By Josh Verlin
The PIAA state playoffs begin this weekend, with more than 70 teams from the Philadelphia area still in the hunt for state trophies. All week look, CoBL’s staff will be taking a look at the teams to watch — local and not — who can compete for titles in all six boys and all six girls’ brackets.
(1-3) Lower Merion
The Aces (21-4) have one of the state’s best coaches in Gregg Downer and one of its best players in senior Sam Brown, and an experienced group around him. Given that Roman’s playing shorthanded, if LM can get past Roman in the second round, it could very well find itself in the semifinals, though it won’t by any means be a walk in the park. Brown, a 6-3 left-hander and Penn commit, is one of the state’s best shooters, but has also become a terrific ball-handler and shot-creator, both for himself and others. The Aces’ secondary offensive option is senior Sam Wright (6-2), another well-rounded combo guard, while seniors Jordan Meekins (6-4), Teddy Pendergrass III (6-2) and Justin Poles (6-1) fill out the rest of the starting perimeter; junior wing John Mobley (6-2) is a high-level athlete and a rebounding/put-back specialist.