Author: delcohoops

By Josh Verlin

The Cardinal O’Hara Holiday Tournament — which, despite the name, is a set-matchup showcase featuring eight local teams — wrapped up its two-day affair on Friday with four highly-competitive games. 

Click here to read about who won; read on to discover who stood out:

Isabella Casey (2024 | Germantown Academy)
There’s nobody in the area who’s as good at the stickback as Casey, who makes a habit out of getting offensive rebounds and popping them right back up off the glass and into the hoop. The recent Bucknell commit finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, getting three of those on the offensive end, at least a couple winding back up in the bucket. Casey was 9-of-17 from the floor, hitting a few mid-range jumpers as well as finishing at a high clip around the rim, and she also grabbed a couple steals.

(click on this link for the full article)

By Matt Smith

Alexis Eberz played a pivotal role on last season’s Archbishop Carroll girls basketball team.

The sharp-shooting guard was a staple in coach Renie Shields’ starting five from beginning to end, and Eberz scored a game-high 12 points in the Patriots’ victory over Cedar Cliff for the PIAA Class 6A championship, a perfect capper on a freshman year she will never forget.

As expected Eberz has made a big leap this season.

There’s no sophomore slump from Eberz, the daughter of former Archbishop Prendergast and Villanova star Michelle (Thornton) Eberz. No way, no how.

If Thursday’s performance in a 55-32 win over Villa Maria at the Cardinal O’Hara Christmas Tournament was any indication, opposing teams should fear Eberz, who worked to improve specific areas of her game while on the AAU trail last summer.

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Kessy Cox scored a career-high 20 points as Radnor topped Episcopal Academy, 63-57, on Thursday.

Alex McFadden added 11 points, hitting three 3-pointers for the Raptors (7-1). Michael Savadove added 11 points and five assists, and Henry Pierce paired 10 points with five dimes.

Kevin McCarthy hit four 3-pointers to lead Episcopal with 19 points. Matt McCarthy added 16 points. Timmy Dennis chipped in nine.

Garnet Valley 62, Chichester 48 >> Jake Sniras scored a game-high 21 points as Garnet Valley won the championship game of its holiday tournament.

Quinn O’Hara and Jack Krautzel scored 14 points each. O’Hara had nine points in the third quarter and Krautzel eight as the Jags outscored Chi, 24-10, in that frame to overturn a one-point halftime deficit. Brady Krauzel added nine points.

(click on this link for more game stories and scores subscription may be required)

Cameron Ross’ outstanding performance helped the Upper Darby girls basketball team defeat Penn Wood, 50-42, Thursday afternoon at West Chester University.

Ross scored a game-high 18 points, dished out three assists and had two steals for the Royals, who held a 29-15 lead at halftime. Ross did most of her damage in the first half, scoring 14 points.

Mia Wilson accumulated 10 points, six rebounds and four steals. Hadiatou Bah added eight points and 10 boards for UD.

Taylor Morris paced Penn Wood with 15 points.

Garnet Valley 47, Central Bucks South 33 >> Haylie Adamski was named MVP of the Jaguars’ Varsity Club Tournament after her 17-point effort in the championship game. The junior All-Delco tallied six rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots.

All-tournament honoree Kylie Mulholland amassed nine points, seven rebounds and two steals for the Jags. Senior forward Emily Olsen provided 10 points and seven boards.

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By Josh Verlin

The most exciting moment of Haylie Adamski’s Wednesday afternoon came when she was sitting on the bench. 

That’s not the typical spot the Garnet Valley junior likes to be, especially in the second quarter. But watching her twin younger sisters, Kylie and Addison, connect on a 3-pointer to close out the half of a holiday tournament game against Villa Joseph Marie, Haylie was delighted.

“It’s amazing,” she said, but was quick to add that it’s not some special bond between the two that drew the pass — just good hoops. “People think that’s the twin connection, but they pass to each other because they’re open.”

The oldest Adamski sister, one of the brightest young talents in the Delaware Valley, has been a player to watch in the Central League since leading Garnet Valley to a Central League title as a freshman. Now a junior and team captain for head coach Joe Woods’ Jaguars, she’s balancing being one of the team’s stars and leaders with being a big sister, and she couldn’t be happier.

(click on this link for the full article)

Nyah Yao had a sensational game Wednesday, scoring 22 points to go with 14 rebounds as Radnor beat Chester, 50-34, in girls basketball action.

Yao was 5-for-5 at the free throw line. Caroline Monahan added six points for the Raptors.

Imani Dorsey paced Chester with 12 points. Shyne Hall added nine.

Marple Newtown 47, Springfield Montco 38 >> Olivia Gicking hit five 3-pointers for a game-high 19 points as the Tigers advance to the final of the Marple Newtown Holiday tournament.

Ellie DiBona added 11 points, and Taylor Murrin tossed in four of her eight points in the fourth quarter. The Tigers will take on Wissahickon in Thursday’s title game at 5:45.

Wissahickon 50, Chichester 30 >> Jordynn Anderson scored nine points to lead the Eagles, who never quite recovered from a 13-point deficit after one quarter at the Marple Newtown Classic. Alyssa Furlow and Tahkya Pray scored six points each.

(click on this link for more game stories and scores subscription may be required)

By Josh Verlin

The 19th annual Pete & Jameer Nelson Classic returns to Widener University this week, as a pair of six-game affairs bring plenty of talent to Chester on Thursday and Saturday.

Here’s the full schedule for the event; scroll down for a closer look at each game; admission is $15 for each day.

Thurs., December 28
Friends’ Select vs. Parish School (Tex.) (11:30 AM)
Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. West Chester Henderson (1:15 PM)
Parkland vs. Camden Eastside (N.J.) (3:00 PM)
Unionville vs. Central Dauphin (4:45 PM)
Spring-Ford vs. Coatesville (6:30 PM)
Friends’ Central vs. Archbishop Ryan (8:15 PM) 

(click on this link for the full complete schedule and preview)

By Andrew Robinson

It’s new territory for Springfield.

The Cougars have been a consistently strong program in the Central League, in District 1 and even in the PIAA during coach Ky McNichol’s tenure. That’s the hope again this season, although McNichol knows it may take a little bit of time.

There are a lot of new faces in the lineup for the Cougars, but they know the deal.

“They trust each other on the floor,” McNichol said. “They get excited for each other, they’re really good teammates, they’re as excited for the kid next to them as they are for themselves. They’re starting to buy in on the defensive end of the floor, really get what it means to defend and they’re doing a better job of understanding our offenses.”

(click on this link for the full article)

By Coach Larry Johnson

Jaseir Thompson scored 15 points as Chester picked up a quality nonleague win over Lancaster Mennonite, 70-52, on Saturday.

Dominic Toy added 11 points. Andrew Brown had nine points, and Calvin Williams and Jalen Harris added eight each for the Clippers (5-1).

In other nonleague action:

Episcopal Academy 80, Odyssey Charter 30 >> Timmy Dennis scored 20 points in the first half as the Churchmen rolled to a comfortable win.

Reggie King scored 13 points, Gage Cunningham added 11 and Tyler Beaulieu, Langston Foster and Murilo Pereira scored nine points apiece.

W.C. Henderson 50, Springfield 47 >> Colin Treude scored 13 points as the Cougars hung tough but couldn’t quite get the better of the Warriors.