Lower Merion’s Aces trump adversity, get off to fast start

Ardmore >> After Lower Merion lost 1,000-point scorer Jack Forrest to an injury Dec. 11, the Aces (8-1) bounced back with five wins in their next six games and are ranked third in the most current (as of Dec. 31) PIAA District 1 6A boys basketball rankings.
“We’ve had a lot of guys stepping up this season – guys with grit and good character,” said Lower Merion head coach Gregg Downer, now in his 29th year as Aces mentor (which includes three PIAA state championships). “A lot of these kids have been with us on varsity since their freshman year.”
Following a 71-61 loss to Norristown (the top-ranked team in District 1) Dec. 15, the Aces have reeled off four wins in a row. All of the victories were by four points or less, and it began with a come-from-behind 80-76 double overtime win against Garnet Valley Dec. 18.
Lower Merion came back from an 11-point deficit with three minutes to play against Garnet Valley, and Steve Payne scored 11 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-tying basket with less than nine seconds left in regulation.
Payne, a first team All-Central League selection last winter who became the first Lower Merion player since Kobe Bryant to lead the Aces in points (18.7 ppg), rebounds (5.9 rpg) and assists (5.2 apg) in a single season, heads a solid senior lineup this winter, one that stepped to the forefront against Garnet Valley.
Against the Jaguars, Lower Merion senior guard Theo Henry (11 points, 10 rebounds) nailed six straight free throws in overtime; senior wing Darry Taylor scored 12 points; senior Jalen Goodman (a Villanova football commit) chipped in with some key defensive pressure; and senior guard Matt O’Connor (who set an LM football season record for passing yards in 2018) hit a key trey and applied some tough defense too.
The Aces followed up the overtime victory with a 65-62 win against Conestoga in their home opener, then hosted Chester in the Kobe Bryant Gym for the first time ever Dec. 27, defeating the Clippers 59-55 in the Kobe Bryant Boosters Philly.com/Rally Classic in front of a sizable crowd that included many Lower Merion alumni.
Theo Henry, who was sidelined his junior year with a foot injury, soared against Chester, going 4-for-5 in his three-point attempts and scoring 18 points. Six days earlier, the 6-0 senior guard stood tall in the home opener against Conestoga, pulling down 10 rebounds and scoring 16 points.
“Going forward this season, rebounding will be important for us – even from the guards,” said Downer. “For someone of Theo’s size to rebound so well in that game, I think is impressive.”
Three days later, against Methacton and 6-9 junior center Jeff Woodward in the Jameer Nelson Classic at Widener University, the Aces held off a late rally to come out on top, 51-47.
“I thought we played some of our best defense of the year against Methacton,” said Downer. “Methacton is a threat to make some noise in the post-season this year.”
Lower Merion’s 6-5 senior center, Josh Martin, grabbed 10 rebounds, scored 15 points, and was named the Most Valuable Player of the game, while Darryl Taylor tallied 10 first half points, and contributed tough defense throughout.
Another key Lower Merion contributor on defense has been Matt O’Connor, who passed for more than 2,000 yards last fall as LM’s quarterback. O’Connor has been a nice complement to the LM basketball offense, too, as a productive three-point shooter.
The Aces feature a balanced offense. Senior 6-1 guard Julian Hairston came up with 15 points in the double-overtime win against Garnet Valley, including four second-half treys.
“We try to put four guys in double figures every game,” said Downer. “But sometimes, it’s hard to get even three in double figures. Our team has some good offensive characteristics. We share the ball well, and we have a variety of shooters – we can rely on quickness and the three-balls.”
It is anticipated that Forrest, a 6-5 senior guard who recently committed to Columbia University for basketball, will be returning to the lineup in late January.
Last winter, Forrest averaged 18.1 ppg and 5.2 rpg for the Central League champions, tied an LM single-season record with 73 treys (40 percent from behind the arc) and received first team All-Central League honors. On Dec. 8, in the McDowell Tip-Off Tournament in Erie, Forrest scored 26 points and won tournament MVP honors.
“With the return of Jack Forrest, we hope to be a tough out in Districts and States,” said Downer.