Boys Basketball: GV clinches title; Springfield ends drought

It’s a rare night in the Central League that features intrigue at both ends of the standings, but Thursday delivered.

Garnet Valley walloped Lower Merion, 77-32, to claim the regular-season title, and Springfield bested Marple Newtown, 66-57, to end to a 44-game losing streak.

First, the pinnacle of the Central League, where Garnet Valley (18-1, 14-1 Central) ran out to 24-8 lead after one quarter and 51-10 at half to avenge its only loss of the season and clinch its first Central League crown.

The Jaguars hit 14 3-pointers on the night. Chris Coyne led the onslaught with a career-high 18 points. Neel Beniwal supplied all 16 of his points in the first half. Valantis Apstolopoulos added 14 points, and Carl Schaller made the operation run with nine points and 10 assists.

Also in the Central League:

Springfield 66, Marple Newtown 57 >> The Cougars (1-19, 1-13) are winless no more, thanks to Michael Hoey scoring 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, including a 7-for-9 performance at the line. It’s Springfield’s first win since Jan. 31, 2018.

M’khai Terry scored a career-high 16 points, hitting four 3-pointers, and Cole Rhodes added 12 points.

Ben Davis scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth to try to drag Marple Newtown back in touch, but a 21-9 disadvantage in the third quarter was too much to overcome as the Tigers (8-12, 5-9) lost for the eighth time in nine games. Mike Tansey and Ryan Straub added nine points each.

Strath Haven 50, Penncrest 47 >> Luke Edwards hoisted a 3-pointer from just shy of midcourt at the buzzer as the Panthers won their fourth straight game.

Edwards had a game-high 16 points. Justin Morris added 10 for Strath Haven (13-6, 8-6).

Marquis Tomlin led Penncrest (15-5, 9-5) with 14 points. Saahir Lee added 12.

Radnor 70, Harriton 58 >> Jack D’Entremont tallied a game-high 29 points as the Raiders put up 51 points in the final two quarters to win going away. Lew Robinson added 21 points as Radnor (12-8, 7-7) shot 31-for-38 from the free-throw line.

Conestoga 66, Ridley 51 >> Where to begin in this seesaw contest? Ridley trailed 20-4 after one quarter, rallied with a 21-2 edge in the second to take a halftime lead and then conceded 30 fourth-quarter points as the Pioneers got the final say.

Josh Howard led Ridley (9-9, 7-7) with 18 points. Jack Grace hit three 3-pointers for 11 points, and Josh Hagan added nine.

Austin Fontaine led Conestoga with 16 points, and Jerry Miller added 15.

In the Del Val League:

Chester 78, Chichester 58 >> Karell Watkins continued his recent tear, scoring 15 of his 32 points in the third quarter and adding 12 rebounds for Chester (15-3, 7-0). Zahmir Carroll (12 points), Fareed Burton (11) and Akeem Taylor (10) joined Watkins in double-figures.

Josh Hankins led Chichester (8-10, 2-4) with 14 points, and Jasir Shaw chipped in 11 as Chi’s three-game winning streak ended.

Academy Park 60, Interboro 28 >> Namir Simmons scored 15 points, Derrick Northern added 13 points and Kenneth Wright chipped in 10 as the Knights (13-7, 4-3) hit nine 3-pointers to bounce back with a solid win.

Logan McCaffrey and Josh Asadi scored six points each for the Bucs (1-17, 0-6).

In the Bicentennial League:

Delco Christian 86, Calvary Christian 74 >> Josh Parks couldn’t miss, canning eight 3-pointers for a career-high 26 points in a game that featured 20 made 3-pointers and five Knights starters in double figures.

Obinna Nwobodo tallied 18 points, Jackson Piotrowski chipped in 14, including a 10-for-10 day at the line. Earle Greer hit two triples for 13 points, and Jordan Mitchell chipped in 10 for DC (13-6, 10-3).

Christian Academy 67, Faith Christian 50 >> Make it seven straight wins for the Crusaders, with Grant Sareyka and Sam Geathers supplying 20 points each. Sareyka added seven rebounds and six steals. Isaiah Mitchell paired 13 points with seven rebounds, six assists and four steals for TCA (15-4, 13-0).