Carroll blows out Bonner, caps Williams’ birthday bash

By Matthew De George

Colin Daly didn’t give a second thought to his routine after missing the first of what he thought to be two free throws early in the fourth quarter Friday night.

Nonchalantly, with Daly assuming a second attempt was coming after he was hacked under the rim, the Archbishop Carroll senior guard calmly took two steps into the lane, grabbed the carom off back iron, unhindered by the players in the blocks. Instead of returning the ball to the ref, Daly casually flicked his wrists, sending the ball into the hoop.

Archbishop Carroll’s Jesse McPherson dunks for two points over Bonner & Prendergast defenders, from left, Steven Perretta, Dylan Higgins and Tymir Cooper, as Carroll clammed Bonner, 73-50, Friday. (Digital First Media/Pete Bannan)

About the time the shot swished home, everyone else on the court realized that Daly’s post-shot drill was with a live ball, and that he had cashed in a free offensive board and second-chance bucket offered by a Bonner & Prendergast team caught unaware.

“I think the announcer said two shots or I don’t know why I thought it was two shots,” Daly said. “So I was just doing a practice shot to make the second one, but it was one-and-one so it counted. No one boxed me out.”

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Sullivan keys OT explosion, sending Springfield past Radnor

By Matthew De George

It took until overtime for Springfield’s offense to really get humming Friday.

Kyle Sullivan hit a pair of 3-pointers in the extra session as the Cougars erupted for 22 points in overtime of a 71-60 win over Radnor in Central League boys basketball.

Sullivan also tied the game with two free throws with 35 seconds left in regulation. Sullivan and Great Orjih registered 17 points apiece for Springfield (13-9, 9-7). Kyle Long added nine points, five rebounds and three assists. Springfield was 20-for-24 from the line, including 10-for-12 in overtime.

Vernon Harper led Radnor (8-14, 4-12) with 17 points. Mason Ressler chipped in 15.

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Fitzgerald’s 3 in OT lifts Penn Wood to title

By Matthew De George

Academy Park nearly completed the second installment of a league-upending double Friday night. But Jay Fitzgerald and Penn Wood had other ideas.

Fitzgerald scored 11 points, including a 3-pointer to put Penn Wood up for good in overtime as it eked out a 60-55 win to clinch the Del Val title.

Vincent Smalls led Penn Wood with 15 points, and Rashaad Anderson added 14. Pernell Ghee also checked in with 11 points for the Patriots (15-6 overall, 9-1 league).

But Academy Park didn’t go quietly. After hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer Tuesday (via Marq Greenwood) to tip Chester and hand Penn Wood the inside line to an outright title, Nasiem Harley did the honors Friday with a buzzer-beating triple that sent the game to overtime knotted at 51. Harley again led AP with 19 points.

Nick Simmons and Dwayne Leslie added 10 points apiece for Academy Park (12-10, 6-4).

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PIAA Power Rankings for 5A & 6A

By Delcohoops.com Staff

Here are the Delco teams that appear to have made the playoffs based on current power rankings:

Class 5A (Top 16 make playoffs)
1. Chester (16-5, 11.116)
3. Penncrest (15-6, 9.608)
7. Strath Haven (13-8, 9.045)
10. Springfield-Delco (12-9, 8.395)
12. Academy Park (12-9, 7.925)
13. Glen Mills (12-9, 7.856)
 Marple Newtown is #17 and Radnor is #18

Class 6A (Top 24 make playoffs)
 9. Lower Merion (14-7, 10.357)
12. Penn Wood (14-6, 9.374)
16. Garnet Valley (14-7, 8.502)
 Ridley is #26 and Upper Darby is #32

Radnor drops Strath Haven in close game

Radnor 62, Strath Haven 57 

Mason Ressler’s 16 points gave the Raiders life in the playoff picture. Sami Ghazzi added 11 points, and Vernon Harper chipped in 10 for Radnor (8-13, 4-11).

John Harrar scored 21 of his game-high 23 points after halftime to go with 12 rebounds. Cooper Driscoll paired 15 points with 11 rebounds for Haven (13-8, 9-6).

(Webmaster’s note: The Radnor vs, Strath Haven game was our Game-of-the-Week and can be heard on our Archives link on the left hand side of the page.)

Marple Newtown 75, Harriton 68

Mark Dever scored 31 points to go with seven rebounds as the Tigers (10-11, 6-9) kept their playoff hopes alive.

Mike May added 18 points, and Luke Cantwell chipped in 14.

Conestoga 64, Haverford 50

Kevin DePrince (16 points) and Luke Verzella (14) contributed to a season-high for points, but it wasn’t enough for the Fords (1-20, 0-15).

Lower Merion 71, Upper Darby 41

Bayir Hodges scored 11 points, but 12 3-pointers (including four each from Steve Payne and Noah Fenell) doomed the Royals (6-14, 5-10).

 

Palis’ 3-pointer lifts Garnet Valley past Ridley

 

By Matt Chandik

Cole Palis knew he that there was a chance that he’d be the guy to take the shot.

A tie game that’s in overtime isn’t the usual setting for sophomores to be stepping up, but Palis noticed that Ridley had been sending help defense to Garnet Valley sharpshooter Austin Laughlin all night. The Jaguars set up a pick and roll for Laughlin, and true to form, the Green Raiders sent an extra defender his way, which meant a wide-open Palis.

Cole Palis (above, vs. Lower Merion) hit the game-winning 3-pointer to lift Garnet Valley past Ridley. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

No problem whatsoever.

He cooly drilled the 3-pointer with 39.4 seconds to go, Brandon Starr added a late free throw and Ridley settled for a 2-pointer instead of the long ball to cement Garnet Valley’s 61-60 overtime win.

If Ridley can’t bounce back on Thursday with a win over Upper Darby, that more than likely seals its fate on the outside of the District 1 6A tournament. They were in the final qualification spot (No. 24) in the latest update on Monday, but several teams below them still have opportunities to jump them with wins.

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