Month: December 2021

By Sam Istvan

After a freshman year in which he burst onto the scene and became the starting point guard for Catholic League contender Archbishop Carroll, it seemed life decided to throw everything it could at Dean Coleman-Newsome.

Before he could get his sophomore year off the ground, Coleman-Newsome found out in October 2020 that he had a lesion in one knee, an injury that would require surgery. While recovering from that surgery, an MRI revealed he had a lesion in the other knee as well. Coleman-Newsome underwent a second surgery in January, burying any hope of reaching the court that season.

Now a junior, Coleman-Newsome did not sugarcoat it when asked how he felt after receiving that brutal one-two punch of bad news: “Devastated. That was one of my lowest lows.”

The talented point guard, who says that being on the basketball court is his “favorite thing to do,” went to extreme measures to cope with the pain of not being able to play. Perhaps the most extreme? Not watching basketball at all.

(click on this link for the full story)

By Josh Verlin

By Jack McCaffery

The trick to early-season, out-of-conference high school basketball scheduling is a willingness to postpone any rewards.

Penn Wood coach Matt Lindeman knew that when he agreed to play at ever-competitive Norristown Thursday. He appreciated even more after a 63-54 defeat in a game that was even with 1:22 to play.

“The coaches knew what we were coming here for, absolutely,” Lindeman said. “When you come here you know you are going to get their best effort. They play hard.

“We tried to prepare our guys for the speed of this game, and we weren’t ready. So give Norristown credit.”

The Eagles (3-2) jumped on Penn Wood early, scored five of the first seven points in the first quarter and never trailed … not that the Patriots didn’t make that a distinct possibility in a fourth-quarter flurry.

Finally settling, Penn Wood cut a deficit to 54-51 on an Anthony Murray drive with 1:49 left. Pressing, the Pats created a quick turnover and fed Mekhi Shillingsford for a layup to pull within a point.

(click on this link for the full story)

By Matt Smith

 Lexi Aaron and Springfield’s other juniors understand what is at stake for them this season.

The sophomores and freshmen are looking to them for leadership.

Aaron, who scored a game-high 16 points to help the Cougars to a 42-36 Central League win over Marple Newtown Friday, realizes that a lot is expected of her, point guard Mia Valerio and forward Anabel Kreydt, the three juniors who not long ago were role players as freshmen on a team that won the first of two straight District 1 Class 5A titles in 2020.

They were able to stay in the background last season, too, as members of a great team that went undefeated until the semifinal round of the PIAA tournament. Now, since Springfield doesn’t have any seniors, this is Aaron’s, Kreydt’s and Valerio’s team. They have the most varsity experience, by far. The good thing is, they learned how it’s done from two of the the program’s very best.

“I think we learned so much from Rachel and Alexa and the seniors from last year. The way they did things, that is built into us,” Aaron said.

(click on this link for the full story)

Maeve McErlane his six three-point shots en route to a 20-point performance, leading Notre Dame Academy to a 45-39 win over Episcopal Academy in Inter-Ac League action. Annie Gree added seven points and Julia Dever and Carolina Kemp each scored six for the Irish. For EA, Riley Cassidy scored 11 points and Alice Nash had nine.

MANASQUAN 45, ARCH. CARROLL 37 » Grace O’Neill scored 13 points while Brooke Wilson and Taylor Wilson had 11 each but the Patriots fell short. Manasquan’s Dorothy Loffredo scored a team-high 11 points.

Brooke Wilson scored six of her 16 points in overtime as Archbishop Carroll outlasted Notre Dame, 45-41, in a nonleague battle of Main Line powers.

Carroll pushed the game to the extra session thanks to two late free throws from Taylor Wilson, who led the Patriots with 18 points to go with six rebounds. Brooke Wilson added nine boards.

Maeve McErlane led all scorers with 22 points for Notre Dame. Katie Halligan chipped in seven points.

Sun Valley 48, Interboro 17 >> Aliceia Whitfield led all scorers with 15 points to see the Vanguards to a win Tuesday. Olivia Hoy chipped in nine points, and Melana Timmes added eight.

(click on this link for the full story and more game scores)

by Ed Morlock

The Archbishop Carroll defense hounded Norristown all night in a 64-28 win at Norristown Area High School Tuesday.

The Patriots called timeout halfway through the opening quarter after taking an 8-5 lead. They returned to the floor with more energy on defense and closed the quarter ahead, 17-7.

“That’s what we do at practice,” Carroll senior guard Shawnn Smith said. “We just emphasize defense every day and we bring it to the court.”

“We go hard in practice,” Carroll sophomore Moses Hipps agreed. “That’s what really pushes us to go hard in games. It’s easier if you’re going hard in practice – you’re used to going hard and it’s really easy to lock people down and lock in on defense.”

It was more of the same in the second quarter. Carroll forced Norristown into seven turnovers in the eight-minute frame and outscored the Eagles, 17-6, to take a 34-13 lead into halftime.

(click on this link for the full story)

by Pete Digiovanni

Tuesday night at Ross Kershey Gymnasium the Coatesville boys basketball team fired a very loud warning shot to the rest of the Ches-Mont League that it will be a handful for any and all comers this season.

Sparked by super sophomore guard Dior Kennedy, and the strong inside play of senior Jaylin McNeil, the Red Raiders rolled over Chichester 65-46, in the season opener for the Red Raiders.

Coatesville already had a 14-point advantage at halftime but the Raiders came out hot in the third period. Jaeden Brickus made a nice pass inside to McNeil who scored, got fouled and completed the 3-point play. McNeil had 11 points on the night to go along with 11 rebounds, and he was a thorn in the side of every Chichester player that ventured into the lane.

“My job is to rebound and the coaches wanted me to box out and control the board tonight,” McNeil said. “And I like to rebound and get the ball so we get moving on the break and we get more possessions. We needed to rebound to get the win and now we get ready for (Downingtown West) on Thursday.”

(click on this link for the full story)

Nick Colucci, Brian Weiner and Googie Seidman combined for 45 points to help Haverford open Central League play with a 57-30 victory over Conestoga.

Colucci led the attack with a game-high 18 points. Weiner chipped in with 15 and Seidman 12.

Radnor 46, Penncrest 27 >> Jackson Hicke posted a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds to pace the Raptors. Charlie Thornton chipped in 11 points.

Saahir Lee topped Penncrest with 12 points.

Springfield 50, Harriton 47 >> Mike O’Donnell hit three triples and finished with a game-high 26 points to lift the Cougars. Keagan Kearney added nine points and Luke D’Ambrosio had eight.

Marple Newtown 50, Strath Haven 43 >> Johnny Small tallied a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Jordan Bochanski added 13 points for the Tigers. Christian Sessa chipped in 12 points.

(click on this link for the full story and more scores)

Paige Yurchak scored with four seconds left to lift Radnor to a 55-54 victory over Penncrest in the Central League girls basketball opener for both teams Tuesday night.

Mary Sareen led the Raptors with 16 points. Ellie Davis added 14 points and 9 rebounds, while Yurchak and Maddie Bader had nine points each.

Alex Bruce had 15 points and Bailey Garrison and Kyra Curci 10 each for the Lions.

Elsewhere in the Central League:

Springfield 40, Harriton 28 >> Anabel Kreydt collected a double-double as the Cougars opened their title defense with a win.

Kreydt finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Kaitlyn Kearney led the way with 12 points. Lexi Aaron (eight points, three steals) and Mia Valerio (five points, three steals) also contributed to the victory.

(click on this link for the full story and more game scores)