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Malvern's Fab Four freshmen explode for 75 points

Call it the Friars' Fab Four. Malvern Prep's four promising freshmen put on quite a show Monday afternoon in a 102-89 triumph over host St. Joseph's Prep at Kelly Fieldhouse.

Call it the Friars' Fab Four.

Malvern Prep's four promising freshmen put on quite a show Monday afternoon in a 102-89 triumph over host St. Joseph's Prep at Kelly Fieldhouse.

Rookies Deuce Turner (38), Isaac White (15), Rahdir Hicks (12), and Spencer Cochran (10) combined for 75 points.

The 6-foot Turner, who scored 21 points in the first half and 17 in the second, played at Chester Springs' Montgomery School before going to Malvern.

"He's a natural scorer," Malvern coach John Harmatuk said. "He can shoot the three-pointer. He can get to the rim. He can score with either hand, and he can take contact and finish."

The Friars shot 62 percent from the field against the Hawks. "We made shots," Harmatuk said. "Everything is great when you're making shots at that rate."

Malvern, which last season went 16-13 overall and 5-5 in Inter-Ac League play, shot 14 for 30 from beyond the arc and 16 for 20 from the line.

Hicks, a 5-10 point guard, has strong hoops bloodlines. His father, Rick, starred at Coatesville and West Chester University. He is in his 10th season as an assistant at Kutztown.

"He might already be the best defensive guard I've ever coached," Harmatuk said. "He's got a real high basketball IQ."

White registered 24 points and seven steals in an 83-56 season-opening win at Friends' Central.

Harmatuk, whose squad took a 2-2 record into Wednesday night's matchup at La Salle, is happy with the way the upperclassmen have welcomed the up-and-coming freshmen.

"The older kids have really embraced the young kids," he said. "The guys have jelled on and off the floor."

The other key contributors for the Friars are senior guards Tommy Wolfe and Ray Baran, both third-year starters; 6-7 senior forward Billy Corcoran; junior guard Billy Devereaux; and sophomore guard Tygee Leach.

Baran, who netted 20 points in a 79-75 loss to Bonner-Prendergast, will play lacrosse at Richmond. Corcoran and Devereaux have committed to play baseball at Pittsburgh and Wake Forest, respectively. Both are righthanded pitchers.

Can Malvern dethrone three-time defending Inter-Ac champ Germantown Academy and claim its first title since 2012?

"I really don't have any expectations," Harmatuk said. "But if we can build on the start we've had, we definitely have a chance to be in the mix."

New in charge

Penn Wood, guided by first-year coach Matt Lindeman, opened with wins over West Catholic (85-56) and Norristown (64-43).

Lindeman, 37, was an assistant under former boss Clyde Jones, now at Girard College, for 10 seasons. He played for Penn Wood in the mid-1990s.

"Just like we did when Clyde was here, we're trying to play fast," Lindeman said. "We have athletic kids."

The Patriots are spurred by a trio of seniors: point guard Kairi Jones and 6-4 forwards Pernell Ghee and Vincent Smalls.

robrien@phillynews.com

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