Boys: Doyle, Penncrest back with high Central League hopes

MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE PHOTOGarnet Valley's Ryan Wootten, here grabbing a rebound in a scramble during a game against Marple Newtown in the Central League tournament last season, is back to try to ease the growing pains of a rebuilding squad.

Garnet Valley’s Ryan Wootten, here grabbing a rebound in a scramble during a game against Marple Newtown in the Central League tournament last season, is back to try to ease the growing pains of a rebuilding squad. MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE PHOTO

By Matthew DeGeorge

Garnet Valley’s journey to the top of the Central League last season wasn’t easy. Its battle to stay there won’t be, either.

A veteran-laden squad led the Jaguars to a 17-4 record in 2021, including a first Central League title and the semifinals of the District 1 Class 6A tournament. But with All-Delco Carl Schaller among four departing seniors, the reloading this season will require new faces to step up.

Max Koehler played big minutes as a sophomore, averaging 7.2 points per game. He’ll have to assume a larger role, as close to the Schaller responsibilities as possible. Ryan Wootten also proved an ability to hit big shots in 2021, averaging 4.9 ppg.

Ryan Faccenda will be elevated from sixth man to the starting lineup. In Jake Sniras and Logan McKee, this year’s Jaguars have more height than usual.

Like Garnet Valley, Haverford is tasked with turning the page on the era of one of the program’s brightest players. John Seidman is gone, the 1,000-point-scoring All-Delco having impacted every aspect of the Fords’ game the last three years.

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