Delcohoops.com

By Michael Bullock

Here’s installment No. 4 of City of Basketball Love’s state rankings, a package that will appear on Mondays throughout the remainder of the regular season.

We did showcase a set of preseason rankings leading up to the opening weekend (Dec. 9-10) and those groupings served as a starting point — since we’re going to continue to shuffle things around after each weekly cycle.

Appearing below are all six of our top 10s, with PIAA district and this season’s record displayed in parentheses. Only those schools competing for PIAA state championships are eligible for ranking purposes.

(click on this link for the all six classification rankings)

 

  

By Matthew De George

Colin Daly’s assessment of Archbishop Carroll’s loss Sunday quickly circled back to the Patriots’ defensive effort.

Implicit in his analysis was the decisive impact of the defense provided by Archbishop Wood, and Seth Pinkney in particular, on the other end of the court.

Pinkney swatted away nine shots and deterred countless more, pairing with another stellar all-around day from Collin Gillespie to send Wood to a 76-68 Catholic League win at Holy Family University.

The Gillespie-orchestrated offensive output left Daly with the most regret Sunday.

“We should’ve been better defensively,” said the senior guard, who scored 12 points. “It was a bad effort.”

In part, but it also reflected a tremendous shooting night from a Wood side with a propensity for punishing opponents that allow too many open looks. The Vikings (8-3, 2-1 Catholic) shot 55.1 percent from the field (27-for-49) and a red-hot 15-for-25 in the second half.

Gillespie fueled the attack, accumulating 28 points on 9-for-13 shooting and dishing seven assists. He and Tyree Pickron (16) points were each 4-for-7 from beyond the arc.

With Andrew Funk (12 points) and Matt Cerruti (11 points, all in the second half) knocking down their open shots, the Vikings possessed the necessary scoring punch.

(click on this link for the full article)

 

 

A double-digit deficit didn’t deter Sun Valley Saturday.

Vinny DeAngelo and Marvin Freeman scored 18 points apiece as the Vanguards topped West Chester East, 65-60, in Ches-Mont action.

Freeman knocked down five 3-pointers. Shahir Brown Morris added 13 points, and Dino Karras chipped in 12 for Sun Valley (3-7, 1-4).

In nonleague action:

(click on this link for more game stories and scores)

Penncrest’s Tyler Norwood doesn’t have many off nights.

One of Delaware County’s most prolific scorers was held in check Friday night. With Norwood struggling to bank shots, the Lions needed their ancillary players to step up.

Manny Ruffin and Mike Mallon answered the call and helped Penncrest claim a 49-39 decision over Garnet Valley. Ruffin posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Mallon added 14 points and eight boards.

Norwood still managed to reach double figures with 12 points thanks in part to a 6-for-8 effort from the foul line.

Brandon Starr led Garnet Valley with 13 points.

Elsewhere in the Central League:

(click on this link for more game stories and scores)

 

By Dennis C. Way

Bonner and Prendergast head basketball coach Jack Concannon said he wants his program to be as successful as La Salle’s.

After Friday night’s 56-52 win over the Explorers, the Friars might be there already.

The Friars overcame a halftme deficit, got great guard play from the tandem of Christian Lane and Tymir Cooper and caught La Salle shortly after halftme, then refused to yield the lead.

“I told Joe, before the game, we want our program to be where his is,” Concannon said after Lane’s 15 points and Cooper’s 13 fueled the comeback. “I admire his program, I think he’s the best coach in the Catholic League and I was happy with the way we competed.”

La Salle grabbed a 12-6 lead after one quarter, with all of the scoring coming via the 3-point shot.

The Explorers tried a different tact in the second period, with eight of their 13 points coming from the free-throw line and forged a 25-21 lead at the break.

The Friars, meanwhile, stayed close behind six second-period points from Tymir Cooper and seven from Dovan Rodriguez.

But the second half proved the Explorers’  undoing.

Lane had eight points and Cooper had five as the Friars not only took the lead, they dominated the game.

“I think what you saw was seven seniors (Bonner and Prendie) versus two seniors,” Dempsey said. “The ball stopped moving a little bit, and that’s my fault.”

(click on this link for the full article)