When the Sewickley Academy boys' basketball team started practice for the season, Carrington Motley wasn't in the gymnasium.

Heck, he wasn't even in the country.

The most important thing is that he was in uniform for the Panthers Friday night at the WPIAL Class A championship game at the Palumbo Center.

Without Carrington, a 6-foot-3 sophomore who came off the bench to score 10 points and grab six rebounds in the final, Sewickley Academy would be the WPIAL runner-up today instead of a two-time champion.

Sewickley Academy edged Lincoln Park, 49-48, for the title in a thriller with Tom Droney's 3-point shot with a little more than 10 seconds left the game-winner.

The Panthers (22-2) will take on Coudersport (17-9), the fourth-place team from District 9, in a PIAA first-round game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at North Hills High School.

It has been an interesting school-year for Motley, who saw some varsity action last season as a freshman. He wasn't at the team's first practice this season because he was in Switzerland.

He was in the town of Zermatt in the Swiss Alps as part of Sewickley Academy's global studies program.

"I was there for the first semester. I left Sept. 4 and got back Dec. 17," Motley said. "It was a great experience and there were kids from all over the United States ... from California, Texas, New York and all over.

"It was a lot of fun. There was hiking and skiing and rock climbing."

But not much basketball, which was why Motley was more than a little rusty when he finally returned to his folks' Ohio Township home. He said he is still catching up.

"They had a little [basketball] court over there ... it was like a turf court ... it was kind of weird," Motley said. "I got some shots up in Septemeber and then it got a little cold there."

As a result, he didn't play any basketball until he returned home.

"I only missed four of our games and the preseason, but I feel like I'm just in mid-season form and everyone else is in postseason form," Motley said. "When I came back, my shot and my endurance were off, but I feel I was able to readjust."

Sewickley Academy coach Win Palmer said Motley has caught up quickly and has become a key man off the bench.

"He's such a special talent and only a sophomore, and a young sophomore. I don't think he's 16 yet," Palmer said. "He's an excellent student and that's why the Ivy Leagues really like him. I think he'd like to go to an Ivy League school."

Motley is listed as a forward but has guard skills. In the first half against Lincoln Park he drove the lane for layups three times and also had a tip-in for a basket as the Panthers opened up a 28-15 lead with 4:44 left in the second quarter.

"He can play," Palmer said of Motley. "In practice he dunked over big Al [Almamy Thiero], our assistant coach, which we've never seen him do. It's amazing in practice that he can get way up there, but he just hasn't broken the ice [with a dunk in a game]. Once he does that, look out."

With Droney, who is 6-6 and headed for Davidson, 6-7 Peter Schramm and 6-2 Tyler Palmer, the coach's son, Sewickley Academy doesn't need Motley to do more than he does.

"Coming off the bench I just try to get some points and rebounds and help the starters get some rest," Motley said. "I've been doing that most of the season and just tried to do the same thing [in the championship game]."

If Sewickley Academy is going to take a crack at the PIAA Class A title, Motley will have to continue to be a spark. And there could be a game where he saves the Panthers.

"We're a lot better spreading it around than we were last year," Motley said. "We don't have to rely on Tom as much, though he still makes the points when we need them. But Tom is such a good passer and he'll find you if you're open ... and we finish better than we did last year."

That was obvious Friday night.

Sewickley Academy players celebrate their victory against Lincoln Park in the WPIAL Class A championship game at the Palumbo Center Friday night.

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