Watkins double-double powers Chester past Reading
In a meeting of two of Pennsylvania’s traditional hoops juggernauts, Karell Watkins continued to make a name for himself.
The sophomore forward scored 27 points to go with 15 rebounds as Chester topped Reading, 77-72, Tuesday night at the Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Classic.
Michael Smith added 21 points, and Akeem Taylor paired 14 points with six assists as the Clippers (3-2) dished 20 assists on 30 baskets to win their third straight. Rahmaad Dejarnette added 13 points.
Watkins scored nine points and Taylor added six in the third quarter where the Clippers turned up the defense for a 21-9 advantage in the frame, an edge they wouldn’t relinquish.
In other nonleague action:
Unionville 53, Glen Mills 32 >> Jabriel Guinyard paired 12 points with seven rebounds off the bench, and Aaron Thompson added eight points, but the Bulls were outscored 30-12 in the second half.
In the Central League:
Lower Merion 80, Garnet Valley 76 >> Greg Vlassopoulos scored 31 points to go with 12 rebounds and eight assists. His dunk sent the game to a second overtime period, but the Aces outlasted GV.
Tyler Pendergrass poured in a career-high 18, including the game-tying layup with eight seconds left in regulation. Carl Schaller added 10 points for the Jags (3-1, 2-1 Central).
Steve Payne led Lower Merion with 28 points, and Theo Henry (11 points) was 6-for-6 at the line in the second OT.
Marple Newtown 62, Springfield 48 >> Tommy Gardler and Aziz Khammassi scored 18 points apiece (a career-high for the latter), and Joe Pettinelli added nine points as the Tigers (1-4, 1-2) picked up their first win.
Nasir Cryor led Springfield (0-3, 0-3) with 11 points and five assists, while Brian Ward added eight points.
Upper Darby 51, Haverford 46 >> Mamadou Toure scored 21 points, including 6-for-6 at the line in the fourth, and Shareef Jones added 10 points for the Royals (2-2, 2-1).
John Seidman tallied a career-high 21 points for Haverford (2-2, 1-2), and Luke Verzella tossed in 10 points.
Harriton 64, Radnor 53 >> Lewis Robinson went off for a game-high 25 points and Jack D’Entremont hit three 3-pointers to tally 13 points, but the Raiders (2-3, 1-2) allowed the Rams to hit eight triples.
Penncrest 59, Strath Haven 23 >> The Panthers had no answer for Malcolm Williams, who paired 25 points with 10 rebounds for the Lions (4-1, 3-0). Denzel Boyer added eight points, and Matt Arbogast paired seven points with 10 boards.
Luke Edwards led Haven with seven points.
In the Ches-Mont League:
Sun Valley 56, Great Valley 43 >> Vinny DeAngelo scored 20 points and Isaac Kennon added 13 as the Vanguards (6-0, 2-0) overcame a slow start in which they trailed by seven after one quarter. Marvin Freeman added 11 points for the Vanguards.
In the Catholic League:
Bonner & Prendergast 53, Father Judge 44 >> Isaiah Wong (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Tariq Ingraham (11 points, 10 boards) posted double-doubles, but it was AJ Burnett’s career-best nine points off the bench that propelled the Friars (4-0, 1-0) to the win.
La Salle 70, Cardinal O’Hara 64 >> Adrian Irving scored 21 points, and Tre Dinkins added 13, but the Lions couldn’t come up with the away win. Anthony Purnell and Kevin Reeves tallied 10 points apiece.
