Main Line roundup (Dec. 26): Lower Merion boys basketball downs Conestoga in home opener

The Lower Merion High School boys basketball team opened up the home portion of its 2022-2023 schedule Dec. 20 and gave its fans plenty to cheer about, defeating visiting Conestoga, 71-49.
Through the years the Aces and Pioneers have engaged in plenty of close games and this one started off looking like it was going to add another chapter. In the first eight minutes the game featured three ties and four lead changes and finished with Lower Merion leading 17-15 after the Aces’ John Mobley hit a free throw.
When the second quarter started, the Aces turned up the defensive pressure and methodically built up a 13-point lead after opening the quarter on an 11-0 run, thanks to back-to-back traditional three-point plays from Mobley and Sam Wright, a three-pointer from Owen McCabe and a pair of free throws from Sam Brown.
Conestoga sliced the lead to 33-27 in the beginning of the second half with a Ben Robinson basket, and then came within seven at 37-30 on a Robinson trey midway through the third period. That was the closest they would get, with Lower Merion’s defense proving to be too much in the end. The Aces opened the fourth quarter with a 14-4 run to build a 62-38 lead.
Leading the way for the Aces was Sam Brown and Sam Wright with 19 and 14 points, respectively. Lower Merion’s John Mobley and Carson Kasmer added nine each. Conestoga was paced by Ben Robinson with 12 points and Brian Schubert with nine.
The Main Line local roundup is compiled from high school game summaries sent to badams@mainlinemedianews.com. Main Line high school sports action for the period ending Dec. 26 was as follows:
Girls basketball
Agnes Irwin defeated Barrack Hebrew Academy, 69-33, Dec. 20. Leading scorers for AIS were Gabrielle Siebert with 18 points, Simone Harvey with 16 points (including four treys), and both Mariyn Dwyer and Grace Getz with eight points.
Conestoga defeated Upper Darby, 70-34, Dec. 22. The Pioneers were led by freshman Ryann Jennings (14 points), sophomore Ruth Lanouette (9 points, five steals, three rebounds), junior Marisa Francione (seven points, four rebounds, three assists), freshman Maggie Neary (seven points, three rebounds), sophomore Janie Preston (seven points, six rebounds, three assists), junior Arielle LePage (seven points) and junior Katrina Valencia (six points, four assists, three steals). The Pioneers made 27 field goals on 18 assists.
Two days earlier, Conestoga defeated Lower Merion, 57-19. For the Pioneers, freshman Ryann Jennings tallied 16 points and nine rebounds, junior Bella Valencia scored eight points (including two treys), freshman Maggie Neary had seven points, four rebounds and three assists and sophomore Ruth Lanouette had five assists and three rebounds. Conestoga made 18 field goals, with 14 assists.
Merion Mercy Academy lost to Villa St. Joe, 53-36, Dec. 20. Mary Kate Gray led Merion Mercy with 17 points and Julia Richardson added 11.
Villa Maria Academy improved to 7-0 with a 54-47 win against Academy of Notre Dame Dec. 22. The Hurricanes got off to an 11-4 lead, then outscored the Irish 19-13 in the final period. Villa Maria featured a balanced attack, with six players scoring six points or more, and no one tallying more than nine. Leading scorers were Alice Nash (nine points), Clare Cronley (nine), Marah McHugh (nine), Elaina Guerzon (eight), Carly Catania (seven) and Ava Irvine (six). For Academy of Notre Dame, Katie Halligan scored 13 points, and both Annie Greek and Catie Kelly chipped in with 11.