Delcohoops.com

By Matt Smith

Jameer Nelson Jr. got off to a blazing start, scoring half of his 16 points in a game-opening 25-11 spurt, and even though Haverford School cooled off considerably, the Fords had enough cushion to hold off Central Bucks South, 63-57, Thursday in the Athletes Helping Athletes showcase at Council Rock North.

Kharon Randolph and Christian Ray added 14 points apiece for Haverford School (9-1), which sank five shots from beyond the arc in the opening eight minutes, but never made another trey on the night.

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By Jeff Griffith

Abington seemed as though it had everything in control.

The Ghosts opened up a hot start in the first quarter, and by the middle of the second frame, they were at a 24-9 advantage.

For the next 15 minutes or so, that’s basically how the score looked; Abington by double digits, coasting to a victory.

Then suddenly, with just under 30 seconds to play, the numbers on the scoreboard were separated by one, moments after Chester’s Ahrod Carter drilled a wing three.

Although the comeback that had just ensued may have taken them by surprise – just as it likely did everyone in attendance – Abington didn’t appear phased

“Good teams make runs, and that’s what I told our guys, that they were going ot make a run, we knew they were going to make a run,” Abington head coach Charles Grasty said. “We just wanted to try to sustain it, we didn’t want it to be as big as it was, but we knew they would make a run.”

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By Matthew De George

A season ago, Jaye’Lyn Peebles was likely to be the name jumping off the page of a Cardinal O’Hara boxscore, with his propensity for offensive outbursts. Just as often, though, that game would go down as an O’Hara setback.

This season, under new coach Jason Harrigan, Peebles’ role is similar. But individually and collectively, the Lions have developed a new degree of consistency, which showed through in Wednesday’s 60-41 win over Interboro in the consolation game of the Ridley Holiday Tournament.

Peebles, who didn’t start by coach’s decision, poured in his obligatory 17 points, his eighth straight double-figure game to begin the season. But needing just 12 field-goal attempts, Peebles managed to produce his points within the framework of a balanced and productive O’Hara offense, his personal rising tide lifting all the O’Hara boats.

Through eight games, Peebles’ scoring average has risen from last year’s mark at 18.8 points per game. He finished the 2015-16 season pouring in 15.5 points per contest, and stood at an even 17 by the end of last year’s holiday tournament, for a 4-5 O’Hara team that lost 11 of its last 13. Peebles is also accounting for a larger share of points (38.3 percent of O’Hara’s scoring as opposed to 37.4 a season ago).

But he’s doing so while more efficiently integrating those around him. Last season, only three Lions averaged greater than three points per game; this year, there are five. And Wednesday, all 10 Lions who saw the court scored, with eight recording field goals.

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By Matt De George

It took Derik Harrison until Academy Park’s fourth game of the season to get a chance to shine.
Wednesday, he made a convincing case for more minutes.

Harrison scored 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter as Academy Park roared back to top Pope John Paul II, 58-49, in the Steve Juenger Tournament at Haverford High School.

Shermik Lofton added 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Nick Simmons drained three 3-pointers to tally 10 points for the Knights (2-2), who take on the hosts in Thursday’s title game.

Also at the Juenger Tournament:

Haverford 44, Collegium Charter 32 >> Dan Roe scored a season-high 18 points and Trey Blair added 11 as the Fords (1-6) got their first win of the season with a season-best point total. They advance to the final against Academy Park Thursday.

At the Penncrest Holiday Tournament:

Penncrest 52, Olney Charter 46 >> Tyler Norwood exploded for 38 points, including 15-for-17 from the line, in accounting for 21 of the Lions’ 23 fourth-quarter points.

The win extends Penncrest’s win streak to six games. The Lions (6-2) take on West Chester Henderson, a 63-53 winner over String Theory, in Thursday’s title game at 7:30 p.m.

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By Matt De George

Damir Fleming scored 13 points as Ridley spread the scoring in a 47-15 win over Interboro at the Ridley Holiday Tournament.

Jimmy Bramwell added seven points and six rebounds. Mike McMenamin and Jamai Bean dished four assists apiece as the Green Raiders (4-2) advance to Wednesday’s title game against South Philadelphia, which defeated Cardinal O’Hara. Details were not reported.

Interboro’s Albert Pewa did all he could for the Bucs (0-7), scoring every last one of their 15 points. They get O’Hara Wednesday.

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By Matthew De George

With a grim countenance, Conner Delaney counted the errors that stood between Episcopal Academy and a win over Archbishop Ryan Tuesday.

Turnovers, missed free throws, rash shot selection — Delaney pointed to all as contributing to Ryan’s come-from-behind, 44-43 nonleague win.

But with respect to the astute point guard and Johns Hopkins commit, the difference was much simpler, though one Delaney resisted summoning: Where EA lacked its Division I talent, two-time All-Delco forward Nick Alikakos, Ryan enjoyed its team-carrying star in full flight, eventually.

Izaiah Brockington scored 11 of his 15 points in the final frame, orchestrating Ryan’s recovery from an 11-point deficit after three quarters. His jumper with 67 seconds left set the final margin, Ryan’s first lead since 4-2.

“I just felt that if I didn’t step up, we were going to have a tough time or we were going to lose,” Brockington said. “… We were down by double-digits, and I knew if I didn’t step up for my team, we would lose.”

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