PA – Central Athletic League | Archive | February, 2024

UPPER DUBLIN — Kylie Mulholland connected on a go-ahead 3-pointer while Haylie Adamski went 4-for-4 from the foul line in the final
minute as seventh-seeded Garnet Valley held on to edge No. 3 Upper Dublin 50-46 in their District 1 Class 6A fifth-place playback game Wednesday night.

Adamski scored 13 of her game-high 19 points after halftime while Mulholland collected 11 of her 17 points before the break as the
Jaguars (22-5) advance to visit No. 4 Haverford — a 53-42 winner over No. 8 Central Bucks East — in the fifth place game Friday.

Emily Olsen added 10 points, half coming in a personal 5-0 run that pulled GV even 40-40 with 6:38 remaining in the fourth.

Two Tamia Clark free throws at 6:14 put Upper Dublin (24-4) up 42-40 before an Adamski basket inside in a crowd knotted things again.
Bridget DiMartile collected a blocked shot and drove in for two for a 44-42 UD advantage but Mulholland buried a three from the top of the arc, giving the Jags a 45-44 lead.

The Cardinals had two possessions trailing by a point but each time were called for traveling — the second time with 1:26 remaining.

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Garnet Valley’s Haylie Adamski, center in this game Marple Newtown, hit free throws down the stretch of a playback game win Wednesday night over Upper Dublin. (Pete Bannan – MediaNews Group)

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HAVERFORD – When Tess Durfee is called into action, she makes every second count.

As Haverford’s unsung hero, the senior is the embodiment of what is known in basketball parlance as “the sixth man.” Few players in District 1 have done it better than Durfee this season.

If there’s a rebound to be grabbed, Durfee attacks it with ferocity. If there’s a loose ball to be covered, rest assured Durfee will dive on the floor, throwing caution to the wind. She is an excellent passer and rebounder but her hallmark attribute is lockdown defense. And if needed to score every now and then, she’ll oblige.

Indeed, Durfee does many things that do not appear in a basketball scorebook. She brings energy, oftentimes arousing the loudest cheers with her positive play at critical junctures during the Fords’ home playoff games. Durfee was a difference maker again Wednesday, helping Haverford to a 53-42 victory over Central Bucks East in a District 1 Class 6A playback.

Durfee faceguarded C.B. East sniper Anna Barry, who seemed to have her way when Durfee was not on the floor. Barry accounted for four of the Patriots’ 11 3-point shots and finished with 18 points.

“I knew that I had to stay with her because of how well she can shoot,” Durfee said. “I had to focus on my defense and just staying with her. That’s probably the most important thing.”

Durfee provided a big boost in the fourth quarter when the Fords’ lead was slipping away. Rian Dotsey was the finisher on the offensive end, converting a pair of three-point plays after C.B. East trimmed its deficit to 44-42 with two minutes to go. The junior forward Dotsey led the way with 20 points.

But the Fords may have lost what had been a 15-point cushion had Durfee not been in the game during the last stretch run. She used her head, quite literally, in the final moments when a pass by a Patriots player clanked off her dome, enabling Haverford to get a key steal.

“Tess is that spark off the bench that we need all the time,” senior guard Aniya Eberhart said. “She comes in and hustles on the floor and dives for balls and gets on the other team’s best players. It’s really helpful to have somebody like that to get the spark going if we fall into a slump.”

Durfee has come a long way with the program. She was a freshman during the pandemic shortened 2021 season, then missed the entirety of her sophomore year due to injury. As a junior she spent the majority of her time on the JV squad and saw very limited action on the big club.

But there were jobs to be won this season. The Fords graduated three starters – Caroline Dotsey, Mollie Carpenter and Sky Newman – from the 2022-23 team that made school history and played for a District 1 championship. Durfee was more motivated than ever to prove that she belonged. And didn’t care if that meant taking a spot in the starting five or being the first person off the bench.

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Haverford’s (13) Tess Durfee looks to pass during the Central League championship game Feb. 15. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)

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HAVERFORD TWP. — The Skatium rocked, rattled and rolled with goals, checks, and end to end action Wednesday when top seeded Garnet Valley battled with fifth seed Springfield in the semifinal round of the boys ICSHL Central playoffs.

When all was said and done, Springfield exited with a 4-3 upset on a third-period goal by Baden Barber. The tenacious play of Cougars goalie Matthew Rizzi, who made six of his 21 saves in the final frame and the all-around grit of the Cougars totally suited the Rocky music blaring over the speakers at game’s end.

“Exciting, to say the least,” Cougars coach Dan Dilbeck said. “We kind of had a roller coaster of a season. About a month ago we kind of brought the team together and they started to believe in one another. They put the hard work in, and this was just a culmination of everything they’ve worked for throughout the season. We’ve been down before. We spotted (the Jaguars) a 2-0 lead, but we were able to come back. They just never got down on one another. They never got down on themselves. They just continued to believe.”

The Central championship is Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Skatium against the winner of the semifinal between Haverford (3rd seed) and defending league champion Penncrest (5th). That game was played late Wednesday.

After an emotional couple of periods ended with the teams tied at 3, it looked there would be overtime. The Jaguars had some solid chances but couldn’t beat Rizzi. Each time he made a save in the final frame a vocal crowd of Cougars fans chanted “Matthew … Rizzi.”

“To see where he came from last year to where he is this year,” Dilbeck said, shaking his head. “He’s fantastic. He’s our brick wall back there.”

The Cougars (12-8-0) struggled slightly in the first period against a Jaguars squad that was every bit as hungry to win a Central League title.

The Jaguars got started with 8:28 left in the first period when Nick Skiadas deposited a feed from behind the through a pile of bodies and Razzi. Lathan Hutchinson and Jake Robinson got the assists.

The Garnet Valley lead became 2-0 just 95 seconds later when Nolan Stott found the back of the net, Jake Robinson and Kaden Longo assisting.

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Springfield Cougars celebrate 4-3 win over Garnet Valley Wednesday in ICSHL Central League semis at the Skatium.

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HATBORO — Ridley High junior Curtis Nelson had a tough time deciding which meant more … his third straight District 1 Class 3A wrestling championship, the Green Raiders’ team championship or his 100th career victory.

All of it occurred in one fell swoop when Nelson, the reigning Daily Times wrestler of the year, pinned Micah Lozano of Haverford in 3:35 at 114 pounds to spark the Green Raiders to a team title in the District 1 Class 3A South Region at Hatboro-Horsham High School. Five Ridley wrestlers are going to the regions next weekend, as are 19 others from Delco schools.

Nelson found it slightly cosmic that his first varsity victory also was against Lozano, a friend as well as a foe. Lozano also earned a spot in regions. Nelson pinned Lanier Gloster of Academy Park and Mustafa Khan of Upper Darby to stand atop the podium.

“I was pretty nervous coming into the tournament,” said Nelson, who had some cramps leading up to districts. “I wanted to get that No. 1 seed at regionals, so I had to win it here. My first match, I took it pretty fast, and I got my body right to go into the semifinals. That was a tough match, but I managed to get the guy from Upper Darby on his back. And then my coach told me we needed a pin for the team. So, I turned (the intensity) up some more.”

At 118 pounds, Cole McFarland of Haverford earned his second straight district championship. He won by fall in his first match and hung on for a 5-3 win over Ryan Allgeier of Hatboro-Horsham to reach the semis. McFarland defeated Tatum Dailey of Lower Merion, 2-1, in the championship round.

“That’s not how I usually look, I’ll say that,” McFarland said of a match that was at a standstill until he burst to his feet and took down his opponent. “I didn’t want to force anything or get into any bad positions. I kind of had to start something there and I came out on top.”

At 139 pounds, Chris Nesbitt of Ridley won his first district championship as he pinned Nathan O’Donnell of Upper Darby in 1:01. O’Donnell also is headed to regions. Nesbitt won two matches by fall to reach the final, pinning Caymin Grier of Springfield in his first match.

“I’m not normally one to celebrate but that was like the best feeling in the world,” Nesbitt said. “I mean, he beat me before, he’s a good wrestler and I just went out and got it.”

At 189 pounds, Michael Spielman of Strath Haven won two matches by fall to reach the final against Franco Latorre of Interboro. A freshman, Latorre pinned Luke Palladino of Ridley in 2:28 and Qadir Hayward of Cheltenham in 3:11 to meet Spielman in the final. Spielman prevailed, 6-2. He and Palladino are headed to regions in Oxford.

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Ridley’s Curtis Nelson, seen last year scoring a reversal against Wilson West Lawn’s McKaden Speece in a first-round win at 107 pounds at the PIAA Class 3A wrestling championships. Nelson is on his way again this year after a standout performance at districts Saturday. (Nate Heckenberger/For MediaNews Group)

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The junior runner finished first in the 400 meter race at the Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association (PTFCA) Indoor State Championship Feb. 25 at Penn State University, posting a state meet record time of 47.41. On Feb. 10, Lloyd won the 200 meter run (22.48) and 400 meter race (48.88) at the PTFCA Carnival, then six days later took home the gold in both the 200 (21.82) and 400 (48.34) at the Garden State Invitational. He is currently ranked in the top five in the state in the 200. Lloyd is a three-sport athlete at Harriton, competing in football, indoor track and spring track.

Fun facts – Ade Lloyd

Favorite movie: Menace 2 Society.

Favorite athlete: Wilt Chamberlain.

Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: In Control, by NBA Youngboy.

Favorite team: Boston Celtics.

Favorite place to visit: New York.

Favorite pre-meet meal: Hormel chili.

Person you most admire, and why: Noah Lyles.

Favorite course at Harriton: History.

Click HERE to read the full interview.

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The junior finished strongly at the PIAA District 1 3A Diving Championships, placing third, and qualified for the PIAA 3A state championship for the second year in a row. Lower Merion diving head coach Carol Gibbone said, “Chloe is a tenacious competitor with an impressive ‘die hard’ attitude. She works hard on her ‘one dive at a time’ strategy and focus when performing in meets. Chloe never gives up, which is a great asset, especially when competing in postseason events. Chloe is truly a pleasure to coach.” Out of the pool at Lower Merion, Morton is an active member of Buildon, a volunteer program, and she creates graphics for the school newspaper, the Merionite.

Fun facts – Chloe Morton

Favorite TV show: Daisy Jones and the Six.

Favorite movie: Knives Out.

Favorite athlete: Brittany O’Brien.

Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: Consideration By Rhiana ft SZA.

Favorite team: “My first club team at Germantown Academy, Dive Club, in 2022-2023.”

Favorite place to visit: Whistler, Canada.

Favorite pre-meet meal: Granola.

Person I most admire, and why: “I admire my stepmom Mindi. She has always supported me throughout everything and has given me so many opportunities either for jobs, internships, school and diving.”

Family members: parents Thomas Morton and Thuy Tran, stepmother Mindi Miller, dog Sammi.

Click HERE to read the full interview.

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CONCORD — It wasn’t the start Garnet Valley hoped for Wednesday but you had to appeciate the finish.

Kylie Mulholland scored 13 points and the Adamski sisters, Halie, Kylie and Addison combined for 22 points to lift the Jaguars to a 60-31 win over West Chester Henderson and a berth in the quarterfinal round of the District 1 Class 6A basketball playoffs.

The Jaguars (21-4) oppose – stop me if you’ve heard this – Conestoga in the quarterfinals. The second-seeded Pioneers leveled Council Rock South and will host the Saturday game.

The Warriors (21-6), who got 18 points from senior Reese Hunter, are in the playback round Saturday where they will host Council Rock South.

The Jaguars sputtered in the first quarter as they pushed the ball up the floor but missed shots and turned the ball over. But they took control with a big second quarter and led by as many as 20 points in the second half.

“We haven’t played in 11 days because we got knocked out in the second round of our Central League playoffs,” Haylie Adamski said. “That was a tough loss for us. We knew this was going to be rough because Henderson is a good team and they have good players and they hustle. Conestoga? We have to try to make it 2-2. Play together and play smart.”

The big second and third quarters by Garnet Valley Wednesday were largely due to balanced play and the chemistry of the Adamskis, who all found themselves on the floor for stretches of the game. Haylie led the Adamskis with 10 points, Kylie chipped in eight and idential twin Addison added four points.

Haylie, a junior, sees more than teammates when she looks out on the floor, the familiarity with her freshmen siblings honed during shootaround sessions on the family driveway. Two baskets, not one.

“We’re very similar players, obviously,” said Haylie Adamski, a junior. “I’m older, so I’m more experienced on the high school level and I’ve helped them, but they’re doing great. It’s really amazing playing with them. I love it. I see them as my sisters but it’s just like a regular basketball team. We have a special connection because we’re related but we’re playing because we love the sport.”

The Warriors led 5-3 in the first quarter when Kylie Mulholland buried the first of four first-half threes.

Click HERE to read the full article.

From left, Kylie, Haylie and Addison Adamski of Garnet Valley were too much for West Chester Henderson Wednesday night.

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HAVERFORD — Rian Dotsey’s excellent first quarter was exactly what No. 4 Haverford needed in Wednesday’s District 1 Class 6A second-round game.

Dotsey scored 15 points in an amazing opening stanza. The junior forward finished with a career-high 27 points as the Fords cruised to a 54-30 win over 13th-seeded Abington.

“It felt good to start off strong,” said Dotsey, who shot 6-for-8 from the field in the first quarter, including 3-for-3 from 3-point distance. “That carried me throughout the game, so that was good. I felt like I was able to be versatile and play on the outside as well as inside the paint. And hopefully open things up for my teammates.”

Haverford clinched a berth in next month’s PIAA tournament. It’s the third year in a row the Fords have qualified for the state playoffs. They host No. 5 North Penn in the district quarterfinals Saturday at 2:30.

Dotsey had help from senior forward Natalie Wright, who provided six points in Haverford’s 21-10 run in the first quarter.

Haverford had a substantial height advantage over the Galloping Ghosts (19-7). Wright ended 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Dotsey added 12 rebounds and two blocked shots. The Fords’ bigs imposed their will.

Haverford defeated Abington by 10 points in January. In that game Dotsey struggled.

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Haverford High School’s (25) Rian Dotsey with the basket in the first half against Abington in PIAA District 1 playoffs Wednesday night at Juenger Gymnasium. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)

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Seeds are just numbers, most coaches will tell their players come playoff time. Such a mantra has become truth in some places, however, nowhere truer than Garnet Valley.

There was no shock Tuesday night when Garnet Valley, as a 14 seed, booked its third straight states berth with a 63-49 win over No. 3 Spring-Ford. Just as there may not have been much surprise for 24th-seeded Springfield when it pulled its second straight upset, downing No. 8 Bensalem, 47-42.

Those upsets make three Delaware County boys teams headed to states in Class 6A, with fourth-seeded Chester taking the more conventional favorite’s path, booking its place via a 59-54 win over reigning district champ Plymouth Whitemarsh. That two of the trio defied the pre-tourney seeding process shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, given the volatility of District 1 hoops.

“The seed only means something to everybody outside of Garnet Valley,” Jaguars guard Jack Krautzel said after scoring 20 points against Spring-Ford. “We know how good we are, so we don’t care about the seed. It just shows how well-coached we are every single year, because I don’t know how many teams can say they’ve made it to the district quarterfinals four years in a row.”

In a bit of kismet coincidence, Springfield is following the path last blazed by Garnet Valley.

The Jaguars (17-8) entered the 2022 tournament as the No. 24 seed. They promptly upended the No. 9 seed, Upper Dublin, by a 48-46 margin, then downed No. 8 Spring-Ford, 53-50, to get to states.

Springfield (13-11) has ridden a similar road to get back to states for the first time since 2018. Kevin McCormick’s team endured the heartbreak of missing districts by miniscule margins each of the last two years. They’re living proof of the importance of just getting in.

Colin Treude scored 12 of his 19 points in the second half to lead a 58-42 win over No. 9 Abington in the first round. TJ Valletti, normally a defense-first role player, stepped up with 14 points.

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Garnet Valley’s Jack Krautzel takes a shot in a recent game. (Pete Bannan – MediaNews Group)

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Ridley >> The Conestoga High School boys and girls swimming teams, who went through the dual meet season undefeated in the Central League, gave a top-grade performance at the Central League Meet at Ridley High School Feb. 9-10.

The Pioneer boys (9-0 overall, 6-0 league) finished in first place with 602 team points, followed by Haverford (405), Ridley (297) and Springfield (246) and Radnor (230). The Conestoga girls won the meet and the league title for the ninth year in a row, with 541.5 team points, followed by Lower Merion (426.5), Radnor (272) and Garnet Valley (218).

The Conestoga boys earned six first-place finishes and set a number of pool records.

Conestoga senior Jake Wang won two individual events (200 yard IM and 100 yard breaststroke), and set pool and meet records in the 100 ****** (53.43). He also was the leadoff swimmer for two freestyle relays that set pool and meet records.

Pioneer senior Can Yeniay won two individual events (200 yard freestyle and 500 yard freestyle) and was part of two freestyle relays that set pool and meet records.

In the boys 200 yard freestyle relay, the quartet of Wang, senior Brock Whitaker, freshman Liam Haas and Yeniay finished first in the 200 yard freestyle relay with a pool record time of 1:23.53. Wang got the foursome off to a fantastic start with a 19.97 split.

“It’s not really my best time but it’s pretty close,” said Wang. “It was really a fun swim, as I got to race Shane Eckler.”

Eckler, a Ridley senior who won the 50 yard freestyle with a pool record and meet record time of 20.08 Feb. 9, led off the 200 free relay with a 20.07 clocking.

Wang, the PIAA defending champion in the boys 200 yard IM, posted a winning time of 1:50.72 in the 200 IM Feb. 9; and Yeniay set a pool record with a season-best 1:38.84 in the 200 free..

“I didn’t feel great today, but I swam a better time than I did at States last year, so now I feel great,” said Yeniay after the race. He clocked 1:38.87 for a second-place finish at States in the 200 free last winter.

Whitaker, who finished second in the 100 yard butterfly (49.52) and 100 yard freestyle (45.33), said, “The highlight for me (Feb. 9) was the 200 free relay, where we swam and won as a team. Without Jake’s 19.97, we wouldn’t have been able to break the pool record.”

Conestoga also finished first in the boys 400 yard freestyle relay with a quartet of Wang, Whitaker, sophomore David Ivory and Yeniay. They posted a time of 3:04.93, setting both a pool and meet record.

In the boys 200 yard medley relay, the Conestoga quartet of junior James Oken, junior Stanley Cui, junior Hutch Wood and Haas finished third (1:39.23) and the Pioneer foursome of junior Aru Nayak, freshman Austin Zhang, senior Weston Clark and junior Justin Cuevas Reigo de Dios placed fifth (1:41.98).

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Conestoga’s Jake Wang won two individual events and was part of two first-place relays at the Central League Meet Feb. 9-10.

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