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By Jason Guarente 

If Micah Shrewsberry has his way, John Harrar won’t ever leave Penn State. The Strath Haven grad’s name will sneak into future conversations. His highlights will provide inspiration.

That’s the plan for the first-year coach. Shrewsberry has found an example he wants the next generation of recruits to emulate. He sees Harrar as a legacy player.

“He’ll never be forgotten around here,” Shrewsberry said. “I’ll make sure of that. Because of what he does, what he represents. He’s a Penn State guy. He is blue collar. He is hard hat. That’s the kind of style we want to play.”

One of Shrewsberry’s vital tasks when he left as a Purdue assistant and accepted the first seat on Penn State’s bench was convincing Harrar to stay.

(click on this link for the full story)

By Bob Grotz

The last time Marvin Dukes threw in as coach of the Chester High girls basketball team, he was greeted with a Gatorade bath celebrating the program’s fifth Del Val League title in six seasons.

That was 13 years ago, although Dukes stayed on the job through the 2014-15 season. This year the Clippers are 2-7, the latest setback a 59-28 nonleague decision Monday night to West Chester East, which also is in a rebuilding mode, just a little more advanced.

Dukes had a long talk with his team after the game, one in which he reminded the girls they had a league game Tuesday with Chichester.

“They’re too young to remember me coaching before,” Dukes, a behavioral specialist in the Chester-Upland School District, said of his players. “They know me as Mr. Dukes in the building. But they’re getting to know me just like I’m learning what they can do on the floor. We are going to be consistent with what we’re teaching and driving home, and it’s just starting to come around. Today wasn’t their day. I’m OK with that. It’s a young basketball team. We’re going to be up one day and down the next. No excuses. No excuses at all. We come in every day looking to work hard with these young ladies. I know they’re buying in.”

(click on this link for the full story)

The sophomore class came to play at Strath Haven Monday.

Penncrest sophs Bailey Garrison and Emily Huggins each scored a game-high 13 points to lead the Lions to a 47-46 Central League victory over the host Panthers.

Kathryn Harding, another second-year player, added 11 points for Penncrest.

Strath Haven was led by sophomore Laura Shea, who racked up 12 points, 11 rebounds and five steals.

In other Central League games:

HAVERFORD 52, UPPER DARBY 22 » The Fords used a 21-5 run in the second quarter to pull away from the rival Royals.

Caroline Dotsey produced 20 points and Rian Dotsey added 10. Sky Newman had six points for the Fords, who shot 10-for-14 at the foul line.

Kareemah McCafferty led the Royals with eight points.

GARNET VALLEY 56, LOWER MERION 32 » Haylie Adamski filled up the stat sheet. The freshman Jag compiled 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Emily Olsen posted a double- double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Carly DiSabatini chipped in nine points, four boards, four assists and three steals for GV.

In nonleague action:

SUN VALLEY 59, POTTSTOWN 42 » Melana Timmes and Jaina Preuhs both notched double-doubles as the Vanguards picked up their sixth win of the season. Timmes put up 15 points and 18 rebounds, while Preuhs went for 18 points and 10 rebounds. Aliceia Whitfield contributed eight points, seven assists and three steals for the Vanguards, who led 38-10 at halftime. Olivia Hoy totaled eight points, six assists and a pair of steals.

SPRINGFIELD 45, BISHOP SHANAHAN 38 » Kaitlyn Kearney banked three of her four 3-pointers during a third quarter in which the Cougars outscored the Eagles, 17-10. Kearney led all scorers with 16 points.

Mia Valerio had 13 points and five assists for the Cougars. Grace Ellis scored all seven of her points in the fourth quarter and Anabel Kreydt grabbed 10 rebounds.

Delco Christian’s Josh Parks shifted gears and ran all over Interboro Monday.

The senior guard poured in 27 points and shot 14for-17 from the free-throw line as the visiting Knights earned a 66-57 win.

Khamai Orange tossed in 11 points and Jace Kees added nine for the Knights, who went 24-for-33 from the charity stripe.

Zakee Brooks scored 21 points and Gavin Walls finished with 18 for Interboro.

In other nonleague games:

SUN VALLEY 47, HARRITON 42 » The Vanguards jumped out to a 17-5 lead after eight minutes and outscored the Rams, 16-5, in the final period. Chris Kwaidah netted a game-high 16 points for SV. Evan Richardson (12 points) and Todd Harper (10) also ended in double figures.

In the Central League:

HAVERFORD 58, UPPER DARBY 50 » The Fords held off the Royals despite a sensational performance by Nadir Myers, who scored a gamehigh 29 points in the loss.

Haverford leaned on offensive contributions from several players. JR Newman led three in double figures with 16 points. Nick Colucci managed 13 points and Googie Seidman had 10.

By Matt Smith

When Marple Newtown’s Haley Levy underwent back surgery last March, she wasn’t sure if she would be in tip-top shape in time for her senior season.

One of the top scorers in the Central League since her sophomore year, Levy did know she had months of hard work in front of her.

“It was a long recovery,” she said recently. “But over the summer I started running. Started slow, but then in the fall I played field hockey so I could get in shape for basketball. … I was really excited to get back for this season.”

Her back flared up in the Tigers’ season opener at Episcopal Academy, causing her to exit the game early, but overall Levy has been extremely effective for a team with goals of winning Central League and District 1 Class 5A titles. She is second on the team with 11.5 points per game, behind only senior guard Nikki Mostardi, who is averaging 12.1 points.

Levy, Mostardi and junior Brooke Impriano (9.5 ppg) have offered consistent production on the offensive end. Mary O’Brien, a junior and three-year varsity player, has also excelled in coach Ryan Wolski’s lineup. Ellie DiBona has stepped up as well.

(click on this link for the full story and more team stories)

Saahir Lee put on a good show Sunday.

The Penncrest point guard produced 29 points, collected five rebounds and added five assists in leading the Lions’ boys basketball team to a 63-56 shellacking of rival Strath Haven Sunday.

Ben Stanton had a solid all-around game with 12 points, five rebounds and three rebounds for the Lions. Brandon Hemphill chipped in nine points and Quinten Perilli dominated the glass with 15 rebounds.

Jaden Jauregui paced the Panthers with 16 points.