Images

By Rich Flanagan

St. Joe’s Prep has undergone some major changes from last season.

Jalen Harper and Matt Gorman moved on, with Harper choosing to do a prep year at the Newman School (Mass.) and turning his additional season into a commitment to Rhode Island. Gorman committed to Catholic University and the departure of those two left two starting spots in the Hawks rotation. One of those spots was filled by junior Will Lesovitz but the remaining starting slot was still up for grabs.

Enter Mekhi Robertson, one of the premier players in the class of 2027 and a player “looking for a change,” he notes. Robertson brought with him offers from Villanova, Samford, Drexel, High Point, Rider, and Mississippi State after averaging 14.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 4.1 apg with 47 three-pointers on his freshman season at Life Center Academy (N.J.).

(click on this link for the full article)

The Academy of Notre Dame basketball team continued its perfect season late Thursday, cruising to a 61-27 win over Episcopal Academy in Inter-Ac League action.

Maddie DeFronzo led with 13 points, while Riley Davis chipped in 10 for the Irish (15-0, 3-0).

Katie Boerner paced the Churchwomen with 10 points.

In the Del Val League:

Chester 60, Interboro 26 >> Ja’Mya Muhammad collected 18 points, 13 rebounds and seven steals as the Clippers routed the Bucs Thursday. Jordan Dennis added 10 points, Zayanna Vann paired nine points with eight rebounds, and Chloe Knox recorded eight points and 10 boards.

(click on this link for more game stories and scores subscription may be required)

By Matthew DeGeorge

For the better part of three quarters Thursday night, Springfield mostly did what it wanted offensively against an active Ridley zone defense.

In the fourth quarter, with the Green Raiders switching back to man, the Cougars pulled away.

When they’re going well, Springfield can do that to teams, its unselfish ball-sharing and smart shot selection leading to a 65-48 win over Ridley Thursday.

The switch to the zone, after the Cougars (9-3, 5-2 Central) hit their first three looks from 3-point range, didn’t faze Springfield.

“We’ve seen a lot of it this year,” forward TJ Valletti said. “A lot of teams switch to it, and we practice it a lot, so we’re used to it and honestly we enjoy it.”

(click on this link for the full article, subscription may be required)

By Josh Verlin

Penncrest came into this season with high expectations. 

Just past the midway point of the regular season, it’s possible the Lions are surpassing them. 

The only unbeaten boys basketball team left in District 1, Penncrest put its perfect record on the line Thursday night at Central League co-leader Conestoga and passed another test, opening up a double-digit lead in the second quarter and finishing strong for a 62-51 road win. 

There’s a lot of hoops to be played, but there’s no doubt that Mike Doyle’s squad is opening eyes around the area. 

(click on this link for the full article)

By Jeremy Goode

Brandon Williams knows how good his Penn Charter boys basketball team is. Coming off a Inter-Ac championship from last season, Williams returned much of his squad, led by three high-major Division I commits. While it is a talented team with much depth at scoring, it is the Quakers’ defense that truly could be the difference between themselves and their opponents.

Penn Charter’s offensive and defensive talent was on display on Thursday night at the Haverford School, another Inter-Ac team that has realistic goals of winning the league championship this year.  

Williams and his team did not want to hear it, as Penn Charter walked into Haverford’s gym and defeated the Fords, 74-53. 

“I like to call this a social media win,” Williams said. “There were a lot of folks that did not think we were the class of the Inter-Ac and might have had Haverford above us, so I think for the outside looking in, this is a win that does more for them than does for us.”

(click on this link for the full article)

By Owen McCue

Brandon Russellwas a complimentary piece in his first year in Northeast Philly. 

The 6-foot-5 guard, who started his high school career at the Pennington School (N.J.), was deep in the rotation on an Archbishop Ryan team filled with seniors, including a pair of Division I-bound stars.

When Ryan’s season ended in the state semifinals last season, coach Joe Zeglinski let Russell know the Raiders would be his team during his senior campaign in 2024-25.

Facing a 22-point halftime deficit and a potential 0-3 start in the Catholic League on Wednesday night at Archbishop Carroll, the Raiders needed their leader and Russell rose to the occasion.

While he got plenty of help from his teammates, Russell’s 36-point effort paved the way in an 84-79 comeback overtime win Ryan hopes can fuel a run in PCL play.

(click on this link for the full article)

By Matt Smith

Garnet Valley’s Savannah Saunders flashed a modest smile, deflecting attention when asked about her growing confidence as an offensive player after the Jaguars’ win over Springfield Tuesday night.

Saunders, who scored 11 points and confidently knocked down two 3-pointers along with a couple of mid-range jumpers, has been known for her tenacity on defense. As a junior, she anchored the Jaguars’ defense during their run to the PIAA Class 6A semifinals, and offense wasn’t her primary responsibility. But this season, with the team relying on her to contribute more on the offensive end, Saunders has excelled.

When pressed about her improvements, she offered a shy response. “A little bit,” she said, smiling. Her teammate, senior star Haylie Adamski, was more than willing to sing Saunders’ praises.

Adamski, a 1,000-point scorer and one of the most decorated players in program history, who has been a constant focus for opposing defenses since her freshman year, wanted to chime in. So she raised her hand and declared, “I have something to say.”

The floor was hers.

(click on this link for the full article, subscription may be required)

Brynn Kehl scored 13 points with four rebounds and Addi Thomas scored 10 points and picked up three rebounds as Episcopal Academy downed Baldwin School, 46-25.

Maura Irish scored seven points and collected three rebounds, and Ali Dennis and Kate Boerner added five points each.

Agnes Irwin 50, SCHA 32 >> Audrey Comly scored 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds and Simone Harvey scored 13 points and added five boards in the Owls’ Inter-Ac League victory.

Sacred Heart Academy 47, Springfield (Montco) 41 >> Megan Donahue scored 13 points and Dani Jeffries and Keara McCaffrey added 11 each as the Lions celebrated a win.

McCaffrey had 10 rebounds and Grace Brown and Bella Donohue scored six points each.

Boys Basketball

Sun Valley 57, Kennett 47 >> Aaron Freeman scored 20 points and Josh Yannonis added 11 points and seven rebounds in the Vanguards’ victory in the Ches-Mont League.

By Matt Smith

The ceiling seems sky-high for Garnet Valley this season.

A year removed from a surprising postseason run that left them just one win shy of the PIAA Class 6A final, the Jaguars look poised to build on that success Tuesday night.

Senior Haylie Adamski scored 25 points, while fellow senior and defensive ace Savannah Saunders added 11, as the Jags rolled past a rebuilding Springfield squad, 53-21.

Adamski and Saunders did all their scoring in the first three quarters, setting the tone before both teams cleared their benches in the final period.

“I feel like we out-hustled them, got more rebounds and played better defense,” senior point guard Kylie Mulholland said. “It was a good game all around.”

Despite the graduation of standout forward Emily Olsen, the Jaguars have regrouped around a strong senior core led by captains Adamski, Mulholland and Saunders. While the season is still young they’ve shown they’re more than capable of building on last season’s success.

(click on this link for the full article, subscription may be required)

By Josh Verlin

There were no surprises about where Ryann Jennings stood.

Walking into the lobby at Conestoga High School, there was a table set up front with pre-made signs celebrating the Pioneers junior’s impending 1,000th point, as she entered Tuesday night’s game against Radnor just three points from the milestone. 

It took her less than a minute to get there. 

On Conestoga’s second offensive possession, a ball out-of-bounds gave head coach A.J. Thompson the opportunity to draw up a play designed to get Jennings an open look from the corner — and she buried it. 

(click on this link for the full article)