Boys Basketball: Delco Super 7, Dec. 20
We’re just over a week – and a busy week at that – into the boys basketball season, and there have been some interesting developments. The first one that stands out is how open and high-scoring play has been. Tuesday’s loaded slate presents the 12th play day of the PIAA winter. Yet already, 2016-17 has seen as many Delco players tally games of 30 points or more as did all of last season. Those six players have accounted for seven 30-point outings (Chichester’s DaQuan Granberry is the repeat), a far cry from last year’s 16. This year’s tally also doesn’t (yet?) involve Nick Alikakos, the Episcopal Academy forward who topped 30 points on five occasions last year.
This prevalence of top scorers is neither good nor bad, per se. Many offenses are built around one marquee scorer, certainly, but whether that’s a long-term drawback isn’t yet clear. It does, however, portend a fair amount of unpredictability game-to-game. And in a traditionally close-to-the-vest league like the Central, the presence of an explosive scorer like Tyler Norwood, Austin Laughlin or Brandon Starr can shift a game quickly. Already, the league is feeling this:
Through 2 Central League games, just 3 teams remain unbeaten (@penncrestad, @SHS_Hoops & Conestoga). Going to be a weird league.
— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) December 17, 2016
That brings us to the hierarchy this week, where the order is more-or-less similar, with one sizeable exception. (Records based on games through Monday, Dec. 19)
1. Chester (3-0) Previous: No. 1
The Clippers aren’t yet getting much love statewide, which could change drastically when Reading, the top Class 6A team in Pennsylvania this week, visits the Clip Joint Tuesday. And on balance, the Clippers have struggled somewhat, requiring comebacks over Simon Gratz and Newark (Del.). But this remains a young team that will improve as the season progresses and the Clippers jell. At this early juncture, it’s important that they’re getting star-caliber leadership from Jamar Sudan (one of the 30-point guys), defensive intensity from Jordan Camper and solid guard play of Michael Smith and others.
2. Archbishop Carroll (4-1) Previous: No. 2
The Patriots’ lone setback was to Abington, one of the favorites in Class 6A of District 1. Carroll trounced western competition, including Pittsburg Central Catholic, in the opening weekend and topped Cheltenham and Penn Wood locally. Carroll remains in reassessment mode from last season and they are piecing things together ably. The entire roster is scoring. Justin Anderson just missed the 30-point fraternity with his 28 against Penn Wood, A.J. Hoggard is distributing capably in the backcourt and Khari Williams has erupted in flashes. A little more shooting consistency from Colin Daly could take Carroll up a notch.
3. Bonner & Prendergast (5-0) Previous: No. 7
I was both optimistic on Bonner as the season started and cautious in the realization of how difficult their schedule was. But they’ve handled business. Ajiri Johnson is as advertised. Tymir Cooper and Justin Gans have turned into potent scoring threats to complement Christian Lane, and Dylan Higgins is a double-double-per-night guy. The Friars have beaten Penn Wood by a larger margin than Carroll did and Simon Gratz by a larger margin than Chester. That’s a pretty good start.
4. Episcopal Academy (6-3) Previous: No. 3
The Churchmen stumbled this weekend at the Mercer Tournament hosted by the Hill School, partially due to an injury to Alikakos (he scored four points in Saturday’s loss to Kent School and didn’t play Sunday against Knox School). Both were still just single-digit setbacks, and the Churchmen might actually be deeper this season than the regular six- and seven-man rotations run in recent seasons. While they can shuffle positionally sans Alikakos, I don’t see them replacing the scoring void left for a longer stretch.
5. Haverford School (5-1) Previous: No. 6
The Fords have a busy but winnable week, with three games in four days, starting with Monday’s easy win over Tacony Academy Charter. The pairing of Christian Ray and Kharon Randolph is flourishing, and it’s providing some cushion for younger players to get involved.
6. Penn Wood (2-2) Previous: No. 4
With losses to Bonner and Carroll, the Patriots don’t slide far, but their relative place is well-defined. There’s a lot to like early for Penn Wood, from Jay Fitzgerald’s 3-point shooting to Pernell Ghee’s offensive emergence. They still haven’t enjoyed a Kairi Jones breakout game or a big performance from Ahmad Smalls, but the early returns under Matt Lindeman are promising.
7. Springfield (3-0) Previous: NR
And the pendulum turns to the Central League. By default, the Cougars must have this spot, having beaten the nearest claimant, Garnet Valley. The Jags win over Lower Merion shines as the result of the early season, but Springfield has ticked off three straight wins (though not sure what to make of the relative struggle with Marple Newtown beyond the obvious that Sean Spratt’s team is improving). Kyle Sullivan will join that 30-point group sooner rather than later, and the diversity of scoring options helps separate the Cougars.
Dropped out: Penncrest
Honorable mention: Garnet Valley (3-1; the Jags are eighth with the spoils of tipping the Aces in hand. We’re looking for precedence in recent history of teammates each scoring 30 points in the same game as Laughlin and Starr had against Unionville. The Lower Merion game, though, was as much about Cade Brennan, Connor O’Brien and Cole Palis stepping up as the two headliners); Penncrest (3-2, with what I saw from the Lions Friday night, losses to Phoenixville and Academy Park by a combined five points seem even more regrettable. From what Norwood showed Saturday against Chichester, when he’s on, look out); Strath Haven (3-1, if Cooper Driscoll’s rolled ankle keeps him out for any length of time, the Panthers will struggle to remain in the upper echelon of the league. John Harrar can single-handedly lead them past certain teams, but not Springfield and Garnet Valley, which await before the holiday).
