Delcohoops.com

By Matt Smith

Springfield had two things with which to concern itself going into Tuesday’s Central League battle against Garnet Valley.

First, the team was without senior forward Anabel Kreydt, one of the Cougars’ leaders and most well-rounded players. Kreydt was unable to play due to an eye infection, but she shouldn’t miss a lot of time.

The second major factor Springfield players had to think about was winning a big game on the road on coach Ky McNichol’s birthday.

The Cougars handled both scenarios in grinding out a 39-33 victory over the reigning Central League champions. Springfield (11-2) has won seven in a row.

After the game McNichol was forced to answer difficult questions, such as, did the kids do anything special for her birthday?

“They made homemade cupcakes, sang happy birthday in the locker room,” McNichol said. “These kids are the best. It was nice that we celebrated with a birthday win.”

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It took Haverford High eight minutes Tuesday to just about match their offense from the previous 24 minutes. And that was enough for the Fords.

Googie Seidman scored eight of his game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Fords eked out a 49-45 win over Penncrest. The Fords outscored the Lions, 24-14, in the final frame.

Seidman hit two 3-pointers in the third quarter and was 10-for-12 from the line on the game. Brian Weiner scored all eight of his points in the final stanza, and Tommy Wright had five of his seven points in the fourth.

Mikey Mita led Penncrest with 23 points. Brendan Hemphill added eight points.

Also in the Central League:

Radnor 57, Conestoga 31 >> Make it 12 in a row to start the season for the Raptors, thanks to a balanced effort with nine points each from Charlie Thornton, Jackson Hicke and Cooper Mueller. Danny Rosenblum and Jackson Gaffney added eight each, and Henry Pierce had seven.

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By Matt Smith

It’s tradition for Archbishop Carroll and Cardinal O’Hara to play an extremely difficult nonleague schedule and this season isn’t any different.

The young Lions are off to a 7-2 start after losing two of their first three games. They have impressive wins over South Bronx Prep, Academy of Notre Dame and West Chester Rustin. O’Hara defeated George School (Newtown) at the Blue Star Invitational Sunday, 46-28, for its sixth consecutive victory.

“We still have a lot to do to get better, but we know everyone on the team has the same focus,” junior guard Joanie Quinn said after the Lions’ win over Notre Dame in December. “We have to bring energy into every game.”

With four new starters, the reigning two-time PIAA Class 5A champions have thus far kicked the “rebuilding” label. Now a Class 6A program, the Lions are every bit as dangerous, just with a fresh coat of paint. Sophomore Molly Rullo is the star, but Quinn and fellow juniors Greta Miller and Carly Coleman have provided plenty of support.

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By Zak Wolf

The game is slowing down for Archbishop Ryan junior Darren Williams. 

After being a defensive specialist during his freshman season, Williams turned into a second-team all-Catholic League player last year. The shooting guard averaged 12 points, 4 rebounds and two assists per game, helping Ryan make it to the Catholic League championship. Williams flashed his potential, scoring 20 points against Archbishop Wood in the quarterfinals.

After an improved sophomore campaign, Williams has taken another step this season. The junior’s all-around game has gotten better, sacrificing more and doing the little things to help his team win. WIlliams was everywhere in Ryan’s 62-44 victory over Archbishop Carroll on Tuesday, recording 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals. 

“It always happens in your second year, playing varsity level in the PCL,” Ryan head coach Joe Zeglinski said.

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By Josh Verlin

In order for Archbishop Wood to be a contender in the Philadelphia Catholic League, it needs its best player to lead the way. That’s something Jalil Bethea’s working on, the junior guard and high-major Division I recruit knowing he needs to be more than just a talent: he needs to be the driving force behind the Vikings, the one who makes them stronger and the glue that keeps them together. 

So it was a good sign for John Mosco when, in the final minutes of a tight Catholic League road game at Cardinal O’Hara, Bethea got into the lane, and — instead of pulling up for a contested jumper — he instead dished off to teammate Markus Dixon for a layup, a key play in Wood’s 72-63 win. 

“It’s definitely just, trust your teammates,” Bethea said. “You trust your teammates, your teammates can shock you. All you’ve got to do is put your trust in them, they’ll do their thing.”

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By Matthew DeGeorge

In its all-conquering epoch as a PIAA power, you’ve come to expect the Division I skill and top-line depth of Roman Catholic. But the difference between being reliably good and consistently great, in the Catholic League and beyond, shows through on days like Sunday.

It’s one thing to have an array of Division I talents. It’s another to share the ball as zealously as in a 66-39 victory over Bonner & Prendergast, all those talents harmonizing in an offense that can be just about undefendable.

“Every day in practice, we go through stuff like that, sharing the ball,” senior wing Anthony Finkley said. “If you’re sharing the ball, everybody’s going to be happy.”

The quality of basketball certainly looked joyous at times in this game at Holy Family University. All five Roman starters had at least eight points, the team shot 60 percent from the field (27-for-45) and dished 17 assists. While the Friars (8-2, 1-2 PCL) pushed them early, the Cahillites erupted for a 17-2 run between the first and second quarters to have the game about done and dusted at half, leading by 17.

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