon fires a shot against Strath Haven in the fourth quarter Thursday. The Raiders hung on for a 48-46 victory. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)