Boys Basketball: Lower Merion rocks Roman

Lower Merion’s JaQuan Johnson and Roman Catholic’s Shep Garner, longtime buddies and Chester natives, texted back and forth in the days leading to Wednesday night’s high-stakes basketball matchup.

“Shep asked me if I was ready for the game,” Johnson said. “And he said that Roman was hungry to bring home a state title. I told him, ‘You’re going to have to get past the defending champs first.’ ”

Thanks to Johnson’s terrific second-half performance, a deliberate offensive attack, and stellar defense, the Aces ousted the Cahillites, 64-52, in a PIAA Class AAAA second-round game at Archbishop Ryan.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Johnson netted 18 of his game-high 20 points after intermission. He was solely responsible for an 11-2 run that put Lower Merion in front by 10 (43-33) with six minutes remaining.

“It was me being a senior, and not wanting it to be my last game,” Johnson said. “My teammates kept finding me in the right spots.”

Johnson shot 7 for 10 from the field (6 for 7 in the second half) and 6 for 8 from the line. The floor general added four rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

“He was fired up, really dynamic,” said Lower Merion coach Gregg Downer, whose squad moved to within three wins of its second consecutive state crown and eighth overall. “He really rose to the occasion.”

Saturday, at a neutral site and time to be determined, the Aces (23-7) will play La Salle (21-6) in the quarterfinals. The Explorers advanced with a 49-43 overtime triumph against District 3’s Cedar Crest.

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