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By Josh Verlin

Coming into this season, the biggest question for Garnet Valley was how the Jaguars were going to replace the scoring output of Brandon Starr. The 2017 graduate, a first team all-Central League selection, was beginning his college career at D-II University of the Sciences, leaving behind a sizable gap in the points department.

While current seniors Austin Laughlin and Connor O’Brien were sure to pick up some of the slack of Starr’s 19 points per game, and junior big man Cade Brennan looked ready to take a step forward Mike Brown knew that his Jaguars would need someone else to come in and get some buckets if they were to reach their highest potential.

So far, junior Greg Vlassopoulos has filled that role spectacularly — and is also producing even more impressively in another area.

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By Matt DeGeorge

For a team with championship aspirations in the Inter-Ac League like Haverford School, a trip to Germantown Academy for the league opener is about the most daunting task possible. But the Fords responded to the five-time reigning champions with a statement victory Tuesday.

Kharon Randolph scored 22 points and Christian Ray paired 20 points with 11 rebounds as the Fords upended GA, 84-70, in an early broadcast of their title credentials.

Jameer Nelson Jr. poured in 18 points, and Asim Richards added a season-best 11 points for the Fords (10-4, 1-0). Haverford has won four straight games.

Germantown Academy, which last year shared the title with Episcopal Academy after four consecutive outright crowns, got 18 points from Lacey Snowden.

Also in the Inter-Ac League:

(click on this link for more game stories and scores)

By Ari Glazier

This season, Bonner Prendergast sophomore Tyreese Watson made the jump from JV to varsity. Now, he’s not just getting minutes for the Catholic League contenders, he’s the Friars’ starting point guard.

The 6-foot-2 West Philly native was not intimidated by this major jump in responsibility. Instead he dove head first into a leadership role for Bonner, using his fun loving personality to connect with his teammates.

“Most of the kids are just semi-introverted…but Tyrese is more of a vocal leader,” Bonner coach Jack Concannon sad. “He’s not afraid to tell the older kids where they should be and what they should do, which is part of being a point guard, that’s what you want out of your point guard: leadership.”

Tyreese credits his leadership ability to the example set by his brother Maurice Watson Jr.

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By Michael Bullock

CITY OF BASKETBALL LOVE STATE BASKETBALL RANKINGS

(records through games of Jan. 7/OW-others to watch/NR-not ranked)

CLASS 6A

Speedy Morris pocketed career victories No. 998 and No. 999 as No. 6 St. Joseph’s Prep defeated West Catholic (75-55) and Archbishop Ryan (54-44). Darius Kinnel totaled 42 points in the victories, while Kyle Thompson banked 32. Morris could bag 1K on Friday against Lansdale Catholic. … No. 3 Hazleton walloped a pair of victims, decking Wyoming Valley West (94-64) and Crestwood (72-33) to remain unbeaten. Da’Mir Faison (25/11), Jeff Planutis (16/15), Josh Samec (19/11) and Joey Grula (14/10) reached double digits in both games. … No. 8 Penn Hills became the first Pennsylvania squad to collect 12 victories, as the Indians on Friday bested Penn-Trafford 65-56. Cameron Wiley netted 16 points for the Indians.

(click on this link for the full rankings)

A fast start helped Bonner & Prendergast, the No. 1 team in the Super 7, stay undefeated in Catholic League with a 49-37 triumph over Bishop McDevitt Sunday afternoon.

The Friars jumped out to a 17-5 lead in the first quarter and outscored the Lancers, 15-6, in the third period to take a 39-24 advantage into the final frame.

Isaiah Wong paced four players in double figures with 15 points for the Friars (9-2 overall, 2-0 PCL). Ajiri Johnson tallied 13 points, and Tyriq Ingraham and Donovan Rodriguez contributed 10 points each.

In the Central League:

Garnet Valley 68, Springfield 55 >> The Jaguars’ 3-point shooting was too much for the Cougars. Garnet Valley made 10 triples and scored 26 points in the second quarter to erase a 17-14 deficit.

(click on this link for more game stories and scores)

By Matthew DeGeorge

The execution, after two snow-bound and practice-free days, wasn’t always crisp, but the plan was sound for Upper Darby Saturday.Nursing a lead in the fourth quarter, coach Bob Miller packed the backcourt with his two point guards, Jalun Trent and Mamadou Toure, to share ball-handling duties in the face of an aggressive Strath Haven half-court press. It’s a luxury most teams don’t have, two sure-handed vets in the backcourt.

The plan was blighted by a pair of late turnovers. But by and large the Royals held firm to the lead to preserve a 51-45 Central League win.

“It’s great because they’re able to facilitate on the floor, they’re able to get people open and they’re able to control the game since they’re the ball-handlers,” said shooting guard Magd Abdelwahab, a sturdy secondary option with the ball. “They’ve got good control down the stretch. It helps the team a lot.”

Toure committed those late turnovers as the Royals (7-3, 3-3 Central) tried to milk clock while defending an advantage that rose as large as 12 early in the fourth quarter, on a tic-tac-toe bucket by Chris Martin off crisp passing between Toure and Trent. Upper Darby wasn’t always successful in slowing the pace, with Cooper Driscoll cutting the deficit to two at 47-45 with 42 seconds to play. But the blueprint of a backcourt-driven Royals squad is a convincing model late in games.

(click on this link for more game stories and scores)