Delcohoops.com

By Matthew De George

There was almost no stopping DaQuan Granberry Tuesday night, until Kevin Reeves found an answer.

Chichester’s Granberry posted a 40-point outing, but Cardinal O’Hara’s Reeves had the last laugh in overtime of the Lions’ 77-72 nonleague boys basketball win.

Reeves scored 16 points, including 10 in overtime, the Lions’ entire output of the extra session. Jaye’Lyn Peebles led O’Hara with 26 points in regulation, and Taseer Jones chipped in 12 for the Lions (1-2).

Ishaad Maultsby and Mike Davie added eight points each for Chichester (1-2).

In other nonleague action:

Strath Haven 43, Upper Darby 37 >> John Harrar was the only player on either team to reach double-figures with 24 points, and the big man added seven boards to keep Strath Haven (3-0, 1-0) spotless on the season. (Webmaster’s note: This was our first Game-of-the-Week and can be heard on our Archives link on the left hand side of the page.)

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By Matthew De George

Jay Fitzgerald had a career day Saturday.

Fitzgerald drained seven 3-pointers on the way to a career-best 24 points to lead Penn Wood to an 85-56 win over West Catholic at the Fred Pickett Classic at Chester High School.

Five of Fitzgerald’s triples and 18 of his 24 points came after halftime as the Patriots ran away with their opener. Kairi Jones added 14 points, Vincent Smalls added 13 points and Pernell Ghee chipped in 11.

Also at the Pickett Classic:

Chester 70, Simon Gratz 64 >> Jamar Sudan and Jordan Camper each produced career days for the Clippers.

Sudan scored a career-high 31 points (just his second ever 20-plus-point game) to go with 10 boards, and Camper set a career best with 17 points plus 10 boards and two blocks. Sudan hit three 3-pointers and went 12-for-13 from the line, including 8-for-8 in providing 10 of Chester’s 14 fourth-quarter points.

Brian Randolph III added eight points, four assists and five rebounds in his first varsity game.

At the McDowell Tip-Off Tournament:

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By Matthew De George

T.J. Tann has spent the last two seasons as an understudy, contributing to successful Delco Christian teams but all the while prepping for his capstone senior season.

Last season, with an explosive scorer like Wyatt Harkins at his side, Tann had the luxury of playing the pass-first point guard roll on a second straight run to the PIAA tournament.

This season, with a considerably younger and less experienced supporting cast, the imperative for Tann has changed. And in his first foray of the 2016-17 season, Tann found the requisite touch that he watched Harkins deploy with aplomb last year.

The 21 points Tann poured in leap off the page in a 61-43 win over The Christian Academy in the 52nd annual Delco Christian Tip-Off Tournament. Despite leading all scorers, Tann’s day constituted a tale of quality over quantity.

With fellow senior scoring option Jordan Parks saddled with first-half foul trouble, Tann took the reins with 13 points at the break. And any time TCA snuck into the game, Tann provided a prompt and savage response.

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Justin Gans scored 24 points as Bonner & Prendergast opened its season with a 79-75 victory at Malvern Prep Friday night.

Ajiri Johnson and Dylan Higgins each registered a double-double for the Friars, who led at halftime, 43-28. Johnson finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Higgins registered 18 points and 10 boards. Tymir Cooper (10 points) also scored in double figures for Bonner.

In other nonleague action:

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By Neil Geoghegan

 It was a season-opening high school hoops matchup pitting two teams that want to push the pace. But on Friday at the Unionville Tip-Off Tournament, the Garnet Valley boys were able to do that much more effectively than Kennett, and the Jaguars ran off with a 75-52 victory.

“We aren’t very big, so we like to run,” Garnet Valley coach Mike Brown said. “Half-court offense just doesn’t suit us.”

In all, the Jags forced 19 turnovers, and then it was off to the races. It meant that Garnet Valley simply had more transition opportunities, and with junior guard Austin Laughlin leading the way, Kennett was never going to be able to keep up.

“Our turnovers led to more than 20 points for (Garnet Valley),” Kennett coach Brian Grashof said. “That just killed us. And when we made those mistakes, we just didn’t get back on defense.”

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By Matthew De George

Strath Haven’s 19-win season in 2015-16 ranked as one of the surprises in District 1.

But as John Harrar surveyed the gym this week, he couldn’t help but notice that much of the depth that furnished that special season has moved on.

Where scoring balance was the Panthers’ hallmark last year, Harrar finds himself as the focal point this year, the 6-foot-8 senior accompanied by just one returnee who played more than 12 games last year.

“We’re just trying to get people varsity experience, because we have some people who didn’t even get in last year (that are) starting” this year, Harrar said. “Once we pick that up, we’ll be fine.”

Harrar anticipated changes, with the matriculation of three starting seniors. Point guard Jahmeir Springfield’s transfer to Chester was an unexpected wrinkle.

Though young talent waits in the wings, acclimating them to the rigors of varsity ball requires time.

Harrar understands his task on and off the court. Last year, he served as a support scorer, one of several options in the post as the Panthers efficiently operated inside-out. With less proven shooters than Alex Ischiropoulos and Jayvon Green-Springfield, the spotlight is on Harrar to provide a larger share of the offense.

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