Boys Basketball Preview: Doyle, Penncrest back with high Central League hopes
Garnet Valley’s journey to the top of the Central League last season wasn’t easy. Its battle to stay there won’t be, either.
A veteran-laden squad led the Jaguars to a 17-4 record in 2021, including a first Central League title and the semifinals of the District 1 Class 6A tournament. But with All-Delco Carl Schaller among four departing seniors, the reloading this season will require new faces to step up.
Max Koehler played big minutes as a sophomore, averaging 7.2 points per game. He’ll have to assume a larger role, as close to the Schaller responsibilities as possible. Ryan Wootten also proved an ability to hit big shots in 2021, averaging 4.9 ppg.
Ryan Faccenda will be elevated from sixth man to the starting lineup. In Jake Sniras and Logan McKee, this year’s Jaguars have more height than usual.
Like Garnet Valley, Haverford is tasked with turning the page on the era of one of the program’s brightest players. John Seidman is gone, the 1,000-point-scoring All-Delco having impacted every aspect of the Fords’ game the last three years.
Many of his supporting players will see roles expanding. Googie Seidman, who played as a freshman, will as a junior become the team’s primary long-range shooting threat. Nick Colucci is a capable shooter who can also attack off the dribble. And senior guard JR Newman has the all-around game to lead the way defensively and on the boards. Newman and Colucci were the team’s second- and third-leading scorers last year, respectively.
Senior Colin Reynolds and a bumper crop of juniors – Brian Weiner, Kevin Gannon, Tommy Wright – that saw some action last season will get their chances in the rotation.
Penncrest endured a rare losing season in 2021, but the Lions return most of their key pieces. They also get coach Mike Doyle back, after he coached remotely during the 2021 season as a health precaution. The big exception is Denzel Atkinson-Boyer, with his shot-altering and rebounding in the lane.
Meanwhile, Saahir Lee will run the point again, and Ben Stanton will be called upon to take a larger offensive role. Lee averaged 15.4 points per game last season, with Stanton at 10.4.
Bolstered by a strong football season, Jimmy Cage will be a backcourt rotation piece and tenacious defender. Quinten Perrilli. Garrett Whitfield, Chase Wilson and Branden Hemphill all got some taste of varsity last year.
Football was unkind to Strath Haven, as it’ll deprive the Panthers of point guard Matt Shuler for at least the first month of the season after the running back suffered a shoulder injury in the PIAA tournament. Jason Williams, projected as the team’s starting center, will also miss time.
That leaves coach Chris Conlan with a lot of work to do to return to districts for a third straight season. It was already difficult enough to replace the 17.0 points per game scored by second-team All-Delco Luke Edwards before factoring in the 11.9 that Shuler contributed.
Jaden Jauregui was a valuable rotation piece as a freshman, but he’ll have a much larger role in 2021. The same is true for Jack Edwards. Aidan Sutherland, Chase Nangle and Ryan Doherty offer Conlan options as solid multi-sport athletes.
Off an 11-win season that included a District 1 postseason victory, Marple Newtown has a lot of voids to fill. But 10 seniors mean ample candidates to do so.
Replacing Mike Tansey (11.3 ppg) and Ryan Straub (9.2) won’t be easy. But the Tigers have their second-leading scorer back in forward Owen Mathes, plus fourth-leading scorer Eric McKee, which is the foundation of a strong inside-out game. Justin DiBona will take on more ball-handling duties in addition to his long-range shooting. Johnny Small and Matt Cantwell are among the reserves from last year who will likely see more minutes.
Jackson Hicke was a revelation as a sophomore for Radnor. A year older and stronger, he’s leading the way for the Raptors this season, after averaging 12.7 ppg in 2021.
The ball-handling duties assumed for three seasons by Lew Robinson will have to fall into new hands. Three-year contributor Daniel Rosenblum is the most likely candidate. He averaged 9.0 ppg last year. Charlie Thornton and Pierce Justice were valuable cogs in the rotation, and Cooper Mueller is among the young players tabbed to join that group.
Springfield made progress with a six-win season in 2021, but graduation and the transfer of Terrence Cobb to Chester means the Cougars return only one of their top four scorers. That’s Mike Hoey, who started as a freshman and averaged 7.2 ppg as a sophomore. Mike O’Donnell, Luke D’Ambrosio and Andrew Gould had limited roles in 2021 but are in line for greater responsibilities. Aidan Kreydt, a junior Saint Joseph’s lacrosse commit, is among the multi-sport athletes who’ll bolster the rotation.
COVID issues limited Upper Darby to just 10 games in 2021. But there were flashes of brilliance, including a playoff win over Radnor.
Much of the roster is new. Only Jamier Burnett (2.8 ppg) logged consequential minutes in 2021. Fellow senior Moussa Sore will join him in the backcourt, while Alonzo Goode and Ibrahima Fofana anchor the frontcourt.
Tahir Mills was Ridley’s leading scorer last season at 12.3 points per game in an 2-8 campaign. He’ll be back for the Green Raiders with sophomore sharpshooter Austin McCaughan.
