Delcohoops.com

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 girls’ teams whose seasons are still going (All games at higher seeds, times TBA unless otherwise listed):

District 1 1A Semifinals (Tues., Feb. 18)
1 Delco Christian vs. 4) Upper Bucks Christian
2) Sacred Heart  vs. 3) Dock Mennonite

(click on this link for the full girls brackets)

Boys: 1) Penncrest vs. 2) Lower Merion (7:45 PM)

Buckle up, because this one might need more than 32 minutes to settle. When the Lions and Aces met in January, it took not one but two overtimes to settle the score, a 75-71 Penncrest win on its home court, with senior wing Theo Gladue playing hero, hitting a 3-pointer to send things to the second extra session. Even though Penncrest has a couple district titles in the last decade, it hasn’t won the Central League since 2010; Lower Merion, meanwhile, has nine titles in that span, including six of the last eight, as Gregg Downer’s program continues to be the class of the league.

(click on this link for the full article including preview of the Girl’s GV vs Conestoga game)

It’s been a good year for Central League boys basketball. Three of the top four spots in the District 1 Class 6A tournament are a reflection of that.

Three Central League teams will receive byes when districts begin on Friday, with the brackets released on Sunday (though they remain unofficial until Monday).

Lower Merion (19-4) earned the top seed in the district, with Conestoga (17-6) third and Garnet Valley (17-6) fourth in the 6A fold.  That’s in addition to Penncrest (20-2) being the second seed in Class 5A. Penncrest and Lower Merion will meet Monday night for the Central League title, with league playoff games having no bearing on postseason seeding.

Garnet Valley gets a bye until next Tuesday’s second round of the Class 6A tournament, where it will face the winner of No. 13 Bensalem and No. 20 Owen J. Roberts.

Del Val champion Chester (15-7) manages to shoot the gap of Central League teams, but a tantalizing matchup could await nonetheless. As the 15th seed, the Clippers will host No. 18 Downingtown West in Friday’s first round. The winner gets to visit No. 2 Coatesville. The Whippets just dropped a 57-55 overtime decision to Coatesville in the Ches-Mont League semifinals.

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

Garnet Valley earned the second seed in the District 1 Class 6A girls basketball tournament, the brackets for which were revealed on Sunday.

Garnet Valley (22-1) will first play for a Central League title Monday night. Then it awaits the winner of No. 15 North Penn and No. 18 Phoenixville in the Feb. 19 second round. The Jaguars play Conestoga in the league final, which has no bearing on postseason seeding. The Pioneers will have to turn it around for a game on Friday against Coatesville as the No. 9 seed, only the top eight getting byes.

Also missing that cut is Haverford (18-5) in 10th. The Fords host No. 23 Central Bucks South Friday for the right to visit No. 7 Downingtown West next week. Chester (18-4) is the only other Delco team in the field, drawing the No. 12 seed and a home game, with No. 21 Methacton coming to town.

Two-time reigning champion Perkiomen Valley is the top seed. Springfield (12-10) was the first school out of the 24-team field. Eleven teams make the state playoffs. Brackets are unofficial until Monday.

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

The Central League Basketball Championship final is set for February 10th @ Marple Newtown High School:

GIRLS

#1 Garnet Valley vs #2 Conestoga- 6:00 PM 

Broadcast begins at 5:45 PM right here on Delcohoops.com

BOYS

#1 Penncrest vs #2 Lower Merion – 7:30 PM

Broadcast begins at 7:15 PM right here on Delcohoops.com

By Matt Smith

Garnet Valley felt a tinge of frustration in the second quarter of Friday’s Central League semifinal against Lower Merion.

Despite being the top seed, and one of the best teams in the area, the Jaguars found themselves trailing the No. 5 Aces, a team that had pulled off a minor upset over fourth-seeded Radnor less than 24 hours earlier. Lower Merion, making its first league semifinal appearance since winning the title in 2010-11, came ready to play and perhaps stun the entire league.

The Aces moved the ball well and took advantage of a cold shooting stretch from Garnet Valley, which had jumped out to a nine-point lead in the first quarter before cooling off late in the first and into the second.

The Jaguars, however, knew they were the better team. And it was time to prove it.

Garnet Valley responded with a dominant run midway through the second quarter and never looked back, rolling to a 59-40 victory. The Jags will face No. 2 Conestoga in the Central League final Monday at Marple Newtown. Tip-off is 6 p.m.

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