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By Rich Flanagan

It was a sight that had not been in Upper Darby’s purview for more than a decade.

Nadir Myers stepped to the line and calmly sank two free throws to give Upper Darby a seven-point lead with 35.4 seconds remaining. It wasn’t just the crashing claps of his hands, but the Royals bench erupted with excitement after each make signaling a victory was at-hand and, even more so, that something special may be brewing for a program that hasn’t captured a Central League title since 2011.

For Myers, the exalted feeling of icing the game at the line after an incredible second half that saw him make one play after the next, including two personal stops at the defensive end.

“I’m a leader on the floor and working on talking more,” Myers said. “It’s all about reading what the defense is giving me.”

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Haylie Adamski produced 21 points, five rebounds and five steals to lead Garnet Valley to a 58-29 Central League win over Lower Merion.

Jordan Daubemberger tallied 16 points for the Jaguars, who took a 33-9 advantage into halftime. Kylie Mulholland had a solid floor game with four points, five assists and two steals. Mia Zebley and Katie Dwyer netted six points each.

Elsewhere in the Central League:

Springfield 56, Marple Newtown 23 >> The Cougars (3-1) cruised past theTigers behind a solid performance from Cora Fattori, who scored a game-high 14 points.

In nonleague games:

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The second half of Upper Darby’s 64-56 Central League win over Haverford Friday night belonged to Nadir Myers.

The senior guard scored 21 of his game-high 27 points after halftime. In the fourth period he scored 12 points and shot 8- for-9 from the free-throw line. The Royals outscored the host Fords, 23-10, over the final eight minutes of regulation.

Yassir Joyner also did plenty of damage for the Royals, pouring in 23 points.

Googie Seidman tallied a team-high 18 points for the Fords. Brian Weiner added 12 points and Tommy Wright ended with 11.

Elsewhere in the Central League:

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By Andrew Robinson

The pageantry of the pregame handshake ritual has gotten more intricate in recent years, but even Kate Gallagher might concede she’s gone a little over the top.

The Radnor junior guard has the usual swift exchange with Sarah Kelly, the Raptors handshake conductor during pregame intros, then Kelly ends it with a smack of Gallagher’s cheek. It’s not a full-force windup or anything, but enough that Gallagher definitely feels it.

Certainly it’s a little unorthodox, but if it helps Gallagher to have performances like the one she put together Thursday against visiting Harriton, then it’s effective – which is exactly what the junior is trying to be this season.

“I think I saw it online somewhere and Sarah and I thought it’d be funny,” Gallagher said. “It’s a good little slap, but not too hard. It’s a good wake-up before the start of a game.”

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By Matt Smith

Laura Shea was fouled in the process of making a basket in the fourth quarter of Strath Haven’? 50-42 victory over rival Penncrest Thursday night.

Shea hit the floor hard, but was no worse for wear. She was pumped up.

“Laura is a soccer goalkeeper,” Haven coach Chrissy Smith said. “She’s used to diving for everything.”
Shea finished off the and-1 and the Panthers were on their way to a satisfying ending to their home opener.

The junior forward scored seven of her game-high 14 points in the fourth period. She hit three free throws in the clutch and was a force on the glass all game (eight rebounds).

“I always feel like I’m a fourth-quarter person,” Shea said. “I like to run, I like (to be physical). I really like when the game is intense. I love the fourth quarter and I definitely love winning the fourth quarter.”

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By Matthew DeGeorge

For the second full week of the season, Thursday’s first quarter against Haverford School was right about what you might draw up if you were Cardinal O’Hara coach Ryan Nemetz.

In those first eight minutes away from home, O’Hara scored 23 points. It led by 12 points and hit 5 of 7 looks from 3-point range, the opportunities created by heady off-ball motion and unselfish sharing of the ball.

“We had a lot of conversations as a team, to move the ball better,” said guard Josh Coulanges, one of the prime beneficiaries of the outburst that led to a 71-46 nonleague win over the Fords. “We struggled a little bit in the beginning of the season, playing with each other and trusting each other. But we really focused on it. … We’re playing as a team, and everyone is getting the shots they want.”

With the Lions’ length, ability to press defensively and floor-spreading shooters, there’s not much to slow them when they get rolling like Thursday. Aasim Burton, the junior Math, Civics and Sciences transfer, led the way with 20 points, plus seven rebounds. Coulanges added 19 points. Together they were 9-for-14 from 3-point range.

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