Author: delcohoops

By Matt Smith

There was hot pizza from Thunderbird and lots of homemade goodies in the cafeteria for a post-game party honoring Springfield’s senior players Tuesday night.

Before they could feast, though, seniors Lexi Aaron, Taylor Hunyet, Kaitlyn Kearney, Anabel Kreydt, Mia Valero and Sophia Ward had to put on a show and defeat a much-improved Penncrest squad looking to make a good impression on the Cougars. The teams meet again Thursday, same time and location, in the quarterfinal round of the Central League tournament.

“All of our nerves and excitement. I think it kind of got to us in the beginning,” Valerio said. “We came out a little hectic.”

No worries. The Cougars eventually got their act together and rolled to a 44-27 victory. It was far from smooth sailing in the first half, but Springfield’s tremendous defense and hustle were the difference after halftime.

Springfield (18-4,14-2) is the No. 3 seed in the Central League playoffs. Penncrest (14-8, 9-7) will be the sixth and final seed in the tournament.

The upstart Lions hung around for a quarter or two, but the Cougars forced the visitors into 23 turnovers and held them to 11 points in the second half.

(click on this link for the full story)

By Josh Verlin

Take a peek at the Springfield boys and girls basketball rosters, and it doesn’t take long to notice something a little unusual. 

There’s Kaitlyn Kearney, a senior on the girls’ squad, and Keagan Kearney, a senior on the boys. Right below them on their respective rosters are Anabel Kreydt and Aidan Kreydt, respectively, two more seniors. Keep looking, and you’ll see Colin Treude, a junior on the boys’ roster…and Erin Treude, another junior, on the girls’ side. 

Yes, it’s certainly a family affair in Delco. Three sets of twins, all playing basketball for the Cougars, give Springfield (Delco.)’s two hoops programs a special connection.

“I just think it’s pretty cool that Springfield has three sets of twins that all play varsity basketball,” Colin Treude said. “I think it’s just really unique.”

For sure it is. And it doesn’t stop there.

(click on this link for the full story)

Xenia Gillis, Ani Roscoe and Mariah Wright combined for 51 points to help Penn Wood beat Academy Park, 64-55 and move into a first-place tie in the Del Val League with the Knights.
Gillis led all scorers with 23 points. Roscoe added 18 and Wright 10. Alaysia Kinlaw scored 23 points to share game-high honors and lead Academy Park. Semaji Young pitched in with 11 points.

Chester 70, Chichester 37 » Shyne Hall and Jaymya Muhammad poured in 27 points each to lead the Clippers. Imani Dorsey chipped in with 18.
Tah’kya Pray collected 12 points and 10 rebounds and Zanai Coleman had 10 points and 10 boards for the Eagles.

In the Central League:

Haverford 42. Garnet Valley 28 » Caroline Dotsey poured in 27 points to put the finishing touch on an undefeated regular season for the Fords.Haylie Adamski topped the Jaguars with 15 points. Kylie Mulholland added 10 points.

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

It was a night to remember for Upper Darby’s Yassir Joyner, Haverford’s Googie Seidman and Radnor’s Jackson Hicke.

All three players joined the 1,000-point club Tuesday night while leading their respective teams to victory.

Joyner scored 14 points and went over the 1,000-point mark in the second quarter of Upper Darby’s 82-53 romp over Conestoga.

Joyner is just the second player in Royals program history to score 1,000 points. Nadir Myers paced UD with a game-high 24 points. Niymire Brown also scored 14 points. Shaun Cain added 12 and Khysir Slaughter pitched in with 10.

Seidman, meanwhile, went over the 1,000-point mark in the fourth quarter of Haverford’s 55-53 triumph over Garnet Valley.

Seidman scored eight of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter to help the Fords hold off the Jaguars. Weiner added 12 points and Tommy Wright 10 for the Fords.

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

By Josh Verlin

To extend their season, Harriton’s boys had one option: win.

The Rams came into their regular-season finale against Marple Newtown on Tuesday night tied with the Tigers, the winner nabbing the sixth and final spot in the Central League playoffs. But arguably even more important than that was the fact that Harriton was ranked No. 22 in the unofficial District 1 6A rankings, just barely inside the 24-team field. 

So Harriton’s 69-46 win over Marple did more than just qualify them for the league playoffs, which start Thursday, but also assured their season would continue at least into next week with their first district appearance in six years.

(click on this link for the full story)

By Matt Smith

Considering the obstacles she faced during her high school career, it’s no wonder that Rory Tiedeman wants to pursue a degree in physical therapy at Widener University.

The Sun Valley senior has endured many hours of physical therapy herself.

She suffered her first ACL tear as a seventh grader. Then, after two impressive years starting for the Vanguards, Tiedeman missed her junior season after suffering the same injury to her other knee.

It’s been a rough road for Tiedeman, one of only two seniors on coach Tony Zambino’s team. Her goal for her final season was to enjoy the little moments and help her teammates, most of whom are underclassmen, become better players.

“Coming back was really good for me because it was my second ACL and I had to work really hard to come back again,” Tiedeman said after a win against FriereCharter last week. “Overall it’s been a great experience for me with this team. And it’s a good way to end the year.”

(click on this link for the full story)

Jania Preuhs scored a career-high 27 points as Sun Valley extended its winning streak to four games with a 45-30 victory at Academy Park on Saturday. Preuhs was 13-for-18 at the free-throw line for the Vanguards (10-11), who led 26-11 at halftime. The senior guard also racked up three steals and two assists. With the win, Sun Valley remains alive for one of the final playoff spots in the 12-team District 1 Class 5A tournament.
The Knights made a run in the fourth quarter to cut their deficit to seven points, but Preuhs hit a transition 3-pointer off AP’s full-court press to extend SV’s lead back to 10 points with four minutes to play.
Brielle Wright chipped in with nine points, four rebounds, four steals and two assists for Sun Valley. Rory Tiedeman contributed four points, five rebounds and three steals. Freshman Sam Baron played a key role in a spot start and fellow frosh Luci D’Amico hauled in eight rebounds. Alavsia Kinlaw paced the Knights with 12 points.

In other nonleague action:

Penncrest 70, Chichester 26 » The Lions (14-7) exploded for 31 points in the first period and rolled past the Eagles.

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

By Konner Metz

Midway through the third quarter, the energy in the Archbishop Carroll gymnasium was off the charts – at least on the away side. A raucous, sizable Devon Prep student section combined with a passionate bench as the Tide soared to a double-digit lead.

When Carroll assistant Mike Richards was sent off with a double technical, arguing a no-call under the basket, Devon Prep extended the lead out to 14 points, all the momentum seemingly on its side. 

But the Patriots, spurred on by Richards’ fire, flipped the script.

“It definitely turned a switch for us,” freshman Nasir Ralls said of Richards’ reaction. “I just felt like we needed to fight for him. He fought for us, so let’s go out there and give it our all for him.”

(click on this link for the full story)

Academy Park clinched at least a share of the Del Val League girls basketball regular season title Friday night with a 60-18 victory over Chichester.

Semaji Young scored 23 points to lead the Knights, and Emani Banks added 10 points. Young also had five steals, three rebound and three assists. For Chi, sophomores Alyssa Furlow and Nevaeh Bush had five points apiece.

The Knights, undefeated through seven Del Val games so far, will take on Penn Wood (6-1 league) in a showdown for the title Tuesday night.

Episcopal 58, SCHA 34 >> Gaeli Keffer-scharpf led the way with 19 points and Ali Dennis added seven points for the Churchwomen.

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

By Matthew DeGeorge

Tyler Beaulieu’s sophomore basketball season ended after two practices. A dive for a loose ball, an awkward landing with a teammate on top of him, and a fractured clavicle meant Beaulieu was a spectator for Episcopal Academy’s season.

As “brutal” as the actual injury was, in his recollection, Beaulieu managed to get something from observing the season.

“It was interesting because you get a perspective of a lot of the guys that either don’t play or see things that you can’t see when you’re on the court,” he said. “It was kind of cool talking to them, and it was good to build relationships with kids. It gives you a new perspective of the atmosphere and the other parts of the game, being on the bench as opposed to playing.”

A year later, Beaulieu is healthy, committed to Cornell to play baseball and the Churchmen’s third-leading scorer on the basketball floor. He’s also, thanks in part to his time on the bench, wiser and more connected to his team.

(click on this link for the full story)