PA – Central Athletic League | Archive | February, 2020

NETHER PROVIDENCE — Strath Haven’s Luke Edwards wanted to be more assertive in the second half Wednesday night. The junior guard knew he had to keep shooting and build upon a solid first half in which he scored six points.

But he knew he had to be better to ensure his team’s victory in the opening round of the District 1 Class 5A tournament.

“I just kept on thinking that I have to keep attacking, keep setting plays for the teammates,” Edwards said. “Read and react. I knew I had to get to the basket or to pull up and shoot. Just trying to react and make a play any way I can.”

Edwards made quite a few plays during a third-quarter run that changed the complexion of Haven’s battle with No. 11 Phoenixville. He poured in 10 of his game-high 18 points in the third period to help No. 6 Strath Haven to a 45-40 victory.

“Everyone contributes, it wasn’t just me,” Edwards said. “We look to attack holes. If one guy attacks the hole, and if my guy collapses, we look to kick out and move the ball around. That’s what we do. We’re always trying to make plays for each other.”

Despite Edwards’ 4-for-5 shooting performance in the third quarter, the Panthers weren’t in the clear yet. They led by seven points going into the final stanza, but the Phantoms (13-10) clawed back to make it a one-point game with 3:30 to go.

Strath Haven answered and staved off Phoenixville’s comeback bid.

Junior forward Robbie Guilday, quiet to this point in the second half following a great start to the night, rebounded his own miss and scored a basket to extend Haven’s lead to three. On the Panthers’ next possession, sophomore guard Matt Shuler drained a 3-pointer to increase the lead to six points.

Haven sealed the win at the free-throw line. The Panthers will play nearby rival and third-seeded Penncrest Saturday.

Guilday netted nine of his 11 points in the opening half. He added five rebounds and one assist.

“This was a tough game,” Guilday said. “We planned for No. 1 (Steven Hamilton) and No. 20 (Mike Memmo). (Stevenson) is an extremely athletic kid and (Memmo) is their big guy down low, so we knew we had to clear them off the baseline. Our defense was pretty good.”

Memmo had 16 points and Hamilton tossed in 14 for the Phantoms.

Both teams struggled in the first half, combining to shoot 29.5 percent from the floor.

Click HERE to read the full article.

Strath Haven’s Luke Edwards drives past Phoenixville’s Chris Weiah en route to a basket in the third quarter of a District 1 Class 5A game Wednesday night won by the Panthers 45-40.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

FRANCONIA >> Size matters, but so does composure.

Upper Darby big man Kachi Nzeh made his presence felt in the first half, all but exiling Souderton to the 3-point line after halftime in Friday’s District 1-6A opening round playoff game. The sophomore, playing his first season of high school ball, didn’t let his focus wane even as the Indians all but stopped challenging him down low.

Likewise, his teammates stayed composed, enduring a hot streak from the hosts before putting the game away in the fourth quarter for a 52-40 win Friday night.

“It’s all about keeping your composure, because the game can flip at any time,” Nzeh said. “If just because something else is happening, you switch off your original plan, that’s when everything comes crumbling down. At the end of the day, just keep your head in the game, stay patient and everything will work out.”

The No. 19 seed Royals advance to face No. 3 Cheltenham in Tuesday’s second round while the season ends for No. 14 Souderton.

It’s been a year beset by injuries for the Indians, who lost senior leaders Andrew Vince and Dom Natale in December and essentially had to reshape their identity twice. Neither started on Friday, but Natale and Vince were able to get back on the floor one last time, giving their team a boost of morale.

“They continued to trust each other and believe in each other throughout the entirety of the game just like we have all year long,” Indians coach Tim Brown said. “No matter what we get hit with, we just play the same way and play for each other. It’s pretty typical of what we’ve done all year.”

Upper Darby, which is playing shorthanded due to leading scorer Shareef Jones Jr being sidelined for the postseason, needed a balanced effort. Nzeh, who had a nearly three-inch growth spurt between freshman and sophomore year, was asked to be mainly a defender and rebounder during the regular season, but that wouldn’t be enough for the postseason.

The 6-foot-8 sophomore, who is a standout track athlete in the 400m and has drawn interest from Temple, needed to give a little more and finished with 11 points, 12 rebound and six blocks. His late decision to play basketball this season after not playing as a freshman made his fit into the Royals offense a work in progress since November.

“It’s been a lot of practicing post entry and moving the ball enough to get it inside,” Nzeh said. “When I do get it, I’m working to get it back to them for open shots. I’m 6-8, 6-9, defense isn’t a problem for me, I’m just working to time my jumping and my blocking, even disrupting shots and not having to block them.”

Click HERE to read the full article.

Souderton’s Matt Uhrich (24) and Upper Darby’s Onyekachi Nzeh (23) go up for the opening tipoff Friday night. James Beaver/For MediaNews Group

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

HAVERFORD — Mollie Carpenter provided a big boost for her team in the fourth quarter of a District 1 Class 6A tournament first-round game Friday night.

The freshman forward came up with a steal and scored a pair of baskets to help No. 16 Haverford close out 17th-seeded Unionville, 42-30.

The Fords (16-9) travel to No. 3 Plymouth-Whitemarsh in the second round Wednesday at 7 p.m.

“Mollie is a 6-foot, physical freshman. That’s what she brings for us,” Haverford coach Lauren Pellicane said. “She might be our best rebounder. She sees the basketball real well and she gives us second opportunities with layups. Any time you can get those opportunities it’s a big bonus.”

Carpenter is one of Pellicane’s trusted go-to players off the bench, alongside guard Maddie Williams and forward Hannah Clancy. The trio combined for 12 points, three rebounds and a steal.

Carpenter shined the brightest in the final stanza. She finished with six points, two rebounds and a steal. Williams chipped in by making a clutch 3-pointer in the fourth period.

“Every game I feel like I have to be ready and prepared to come out and play good D and get rebounds,” Carpenter said. “Especially as the year has gone on, I have felt more comfortable with securing (the ball) and going up to score. I have been working on it a lot.”

The Fords defeated the Indians for the second time this month. Haverford used an 11-1, fourth-quarter run to beat the Indians on Feb. 1. On Friday night, they ended the Indians’ season thanks to an 18-5 surge in the final eight minutes.

“We really wanted it tonight,” Carpenter said. “In the beginning of the year, it was almost like we were looked down on by a lot of other teams because nobody really expected us to be good or expected us to be here (in the district playoffs). Coming in tonight, we just knew we had to really step up and come out and play together.”

After graduating five seniors from last year’s crew, they have started three juniors, one senior and freshman. The lone fourth-year member on the team, Katie Redding played outstanding at point guard and hauled in a handful of tough rebounds.

The Fords’ best scoring threat is junior Chiara MacGillivray, who battled through some shooting struggles Friday to lead the team with 12 points. She began the game at the free-throw line due to a technical foul (scorebook violation) that was called on the Unionville bench.

MacGillivray made only two field goals, but was a perfect 8-for-8 at the line.

“I think you could tell at the beginning of the game that we were really jittery, but it was definitely a moment we worked hard for throughout the whole game and we got it done,” MacGillivray said.

Click HERE to read the full article.

Haverford’s Mollie Carpenter and Unionville’s Alexia Brown vie for a loose ball Friday night in the district opener between the teams.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

HAVERFORD — John Seidman sported a nice shiner under Friday night.

Haverford’s playmaking junior was the recipient of an errant poke to the eye in the Fords’ District 1 Class 6A tournament opener with Ridley.

Seidman had to sit out for a minute, but he was no worse for wear. He hurried back to the floor to guide the 13th-seeded Fords to a 34-28 victory over the 20th-seeded Green Raiders. The Fords travel to fourth-seeded Chester in the second round Tuesday.

Take a finger to the eye, John?

“Yeah.”

Wanted to get right back out there, John?

“Yeah.”

Seidman lets his game do most of the talking. He was outstanding, especially in the second half when his defense lifted the Fords out of an early rut. He amassed seven points and a pair of steals during the Fords’ 17-4, second-quarter run.

“Everyone played great,” he said. “We responded really well and we were playing well together and everyone had a big part in the way we played.”

Seidman totaled 12 points, two assists, three steals, three rebounds and one blocked shot.

Cam Farro’s seven points in the first quarter gave Ridley a 7-5 lead after eight minutes. But the Green Raiders were shy to attack the rim or even put up decent shots in the first half. By halftime, the Fords had pulled away, 22-11, and the Green Raiders were left wondering how in the world they attempted only nine field goals.

Of course, much of the credit goes to that stingy Haverford (17-9) defense.

“We have a group of guys that grind you out,” Haverford coach Keith Heinerichs said. “They’ve been grinding people out since Jan. 11. If you look at the total points of each game we’ve had, I think it has to do with what these guys are doing. They’re doing a great job. They’re playing team defense. They’re trailing when they have to, they’re opening up when they’re hedging when they have to, they’re staying in stance and jumping to the ball. All of the little things, and boxing out. Not many second-chance points tonight, either.”

Click HERE to read the full article.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

LOWER MERION — It was just 28 days ago that Haverford retreated to its locker room to face what it hoped would be rock bottom.

The Fords had just been beaten by three points at home by Harriton, a sixth straight setback and eighth loss in 10 outings to overshadow a 4-0 start. More devastating still, those six losses were by a combined 16 points, comprising five overtime sessions, two in a two-point defeat to Penncrest Jan. 9.

Those woes seemed remote as Sean Reynolds and his fellow Fords climbed the ladder at Harriton Tuesday night to snip down the nets. From 2-7 in the league in early January, the Fords are Central League champions for the first time since 1970.

And the resilience it took to traverse that distance, more than anything else about these Fords, is undoubtedly championship caliber.

Tuesday’s was a rare game in which the Fords didn’t have to sweat to the last second, clearing the bench in the final moments of a 49-40 win over No. 3 seed Penncrest.

That makes 10 straight wins for the Fords (16-8), including a clean sweep of the last rotation of 6A teams in the league and a pair of wins over top-seeded Garnet Valley. Beating Penncrest was the final statement of faith in the bond that kept the Fords together when the going got brutally tough.

“We had our coaches on us every day, telling us that we need to stay together, we’ll get through this and we’re going to be a great team,” Reynolds said. “ … We just knew we had to pull through. We knew it was a rough patch in our season. But I think that made us who we were.”

The fourth-seeded Fords are, it turns out, an immensely special group. And if that needed any elucidation, then Tuesday’s boxscore provides it, in which leading scorer John Seidman was limited to 1-for-8 shooting and four points. It mattered not one bit, thanks to the peculiar gravitational force the junior seems to exert, drawing defenders and leaving his teammates unguarded. The bargain of a team-first mentality that dragged Haverford from its depths says that when presented with chances, the Fords have no qualms about taking them.

That was Hunter Kraiza’s role Tuesday. The junior canned three 3-pointers in the second quarter, fashioning a 22-18 edge at the break. He added three makes in the fourth, including consecutive possessions to provide the decisive 8-0 run, turning a 33-30 game into an insurmountable 42-30 bump.

“After I hit my first two 3s, I knew it was going to be one of those nights,” Kraiza said. “I was just feeling my shot and everything.”

In what has become typical Fords fashion, Kraiza was quick to deflect credit. And the recipient was Seidman, who posted team-highs in rebounds (nine) and assists (three).

“It’s amazing having John on the court because everyone’s focused on him,” said Kraiza, who scored 20 points. “He could go off for 25 points and we could win, or he can drop 10 assists and we’ll still win. Everyone’s just attracted to him and he’s a great player to play with.”

Click HERE to read the full article.

Haverford players celebrate winning their first Central League title in 50 years with a 49-40 win over Penncrest Monday night in the championship game. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

LOWER MERION — With red eyes and tears streaming down her face, Ridley High junior Shannen Hinchey gave a big hug to her coach, Roe Falcone.

The 52-40 victory over Springfield for the Central League championship Tuesday night at Harriton was quite an emotional experience for the Green Raiders.

For years, the Green Raiders were no better than a middle-of-the-pack Central League team. They often were overmatched against the league’s elite.

After going 9-13 last season, the Green Raiders are champions. They have earned a first-round bye in the District 1 Class 6A tournament.

They proved again Tuesday that they are for real.

And that explains why Hinchey was so teary-eyed when she was looking for anyone – coaches, teammates, fans, family members – to embrace.

“It’s because we never got the respect that I feel we deserve and now we have finally shown that we are the best team in the Central League,” said Hinchey, who produced nine points, six rebounds and a pair of steals. “Everybody has contributed all year and we practice every day of the week — well, except for Sunday – and we go out and we work our butts off every single day.

“We finally got what we deserve.”

Falcone fought back tears when discussing what this team means to her. If there was a coach of the year award in the Central League, you’re looking at her.

Inducted into the Delco Athletes Hall of Fame in 2010, Falcone was a two-sport star at Ridley High and Dickinson College. She returned to her alma mater last year as an assistant coach and was at the helm of one of the most impressive year-to-year turnarounds in recent memory.

“I knew that this team would be good and, to me, it’s about the hard work and the belief in each other,” Falcone said. “Just getting everyone to believe in each other, because we knew we had the talent. And to be able to stick together, like a true team, and never let a moment get too big … to get that experience, and to see them put in the hard work to get here, that’s what is special to me.”

The Green Raiders matched the Cougars fire with fire in the opening minutes. Hinchey said “there was no way we were losing to Springfield again,” and she was correct.

In their regular season meeting last month, the Cougars showed their championship pedigree by winning in blowout fashion. Ridley was one of Springfield’s 17 consecutive Central League victories.

The Green Raiders didn’t want to have the same experience twice. They came out and balled Tuesday night.

Senior guard Dakota McCaughan, a first-year Green Raider after spending three years starting at Bonner-Prendergast, was amazing. She went toe-to-toe with Springfield sharpshooter Alexa Abbonizio in the first half. McCaughan and Abbonizio each put up 10 points in a wild first quarter.

McCaughan went for 24 points on 9 of 15 shooting. Abbonizio poured in 25 points on 7 of 18 attempts.

“I feel like they were trying to slow it down, especially after that first quarter, and we were trying to speed it back up,” McCaughan said. “We were going back and forth. I think once we started to get in transition and started hitting and running on them, I think that’s when we took off.”

The Green Raiders hit the switch when they fell behind nine points at the start of the third quarter. Abbonizio swished her fifth and final 3-pointer to make it a 31-22 Springfield lead. Springfield made only one more shot from the field the rest of the way.

Ridley went on an 11-0 run, sparked by a Lindsay Boyd 3-pointer. McCaughan hit a step back triple to put Ridley ahead, 33-31. Rachel Conran dialed long distance to give Springfield the lead again, then Hinchey made a sweet low-post move and layup to propel Ridley back in front.

The Green Raiders never relinquished the lead.

Click HERE to read the full article.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

NETHER PROVIDENCE – It wasn’t until the clock hit 1.2 seconds left and Saahir Lee strode to the line that Penncrest coach Mike Doyle unclenched his shoulders and acknowledged the traveling support across the court.

Given the history between Penncrest and Lower Merion, you wouldn’t blame Doyle if he had waited until the bus pulled away from Strath Haven before he started to even consider decompression.

For the first time in 11 meetings, including each of the last four installments of the Central League postseason, the Lions harpooned their white whale with a 56-48 win over the second-seeded Aces.

“All the history, we remember it coming into the game,” Marquis Tomlin said. “But all that goes out the window when you start playing. … After the win, it starts to feel different because you remember all the times you lost to them, all the buzzer-beaters and really big losses.”

The win moves third-seeded Penncrest (19-5) into Tuesday’s final against another upset-artist, No. 4 Haverford (15-8), which downed top-seeded Garnet Valley 36-30 for its ninth straight win. Tipoff at Harriton is at 7:45.

Monday, the Lions used a torrid first half and just enough ice water in their veins late to snap a 10-game losing streak to the Aces, who have beaten Penncrest in the last two Central League finals.

Penncrest started on a 30-8 burst and led by 20 points in the third quarter. When Lower Merion’s run inevitably came, Penncrest did enough at the line, all 14 of its points in the final stanza at the charity stripe.

Tomlin was primarily responsible for the start. He erupted for a game-high 22 points, including 14 in the first half and four 3-pointers. The last, off a Ben Stanton feed in front of the Lower Merion bench, was the one that would lead the postgame highlight package.

“It’s probably one of the best feelings ever,” Lee said of the run. “The best thing to do at that time is keep our head, because we know games like this, especially playing Lower Merion, they can get back in like that. So we all just calmed down, relaxed, because everyone’s going to make a run.”

Penncrest was 6-for-13 from 3-point range, Stanton hitting two triples. And yet, thanks to three missed layups in the second, Lower Merion could feel fortunate retreating to the locker room down just 31-14.

The Aces’ fight back began with Demetrius Lilley. The 6-8 sophomore forward had his way in the post with 16 points and 14 rebounds. But his teammates often left him marooned defensively, and by the time the Aces started feeding him consistently, the deficit was too large to trade baskets.

Click HERE to read the full article.

Penncrest’s Ben Stanton hits a shoot against Lower Merion Monday night at Strath Haven. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group)

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

NEWTOWN SQUARE — Round 3 between Garnet Valley and Haverford High was another knock-down, drag-out fight.

Although in the beginning, it seemed the Fords were on their way to a first-round knockout after shutting out the high-scoring Jags in the first quarter.

Garnet Valley attempted nine shots before Justin Langan swished a 3-pointer from the corner at 22 seconds into the second period.

It was GV’s first basket of the night.

The shooting improved slightly for the Jags, but not enough to conquer the Fords and their tough defense.

Behind guard John Seidman’s 19-point, workmanlike performance, Haverford earned a 36-30 victory in the Central League semifinals Monday at Marple Newtown.

“That’s just the kind of team we are,” Seidman said. ‘We trust our defense all the time.”

Haverford coach Keith Heinerichs called Garnet Valley’s Carl Schaller the best point guard in the Central League. Well, Seidman was better Monday as Schaller was held to nine points on 3 for 9 shooting.

Garnet Valley shot 8 of 43 from the field, including 6 of 30 from 3-point range.

No, it wasn’t a great shooting night for the Jags.

Haverford led 8-0 after one quarter and 20-11 at halftime. Predictably, the Jags came out firing in the third quarter and pulled within one point, 22-21.

They never tied or went ahead.

Click HERE to read the full article.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

Given, a senior captain for the Fords (9-1), is a two-time PIAA state qualifier as the backstroker for Haverford’s boys 200 medley relay.  He helped the 2019 relay earn an eighth-place finish at the PIAA State Championships with a time of 1:34.28, which earned All-American Consideration.  This winter, he is a District 1 automatic qualifier this year for the 50 free and 100 backstroke, and swam Districts Consideration times in the 100 free, 100 fly, and 200 IM.  As of Feb. 9, he ranked second in the Central League in the 100 back and 50 free.  Haverford swimming head coach Matt Stewart said, “Zach has been an excellent leader, and he is one of our hardest workers on the team.”

Fun facts – Zach Givens

Favorite TV show: Psych.

Favorite movie: Avenger: Infinity War.

Favorite athlete: Caeleb Dressel.

Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: Can’t Hold Us (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis).

Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles.

Favorite place to visit: Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda.

Favorite pre-meet meal: Egg and cheese on a bagel.

Family members: parents Jason and Jen, younger brother Kyle, older sister Maggie.

Click HERE to read the full interview.

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)

Lower Merion High School senior Philip Monos received his Pennsylvania all-state and Regional All-American awards at the recent Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches All-State Award Ceremony in Harrisburg.
Monos, who also was named the Central League’s Most Valuable Player, and first team All-Main Line, led the Aces in points, with seven goals and 17 assists and helped Lower Merion (17-0-1 in the regular season) go undefeated in the Central League. The Aces were ranked No. 11 in the country at one point this past year as well made the final eight of the State tournament.
A senior captain for the Aces, Monos will be playing soccer next year at Franklin & Marshall.
Lower Merion head coach Nico Severini said, “Phil was a tremendous leader and exemplified hard work and dedication to the game and to the team. The motto for us is ‘Team Together’ and Phil took this to heart as a captain and leader for the program. This award ceremony was an honor for Phil and the Aces soccer program, and we wish Phil the best of luck in his future academic and athletic career at F & M.”

[!] Flag as Inappropriate

Processing your request, Please wait....

Report as:	Violent or Repulsive Content|Hateful or Abusive Content|Harmful Dangerous Acts|Child Abuse|Spam|Infringes My Rights
Write in Words: (Optional)