Carson Kasmer (above) and Lower Merion are the top seed in District 1 6A. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
By CoBL Staff
The PIAA state playoffs are in sight.
The second round of the District 1 6A tournament is also the first way teams can extend their seasons well into March, a win on Tuesday guaranteeing at least four more games remain. The eight losers go into the playback round, where they’re all two wins away from earning one of the last couple bids into the PIAA bracket.
Here’s a look at all eight of Tuesday’s games, which all tip off at 7:00 PM:
1) Lower Merion vs. 17) Pennsbury (7:00 PM)
The defending District 1 6A champs, Lower Merion (20-4) is starting its quest for its fourth championship in five years, one of the more impressive stretches of Gregg Downer’s legendary career. What makes it particularly notable is that each of the last two years, the Aces have replaced almost the entirety of their rotation and kept it rolling. This year, senior guard Carson Kasmer has taken his turn as Lower Merion’s star, the Gettysburg-bound left-hander leading a group that also features seniors Gus Wright, Rashyne Patterson, Lamont Grier and Sam’i Singletary in the starting lineup. There isn’t a ton of size, but Downer goes five-out and makes you guard them all.