Category: Latest News

Defense powers Episcopal Academy to second straight win

By PAPrepLive

Episcopal Academy turned up the defensive pressure to erase a two-point, first-quarter deficit and defeat Western Reserve Academy from Ohio, 66-39, in the fifth-place game in the Mercer Invitational at the Hill School.

The Churchmen held the Pioneers to 27 points in the final three quarters and outscored WRA, 35-20, in the second half to climb out of a 12-10 hole and win going away. Alex Capitano poured in 19 points and was named to the all-tournament team. Matt Dade added 16 to pace EA to its second straight win.

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Sun Valley on point early in win over Marple Newtown

By Matthew DeGeorge

For all the senior talent on the Sun Valley roster, there’s one commodity missing from last year’s squad that earned a berth in the PIAA Class 5A tournament. It just happens to be one of the hardest-to-fake entities in high school hoops.Six of the top seven scorers are back for the Vanguards, but the missing piece is a point guard, after the graduation of floor general Shair Brown-Morris. It’s a void rarely filled by committee – either you have an adept and stable ball-handler, or you don’t.

Turns out that Sun Valley has one, just not always the same one. And more than anything, years of experience built between a veteran corps seems to be steadying that role, as in Saturday’s 63-47 nonleague handling of Marple Newtown.

Vinny DeAngelo and Isaac Kennon rotated having the ball in their hands. Kennon held it down in the first half, DeAngelo sitting with two fouls. DeAngelo, who excelled as an off-ball player to tally 1,000 career points by the end of his junior campaign, took the reins in the second to jumpstart his offensive game.

With Sun Valley off a 5-0 start, the early returns of the time-sharing are certainly encouraging.

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Norristown’s balanced attack too much for Lower Merion

Nazir Kinney (right) of Norristown battles for rebound position with Theo Henry of Lower Merion in the fourth quarter.

Nazir Kinney (right) of Norristown battles for rebound position with Theo Henry of Lower Merion in the fourth quarter. LOU RABITO / Staff

By Rick O’Brien

Xavier Edwards and his Norristown High teammates thrived against Lower Merion with their ball movement and unselfishness.

“We played like we always do, as a team,” the 6-foot, 190-pund senior guard said. “There are no individuals on this team. We’re a brotherhood.”

Edwards was one of five double-digit scorers for the Eagles as they topped Lower Merion, 71-61, Saturday afternoon in the second annual Diane Mosco Foundation Shootout at Archbishop Wood.

Edwards (17 points), Aaron Reddish (13), Tyler Lyons (11), Nazir Kinney (11), and Mickeel Allen (10) led the way for Dana “Binky” Johnson’s squad.

Game-of-the-Week – Haven tops Marple

By Matthew DeGeorge

Strath Haven 59, Marple Newtown 54 >> The Panthers spread the scoring evenly, with Luke Edwards netting 16 points, Ibo Pio tossing in 13 and Brady Mutz adding 11. Justin Morris chipped in eight for the Panthers (1-3, 1-1).

Tommy Gardler led Marple (0-3, 0-2) with 23 points, and Aziz Khammassi chipped in 13.

(Click on this link for the games Box Scores)

(Webmaster’s note: The Marple Newtown vs. Strath Haven game was our Game-of-the-Week and can be heard in its entirety below or on our Archives link listed in the menu at the top of our page.)

Chester is fine at line in win over Southern

By Matthew DeGeorge

There was a lot of fouling going on in Chester’s game with South Philadelphia High School Friday. That suited the Clippers just fine.

Chester converted 37 of its 49 trips to the line to win an 87-47 nonleague decision Friday night.

Michael Smith led all scorers with 18 points, including a perfect 10-for-10 at the charity stripe. Karell Watkins added 13 points with a 7-for-8 day at the line, and Fareed Burton was 9-for-10 from the line for nine points. Rahmee Gilbert added 11 points, and Akeem Taylor had 10 for the Clippers (2-2).

In other nonleague action:

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Youth serves Garnet Valley in win over Ridley

Garnet Valley’s Neel Beniwal, right, shoots over Ridley’s Nasir Santiago Friday night. Beniwal scored 20 points to lead the Jaguars to a 64-55 win over the Green Raiders. (Pete Bannan/Digital First Media)

By Matthew DeGeorge

The clock showed 1:51 when Greg Vlassopoulos, Garnet Valley’s leading scorer this young season, attempted his first field goal of the third quarter. Yet in that first six-plus minutes, as the senior wing turned his attention elsewhere on the court Friday night, the Jags saw their lead balloon from seven to an ultimately decisive 15 points.The reason, as a boisterous Garnet Valley student section eagerly pointed out, was a pair of players who are sophomores.

Neel Beniwal scored a career-high 20 points, and Carl Schaller added 13 as Garnet Valley hung on late in the face of Ridley’s incessant press for a 64-55 Central League win.

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Watkins’ career game leads Chester High to first win

By PAPrepLive

Three games into the season and Chester High can finally exhale.

Looking for win No. 1 Thursday night at home, the Clippers controlled the tempo from the outset and big men Karell Watkins and Zahmir Carroll dominated inside the paint, leading to an 81-59 rout of Newark (Del.).

Watkins (31 points, 11 rebounds) and Carroll (13 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded a career high in scoring as the Clippers (1-2) came away with the ‘W’ for the first time in 2018-19. For Watkins it was his second double-double in three games.

Chester pulled away by outscoring Newark 25-11 in the fourth quarter. Akeem Taylor added 12 points and All-Delco guard Michael Smith contributed nine.

In other nonleague action:

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Asparagus, Nelson lead Rustin past Chester

West Chester Rustin’s Ivy Pettit, left, and Chester’s Akeem Taylor chase a loose ball in the first half Tuesday evening. Taylor scored 14 points, but the Clippers couldn’t parlay a fast start into a win, falling 66-64. (PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA)

By Pete Digiovanni

Four years ago, West Chester Rustin coach Keith Cochran started a pair of freshmen, Jake Nelson and Taj Asparagus. The Golden Knights took their lumps, but anyone who knew basketball could see the potential in the pair.Tuesday night, the pair proved it has fully grown up. Asparagus hit two free throws with 4.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give the Golden Knights a thrilling 66-64 nonleague win over Chester.

Nelson led all scorers with 28 points and hauled in 13 rebounds, while Asparagus added 19 points and eight boards.
Rahmaad DeJarnette led Chester with 27 points on the night, and Akeem Taylor added 14 for the Clippers (0-2).
Golden Knights freshman Ivy Pettit added 17 more for Rustin.

“They really have come along way as a pair and it was good to see them both have big games together,” Cochran said. “We knew how tough Chester is. They are tough at the beginning of the year, the middle of the year or at the end, so it was a nice win for us. We need Jake and Taj to lead us on and off the court.”

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Lofton’s double-double leads Academy Park to win

By Matthew DeGeorge

Shermik Lofton went off for a career-high 26 points to go with 11 rebounds as the Academy Park suffocated Neshaminy by causing 18 turnovers in an 82-49 nonleague win Tuesday.

Naseim Harley scored 14 points to go with six rebounds, five assists and five steals. Tariq Marrero scored 13 points, and Abrahim Jabateh tallied a career-best eight points for the Knights (3-0).

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Vlassopoulos comes through late for Garnet Valley

By Matthew DeGeorge

With a minute to play, Greg Vlassopoulos figured it was a good time to take over Tuesday night.

Vlassopoulos had a dunk to get Garnet Valley within one point in the final minute, then calmly sunk a pair of free throws to send the Jaguars past host Conestoga, 54-53, in the Central League opener for both teams.

Vlassopoulos finished with a game-high 22 points. Neel Beniwal added 12 points, and Cade Brennan chipped in seven for the Jags (2-0, 1-0).

Also in the Central League:

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