Delcohoops.com

By Josh Verlin

It’s not that Cheltenham head coach John Timms was happy about his team being down 15 at the half against Penncrest in the championship game of Penncrest’s holiday tournament.

After all, no head coach wants to see a team with high expectations thoroughly outplayed for an entire half like the Panthers were by the Lions over the opening 16 minutes.

But it was the exact kind of situation that Timms needed to see his team in, because he’s got the bigger picture–that is, a run in the District 1 tournament and beyond–on his mind.

“I’m preparing for districts, and if we get down 10 points in districts, which is very possible, how are we going to fight? Are we going to fold?” he’d been asking his assistants. “We got down 10 here, and I got exactly what I asked for.”

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By Josh Verlin

The 11th Annual Scholastic Play-By-Play Pete & Jameer Nelson Classic returns to Widener University and Chestnut Hill College early next week for two days jam-packed with great basketball games.

Several state championship contenders from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware will be coming to the courts at the two area colleges for a total of 17 games that feature some top Division I prospects from the tri-state region.

Here’s the some can’t-miss games from the event followed by the full schedule; all teams from Pennsylvania unless otherwise indicated:

Chester vs. Downingtown West — Dec. 30, 7 PM, Widener
Two of the top teams in District 1 AAAA go head-to-head in what could very well be a preview of the district championship in February. The Clippers are still getting on track but have a deep and talented frontcourt led by seniors Jamar Sudan and Marquis Collins as well as wing Stanley Davis, but point guard Kahleeq Campbell is the engine that makes it all go. Downingtown West doesn’t have the raw athleticism of Chester but has its own experienced senior group led by Penn commit Ryan Betley, a 6-5 shooting guard, and 6-9 big man Josh Warren, committed to Cornell.

Webmaster’s note:  We will be audio broadcasting this game, LIVE, from Widener University. Broadcast begins at 6:45 (time subject to change).  Simply click on the Game-of-the-Week logo on the left side of this page to go to the game. Listening is free as all costs are supported by our Sponsors.  If you miss the live broadcast you can listen anytime on our Archive!

(click on this link for more game previews and the tournament’s complete schedule)

By Matthew De George

The first words out of Will Powers’ mouth Monday evening spoke volumes.

“I’m definitely tired,” the Malvern Prep guard said. “We fought long. Double overtime, it’s hard.”

The final score didn’t conceal the details of a scintillating affair — a 98-92 win for the Friars over Academy Park in double overtime in the opener of the Steve Juenger Classic at Haverford High School. But that eye-popping scoreboard declaration somehow undervalues the excitement that helped assemble this classic. The pace of the game was what you’d expect if the managers filled the Gatorade buckets with rocket fuel. And between two teams that like to push the tempo like few in the region, the craziness of the game seemed to be in the offing as soon as both teams showed up for warmups in nearly-matching blue jerseys.

(click on this link for the full article)

By Matthew De George

Higgins hits for 21 as Bonner-Prendie makes final>>For a second time in as many weeks, Dylan Higgins led the way for Bonner-Prendergast Monday night. This time, the Friars needed all 21 of his points.

Higgins tied a career-high for scoring, set just eight days ago, and added six rebounds to help Bonner outlast Phoenixville, 72-69, in overtime at the Marple Newtown Holiday Tournament.

Christian Lane and Keith Washington each added 15 points, and John Hargraves posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds as the Friars (6-2) booked passage to Tuesday’s final against Bishop Shanahan at 5 p.m.

(click on this link for more stories and results)

Springfield sinks game-winner for Strath Haven>>Jahmeir Springfield and John Harrar were the heroes in Strath Haven’s 55-54 win over Conestoga in Central League boys basketball Wednesday night.

Springfield made a driving layup with seven seconds to play in the fourth quarter, and Harrar blocked a 16-foot jump shot as time expired.

Harrar posted game highs in points (17) and rebounds (10) for the Panthers (7-2, 3-2). Alex Ischiropoulos added 16 points.

In nonleague action:

Archbishop Carroll 76, Malvern Prep 56 >> The visiting Friars couldn’t solve John Rigsby and the streaking Patriots (7-0).

Rigsby scored a game-high 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Josh Sharkey flirted with a triple-double (15 points, nine rebounds, seven assists). Ryan Daly had 11 of his 25 points in the first quarter.

(click on this link for more scores)