Despite losing historic talent in Deuce Turner and Rahdir Hicks (Towson), the Friars have continued to roll under first-year head coach Paul Romanczuk. Sophomore point guard Ryan Williams has been the best guard in the league this season averaging 17.0 points per game. The 6-foot-2 guard hit four three-pointers and scored nine of his game-high 24 points in a 74-46 win over Episcopal Academy on Feb. 1. The very next day he drilled five more treys in route to 19 points in 51-38 victory over the Fords. Malvern Prep has been spearheaded by the combination of Williams and 6-4 junior Andrew Phillips, who is avg. 16.0 ppg. Phillips is a dynamic forward who can score inside and out. He had 22 points in that win over the Churchmen and has hit five three-pointers over the last three games. The Friars are also receiving major contributions from 6-7 junior forward Tyler Lauder (7.7 ppg) and 5-7 senior guard Joey Vandergeest (6.9) this season.

The Quakers are in the midst of a phenomenal year when looking at their 16-2 overall record, but they have been particularly efficient in Inter-Ac play. Junior point guard Mark Butler has put together a terrific season avg. 11.9 ppg. The 6-foot floor general posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists to go along with six rebounds in a 62-52 win over Springside Chestnut Hill. He scored 10 points in the final quarter and converted 8-for-10 at the free throw line. Leading scorer and 6-2 junior guard Trey Shinholster (12.1 ppg) poured in 12 of his 23 points in the second quarter, hit four three-pointers and added five boards against the Blue Devils.

In the following game, a 46-41 win over the Fords on Feb. 1, Butler scored 10 points and Shinholster had 11, including three treys. Freshman Kai Shinholster, Trey’s younger brother, had eight points in each win and hit two three-pointers in Haverford School victory.

The Friars lone league loss came to the Quakers, whose only loss came to the Haverford School to open Inter-Ac play. It will be the most anticipated game of the season to date with a lot more than merely a win at stake

Julian McFadden felt coming into the season that this year’s group had the chance to be one of the better Springside Chestnut Hill teams in recent memory and they’re still on track to accomplish that. Two seasons ago, the Blue Devils won seven league games and they haven’t eight or more since finishing 10-0 in the Inter-Ac in 2010, the last time they won the title. While this season may not be an undefeated campaign, the Blue Devils are still very much alive in the title race this season despite losses to Malvern Prep and Penn Charter.

With matchups against both in the span of four days, including the Feb. 15 contest against the Quakers to close out the regular season, Springside Chestnut Hill is alive and could receive an invite to the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) Tournament as well. Two mainstays have helped in this endeavor in 6-foot senior guard Darius Isaac and 6-1 sophomore guard Ronald Brown III. Isaac is avg. 10.7 ppg on the season and has been the unquestioned leader. Brown is in his second season on the varsity roster and has been excelling of late with a 13-point game against Penn Charter, where he hit four three-pointers, and a 22-point performance versus Germantown Academy. He had two treys, three rebounds, three assists and three steals in that latter game.

Before he heads off to play baseball at Holy Cross, Jake Jaszcz is closing out his high school basketball career on a high note. After missing the Churchmen’s first 10 games on the season, the 6-foot senior guard has joined the rotation and made an immediate impact. In only his third game back, he poured in 15 points, including three three-pointers, in a 49-41 win over Martin Luther King. He is avg. 8.7 ppg on the season but has scored in double figures four times in 11 games since returning to the lineup after recovering from an injury.

He poured in 13 points against the Fords on Jan. 21 then had a season-high 20 points with five three-pointers in a win over the Patriots five days later. His shooting has been his biggest contribution as evidenced by his 11 three-pointers over the last four games. The Churchmen had two fluid shooters in Jaszcz and sophomore Kevin McCarthy to go along with the mid-level scoring of TJ Lamb and that has helped them in the second half of the year.

Germantown Academy has received a boost of its own for the latter part of the season in the form of 6-1 senior guard Jake Hsu.

He only played in one of the Patriots first seven games but posted 10 points against Engineering & Science then opened Inter-Ac play with an 11-point outing against Malvern Prep. Head coach Matt Dolan has emphasized what Hsu means to the program and his return has sparked improved play.

He had 10 points vs. the Hun School (N.J.) then followed that with his best game of the season by tallying 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and hitting two treys in a loss to Episcopal Academy.

Adding Hsu to a starting lineup that includes leading scorer and fellow senior Blake Smith (12.8 ppg) as well as promising freshmen Flinn Brooks and Bryce Rollerson (7.0) has given the Patriots a nice array of scoring options.