Delcohoops.com

By Matt Smith

The big game atmosphere didn’t faze Haylie Adamski. Not in the least.

Garnet Valley’s freshman sensation came ready to dominate in the Central League final Monday.

The 5-11 Adamski was simply unstoppable Monday night before a packed crowd at Ridley High.

Adamski went off for a game-high 22 points as the Jaguars routed Marple Newtown, 39-27. It’s the program’s sixth Central League title in eight years.

After two up-and-down seasons, the Jags have won 14 of their last 17 games after a 4-4 start. Who knows where they would be without their budding star, Adamski, who shot 5-for-8 from beyond the arc and had 11 points after the first quarter.

“I had to stay composed because I knew that the other team’s crowd (student section) was going insane and they were really loud,” Adamski said. “Our crowd helped us and our bench has been the best that it’s ever been. My teammates really helped me throughout the game.”

(click on this link for the full story)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

By Joseph Santoliquito

The chants from the behind the Garnet Valley bench grew louder and louder, “She’s a freshman,” reminding the rest of the Ridley gym that what they were seeing was going to be happening for a few years more.

A few months ago, Haylie Adamski was not as assured where her shot was going each time the ball left her fingertips. On Monday night, the 5-foot-11 Garnet Valley freshman knew where it would go—translating into a game-high 21 points in leading the Jaguars to their sixth Central League girls’ basketball title in the last eight years with a dominant 39-27 victory over Marple Newtown.

The Jaguars (18-7) have now won Central League titles in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019—when they won the District 1 Class 6A championship and finished as state runner-up—and now 2021.

(click on this link for the full story)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

By Matthew DeGeorge

It’s been awhile since Radnor defeated Lower Merion in basketball.

The best guess right now according to modern historians is roughly 1984. That’s at least a lifetime and change ago for the current Raptor players, although the way they battled Monday, that’s certainly subject to change.

Two minutes into the third quarter of the Central League championship game between the teams at Ridley High, right around the time the concession stand was low on hot dogs, pizza and the latest rage, walking tacos, the Raptors scored eight straight points to erase what had been a 12-point deficit late in the first half.

Though it was still a one-point game early in the final frame, the Raptors couldn’t keep up, the Aces working hard for a 59-49 victory and yet another Central League title thanks largely to 6-10 senior Demetrius Lilley, who scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including thundering back-to-back dunks.

(click on this link for the full story)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

By Matthew DeGeorge

The change in numbers felt right for Demetrius Lilley. He had come to love No. 35, chosen in part because it was one of the few in the Lower Merion storage closet that would fit his 6-10 frame. But when principal Sean Hughes died in a car accident in November, and a grieving Lower Merion community sought ways to memorialize their beloved principal, Lilley knew how he wanted to do that.

Instead of 35, the Penn State commit would don No. 14, for the 14 years that Hughes spent as principal, an on-court counterpoint to the “Hughes 14” warmups shirts and the shirseys coaches would sport on the sidelines.

Another change in number beckoned for Lilley Monday night, for a much less profound reason. But the sense of purpose behind his performance remained unflinching.

Wearing No. 25, the Aces blood jersey after a first-half cut on his wrist, Lilley scored 20 points and 17 rebounds, hauling top-seeded Lower Merion to a 59-49 win over a game Radnor in the Central League final at Ridley High School.

(click on this link for the full story)

Webmaster’s note: Listen to our interview with Lilley at the end of Lower Merion’s victory. Listen on our archive below at the 1:31:10 mark.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

By Ty Daubert

Lower Merion’s Demetrius Lilley is back at full strength.

Hampered by back issues that cost him the first four games of the season, the 6-foot-9 center feels like he’s at his best once again when it matters most for the Aces. Vying for the Central League title on Monday night, Lilley appeared just fine physically as he slammed home back-to-back dunks to help Lower Merion pull away late in the game.

“My back feels amazing right now,” Lilley said. “That’s why I can get back to my teammates and help them win.”

Lilley’s pair of emphatic dunks capped a 10-point fourth quarter for the senior as he led the Aces to a 59-49 victory over Radnor in the league championship game at Ridley High School.

“It feels amazing,” Lilley said. “Any way I can help my team win, I can bring to the table. I guess those two dunks were the spark to the fourth quarter.”

(click on this link for the full story)

Webmaster’s Note: Listen to our interview with Lilley at the 1:31:10 mark on the archive below.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

By Matt Smith

Garnet Valley’s path to the Central League championship game was not predictable and there were many speed bumps along the way. Such is the case with a young team.

The Jaguars have been rebuilding ever since the final buzzer sounded in the 2019 PIAA Class 6A final at Hershey’s Giant Center. The loss in the state title game marked the end of an incredible era that included multiple league titles and a District 1 championship.

Ava Possenti was a bench player on that 2018-19 team, so she understands what it’s like to be a freshman on a veteran-laden squad. The combo guard is now a third-year starter and co-captain, a leader and mentor for the underclassmen.

“It’s definitely been awesome to be a part of a young team,” said Possenti, who has recruiting interest from Coastal Carolina. “I could tell at the beginning of this season that this team is completely different. This team is amazing. We’ve definitely built so much chemistry throughout the year and you could see that with the past couple of games. We’ve finally been playing like a team.”

(click on this link for the full story)

Webmaster’s note: Both the Girls and Boys Central League Championship game will be audio broadcast LIVE right here on Delcohoops.com!