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The motto of tournament play is to survive and advance.

Delco Christian took that mantra literally Friday night.

The Knights survived their worst first quarter of the season, according to head coach Don Davis, to advance to the second round of the PIAA Class A boys basketball tournament with a 45-32 victory over Greenwood at Central Dauphin East High School.

Delco Christian (15-12) scored just three points in the first period, but only trailed, 8-3. The Knights turned up the defensive pressure and forced numerous turnovers to pull away.

Wyatt Harkins scored 14 of his game-high 23 points in the second half, while Jordan Parks and Nazim Trammell-Wells paced the defense. The Knights face Shenandoah Valley, a 70-59 winner District Four champ St. John Neumann.

By Matthew De George

Ridley’s run to the District One semifinals and a third-place result followed from the fourth seed with which they entered the tournament.

The Green Raiders’ opponent in the first round of the PIAA Class AAAA Tournament Saturday is on a different kind of run.

Ridley takes on Wilson, the fourth seed from District 3, in the opener at 3 p.m. at Strath Haven.

The Bulldogs (18-10) entered the District 3 tourney as the 14th seed. They ran roughshod over Northeastern, 78-58, to earn their way into states. That game was powered by 6-foot-3 forward Christian Sload, who scored 37 points.

The Bulldogs’ momentum is tempered by two losses in lackluster performances, downed by District 3 champ Reading in the semifinal, 71-44, and dropping the third-place game, 54-37, to Spring Grove, an affair in which they surrendered the first 21 points.

Webmaster’s note: If you can’t make the game you can listen to it LIVE right here on Delcohoops.com.  Our broadcast will begin at 2:45. Click on the Game-of-the-Week logo on the left hand side of this page.

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By Matthew De George

Delco Christian’s return to the state tournament from the No. 6 seed in District One to its runner-up finish seems a long shot. Their opponent in Friday’s PIAA Class A opener, Greenwood, wound its way to the District 3 final as the No. 10 seed.

The reward for the Wildcats (13-13) is home-district advantage as Delco Christian ventures to Central Dauphin East Friday evening at 7:30.

Both teams, as second seeds from districts, come off losses. The Knights (14-12) marked the 28th win for Phil-Mont Christian in a 58-41 handling in the District One title game.

Greenwood saw its dream run ended by unbeaten York Country Day, 56-44, in the District 3 final. Along the way, Greenwood tipped Millersburg, the team that ended Delco Christian’s season in the second round of states last year. Greenwood’s scoring is top-heavy, led by Noah Wright (11.2 points per game), Seth Ferguson (10.0) and Kevin Sheaffer (7.5).

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By Matthew De George

Academy Park’s DeAndray Covert, left, is ready to assume the challenge of the PIAA Tournament when the Knights tangle with Roman Catholic Saturday. (Digital First Media/Robert J. Gurecki)

It’s been 17 years since Academy Park last qualified for the PIAA Tournament, long enough that a significant portion of its roster wasn’t yet born.

But anyone expecting jitters from the Knights when they take on District 12 champion Roman Catholic in Saturday’s states opener (5:30 p.m., St. Joseph’s Prep) will be sorely disappointed.

The ninth seed from District One faces a daunting challenge against the reigning Class AAAA champs, fresh off a Catholic League title. But what else is new for Academy Park (20-7)?

Consider their road through districts: A two-point first-round victory at Upper Merion; a four-point loss to No. 2 seed and eventual champ Plymouth Whitemarsh; a win at No. 10 Phoenixville in playbacks; a win at No. 3 Downingtown West, a team many had tabbed as a title contender, to get to states; a two-point win over Hatboro-Horsham in a seeding game that propagates the wave of momentum through three straight wins.

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By Matthew De George

Josh Sharkey and his fellow seniors heard the whispers as soon as the school year started.

They knew who was gone from last year’s run to the state championship game. They knew the external observer might think the cupboard comparatively bare.

You may wonder what it takes for a program that has played in two state finals in three years to feel underestimated and disrespected. The departure of three Division I players from Archbishop Carroll, engendering chatter that a plummet in Catholic League standing was imminent, did the trick.

Yet after passing test upon test, the Patriots find themselves in what seems their ordained place: Preparing for the PIAA Tournament.

The Patriots, District 12’s third seed, opens the PIAA Class AAA tourney Friday night against District One champion Holy Ghost Prep. Tipoff at Cheltenham High School is at 7:30.

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