Photos/Videos: Rich Flanagan, Anthony Salvato & James Quinn
BY: RICH FLANAGAN
CHESTER, PA - The week prior to the opening of league play has brought about some of the best matchups of the season in Pa. high school basketball. A multitude of players on the cusp of stardom and fame traveled with their respective programs to various gymnasiums and arenas all across the U.S. for a shot to play in the Scholastic Play-by-Play Classic, founded by former Lower Merion assistant coach and sports writer Jeremy Treatman.
The featured players were more than just stars on their high school teams; some even grew to dominate in both the college and professional ranks, and even more so, became the most renowned players in basketball history. LeBron James once put up 40 points and 14 rebounds in leading St. Vincent-St. Mary’s (Ohio) to a win at the North Carolina Play-by-Play in 2003 when he was already being compared to the great ones or “The Chosen One” as Sports Illustrated previously dubbed him. Eddie Griffin and Roman Catholic went against Jameer Nelson and Chester played against each other at the Apollo of Temple (now the Liacouras Center) in 2000 and Dajuan Wagner poured in a ridiculous 50 points to lead Camden (N.J.) over Hamilton High School (Tenn.) almost a year later.
The list of notable icons has rolled on from Kyle Lowry to Bob Hurley to Sean Singletary to Elena Delle Donne to Jared Sullinger to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to LaMelo Ball. All have all performed against and, in some cases, outperformed the competition and showed what many had heard about but finally got to see for themselves in these perennial contests.
On a local level in Pa., the Play-by-Play Classics serve as a good barometer on where some of the best in Pa., N.J., and Del. stand to close out the non-league slate just before the turn of the calendar into the new year.
Lower Merion and Chester have won a combined 15 PIAA state championships and while neither has taken home the championship trophy since 2013 – when they last met in the state final – this matchup is always intense and brings out the best in both teams.
Lower Merion vs. Chester Highlights by Rich Flanagan
University of Pennsylvania commit Sam Brown, son of the former Philadelphia 76ers head coach, scored 10 of his 12 points in the third quarter while 6-foot-2 junior guard John Mobley had a breakout performance with 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to lead the Aces to a 75-60 victory over the Clippers. Jordan Meekins posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds to go along with three blocks and Justin Poles chipped in 14 points for the Aces, who shot 53% from the field.
Sam Wright was the fifth player in double figures with 13 points as Lower Merion erased a 10-point first-quarter deficit and tied the game at 27-27 entering halftime. Wright started the third with a trey from the wing then Brown scored eight straight points and the Aces were up 10 and never relinquished the lead. Kyree Womack led Chester with 16 points and Dominic Toy had all 14 points in the final quarter.
The most exhilarating game of the day featured Garnet Valley, a team that looks prepared to challenge Lower Merion and Radnor in the Central League, and Coatesville, now under the direction of former Red Raiders and Seton Hall standout John Allen. Garnet Valley’s Jake Sniras brought the ball up the floor and attempted to run a dribble handoff, but the Coatesville defense was overplaying to avoid a quick three-pointer. With time winding down, Sniras passed the ball to Drew Van Horn, who immediately gave it back to the 6-4 sophomore. Sniras dribbled to his left and launched one just before the buzzer.
Coatesville vs. Garnet Valley - Highlights by Rich Flanagan
The ball swished through as his foot fell just behind the arc and it closed a 33-point, 10-rebound game with the game winner to lift the Jaguars to a 65-63 double-overtime win over the Red Raiders. Those 33 points were a career-high and 6-4 senior wing Logan McKee added 14 points and 13 rebounds in the victory. Coatesville’s Jeremiah Marshall, who had 15 points on the day, had an opportunity to win the game in regulation but his layup fell short and teammate Dior Kennedy (nine points) had a chance to win it in the first overtime, but his mid-range jumper was wide right. Zuri Harris, the former Cardinal O’Hara guard, scored 12 points and his go-ahead three-pointer with 1:21 left in 2OT would’ve won the game if not for Sniras’ heroics at the end.
St. Joe’s Prep handled its business against Friends’ Central School as four players finished in double figures and the Hawks cruised to a 73-61 victory. Sophomore guard Jordan Ellerbee tallied 12 of his 16 points in the second quarter and Jaron McKie sank three three-pointers and finished with 15 points and three steals.
Jalen Harper displayed his slashing ability on his way to 11 points and sophomore guard Olin Chamberlain Jr. continued to exhibit his improved shooting ability with a pair of treys and 10 points. Tristen Guillouette, the 6-9 junior big man, had four points but chipped in 10 rebounds and three blocks on the day as the Hawks increased their lead to 25-15 in the second and eventually to 21 at halftime.
St. Joseph's Prep vs. Friends’ Central School - Highlights by Rich Flanagan
McKie scored five straight points, including a three, and St. Joe’s Prep led 58-30 with 1:20 left to play in the third. Collin Bowman hit three shots from deep and finished with 13 points while Fazl Oshodi followed with 12 points and Muhsin Muhammad scored 11 for the Phoenix, who briefly led in the first but never got back within striking distance afterward.
St. Joe's Prep vs. Friends' Central Photos/ Anthony Salvato St. Joe's Prep
St. Joe's Prep vs. Friends' Central photos by James Quinn for PSD
Rutgers Prep (N.J.) closed out the event with a 69-55 win over previously unbeaten Neumann-Goretti behind 26 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals from Marist commit Jadin Collins and 15 points and eight boards from John Kelly.
The game was close for the first half then shortly into the second at 31-31 but it was all Argonauts after that. Collins shot 11-for-16 from the floor and fouled out with under four minutes to play, but he had left his mark on the game as Rutgers Prep held a 61-48 lead at that point. Myles Parker buried a pair of shots from behind the arc and finished with 10 points for the Argonauts. Baylor commit Robert Wright III (21 points) and Khaafiq Myers (17) did everything they could to keep the Saints in the game, but the athleticism and quickness of the Rutgers Prep guards was too much as time and again they attacked and converted or kicked out for open jumpers.
Neumann-Goretti vs. Rutgers Prep. Photos by James Quinn for PSD
Neumann-Goretti was without 6-8 senior forward Sultan Adewale and his absence was felt from the opening tip. Freshman guard Stephon Ashley-Wright, Robert’s brother, had 10 points for the Saints.
Bonner-Prendergast has quietly had itself a terrific nonleague slate and will bring plenty of momentum into Philadelphia Catholic League play following its 62-57 victory over Malvern Prep in Game 1 of the event. Touri “Deuce” Ketner and Nelson Lamizana were terrific inside for Bonner-Prendergast and imposed their will throughout the contest.
Ketner, the 6-7 rangy and athletic forward, had 17 points with 12 coming in the second half. He picked up a loose ball then drove and finished with his left hand to give his side a 48-37 lead with 7:11 remaining. Lamizana flirted with a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds, demonstrating his strength inside and his comfortability on the perimeter with strong finishes at the rim. Kevin Rucker Jr., the Chester transfer who finished with 14 points, has been the constant on the outside but what has led Bonner-Prendergast to a perfect 7-0 record thus far has been the play of Ketner and Lamizana, and they’re only getting better with more games under their belt.
Malvern Prep kept clawing back anytime Bonner-Prendergast felt it was going to pull away. Andrew Phillips was terrific with 26 points, hitting from everywhere from in the post to mid-range jumpers, but he provided the only true offensive spark. Hayden Pegg chipped in 11 points but Ryan Williams, one of the top scorers for Malvern Prep, was limited to eight points. Williams found Charlie Oschell inside for an easy finish and the deficit was cut to 50-45 with 3:31 left to play. Bonner-Prendergast closed things out immediately after as Ketner found Lamizana inside and the lead was back to seven with 1:08 remaining.
Bonner-Prendergast vs. Malvern Prep Highlights - by Rich Flanagan
Bonner-Prendergast vs. Malvern Prep Photos/ James Quinn for PSD
Malvern Prep vs. Bonner Prendergast Photos/ Anthony Salvato St. Joes' Prep
In a battle of two of the premiere teams in District 1, West Chester East followed 6-3 sophomore guard K.J. Cochran’s example to a 67-54 win over Plymouth Whitemarsh. Cochran poured in 25 points, eight rebounds and two steals while shooting 10-for-14 from the floor and teammate Jose Ramos added 11 points and six assists for the Vikings, who led 17-8 in the first quarter and Cochran, who holds offers from Delaware, Temple, and St. Joe's, was the spark to close things out with 13 points in the fourth quarter alone. Ryan Price chipped in 11 points of his own and forward Jack Kushner was solid inside with eight points, including a two-handed throwdown in the second.
Qudire Bennett was one of the Colonials’ go-to options a season ago and he is still very much that as a senior as he had 22 points going 9-for-18 from the field. Bennett also corralled eight boards and his first two baskets in the second half tied the game. Chase Coleman, formerly of Archbishop Carroll, had 18 points for Plymouth Whitemarsh.