Category: Latest News

By Bruce Adams

After Lower Merion lost 1,000-point scorer Jack Forrest to an injury Dec. 11, the Aces (8-1) bounced back with five wins in their next six games and are ranked third in the most current (as of Dec. 31) PIAA District 1 6A boys basketball rankings.

“We’ve had a lot of guys stepping up this season – guys with grit and good character,” said Lower Merion head coach Gregg Downer, now in his 29th year as Aces mentor (which includes three PIAA state championships). “A lot of these kids have been with us on varsity since their freshman year.”
Following a 71-61 loss to Norristown (the top-ranked team in District 1) Dec. 15, the Aces have reeled off four wins in a row. All of the victories were by four points or less, and it began with a come-from-behind 80-76 double overtime win against Garnet Valley Dec. 18.

(click on this link for the full article)

By Matthew DeGeorge

The options for Penncrest on the final possession of a one-score game have become streamlined in recent weeks. It’s one of the few benefits of three starters sitting out injured.

The plan, down two points with 30 seconds to play Sunday against Chester, wasn’t to have Isiah Rice dribble into a crowd and lose the ball. Nor was it to have leading scorer Malcolm Williams standing flat-footed 38 feet from the basket, more ready to foul if a Clipper emerged with the ball than to shoot if a Lion recovered it

But like so much else in the Lions’ holiday break, when things haven’t gone to plan, they’ve found a way.

Marquis Tomlin buried a long 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds to play, sending Penncrest to a 47-46 win over Chester in the Pete and Jameer Nelson Classic at Widener University.

After falling to the court under pressure from Chester guard Rahmee Gilbert, Rice had the presence of mind to shovel the ball to Tomlin, standing two strides behind the arc. Tomlin’s triple splashed home, giving him a career-high 16 points and about as easy of a decision for game MVP honors as the three-day showcase has had.

(click on this link for more game stories and scores)

By PaPrepLIVE

All-Delco guard Michael Smith’s bucket with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter gave Chester a 47-46 lead and the eventual victory over St. George’s in the Pete and Jameer Classic at Widener University Saturday night.

The Clippers (4-3) were held scoreless for the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. It was defense, including three blocks by Akeem Taylor, that buoyed the Clippers on this night. Rahmee Gilbert came away with a steal in the waning seconds to seal the win.

Taylor and Karell Watkins both registered double-doubles for Chester. Watkins had 14 points and 10 rebounds, his sixth double-double of the season, and Taylor totaled 12 points and 11 boards.

Chester and Penncrest clash in a meeting of Delco boys basketball powers, 3:30 Sunday at Widener.

In other games at the Nelson Classic:

(click on this link for more game stories and scores)

By PAPrepLIVE

Garnet Valley’s Greg Vlassopoulos picked up a belated Christmas present Friday night. This one, though, the 6-3 senior had to earn.

Vlassopoulos was named Most Valuable Player as the host Jaguars topped Archmere Academy 55-35 in the championship game of the Garnet Valley Varsity Club Tournament.

Vlassapoulos led all scorers with 16 points and helped the Jaguars jump out to a 13-8 lead and never look back. Carl Schaller also earned a spot on the all-tournament team. He finished with 10 points. Neel Beniwal pitched in with 11 points for the Jags.

In other boys action:

(click on this link for more game stories and scores)

By PAPrepLive

At the Kobe Bryant Boosters Philly.com Classic:

Lower Merion 59, Chester 55 >> Karell Watkins had his fifth double-double in the last six games, scoring 15 points and adding 10 rebounds, and Rahmaad DeJarnette chipped in 11 points but the Clippers (3-3) could not hand the Aces their first loss of the season.

Akeem Taylor Jr. scored all 12 of his points in the third quarter but Lower Merion shot 12-for-13 from the free-throw line to keep pace.

Malvern Prep 74, Archbishop Carroll 62 >> Tairi Ketner had his fourth double-digit scoring outing in five games with 15 points while junior Ny’Mire Little followed up with 14 for the Patriots (5-4). Shawn Johnson (nine points) and Kiyl Mack (eight) provided a spark in the losing effort.

(click on this link for the full article)

By Rich Flanagan

Malachi Williams and Enoch Clark can vividly recall when Ridley was atop the Central League.Behind Julian Wing (DeSales) and Brett Foster, who since has played a season each at East Stroudsburg and Neumann, the Green Raiders won back-to-back Central League titles in 2015 and 2016 and advanced to the District 1 Class 4A semifinals two years ago.

After those two 1,000-point scorers graduated, Ridley came under a new regime led by head coach Kevin Kelly and his two leaders were going to be Williams and Clark. Despite missing the district playoffs a year ago, the experience has been of great benefit for Ridley’s new leaders, though their forerunners have helped fuel the current group.

“In the offseason, they always come back and work out with us,” Williams said of Wing and Foster. “I constantly pick Julian’s brain. I have his number and I call him. I talked to Brett over the summer and he helped me become a better point guard.”

Williams posted 13 points, six rebounds and three steals while Clark led the way with 17 points and six boards Thursday as Ridley steamrolled Interboro, 71-38 in the opening round of the Ridley Holiday Tournament.

(click on this link for the full article)

By Tom Ignudo

Tyler Seward scored a career-high 24 points to lead the Haverford School’s boys’ basketball team past Shipley, 75-55, on Thursday. Christian Ray added 25 points.

By Matthew DeGeorge

Delco boys basketball statistical leaders based on games through Dec. 25.

(Minimum half of team games played)
Scoring Average

Isaiah Wong, Bonner & Prendergast 24.7
Vinny DeAngelo, Sun Valley 22.6
Christian Ray, Haverford School 22.4
Malcolm Williams, Penncrest 20.5
Karell Watkins, Chester 20.0
Greg Vlassopoulos, Garnet Valley 19.8
Lewis Robinson, Radnor 19.3
John Seidman, Haverford 19.0
Alex Capitano, Episcopal Academy 18.8
Antonio Campbell, Penn Wood 18.4

(click on this link for the full list of Stat Leaders)

By Terry Toohey

Sam Grace was a little too much for Archbishop Carroll in the Crossover Hoops Showcase at Millersville.

The 6-1 senior guard from the Boys Latin School in Baltimore poured in 20 of his game-high 32 points in the second half to help the Lakers pull away for a 79-67 victory over the Patriots.

Grace hit 10 3-pointers, which was one more than the Patriots had as a team. In all, 17 of the Lakers’ 25 field goals were from deep. Cameron Spencer backed Grace with 16 points. Cameron Watts and Kendall Walker pitched in with 13 and 12 points, respectively, for Boys Latin (12-2).

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