Tuesday morning’s winter storm left Delaware County blanketed in slushy stuff by midday, badly enough for most high schools to postpone their evening events.
That means the Central League championship doubleheader at Marple Newtown was moved to Thursday. Tipoff times are 6 p.m for the girls and 8 p.m. for the boys.
The No. 1 Haverford (20-3) girls team is aiming for its second consecutive league title. Its opponent, No. 2 Conestoga, is a familiar foe. Last season the Fords bested the Pioneers (21-2) in the final.
Haverford and Conestoga first met in 2023-24 on the opening day of the Central League season Dec. 7. The Pioneers used a big fourth quarter to earn a 47-38 win. The Fords leaned on forward Natalie Wright in the second game Jan. 25. She had a team-high 14 points en route to a 38-27 triumph, handing the previously unbeaten Pioneers their first loss.
“The game plan that we had the second time we played them really worked,” Haverford guard Megan Kelly said following Saturday’s 52-32 decision over No. 5 Penncrest. “The biggest thing for us is going to be defending and playing well as a team.”
As the Fords showed the second time against Conestoga, they do not need their top offensive weapons, junior forward Rian Dotsey and senior guard Aniya Eberhart, to carry them.
“Just knowing that on any given night, any one of us can go and take off with it is really helpful,” Dotsey said.
The Fords limited the Pioneers’ top three of Marisa Francione, Ryann Jennings and Janie Preston to 17 points in the second meeting. Haverford has won nine in a row.
“You know they’re going to be ready for us and I think, at the end of the day, nothing changes for us,” coach Lauren Pellicane said. “It starts with us being able to defend, try to take some of their players out of rhythm and rebound. That’s what we have to do. As we’ve grown during the course of the season we’ve had different kids step up on any given night. I think that’s what is special about this group. This group always defends, … and offensively you’re starting to see some other kids make plays, and that’s what you’re going to need to be successful against Conestoga.”
The Pioneers upended No. 3 Garnet Valley, 51-31, in the semifinal round. The sophomore Jennings amassed 18 points and eight rebounds.
On the boys’ side it’s top-seeded Lower Merion (22-1) and No. 2 Radnor (20-3) in another rematch from 2023’s championship final The Raptors ran away from the Aces in the second half to win by double digits in that game.
Lower Merion has lost only Stow-Munroe (Ohio) over the holiday break. The Aces are the No. 1 seed in the District 1 Class 6A tournament.
Radnor’s worst loss of the season was a 13-point setback to the Aces Jan. 18.
