Category: Latest News

Purnell’s late trey helps seal Penn Wood upset of Chi

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PennWood-Chichester

Penn Wood’s Sahmir Massenburg drops a basket at the end of the first quarter against Chichester Thursday night. PETE BANNAN – MEDIANEWS GROUP

By Matthew DeGeorge

Things haven’t worked out the way Naeem Purnell and his Penn Wood teammates wanted his season.

With two wins on their record and one week left in the season, a return to states is out of the picture. One big reason is that a few people Purnell assumed would be important this season were, likewise, long out of the Patriots’ picture, due to a combination of virtual schooling and the current pandemic predicament.

Thursday didn’t roll back the years to the crisp, resilient Penn Wood of old. But in surviving a 46-41 slog against Chichester to avenge two losses to their Del Val rival, the Patriots salvaged something of the season.

“We just tried to play with what we’ve got,” Purnell said. “Most of the year, it didn’t work out. But they came back and helped us a lot.”

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

Chester sails past Interboro

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By Terry Thomas

Chester remained undefeated in Del Val League action with a convincing 81-43 victory over the visiting Interboro Bucs. The win put the Clippers at 7-1 overall and 5-0 in league play. Senior Karell Watkins led the way with a career high 43 points. He pulled down rebounds bring his career total to 706 moving him ahead of Rahlir Jefferson (705). Meanwhile, senior Fareed Burton Jr had a career day posting his first triple double with 17 points, and career highs of 12 assists and 11 rebounds. He also tied his career high of 5 steals. The twelve assists give him a career total of 121 tying him with Kevin “Yes God” Thomas. Along the way he leaped over Jamar “Solo” Shaw, Justin Jones, Damien “Twin” Hunter, Akeem Taylor Jr, Brahin Pharr and Brian Randolph III.
Tonight’s contest was a fast-paced game with very few stoppages for fouls. In fact, there were only 20 fouls call for the game, 13 of which came in the first half. Watkins and Fareed established themselves in the first quarter combining for 16 of Chester’s 18 first quarter points. The Clippers led 18-11 at the end of the period. The Clippers let their guards down for a few possessions in the second quarter allowing the Bucs to drain a couple treys while on the offensive end Watkins was putting up 16 points and Fareed dropping in 9. Isaiah Freeman connected on two free throws, freshman Larenzo Jerkins also added two points and fellow freshman Kyree Womack went 1 of 2 from the charity stripe as the Clippers outscored the Bucs 30-12 to take a 48-23 at the half.

Penncrest’s Doyle stays involved while maintaining caution

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Penncrest vs. Conestoga

Penncrest coach Mike Doyle, seen in a 2019 game with then assistant coach (now Strath Haven head coach), Chris Conlan, left. PETE BANNAN – MEDIANEWS GROUP

By Matthew DeGeorge

Penncrest boys basketball looks different for Mike Doyle these days.

Instead of the whiteboard, the huddle, the blazer ever in risk of being jettisoned, the pre-game prep is more orderly. There’s a folding table, a Hudl stream, and a yellow legal pad set up in his living room.

Other aspects of the routine, though, aren’t so easily shaken.

“After game 3, the dog would disappear and hide,” Doyle said this week.

Doyle isn’t on the sidelines in person this season. Diagnosed more than two years ago with chronic myeloid leukemia, the COVID-19 pandemic presents a dangerous threat to Doyle’s dampened immune system. In the interest of safety, his medical team and family determined it wouldn’t be safe for him to teach in person this season, and thus, he wouldn’t be on the sidelines.

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

Girls Basketball: Expect Central League tournament to be a wide-open affair

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marple's mackenzie hilden

Marple Newtown’s Makenzie Hilden puts a shot up in a game against Springfield in January. The Tigers have made steady gains this season and look to compete for a Central League title next week. PETE BANNAN – MEDIANEWS GROUP

By Matt Smith

There are five teams that could conceivably win the Central League title.

Anyone who’s been paying attention will admit that Springfield is the best team. The Cougars are on a roll, winning their first 13 games, including a 44-27 rout of Ridley Tuesday night.

Generally speaking, though, the league is fairly balanced. And in a season shortened by the coronavirus pandemic, all it takes is for one average team to have a great night against a good team to change everything.

So, let’s take a look at the top-five teams (and one wild card) that could win it all. The 12-team tournament begins Saturday and run until next Thursday. The top-four teams in the regular season will earn a first-round bye.

(click on this link for the full article)

Tansey helps Marple survive game Upper Darby challenge

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The shots continued to fall for Marple Newtown Tuesday night. A fourth straight win came with them.

Mike Tansey hit four first-quarter 3-pointers on the way to a game high 24 points as Marple Newtown topped Upper Darby, 56-47.

The Tigers (8-5, 8-5 Central) led by 12 after one quarter and held off a game Upper Darby effort. Owen Mathes posted a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds. Eric McKee added seven points and eight boards.

CJ Dabbs led Upper Darby (2-4, 2-4) with 16 points. Shareef Jones chipped in 11 points.

Also in the Central League:

HAVERFORD 47, RADNOR 44 >> John Seidman scored 14 points as the Fords prevailed. Haverford (8-4, 8-4) led by eight after one quarter only to see Radnor tie it at halftime. Radnor led by two after three frames.

(click on this link for more game scores)

Radnor’s Robinson hits 1,000 in loss to Marple Newtown

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Lew Robinson celebrated Senior Day by hitting a milestone, but Marple Newtown got the final say.

Radnor High’s Robinson hit the 1,000-point mark for his career Monday night, but the Tigers earned a 58- 54 victory for their third straight win.

Robinson scored 10 points to get to four figures. He’s the first Radnor 1,000-point scorer since Glenn Washington in 2006.

Eric McKee scored a game-high 23 points to lead Marple Newtown. The Tigers had 15 assists on 20 made baskets, continuing a recent trend. Mike Tansey led the way with five dimes.

For Marple Newtown, it’s all about the pass

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Marple Newtown’s Ryan Straub, left, shoots against the defense of Springfield’s Brendan McShane in a game last year. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)

By Matthew DeGeorge

Ryan Straub apologizes for the cliché, though that doesn’t diminish its truth.

A season ago, Marple Newtown lived and died by its 3-point shooting, all the way to a first-round districts exit. This season, the 3 still looms large. But it’s more about how the ball gets there.

“We preach passing up a good shot for a great shot,” Straub said. “It’s kind of a clichéd saying, but we really preach that and we trust it and rely on our teammates.”

Twice in less than 24 hours, its paid off, the latest a 52-38 win over Ridley Saturday, led by 15 points from Straub and exemplary ball movement all around.

That victory followed a 73-62 win over Lower Merion Friday, the Tigers’ first over the Aces in 11 years. Any concerns of a letdown went out the window in about three minutes, with Straub and Owen Mathes splashing home open 3-pointers. The Tigers (6-5, 6-5 Central) led by nine points after one quarter and by 15 at the half.

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

Chester overwhelms Bartram 72-34

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By Terry Thomas

Karell Watkins celebrated with the “Game Ball” in his locker as his 30-point, 19 rebound performance led the Clippers (6-1) to the easy win over the visiting Bartram Braves, 72-34. His 19 rebounds give him a career total of 702 rebounds becoming just the third member of the 700 club at the high since records have been maintained beginning in the 1992-1993 season. He surpassed Russell Johnson (693) and is three shy of Rahlir Jefferson (705) both members of the 2008 State Championship team. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson sits atop the list with 780 rebounds. Watkins was dominate at both ends of the court finishing the contest with 2 assists, 1 blocked shot and a career high 4 steals. Congratulations on a job well done.
With the Clippers hitting from the outside in the opening 8 minutes, Jameel Burton Jr knocked down a couple jumpers and Qadir Lowrie connecting on a trey, it opened the lanes for Watkins to go to work producing 8 points. The Clippers were 3 of 4 from the free-throw line for their 18 points. Chester – 18, Bartram – 13.

Tansey helps Marple nail down long-awaited win over Lower Merion

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Michael Tansey’s clutch free-throw shooting in the fourth quarter helped Marple Newtown earn its first win against Lower Merion in 10 years.

Tansey shot 10-for-12 at the foul line in the final period and totaled 20 points as the Tigers downed the Aces, 73-62.

Eric McKee poured in 19 points for the Tigers, who had 14 assists on 21 made baskets. Owen Mathes netted 18 points for MN.

Garnet Valley 63, Springfield 55 >> Justin Langan scored 11 of his game-high 20 points to lead four Jaguars in double figures. Carl Schaller finished with 18 points, Gannon McKee added 11 and Max Koehler netted 10.

AJ Grande paced the Cougars with 17 points. Cole Rhodes chipped in 14.

(click on this link for more game scores)

Garnet Valley secures win over Radnor

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Carl Schaller scored 12 of his game-high 16 points in the second half, leading a quartet of Garnet Valley double-figures scorers in a 61-41 Central League victory over Radnor late Wednesday night.
Gannon McKee added 13 points, Justin Langan tallied 12 points and Max Koehler added 11 for the Jaguars (10-3), who had eight players score.
Lew Robinson led Radnor with 13 points. Jackson Hicke hit three 3-pointers for nine points.
Also in the Central League:
HAVERFORD 51, MARPLE NEWTOWN 45 » Nick Colucci led a balanced Fords effort with 12 points as the Fords hit eight 3-pointers for the victory.
Hunter Kraiza and John Seidman scored nine points each, Seidman adding seven rebounds and five assists. JR Newman added eight points for the Fords (6-4,6-4) in their third straight win.
Ryan Straub hit three 3-pointers for 11 points fortheTigers (4-5,4-5). Owen Mathes added nine points.
In nonleague action:

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION CHARTER 83, INTERBORO 39 » Abu Kamara led the Bucs with 14 points, but Interboro couldn’t weather a 29-8 disadvantage in the first quarter. Josh Benton added 10 points.