Basketball Previews

Boy Basketball Preview- Philly Inquirer

PLAYERS TO WATCH- Jule Brown, a 6-6 senior forward for Lower Merion and a Penn recruit, helped the Aces to a 23-8 record. Conestoga’s Andrew Diehl is a strong rebounder and defender. The 6-5 senior wing guard averaged 10.7 points. Brett Foster, a 5-10 junior guard for Ridley who earned second-team all-league honors, averaged 15 points and hit 40 treys. Springfield’s Kevin McCormick, a 6-3 senior guard, averaged 11.1 points and drilled 49 threes. Senior wing guard Corey Sherman buried 64 treys last season for Lower Merion. He is headed to Carnegie Mellon.

TEAMS TO WATCH- At Conestoga, Diehl, 6-4 forwards Martin Dorsey and Dan Vila, and guards Daryl Caldwell and James VanDeventer form a solid nucleus. Gregg Downer’s Lower Merion squad is keyed by Brown, Sherman, guard Steve Pendleton, and 6-4 forward Asher Barry. Ridley is paced by Foster, 6-1 forward Ameer Staggs, and 6-foot guard Julian Wing. At Springfield, the Cougars’ bid for a league title is headed by McCormick and 6-3 forwards Jordan Collins (7.1 ppg.) and Quideer Wimes.

FAST FACT Lower Merion, which has captured seven state titles, is 183-54 (.772 winning percentage) over the last eight seasons.

Girls Basketball Preview- Philly Inquirer

PLAYERS TO WATCH- Garnet Valley senior guard Jordan Ireland is a New Jersey Institute of Technology recruit, and her younger sister, Madison Ireland, averaged 11 points last year. For Conestoga, look for 6-2 junior forward Ellie Mack to be a big part of the Pioneers’ offense. She averaged 13 points last season. At Marple Newton, guard Rylee Power is one to watch, as she averaged 19.6 points last season as a junior.

TEAMS TO WATCH- Garnet Valley won the program’s first Central League title last season, going undefeated in league play at 18-0. The Jaguars should be poised for another conference run and hope to qualify for the state tournament for the third straight year. Radnor is the defending District 1 Class AAA champion, and Harriton returns three starters: Olivia Tevis, Sophie Grady, and Christina Mullen.

FAST FACT- The Jaguars didn’t just go through the league undefeated last year, but they did so in dominating fashion, outscoring conference foes by 1,427-579.