Main Line wrapup: Lower Merion boys’ hoopsters are Aces in Central League

The Lower Merion High School boys’ basketball team defeated Strath Haven, 85-53, Tuesday to improve its Central League record to 8-0. Eleven players reached the scoring column for the Aces (12-2 overall), led by Jack Forrest (16 points), Julian Hairston (11 points) and Darryl Taylor (10 points).
Four days earlier, the Aces defeated Marple Newtown, 58-46, led by Jack Forrest, who scored 21 points in his return from an injury.
In other Main Line high school sports action (the high school wrapup is compiled from game summaries sent to Main Line Media News and our sister publications from the respective teams):

Boys’ basketball
Archbishop Carroll defeated Father Judge, 58-45, Jan. 10. Kiyl Mack scored 10 of his team-high 12 points in the second half as Carroll used a 17-4 margin in the fourth quarter to break open a tie game. Tairi Ketner chipped in 11 points, and Luke House scored 10 for the Patriots (9-5, 5-1).
Conestoga defeated Penncrest, 51-47, Tuesday. The victorious Pioneers got 14 points from Milton Robinson and 12 points from Zach Lezanic in this Central League matchup.
The Pioneers defeated Radnor, 61-56, Jan. 11. The Pioneers were led by Zach Lezanic, who scored 23 points and was 14-for-16 from the free throw line. Teammate Shane Scott chipped in with 13 points and Milton Robinson added 10 in the winning effort.
Devon Prep defeated Collegium Charter, 55-45, Tuesday. The Host Tide were led by Nick Crowe (15 points) and Scion Dorsey (13 points). Fred Rullo, Eamon Walsh and Mike Ferry each scored seven points for Devon Prep.
The Tide lost to LaSalle, 55-24, Monday in a Catholic League contest. Scion Dorsey scored eight points and James Jablonski had five points for the Tide.
Episcopal Academy lost to Malvern Prep, 86-49, Tuesday. Matt Dade scored 22 points and Colin Chambers added 11, but the Friars’ up-tempo style dealt the Churchmen (8-10, 1-3) a fourth consecutive setback.
Friends’ Central lost to Shipley, 72-53, Jan. 11. Pacing Friends’ was Omar Nichols with 17 points, Bryce Spriggs with 12 and Mason Mosley with 11.
One day later, the Phoenix defeated Interboro, 84-41. Leading the Phoenix was Edward Holland (17 points), Omar Nichols (16 points) and Mason Mosley (14 points).
Haverford High defeated Radnor, 40-33, Tuesday. John Seidman and Luke Verzella scored 10 points each, but it was John Schievert’s 3-pointer in the fourth quarter that put Haverford up for good, outscoring the Raiders 13-5 in the final frame. Schievert tallied seven points, and Sean Reynolds helped keep Radnor to just 18 points following a 15-point first quarter for the Fords (7-5, 4-4). Jack D’Entremont led Radnor (7-6, 4-4) with 10 points, and Sean Mullarkey chipped in eight.
The Fords defeated Chester Harter School for the Arts, 46-31, Jan. 12. The Fords’ John Seidman scored 11 of his game-high 17 points in the first quarter, and Dan Roe dumped in 15 points for the Fords, who led 22-12 at halftime.
Haverford School defeated Springside Chestnut Hill, 74-60, Tuesday. Jameer Nelson Jr. scored 11 points in his return after six weeks out with a knee injury. Christian Ray led the way again with 29 points. Asim Richards chipped in 13 and Jameel Brown added nine for the Fords (16-0, 4-0 Inter-Ac)
Malvern Prep defeated Episcopal Academy, 86-49, Tuesday. The Friars, who outscored EA 27-11 in the second quarter, were led by Deuce Turner (26 points, including a trio of three-point field goals) and TyGee Leach (14 points). Malvern Prep shot 20-for-28 from the free throw line.
The Friars defeated Penn Charter, 83-5, Jan. 11. Deuce Turner led the Friars with 24, Fran Oschell chipped in with 20 points and Rah Hicks tallied 19 points in the winning effort.
Radnor lost to Conestoga, 61-56, Jan. 11. Lewis Robinson scored 20 points, and Jack D’Entremont added 19, but the Raiders (7-5, 4-3) were undone by Stoga shooting 26-for-30 from the line in snapping a four-game winning streak.

Girls’ basketball
Academy of Notre Dame defeated Episcopal Academy, 51-43, Tuesday. Mandy McGurk led all players with 21 points and Maggie Pina finished with 12 for the Irish (11-4). Allie Lynch pitched in with nine points. The Churchwomen (4-12) had their most 3-pointer in a game this season, but still fell short. Cara Harty netted a team-high 12 points. Bella Piselli, Reilly Cassidy and Olivia Dirks all scored nine points.
The Irish defeated Penn Charter, 59-43, Jan. 11. Maggie Pina’s scored 27 points and Mandy McGurk finished with 16 for the Irish, who used an 18-4 run in the second quarter.
Two days later, the Irish defeated Merion Mercy, 68-24. Maeve McErlane scored 13 points and Maggie Pina chipped in with 10 points.
Archbishop Carroll defeated Neumann-Goretti, 57-45, Jan. 11. With stifling defense and clutch foul shooting, Patriots turned a two-point deficit at the end of the third quarter into a double digit victory. Erin Sweeney poured in 24 points and Grace O’Neill tossed in 15 for the Patriots (7-5, 4-1). Harlem Jennings and Mary DeSimone each added eight points, while Karli Dougherty had five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Friends’ Central lost to Shipley, 64-43, Jan. 11. Emma Malone (12 points), Zoe Shoemaker (11 points) and Madison Smith (10 points) led the Phoenix scoring attack.
Two days earlier, Friends’ Central defeated Agnes Irwin, 63-24. The Phoenix were led by Raanee Smith (eight points, 16 rebounds, five blocks, five steals), Madison Smith (17 points, 20 rebounds, three steals) and Erin Beck (five three-pointers).
Haverford High defeated Penncrest, 38-21, Jan. 10. Erin Doherty scored eight of her game-high 17 points in the second quarter. Doherty added five rebounds and four steals and Lindsey Lane chipped in with nine points for Haverford.
Radnor defeated Haverford, 58-53, in double overtime Tuesday. The Raiders (10-3, 5-3) shot 6-for-8 at the free-throw line in the second overtime. Brienne Williams scored six of her 13 points in the second extra session. Ellie Mueller hit a pair of free throws at the end of regulation to force overtime. She finished with a double-double of 18 points and 16 rebounds. Holly Holtsberg posted eight points and 10 boards in the winning effort. Lindsey Lane scored a team-high 15 points and Erin Doherty tossed in 13 for the Fords. Arden Guilfoil had nine and Erin Kelly contributed eight.
The Raiders defeated Conestoga, 43-16, Jan. 11. Ellie Mueller paced the Raiders (8-3, 4-3) with 17 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Radnor outscored the host Pioneers, 24-9 in the first half. Holly Holtsberg paired four points with seven rebounds in the win.
Two days later, Radnor defeated Boyertown, 59-40, in the Scholastic Play By Play Classic. The Raiders opened up a 13-6 first quarter lead and were never headed. Ellie Mueller was named Player of the Game, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Brienne willliams (13 points) had a trio of treys. Holly Holtsberg had eight points and five blocks and Audrey Rosenblum added seven points.
Sacred Heart defeated Calvary Christian, 40-18, Jan. 11. Kyra Quigley registered a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds with six blocks to lead the Lions to an easy win. Kayleigh Doyle and Liz Franz contributed eight points apiece.
Villa Maria Academy defeated Gwynedd Mercy, 47-32, Tuesday. The Hurricanes (11-2, 6-1), leading 20-16 at halftime, outscored Gwynedd Mercy 11-2 in the third quarter to pull away for the victory. Abby Walheim scored 15 points for the winners, and six Hurricanes combined for the other 32 points.
The Hurricanes defeated Conestoga, 57-26, Jan. 11. The Hurricanes (10-2, 5-1) were led by Paige Lauder (16 points, eight rebounds), Abby Walheim (11 points, seven assists) and Maddie Ryan. For Conestoga, Katharine Gay scored nine points and Emily Lortz tallied seven.
One day earlier, Villa Maria defeated Nazareth Academy, 58-54. The Hurricanes (9-2, 5-1) got 26 points from Abby Walheim and 10 from Maddie Ryan. Villa Maria trailed at halftime 28-25 but outscored Nazareth 17-4 in the third quarter.

Boys’ swimming
Conestoga defeated Garnet Valley, 117-66, Tuesday. Conestoga’s Brendan Burns finished first in the 200 free (1:48.47) and the 100 back (54.58), while teammate Raymond Welgosh finished first in the 200 IM (2:14.46) and 100 breast (1:11.14). Other Conestoga individual winners were Aidan McKenrick (50 free, 25.44), Miles Whitaker (400 free, 4:19.75) and Rupert Hitton (diving, 235.21).
The Pioneers defeated Ridley, 99-63, Jan. 11. For the host Pioneers at the Upper Main Line YMCA, first-place finishers in the individual events included Thomas Noone in the 200 free ((1:53.55), Ethan Simpson (200 IM, 2:16.48), Luke Nagel (50 free, 24.46), Stanley Kim (100 fly, 56.12), freshman Stephen Graver (100 free, 51.49) and Spencer Rosato (500 free, 5:30.14).
Episcopal Academy defeated Penn Charter, 104-65, Tuesday. Ivan Puskovitch continued his assault on record boards by downing the 200 IM and 500 free pool marks at Penn Charter and leading the Churchmen’s 400 free relay to a pool mark. Puskovitch clocked in at 1:53.83 in the IM and 4:28.76 in the 500. The relay team of Puskovitch, Jack Christian, Sam Wesley and Ben Wesley turned in a 3:10.95 to win the 400 free.
Sam Wesley won the 50 free and 100 back, Christian swept the 200 free and 100 fly and Cole Whitsett claimed the 100 free and 100 breast for EA.
The Churchmen tied Malvern Prep, 93-93, Jan. 10. For EA, Sam Wesley won the 200 free and 100 free, and Ivan Puskovitch was victorious in the 200 free and 500 free. Puskovitch’s 500 free time of 4:26.30 breaks his Delco record of 4:27.35 set last year. Cole Whitsett won the 50 free and 100 fly for the Churchmen. Whitsett and Wesley (medley, 200 free) and Puskovitch (medley, 400 free) each added two relay wins.
Haverford High defeated Strath Haven 98-80, Tuesday. David Abrahams won the 100 fly and 100 back as the Fords jumped all over the Panthers. Zach Given won the 50 free to augment winning swims in the medley and 200 free relays. Jon Meyer (200 IM) and Jackson Graham (100 free) complemented individual wins with a relay triumph apiece.
Malvern Prep defeated Germantown Academy, 106.5-78.5, Tuesday. The Friars (6-1-1, 2-0-1) swept the relays and got individual wins from Matt Magness (200IM, 500 free), Ryan Maher (50 free), Nick Harris (1m diving), Jack Cassidy (100 back) and Ryan Durkan (100 breast).
The Friars tied Episcopal Academy, 93-93, Jan. 10. The host Friars got first-place finishes from Nick Harris (diving, 340.02, new pool record) and Ryan Durkan (100 breast, 1:00.62), as they swam to an improbable Inter-Ac League tie with the Churchmen. A tweet from Friars swim coach Jay Schiller summed it up: “In my 40+ years of coaching and many exciting meets, today won the prize!”

Girls swimming
Academy of Notre Dame lost, 97-73, to Germantown Academy Monday. Mia Abruzzo, Ashley Kolessar, Madison Kolessar and Natalie Stewart set the school record in the 200 medley relay (1:50.44). The previous mark was set in 2003. Kayleigh Olszewski joined Aburzzo and the Kolessar sisters is setting the school mark while winning the 400 free relay (3:37.53). Abruzzo also took first in the 50 free and 100 butterfly. Ashley Kolessar won the 100 free and 100 breaststroke, while Madison Kolessar captured the 500 freestyle.
Conestoga defeated Garnet Valley, 101-85, Tuesday. The Pioneers were led by individual winners Alex Marlow (200 IM, 2:29.41; 100 breast, 1:18.43), Nia Goddard (400 free, 4:43.26), Sophia Poeta (100 back, 1:10.51) and Phoebe Hutton (diving, 202.35).
The Pioneers defeated Ridley, 126-43, Jan. 11. The Pioneers cruised to victory at the Upper Main Line YMCA, and Conestoga first-place finishers in the individual events included sophomore Ava Collin (200 free, 2:04.18; 100 free, 58.59), Delaney Burns (200 IM, 2:23.09), freshman Ella O’Shea (100 fly, 1:08.87), freshman Maisy Montgomery (500 free, 5:36.82), Maddy Todd (100 back, 1:08.92) and freshman Adrianna Bertolotti (100 breast, 1:14.91).
Episcopal Academy was edged by Penn Charter, 93-92, Tuesday. Kelly Feuze Mekoue won the 50 free and 100 free for EA. She also anchored the Churchwomen’s winning 200 free relay. Hadley DeBruyn won the 100 backstroke for EA.
Haverford High defeated Strath Haven, 95-89, Tuesday. Elsley Hazell showed her versatility in winning the 100 fly and 100 breast as the Fords flexed their superior depth to swim by Haven. Laura Seavey and Grace Myers won the 50 and 100 free, respectively, for the Fords.
Lower Merion divers Amari Swint, Hannah Shalaby, and Megan Craig had standout performances against Garnet Valley Jan. 10. Swint took first place and broke Garnet Valley’s pool record with a score of 260.60; Shalaby placed second with a score of 187.00, and Craig placed fourth in her first varsity meet with a score of 147.05.

Wrestling
Episcopal Academy defeated Westtown, 42-36, Jan. 10, getting pins from Jesse Bell-Taylor (160 pounds), Evan Zanolli (182), Glay Yang (185) and Paul McLaughlin (285).
Lower Merion was edged by Haverford High, 38-34, Jan. 9. The Aces got pins from Jack Lledo (126 pounds), Andrew Coughlin (132 pounds, in 38 seconds) and Christian Hodges (138 pounds). At 170 pounds, Lower Merion’s James Lledo earned a 16-2 major decision.

Indoor track
Friends’ Central (girls) left their mark at the Hill Invitational at Ursinus College Jan. 9, winning seven of the 13 events contested. Bailie Stovall earned victories in the 55-meter run (7.57), 200-meter run (26.93), and the long jump (15-10.25). Micah Trusty won both the 400 meter run (100.12) and the 800 meter run (2:24.50). Friends’ Central swept the mile with 1-2-3 finish. Rebecca Wusinich won the event in a time of 5:15.43. Lydia Russell came in second (5:22.80) and Izzy MacFarlane finished third (5:55.52). Lydia Russell and Rebecca Wusinich finished 1-2 in the 3,000 meter run, with times of 10:22.58 and 10:49.94 respectively.
For the Friends’ Central boys, Noah Thomas had an afternoon of personal records with 7.3 (10th place) in the 55 meter run and 24.95 (sixth place) in the 200 meter run. Alex Veith earned a season record time of 55.46 in the 400 meter run (sixth place) and 2:18.64 in the 800 meter run. Nathan Levitties followed with season record time in the 800 meter run (2:21.07) and a personal record time in the mile (5:15.32). Matteo Lewis finished third in the pole vault (9-0). The 4X400 relay (Lucas Klein, Noah Thomas, Alex Veith, Kieran McDonnell) finished third with a time of 3:58.96.
Radnor (girls) had some fine performances at the Golden Bear Invitational at Kutztown University Jan. 12. Raider captain Keara Seasholtz led the way by placing third in the 1,600 meter run. Freshman Lucy Henkle took home the third place medal in the 800 meter run. Henkle and Seasholtz teamed with Grace Frigerio and Bridget Dougherty for a fourth place finish in the 1,600 meter relay.

Ice hockey
Haverford High defeated Springfield, 5-3, Jan. 10. Alex Gattone’s goal 23 seconds into the third period proved to be the game-winner. Andrew Daly scored twice, Quinn Hawley also lit the lamp and Jacob Orazi added a late insurance tally to augment an assist for the Fords. Tyler Cassidy made 27 saves.

Squash
Baldwin School defeated Harriton/Lower Merion, 7-2, Jan. 10, with Sydney Bramen, Pressley Daggett, Ella Goldman, Veda Goverdhanam, Rhea Jain, Melody Yu, and Darby Mullany all winning their matches 3-0.
Shipley (boys) lost to Episcopal Academy, 6-3, Monday. At the No. 1 position Maxwell Orr won a three-gamer, fending of game balls from his opponent in the second and third games. Drew Rodack won a 3-2 match at No. 5. Chase Brandow also won a 3-2 match at No. 7.
Three days earlier, Shipley defeated Conestoga, 7-2. Maxwell Orr had a consistent game at No. 1; all of the Shipley players from No. 3 (Matthew Kang) to No. 7 (Grant Williams) played particularly well, and co-captains Drew Rodack and Chase Bradow earned clinical wins.
The Shipley girls lost to Conestoga, 8-1, Jan. 10. Senior co-captain Zoe Quayle earned Conestoga’s only victory to remain undefeated.