Category: Latest News

Fords roll past Malvern Prep, clinch share of Inter-Ac title

By Bruce Adams

When Haverford School senior guard Kharon Randolph joined in the on-court celebration Friday evening following the host Fords’ 83-58 win against Malvern Prep that clinched a share of the InterAc boys’ basketball title, he felt a sense of vindication.
“Last year, EA celebrated its title clinching on our court,” said Randolph, whose Fords finished 7-3 in the Inter-Ac last winter, a game behind league co-champs Episcopal Academy and Germantown Academy. “It was great to see our crowd celebrate on our court, and on Senior Night. It’s unbelievable to be sharing this with all of my teammates tonight.”
Randolph, who scored 26 points by the end of the third quarter Friday, knows the Inter-Ac job isn’t over yet for the Fords (17-5, 8-0).
“We have a chance to make history this season,” said Randolph. “Our last Inter-Ac title was in 1999, when we were 9-1. But we haven’t gone undefeated in the Inter-Ac since 1927, and we still have two Inter-Ac games to go (Feb. 6 at home against Sprinside Chestnut Hill, Feb. 9 at Penn Charter). Our season is nowhere near over.”

(click on this link for the full story)

Haverford School ends Inter-Ac drought after 19 years

Kharon Randolph (above) and the Haverford School clinched at least a share of the Inter-Ac championship Friday night. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

By Josh Verlin

In his first three years at the Haverford School, Kharon “Bonk” Randolph had witnessed two separate court stormings on his home floor. Neither of them were by the Fords’ faithful; in fact, both were by Episcopal Academy students.

Three years ago, the Churchmen faithful celebrated a game-winning 3-pointer to knock off the Fords, who at the time featured current Temple star Levan Alston Jr. and Penn State wing Lamar Stevens. Last season, EA once again found itself celebrating on McBride Court, after gaining revenge on the Haverford School for an earlier defeat, a win that was a big reason the Churchmen were able to clinch a share of the Inter-Academic League championship a year ago.

Finally, on an evening where a packed house honored his and his classmates’ achievements during a pre-game Senior Night ceremony, Randolph got to experience a court-storming from his own classmates, after The Haverford School knocked off Malvern Prep 83-58 on Friday night to clinch at least a share of the league title for the first time since any of the Fords had been born.

(click on this link for the full story)

Laughlin nets 35 as Garnet Valley tops Upper Darby in wild one

Garnet Valley’s Austin Laughlin (1) shoots from 3-point range as Upper Darby’s Diby Keita defends in the second quarter. Laughlin had 35 points as the Jaguars went on to win 69-65 in the Central League matchup. (Digital First Media/Pete Bannan)

By Matthew DeGeorge

In a week, Upper Darby and Garnet Valley could find themselves matched up in the Central League semifinals. In two weeks, it could be in the District 1 Class 6A tournament, with a states berth or more on the line.

If Thursday’s intensity and entertainment was any indication, then clear your schedules to watch the next one.

Garnet Valley rode 35 points from Austin Laughlin to prevail, 69-64, in a back-and-forth game between two contenders that are tied for third in the Central League with two games remaining.

Laughlin had the first and final things to say Thursday. He scored the game’s first seven points, Upper Darby spotting the visitors a scoreless first four and a half minutes. And he scored nine in the fourth quarter, including a 4-for-4 effort at the free-throw line. The dagger was a 3-pointer with 3:08 to play, stepping over a screen to knock down one of his seven triples from the top of key.

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

Chester downs Glen Mills to run streak to 13

Michael Smith (above) and Chester have ripped off 13 straight wins. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

By Matt Chandik

There isn’t a more passionate basketball community in the state of Pennsylvania than the fine folks in Chester, but sometimes, that passion manifests itself in a less-than-positive way.

If the number in the loss column keeps changing, you can bet that the Clipper faithful will have plenty to say. So when Chester started the season 1-5, Brian Randolph III heard it all.

“Everyone was saying that this was the worst Chester High team,” Randolph III offered, “but I already knew in my mind that we were going to make our run and turn it up a notch.”

Thursday night, the Clippers rolled over Glen Mills, 65-39, to claim their 13th consecutive win. Chester hasn’t lost since the calendar flipped to 2018, its last false step coming Dec. 30 in a 57-48 to defending District One Class 5A champion. Those 13 wins have come by an average of 17.4 points per game, and in their eight Del Val wins, that margin increases to 23.5 points per game.

(click on this link for the full story)

Jones’ return to Penn Wood produces a classic Chichester win

Chichester’s Da’quan Granberry soars toward the basket in the second quarter Tuesday at Penn Wood. (Digital First Media/Pete Bannan)

By Matthew DeGeorge

Clyde Jones speaks like a coach very much focused on the present. But when he returned to Penn Wood Tuesday night for his first game against the Patriots, the Chichester boss carved out a little time for the past, for the 10 years he spent at Penn Wood.

And to snap a picture or two of some old friends, like the banner that reads “PIAA Boys Basketball Champions — 2009.”

“When I walk into this gym,” the Chichester boss said, “I feel like I’m home.”

The touches of home extended to the game, a quintessentially chaotic Del Val affair. In the end, Jones’ team, occupying the comfortable side of the court that he once knew as home, did what the coach has done hundreds of times in the Shoebox: It came out with the higher number on the scoreboard.

Amiri Stewart’s up-and-under lay-in with 11 seconds left was the final say in a 60-59 Chichester win, a back-and-forth collision featuring 11 leads changes and far more subplots than just Jones’ homecoming.

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

Webmaster’s note: The Chester vs Chichester game next Thursday, February 8th, is our Game-of-the-Week and can be heard LIVE starting at 4:45 P.M. and will be available on our Archives three hours after the game concludes.

 

Marple runs win streak to six to enter playoff picture

Anthony Paoletti (above) came up with a big-time hustle play to help Marple Newtown past Springfield (Delco.) on Tuesday night. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

By Josh Verlin

Anthony Paoletti is tough.

That was made clear by the fourth quarter of a game at Springfield (Delco.) on Tuesday night, by which point the Marple Newtown senior had already taken a third-quarter pop to the head that required him to go see the trainer to stem some bleeding. He quickly came back out to finish the game, despite needing to go to the hospital afterwards to get some stitches.

But it was confirmed when Paoletti saw a loose ball bouncing around the court with a minute to play in the fourth quarter, he didn’t hesitate. With his Tigers clinging to a quickly-dwindling lead and desperate for something good to happen, Paoletti threw himself on the floor, securing further possession for his team.

“I saw a ball on the ground and I said ‘(shoot), I’ve got an opportunity,’” he said. “That’s all.”

(click on this link for the full story)

DeAngelo steps up when Sun Valley needs him

By Matthew DeGeorge

On a day when offense was at a premium, Vinny DeAngelo was bigger than ever.

The Sun Valley junior scored 25 points to lead the Vanguards to a 46-35 Ches-Mont win over Oxford Tuesday.

Sun Valley was playing without second-leading scorer Marvin Freeman, who picked up two technical fouls in their last game. DeAngelo was a perfect 7-for-7 from the line.

Isaac Kennon scored 12 points, and Shahir Brown-Morris chipped in six for the Vanguards (11-6, 6-5).

In the Central League:

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

District 1 Roundup: Pioneer, Central races too close to call

By CoBL Staff

The CoBL staff was out at several games around the Delaware Valley on Tuesday evening, but we couldn’t be everywhere. Here’s a roundup of the night’s action featuring several games and conference races worth knowing about as the season hits its final two weeks:

The top two teams in the Central League seem all but locked in; both Lower Merion and Penncrest sit at 11-2 with three games to play, and neither are facing as tough a slate as the three teams below them.

Upper Darby, Garnet Valley and Conestoga are all now 9-4 in league play after Tuesday night, which saw UD take out Haverford 48-34, Lower Merion beat GV 75-68 and Conestoga beat Ridley 44-30.

That’s going to set up quite an interesting final three weeks, as those three teams all play each other for the second time. Conestoga, which beat Lower Merion once this year, gets the Aces again on the road on Friday, and also hosts Upper Darby and Garnet Valley next week. Upper Darby hosts Garnet Valley on Friday, and also plays Ridley (3-10) in its season finale; Garnet Valley hosts Haverford (4-9) in between its trips to UD and ‘Stoga.

(click on this link for full roundup article)

Webmaster’s note:  Delcohoops.com will broadcast LIVE both Central League Championship basketball game (girl’s and boy’s) on Monday, February 12th starting at 5:45 P.M. Both games will be available on our archive three hours after the conclusion of both games.

Taylor has another big game for Chester Charter SA

By Matt Smith

Akeem Taylor continued his torrid assault on opposing defenses.

The Chester Charter School of the Arts big man dropped in 34 points to lead the Sabers to a 77-57 nonleague rout of West Philadelphia.
Taylor is averaging 28 points over his past four games.

DeVaunte Morris posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Sabers (7-10), who have won four straight and six of their last seven contests. Bruce Rogers added nine points, five rebounds and five assists.

In other nonleague action:

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

Webmaster’s note: The West Philadelphia vs Chester Charter game was our Game-of-the-Week and can be heard on our Archives link by clicking on the player below