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By Josh Verlin

The CoBL Girls’ Winter Classic returns on Sunday, Jan. 12 with a six-game affair at Ursinus College. A dozen of the area’s best girls’ basketball teams will be coming up to Collegeville, representing the Philadelphia Public League, Inter-Ac, Catholic League, Friends’ Schools League and multiple District 1 leagues — at least one participant from all five counties in our home base. 

It’s an event absolutely stacked with college-level talent, including more than a dozen committed seniors (and one junior) along with plenty of girls in all four classes who will be playing at the next level.

We’ll have a complete preview of the event the week of, with a closer look at each of the six games. For now, here’s the schedule and a list of both committed college basketball players and prospects to watch:

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By David Comer

This was the reward. The reward for spending all those hours shooting in an empty gym. The reward for deciding he wanted to excel in basketball and making it happen through hard work and dedication. The reward for never missing an open gym and then competing in those open gyms like he was playing for a state championship.

“It’s awesome,” Upper Dublin senior Ryan Mulroy said after scoring his 1,000th career point on Friday in a 58-44 win over Cardinal O’Hara in the opening round of the Cardinal Holiday Tournament. “Coming to Upper Dublin, it was never really a thought to score 1,000 points. I feel like, growing up, Upper Dublin wasn’t really big in basketball yet, so to be part of the changing of the culture is really special and to score 1,000 points, too, really means a lot.”

With his family and friends on hand — minus his brother and sister, who were at home sick watching the livestream of the game — Mulroy scored on a baseline layup with 3:39 left in the fourth quarter to give him 1,001 career points. 

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By Andrew Robinson

CARDINAL O’HARA 59, LEBANON 51

The defending PIAA Class 6A champions had their hands full with a Cedars team that figures to be a top contender for the Lancaster-Lebanon league and District 3 crowns this season. Lebanon looked inside to senior Lily Harrison, the 6-foot-3 center owning a clear size advantage that earned plenty of attention from the Lions defense. Harrison, who finished 18 points, was Lebanon’s main offensive outlet in the first half with 13 markers before the break.

After giving up the game’s opening basket, O’Hara rolled off an 11-0 run and built a 21-13 lead after a quarter.

Senior Molly Rullo got off to a strong start with six first quarter points for the Lions. The Drexel recruit had an off day offensively, but she did post 11 points and was impressive as a rebounder, recording a double-double with 14 boards. Carly Wakefield was a spark in the second quarter, connecting for four points and assisting two baskets as the Lions took a 31-21 lead to halftime.

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Taylor Murrin dropped a game-high 19 points, and Olivia Gicking poured in all 17 of her points in the second half as Marple Newtown rallied from a five-point halftime deficit on the way to a 48-41 nonleague win over Academy Park Saturday.

Murrin added six rebounds and three steals, while Gicking dished four assists and grabbed six boards. Rowan Hilden contributed 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks for the Tigers, who surged ahead with a 21-11 run in the fourth quarter.

Kiala Bright paced the Knights with 15 points.

In other nonleague contests:

Upper Darby 71, Chichester 14 >> Mia Wilson (three steals) and Cameron Ross (five steals) led the defensive charge for the Royals (4-4), and each scored 22 oints. The win snapped UD’s four-game losing streak. Raleigh Couts registered eight points and five rebounds.

Sun Valley 40, Pottsgrove 29 >> The Vanguards (4-3) made eight 3-point field goals, including four by Brielle Wright, who led all scorers with 16 points. Luci Damico and Nora Novotni added 11 and nine points, respectively. After leading by three points at the half, the Vanguards held the host Falcons to eight points in the final two periods.

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By Joseph Santoliquito

They spoke around it in the stands, some 40 past players and coaches that Gregg Downer had gathered over his brilliant 35-year coaching career at Lower Merion. It was as if it was on the minds of everyone who filled Haverford High School’s gym Friday night, yet it hovered in the rafters unspoken. No one wanted to blatantly utter the magical milestone that was at stake.

Everyone knew it though.

Things were in the works. Everything was set in place. Lower Merion athletic director Jason Stroup had a mission: Get the ball. The Lower Merion team had the other: Get their legendary coach his 700th career victory.

Both were accomplished rather easily, when the Aces rolled over Haverford, 67-39, and in a classy move, Haverford AD Greg Decina made sure he called for the game ball from the officials, then handed over it to Stroup, who made sure Downer got it.

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Keara McCaffrey produced 16 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, powering Sacred Heart to a 58-34 victory over Dock Mennonite Friday.

Megan Donahoe contributed 14 points and dished out six assists, while Dani Jeffries added 13 points and seven assists.

In the Central League:

Radnor 39, Springfield 30 >> Nyah Yao scored 13 points and added eight rebounds, and Anna Reger tossed in 10 points for the Raptors.

Caroline Quinn paired five points with 11 rebounds.

Lilianna DiTrolio led Springfield with a game-high 19.

   Boys Basketball

Patrick Flaherty scored 13 points and Tom Toomey added 12 in Springfield’s 50-35 victory over Radnor.

Logan Kobb had nine points on three 3-pointers for the Cougars.

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By Joseph Santoliquito

Reginna Baker was still decompressing with an ice bag wrapped around her left ankle and a megawatt smile as a panacea for any soreness she was feeling.

A year ago, it may have been different for the Neumann-Goretti 5-foot-6 sophomore rising star. A year ago, she may have flubbed the gimme shot underneath. A year ago, her teammates may not have thought her an option in such a crucial spot. A year ago, she would not have been the one to make a difference.

That was a year ago.

In the present, Baker came up with a clutch three-point play to tie it and Amya Scott knocked down a free throw and batted away a pass in the closing seconds to preserve Neumann-Goretti’s exciting 51-50 victory at Cardinal O’Hara in the Catholic League season opener for both teams Thursday night.

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By Zak Wolf

Heading into the offseason, Sean Forcine knew one thing about his team. They were sick of getting beat up physically. His second year at Conestoga was a successful one. The Pioneers took a step forward, finishing third in the Central League and making the second round of the District One playoffs.

But a common theme arose when facing top competition. They weren’t being physical enough. 

Two weeks after a 69-51 loss to Bensalem in the district playbacks, Forcine’s squad was in the weight room. It wasn’t just one or two players who showed up. The entire team did. It became a central part of their offseason. Two, sometimes even three times a week, players came together to do an array of other weight training exercises in an attempt to get stronger. 

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By Jeremy Goode

When Megan Kelly is on, she is on. 

So, when the Fords were up eight points and Kelly got the ball underneath Garnet Valley’s basket with eight seconds left, she dribbled up to half court and threw it up. The quick line drive heave found itself through the net as the third quarter buzzer sounded, giving the Fords a double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter 34-23. The shot completely gave the Fords all the momentum to close the game. 

“I was looking at the clock and thought I might as well get a shot up,” Kelly said. “I shot it, and I really think it brought the energy up. Now that we had a lead, if we got scored on, we still had a comfortable lead that we were able to be confident in ourselves.”

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Bradford Berwick scored 11 points in the first quarter to send Delco Christian cruising to a 69-32 decision over Plumstead Christian Wednesday.

Berwick finished with 13 points. Khamai Orange poured in 28 points, including four 3-pointers for the game and 13 points in the third quarter. Beau Lyren added nine points for the unbeaten Knights (5-0, 2-0 Bicentennial).

Girls Basketball

Abbie McFillin scored a game-high 15 points as Archbishop Carroll started the Catholic League slate with a 54-26 win at West Catholic.

The Patriots (3-2) led 21-5 after a quarter and held a 25-point edge at halftime. McFillin added five rebounds and three assists. Alexis Eberz scored 13 points. Kayla Eberz chipped in six.

In nonleague action:

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