Delcohoops.com

By CoBL Staff

The District 1 playoffs get underway this week with elimination games in the 5A and 6A brackets. The girls’ 5A bracket has eight games, all of which will see one team move into the second round — with at least two more games to play — and the others done for the season:

Here’s a look at the eight first-round girls’ games, which all take place Friday with one exception (indicated below):

Second Round: Wed., Feb. 19
Quarterfinals: Sat., Feb. 22
Semifinals: Weds., Feb. 26
Championship: Sat., March 1

16) Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. 17) Pennridge (4:00 PM)
Winner gets 1) Perkiomen Valley

PW’s goal last season was just to get in. This year, the Colonials (14-9) have taken a step beyond and earned a home game to start things off but they won’t be satisfied with just an invite. Juniors Kenna Winland and AJ Avery, along with senior Taylor Williams, lead a group that’s gotten a lift from some younger players including Eliza Meersman and Olivia Patete; they’ve also had an interesting season, with eight wins followed by six losses, followed by six wins, followed by three losses. Time to start another streak?

(click on this link for the full previews)

 

By CoBL Staff

The District 1 playoffs get underway on Friday with elimination games in the 5A and 6A brackets. The boys’ 5A bracket has four games, all of which will see one team move into the quarterfinals and the other done for the season.

Here’s a look at Friday’s first-round matchups:

8) Sun Valley vs. 9) Chichester (7:00 PM)
Winner plays 1) Upper Dublin

The Ches-Mont American champs, Sun Valley (18-5) arrived in districts having lost to Bishop Shanahan by two points in the Ches-Mont semifinals. The Vanguards have been playing quality hoops all season long, having won eight of their previous nine before entering the postseason, Steve Maloney’s group undersized but hard-working. Senior guards Kaiden Robinson and Aaron Freeman both return from a group that qualified for states a year ago, and junior wing Aden Bamgbose has really improved over the course of his first varsity campaign. Their best asset is their aggressive 1-3-1 zone trap defense, which Chichester will have to navigate. 

(click on this link for the full previews)

By Bruce Adams

Lower Merion, ranked No. 1 in the PIAA District 1 6A Boys Basketball Power Rankings, carries an 11-game winning streak into the District 1 6A tournament and is the No. 1 seed, with its opening game scheduled for Feb. 18, against the winner of the Great Valley (No. 16 seed) vs. Pennsbury (No. 17 seed) first-round contest.

The Aces (20-4) are led by seniors – guard Carson Kasmer (18.3 ppg, 2.1 apg, 3.0 rpg, shooting 35.7 percent from 3-point territory and 88.9 percent from foul line), forward Rashyne Patterson (11.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 79.4 percent from foul line, 27 treys), forward Sam’i Singletary (10.9 ppg, 2.0 apg, 4.0 rpg), Gus Wright (10.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.6 rpg, 36.5 percent from three) and Lamont Grier (5.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 77.8 percent from foul line).

The Gettysburg College-bound Kasmer, the MVP of the recent Central League boys’ basketball tournament, scored 24 points in the championship final.

“Carson is a dynamic three-level scorer who is not afraid of bright lights. He does not like to lose and plays with a swagger,” said Lower Merion boys basketball coach Gregg Downer.

(click on this link for the full article, subscription may be required)

By Josh Verlin

Carson Kasmer and his Lower Merion teammates watched the Eagles win the Super Bowl by coming out in commanding fashion, and must have had one thought to themselves: 

Yeah, we can do that.

Kasmer’s squad didn’t quite run as rampant on Penncrest as the city’s football team did on the Chiefs the night before, but an absolutely dominant early stretch by Lower Merion ultimately set the Aces on a path to their third Central League championship in four years courtesy of a 63-55 win over the Lions on Monday night at Marple Newtown High School.

“It’s awesome,” Kasmer said after earning MVP honors with a 24-point showing that included five 3-pointers. ”It’s always great to win and bring the trophy back to Bryant Gymnasium. It’s just a great experience and I’m super-grateful.”

(click on this link for the full article)

Webmaster’s note – Missed the game?  Go to our archive page, Archived Broadcasts, and catch the whole game!

By Matt Smith

Just when it seemed like Garnet Valley’s championship hopes were slipping away and Conestoga was on track to finally capture the Central League title after three straight trips to the finals, the Jaguars turned to the intangibles that have defined their season – unmatched grit and a refusal to back down.

When their senior stars, co-captains Kylie Mulholland and Haylie Adamski, struggled to find their rhythm, it was their twin sophomore sharpshooters who answered the call.

First, Kylie Adamski drained a 3-pointer in the final minute of the third quarter, halting Conestoga’s momentum and cutting a seven-point deficit down to four. It seemed like a small moment at the time, but it was the spark the Jaguars needed.

Then, with 2:59 remaining in the fourth, Addie Adamski delivered the go-ahead triple that put Garnet Valley ahead by three, a lead the Jags would never surrender. Down the stretch, Kylie Adamski calmly sank two free throws, and big sister Haylie Adamski sealed the victory with a layup in the final minute, a 40-36 decision and Garnet Valley’s first Central League title since 2022.

Addie’s clutch shot came after Haylie hit off the back board from long range to give GV a 33-30 lead, only to see it quickly erased when Conestoga’s Ruth Lanouette hit from beyond the arc to even the score.

(click on this link for the full article, subscription may be required)

Webmaster’s note – Missed the game?  Go to our archive page, Archived Broadcasts, and catch the whole game!

By Josh Verlin 

The District 1 brackets are out. 

From 1A through 6A, the fields of each classification are set and ready to roll, with first-round games in the 5A and 6A brackets getting underway this Friday, Feb. 14. 

We’ll have a complete preview of the 5A and 6A first rounds later this week and looks at the small-school semifinals early next; for now, here’s the complete schedule for all the District 1 boys’ teams whose seasons are still going (All games at higher seeds, times TBA unless otherwise listed):

District 1 1A Semifinals (Tues., Feb. 18)
1) Chester Charter vs. 4) Plumstead Christian
2) Phil-Mont Christian vs. 3) The Christian Academy
Championship: Feb. 22, TBA

(click on this link for the full boys brackets)