The Lower Merion High School boys’ basketball team, in the PIAA state tournament for the 15th consecutive year (currently longest streak in PIAA boys basketball), lost to Roman Catholic, 74-63, March 8 in the opening round of the PIAA 6A state tourney.
Roman (22-5), the third seed from District 12, led by 19 points at halftime, 44-25.
Rashyne Patterson kept Lower Merion (20-7) in the game with 23 points and eight rebounds. He had more than half of the Aces’ points at the break, 13 of 25 for a team down a normal starter in Lamont Grier. Sam’i Singletary added 15 points and four assists. Gus Wright chipped in with 13 points.
Wright and fellow senior Carson Kasmer finished their Lower Merion careers tied with former Ace Justin McFadden with 101 career wins in four years.
In other PIAA basketball state tournament action:
Devon Prep, the PIAA 3A defending state champion, earned a 77-63 win against Bishop McDevitt in the PIAA 4A state tournament opener March 7. Reece Craft and Zane Conlon combined for 42 points for the Tide (20-5), and Conlon reached the 1,000 point milestone with his last basket of the evening. Shane Doyle added 16 points and Mason Thear chipped in with 14.
Coming off the program’s first District 12 crown, the Tide advanced to the state quarterfinals, where they faced Eastern York, the second seed from District 3, Tuesday.
Archbishop Carroll won its PIAA 6A girls basketball tourney opener, 61-42, against Council Rock South. The Patriots (18-9) were led by Alexa Eberz with 16 points (including four treys), six rebounds and three assists, and Kayla Eberz, who tallied 15 points and three rebounds. Abbie McFillin added 13 points, four rebounds and two steals. The Patriots faced Wilson, the fifth seed from District 3, Tuesday in the second round of the PIAA 6A state tourney.
Haverford (girls) defeated Easton Area, 52-50, in overtime in its PIAA 6A state tournament opener. Grace Maloney gave Haverford the lead for good with a layup with 35 seconds left in overtime. Rian Dotsey hit a big free throw in the final seconds to help provide the final margin. Dotsey had 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Natalie Wright led the Fords with 18 points. Megan Kelly hit three 3-pointers to tally nine.The Fords, who overcame a 12-point halftime deficit, advanced to the second round to play Downingtown East on Tuesday.
Villa Maria Academy earned a 54-45 win against Dallas in its PIAA 5A state tournament opener, led by Ava Broadhurst, who scored 11 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter. Villa (15-12) survived a second quarter in which they missed all 13 of their field goal attempts and managed only two points against Dallas (10-9). The Hurricanes outscored Dallas, 39-25, in the second half, including 20-12 in the fourth quarter.
The win propelled Villa into the second round against District 12 champion and defending PIAA titleist Archbishop Wood Tuesday.
Sacred Heart Academy defeated Lancaster County Christian, 37-32, in the opening round of the PIAA Class A tourney. The District 1 champion Lions (17-7) had 12 points in the first half, hoisting 17 3-point attempts and making only two, but Dani Jeffries had eight second-half points to rally Sacred Heart. Jeffries also dished out four assists. Keara McCaffrey had five rebounds and two steals for Sacred Heart, while teammates Megan Donahoe and Grace Brown chipped in with 12 points and nine points, respectively.
Wrestling
Radnor’s Jayden Lee finished sixth at 114 pounds in the PIAA 3A state wrestling championships March 8. In the PIAA girls wrestling tournament, Conestoga senior Lauren Sweet placed eighth at 148 pounds.
