By Matthew De George
Penncrest’s quest to make it five state tournament berths in six years will require replacing its top three scorers from last year’s run to the second round of the PIAA class 5A tournament, including All-Delco Malcolm Williams, who was the team’s only double-figure scorer at 18 points per game. But coach Mike Doyle’s cupboard isn’t exactly bare.
The backcourt features two seasoned seniors in Aidan Carroll and Marquis Tomlin, both of whom need to step up from complementary roles as underclassmen. In junior center Denzel Boyer-Atkinson, the Lions have height in a league generally devoid of it.
Ben Stanton got time as a freshman; he and fellow sophomore Saahir Lee will get chances to shine. Forwards Justin Potts and Denzel Quinn will round out the low-post rotation for a program looking for its 12th straight districts berth.
Despite a 14-win season and a berth in the District 1 Class 6A field that is becoming increasingly routine, Garnet Valley’s best days may still lay ahead. The Jaguars’ two returning double-figures scorers from last season, do-everything point guard Carl Schaller and sharpshooter Neel Beniwal, are just juniors. They combined for 26.1 points per game last year, and Beniwal was one of Delco’s top long-range shooters at 58 made triples.
(click on this link for the a review of all Central League teams)