Month: December 2018

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.

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

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:

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

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.”

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

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).

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

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:

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

By Matthew DeGeorge

Donte Stovall’s steely nerves at the line turned into one of Chester Charter School for the Arts’ biggest wins as a program Saturday.

Stovall was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final two minutes to tally a team-high 10 points and lead CCSA to a 49-44 win over Strath Haven at the Media Tip-Off.

It’s the program’s first win over a Central League foe in its second year of existence.

Stovall also hit two 3-pointers. Jamihy Evans scored nine points, Bruce Rogers added eight and Tyler Howard paired seven points with 10 rebounds for the Sabers (1-1).

Luke Edwards led Strath Haven with 14 points, and Brady Mutz added 13.

Also at the Media Tip-Off:

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

Bonner & Prendergast guard Isaiah Wong, seen during practice Wednesday, scored 31 points to lead the Friars to a season-opening win Friday. (Digital First Media/Pete Bannan)

By Matthew DeGeorge

Isaiah Wong picked up right where he left off last year.

The reigning Delco Times Player of the Year scored 31 points to lead Bonner & Prendergast to an 80-72 win over Our Savior Lutheran of New York Friday night.

Tyreese Watson did some serious work for Bonner, scoring 17 points to go with 10 assists and eight rebounds. Tariq Ingraham and Chris Haynes added nine points each for the Friars, who won in Kevin Funston’s first game in charge.

In other nonleague action:

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

By Matthew DeGeorge

There wasn’t a lot that adhered to the script for the coaches of Delco Christian and The Christian Academy Friday night.No, first-year DC coach Reggie Parks wasn’t planning on deploying all 10 players on his roster before the first quarter ended. And no, TCA point guard Tehron Phillips probably wouldn’t have volunteered for double-overtime in his first game back after several weeks out with a concussion, hence bouts of cramping that severely limited him.But when the Crusaders needed him most, Phillips showed up.Phillips scored 11 of his 17 points in the third quarter as TCA overcame a nine-point deficit and gutted out a two-overtime, 75-72 win in a bonkers Delco Christian Tip-Off Tournament opener.The game featured just about everything. Six players fouled out. The teams combined for 57 fouls and a sorry 40-for-78 from the free-throw line. And on the losing side of it all was Delco Christian’s Jackson Piotrowski, who went off for 37 points and 13 rebounds.

(click on this link for the full article)

Pearl Harbor Day – December 7, 1941

Webmaster’s note: First broadcast on December 7, 2007.

By Matthew DeGeorge

Upper Darby’s berth last winter in the PIAA Class 6A tournament may have shocked some. But with four of the top six players in last year’s rotation back, the Royals won’t benefit from the element of surprise this time around.

Long-time coach Bob Miller is forced to replace his top two scorers; Magd Abdelwahab, who averaged 13.6 points per game and hit 65 3-pointers, and point guard Jalun Trent. Between them, they leave the ball-handling and shot-making niches unfilled. But the next four contributors return, and growth in their games could have the Royals contending in the Central League again.

Senior Mamadou Toure, who averaged 9.6 points per game, will take over as the point guard. He and small forward Diby Keita combined for 51 made 3-pointers this year. Both will have to elevate from secondary to more consistent, primary scorers, but they have a lot of experience to bank on.

(click on this link for the full league review)