Haverford High finding its way

As is the case with many area boys' basketball teams, Haverford High is trying early in the season to find its identity.

Tuesday night, in a Central League contest at Harriton, turnovers got the best of the Fords in a 54-39 setback.

"We had a nice win against Upper Darby on Friday," second-year coach Keith Heinerichs said. "Unfortunately, we weren't able to carry that performance over into this game."

Haverford, with 6-foot-3 junior Tom Leibig as its leading scorer, is 2-3 overall and 1-2 in Central League action.

"We have a mix of experienced guys and younger players," Heinerichs said. "One of the things we need to do is take better care of the ball and make that extra pass."

Against Upper Darby, Leibig (13 points) and senior guard Gabe Armando (17 points, five three-pointers) sparked a 49-42 win.

"We're good when we can get four guys in double figures," Heinerichs said.

Harriton, led by Matt Sherman (15 points) and Brandon Winston (14), pulled away from the Fords in the third quarter with an 18-7 burst.

Haverford's other key contributors are 6-1 senior forward Matt Donnelly, junior wing guard Mike O'Halloran, and freshman floor general Jack Donaghy.

Of Donaghy, Heinerichs said, "He's played well in spurts. For a freshman, he shows great poise and leadership."

Also in the mix are 6-4 senior forward Matt Morella and 6-2 junior forward James McWilliams.

Senior combination guard Eddie Durkin has been shelved by a broken hand suffered late in the football season.

Friday at 7 p.m., the Fords will visit Central League rival Ridley, where Heinerichs is a social studies teacher and spent 11 seasons as head coach.

"It's kind of weird coaching against them," he said. "It's a strange feeling. But it's all good. Except for the two times we play them, I wish them the best."

Sunday, Haverford will host a tournament that benefits the Coaches vs. Cancer initiative. The lineup: noon, Sun Valley vs. Ridley; 1:45 p.m., Chichester vs. Cardinal O'Hara; 3:15 p.m., Bonner-Prendergast vs. Haverford; and 5 p.m., Interboro vs. Springfield (Delco).

Holiday staple. The 39th annual Montgomery County Triangle Club tourney is set for next week at Norristown.

It will open at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, with Souderton facing defending champ Central Dauphin East; that will be followed, at about 8:30, by Pope John Paul II vs. Norristown.

Friday, the consolation game will be played at 6:30 p.m., and the final at 8:30. For more information, go to www.triangleclubmc.org/tournament/tournament_2012.html.

Tribute. Father Judge will honor fallen Philadelphia Fire Department lieutenant Robert Neary at halftime of its Catholic League home opener against La Salle on Jan. 4.

A memorial banner will be dedicated to Neary, 60, a Judge grad who died in a five-alarm fire at a Kensington warehouse in April. He started for the Crusaders in the 1969-70 season.

Tap-ins. In six games, Penncrest's Kalvin Simpson, a 6-5 senior, has blocked 21 shots. He is averaging 11.7 rebounds and 8.8 points. . . . Penn Wood's catalysts are Tyree Bynum (22 ppg.), Secean Johnson (16 ppg., 8 rpg., 4 spg.), and Gemil Holbrook (14.4 ppg.). . . . For Friends' Central, senior guard Karonn Davis is averaging 18 points and 5.2 rebounds. Teammate De'Andre Hunter, a 6-4 freshman, has 27 blocks in eight games.

Haverford School has four double-digit scorers: Sean Lloyd (16 ppg., 6 rpg.), Levan "Shawn" Alston (15 ppg., 5 apg.), Eric Anderson (12 ppg., 8 rpg.), and Sema'j Reed (11 ppg., 8 rpg.).

Germantown Academy (4-4) might have to do without senior forwards Earl Edwards (broken hand) and Lou Stevens (shoulder) for the rest of the season. Patriots senior guard Nick Lindner, a Lafayette recruit, is working his way back from a wrist injury.

Archbishop Wood's leaders are juniors Pat Smith (20.2 ppg., 16 treys) and Joe LoStracco (15.2 ppg., 11.5 rpg.). . . . Terry Larrier, a 6-8 junior, is averaging 17.2 points for Phelps.