Strawberry Mansion wins what may be its final home opener in boys' basketball
A former Strawberry Mansion player himself, coach Matt Johnson gathered his players before Thursday's Public League boys' basketball game. "I said if this was going to be our last home opener, then we better make it count," Johnson said.
A former Strawberry Mansion player himself, coach Matt Johnson gathered his players before Thursday's Public League boys' basketball game.
"I said if this was going to be our last home opener, then we better make it count," Johnson said.
A few hours after they learned Strawberry Mansion is one of 11 high schools slated for closure at the end of the school year, the Knights rallied in overtime to edge visiting Paul Robeson, 65-64.
Donovan Barnes led the way with 27 points, including six in the extra period. Gary Nicholson's pair of free throws with four seconds left sealed the win.
LeRon Epps scored 27 points for Robeson.
"We're going to fight [the closing]," said Johnson, who was a freshman on the Knights' 2003 league title team.
Also in the Public League, Carroll used Jerome Blume's 18 points and 19 rebounds to down Douglas, 65-45. Jamier Cross added 24 points for Carroll, which is also slated to be closed.
"They played with a lot of heart and played with Carroll on their jersey," coach Mike Gardner said. "They took pride in that."
Berney Vailsante and James Cottrell had four blocks each as Fels edged West Philadelphia, 57-53.
Ches-Mont. Twin brothers Chas and Jason McCormick combined for 15 fourth-quarter points to lift West Chester Henderson over visiting Bishop Shanahan, 64-57.
The brothers, both guards, combined to hit seven of eight foul shots in the fourth. Jason McCormick finished with 25 points and Chas added 20.
Bicentennial. John Kane grabbed 11 rebounds to go along with 14 points as Devon Prep topped host MaST Charter, 56-37.
Ryan Rigby grabbed seven rebounds and scored 12 points as Bristol rolled over visiting George School, 42-20.
Nonleague. Jamir Taylor hit a driving layup with one minute left to seal Del-Val Charter's 37-34 win over visiting Malvern Prep. Malik Smith led the way with 10 points.
Notre Dame-bound senior Stephen Vasturia scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds as St. Joseph's Prep eased past visiting Boys' Latin, 68-41. Chris Clover chipped in with 18 points and seven rebounds.
Kenyatta Long's eight assists and 14 points lifted visiting Bishop McDevitt over Germantown Friends, 66-54.
Girls' Basketball
Freshman Libby Tacka came off the bench and proved to be the charge Mount St. Joseph needed on Thursday afternoon to turn back Villa Maria, 41-33, in a Catholic Academies game.
The guard scored all nine of her points in the second half, hit a crucial three-pointer, and played strong man-to-man defense.
"For a freshman to step up in that type of atmosphere is just terrific," said Magic coach John Miller.
The Mount outscored Villa, 8-0, in overtime as Alex Louin converted all five of her foul shots. The sophomore guard finished with 16 points.
Lisa Mirachi, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, scored a team-high 14 points for Villa.
Also in the Catholic Academies, Kalee Fuegel scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds to lift St. Basil over visiting Nazareth Academy, 62-42. Molly Greenberg aided the effort with four steals and seven points.
Caroline Corzel scored a team-high 10 points as Merion Mercy topped Sacred Heart, 40-21. Tina DiGiacomos chipped in with five points.
Inter-Ac. Megan Quinn had 20 points and Sarah Abbonizio added 14 as Episcopal Academy cruised past Baldwin, 56-29.
Nonleague. Charlotte Kucowski's game-high 21 points lifted St. Hubert over visiting Germantown Friends, 61-22.
Maddie Dew scored all 12 of her points after the first quarter as Downingtown West topped Springfield (Delco), 48-42.