Delcohoops.com

By Andrew Robinson

Deja Evans knew.

The Archbishop Wood senior knew there wasn’t much time left. She knew her first attempt at a tip-in after Ava Renninger’s miss on a drive was way off and she knew she’d get one last chance. As the Albany recruit put up her last-ditch effort, the ball hit the rim, then the backboard and spun on the iron.

That’s when Deja Evans knew it was good.

Evans’ improbable put-back lifted No. 2 Archbishop Wood to a 31-29 win over No. 3 Cardinal O’Hara in a defensive slugfest of a PCL girls basketball semifinal Tuesday night at St. Joseph’s University City campus (the venue formerly known as USciences.)

“I didn’t know for sure until it hit the second spin,” Evans, who had a game-high 19 points, said. “Amazing. It’s an indescribable feeling, now we get to go play at the Palestra and I’m really excited.”

Wood will face No. 1 seed Lansdale Catholic, a 53-39 winner over No. 4 Archbishop Carroll, in the PCL title game on Monday. It’s Wood’s first title appearance since 2020-21 but first trip to the Palestra since 2019-20, with the ’21 title game being played at Carroll.

(click on this link for the full story)

By CoBL Staff

The first round of districts is over, with 16 teams left who find themselves in good position to make the PIAA bracket — 12 of those 16 will play in states, including the eight winners of Tuesday night’s second round and four of the losers, who all go into play-backs to determine those final spots. 

Here’s a look at all eight games on Wednesday as the top eight seeds make their district debuts:

4) Souderton  vs. 20) Garnet Valley

With their upset of No. 13 Pennridge, the Jaguars spoiled a potential fourth meeting of SOL Colonial foes but now face the tall task of trying to take down senior-led Souderton. GV’s young but talented but will have to figure out an opponent that isn’t looking to go home early this year.

(click on this link for the full story)

By Josh Verlin

The Catholic League’s down to its final four. The girls’ semifinals are this Tuesday night at the former University of the Sciences, now part of Saint Joseph’s, while the boys are Wednesday night at the Palestra. 

Here’s a look at all four games as well as my predictions:

Girls Semifinals
2) Archbishop Wood vs. 3) Cardinal O’Hara (6:00 PM)

There have been four clear contenders for the 2023 Catholic League girls’ championship this season, and they’re the four remaining in the semifinals, with any of the four perfectly capable of winning their next two games and emerging with a title at the Palestra next Monday. These two teams met at this same spot last year, a 55-48 win for O’Hara, but many of the stars of that one are gone: O’Hara’s Maggie Doogan (Richmond), Sydni Scott (Marshall) and Annie Welde (Villanova), as well as Wood’s Ryanne Allen (Vanderbilt) and Bri Bowen (Delaware), leaving it up to the next group of Lions and Vikings to carry the torch. 

(click on this link for the full story)

By CoBL Staff

The first round of districts is over, with 16 teams left who find themselves in good position to make the PIAA bracket — 12 of those 16 will play in states, including the eight winners of Tuesday night’s second round and four of the losers, who all go into play-backs to determine those final spots. 

Here’s a look at all eight games on Tuesday, as the top eight seeds make their district debuts:

8) Garnet Valley vs. 9) Methacton
Only 14 hundreds of a point separated Methacton and Garnet Valley in the district rankings, the Jaguars with just enough of an edge to be hosting this game instead of it being up in the PAC. Garnet Valley (15-8) enters the postseason on a three-game losing streak, including scoring just 29 points against Springfield (Delco.) in the first round of the Central League playoffs, but Mike Brown has had 12 days to get his squad back on track as they host a Warriors side that comes in 16-8, having beaten Conestoga 48-38 in the first round of districts after themselves losing in the opening round of their league playoffs. This one is a rematch of a district quarterfinal from last season when the then top-seeded Warriors held off the then 24th-seeded Jags in OT. 

(click on this link for the full story)

Being on the road didn’t bother Episcopal Academy in the championship game of the PAISAA Commonwealth Cup.

The second-seeded Churchmen took control early and cruised to a 67-56 victory over top-seeded Germantown Academy Saturday.

EA opened up a 12-7 lead to start the game, expanded its advantage 53-32 heading into the fourth quarter and shot 8-for-12 from the free throw line to hold off the Patriots and win the title.

Kevin McCarthy paced EA with 17 points. He made two free throws in the fourth quarter, as did T.J. Lamb and Murilo Pereira.  Timmy Dennis and Calvin Szorodi chipped in with 14 points each.

Bryce Rollerson led the top-seeded Patriots with a game-high 20 points.

In the District 1 Class 6A tournament:

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