Delcohoops.com

By Matthew DeGeorge

Chichester’s boys basketball team arrived at the Fred Pickett Memorial Gymnasium Tuesday evening with its share of the Del Val Championship secure, and with its postseason fate secure, no matter what transpired over the next 32 minutes. Both were statements that their hosts couldn’t make.

But the Eagles also knew a few more facts – the 30-plus years since they’d last beaten Chester, the 70-some consecutive losses, the big 0 in the win column at Chester all-time in a series (can you really call it a rivalry?) dating back more than a half-century. Finishing the regular season that way – with an outright title, with a bit of history, and maybe with an unthinkable finger in the eye to Chester’s playoff hopes – was the only way a special senior class could envision it ending.

Akhir Keys’ corner 3-pointer with 12.7 seconds left and some dogged defense to repel three Chester chances to win it earned Chichester a 55-54 win and the outright title.

It’s the first time Chichester (18-3, 6-1) has won the Del Val since 1993 and just its sixth crown overall. The Eagles beat Chester for the first time since 1986-87, ending a string of 73 consecutive losses. In the process, they may have dealt a fatal blow to Chester’s chances of making the District 1 Class 6A playoffs.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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