Games of the Day 12/17

PLACE TO BE TODAY… #BESCENE

Central PA

Reading, PA

Non-League

7:30

HM. Chester Clippers

VS.

#15. Reading Red Knights

The Chester Clippers (3-0) sail into Reading, PA undefeated having beaten Lancaster McCaskey, Newark, and Bayard Rustin. This is the first road test for the HM Clippers. The Reading Red Knights ranked 8th are 3-0 in state, their only loss to St Johns (DC) and have also beat McCaskey along with Williamsport & Overbrook. Unlike, Chester who needed a late game rally to pull off the win, Reading dominated the contest from the jump ball. Now throw all of that information out the window, when these two teams meet there are bound to be plenty of surprises. Reading is lead by ’21 Denim Adams (6-5), Jose “Choco” Brea, Joey Chapman, ’22 Daniel Alcantara (6-4), ’22 Ermil Fleurinvil (6-4), ’21 Moro Osumaro . The Clippers players to watch are ’21 Karell Watkins, Akeem Taylor, Zahmir Carroll (6-5), Rahmee Gilbert.

Eastern PA

Simon Gratz & St. Joe’s Prep

Phila. Public League

3:30

Simon Gratz Bulldogs

vs.

#13. Imhotep Panthers

Phila. Catholic League

3:45

HM. Archbishop Ryan Raiders

VS.

HM. St. Joe’s Prep Hawks

Simon Gratz is 6-0 and #13. Imhotep Charter is 2-2 with two out of state losses. Both schools have defeated William Penn Charter (Philadelphia). Imhotep by 13, 78-65 and Gratz by 3, 71-68. Imhotep is the crowned jewel of the Philadelphia Pub, a crown that Gratz held for years. Imhotep is led by Big man 6-7 Notre Dame Commit Elijah Taylor 22′ Khalif Crawley and Sami Wylie and a bunch of underclassman Ronny Raphael, Rahmir Barno & Justin Edwards Gratz is led by ‘20 5-11 Combo guard Yassir Stover 18 PPG and ‘20 6-5 Ross Carter 12 PPG and Eddie Harris.

At St Joe’s Prep, two PREP SCENE Honorable Mention teams will square off in an early season league contest with major implications. It is never two early to talk about the Palestra in the PCL, the leagues depth is unparalleled across the state and arguably across the nation. Archbishop Ryan (4-1) is lead by Division I recruit’s ‘21 Aaron Lemon-Warren who just tossed in 34 for the Raiders against HM Malvern Prep and 6-4 ‘20 Lithuanian Gediminas Mokseckas along with Dominic Vasquez,… The Hawks start the season 5-0 with thei last win against Palumbo by a score of 103-72, Mike Keenan had 24 points and Brian Geatens finished with 20 points. . SJP is led by 6’3 PG Trevor Wall and and 6-7 ’21 Chris Tomoasco.

Western PA

WPIAL AAAAAA

7:30

#8. Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils

VS.

#14. Butler Golden Tornados

Western PA is in for an early Christmas gift, when two of the best offensive scorers in the region square off tonight. 6-3 Jake Hoffman has led #8 Mt. Lebanon to a 4-0 start and he has produced exactly 30 in every contest. On the other side of the ball, you will have PREP SCENE’S preseason Player of the Year and Purdue commit, Ethan Morton leads #14 Butler. This is a must see game with WPIAL AAAAAA implications. Lebo topped 62-57 in the 2019 WPIAL AAAAA Championship game last season. We have a feeling a 2020 date for the title isn’t’ far fetched.

KEYSTONE ROUND-UP: In Case you missed it…

Freedom boys basketball romps Becahi in final 11 minutes to win Dailey title

That’s when Freedom (2-0) woke up and responded with a 15-2 streak of its own to regain momentum. Senior guard Malek Mims tallied 11 of those points, including the final 2 on a tip-in, making the score 41-34 with 30 seconds left in the third…

Malek Mims finished with 15 points. His twin brother, Caleb, had 19 and senior forward David Barnes registered 13.

-Kyle Craig | lehighvalleylive.com

-Bucks County Courier Times

Gettysburg, New Oxford start seasons with wins

-Tom Sixeas | Times Sports Writer

“Gettysburg and New Oxford could end up being two of the best teams in the Times Area this season in boys basketball.”

*We’ll expand that to “two of the better teams in the entire District III” #BESCENE 👁 G-Quadir Copeland, NO-Abdul Jennah


Watkins’s 17 points help Chester rally past McCaskey

A half time deficit didn’t sit well with Karell Watkins

Watkins scored 17 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, to go with 12 rebounds as Chester rallied past McCaskey, 54-46, at the Fred Pickett Classic.

Matthew De George | papreplive.com

Harris Vorwald leads Cumberland Valley to tourney title; Trinity dominates in opener

PIAA runner-up Trinity blasted York Catholic in the season opener 92-52 behind 10 3-pointers, five of them from Aley Zangari. Division I recruit Chance Westry led with 20 points, aided by Westry’s 18. Marcus Beckett added 11.

Cumberland Valley impressed with a second straight win beating North Penn 59-49 to win the Hershey Tip-Off Tournament behind Harris Vorwald’s 23 points. The Eagles dropped seven 3s, and Max Krevsky pitched in 13 points. Vorwald was named MVP, and Sam Sherry (eight points Saturday) was named to the all-tournament team.

-Sentinel Staff

Fritz leads Marian to overtime win

Fritz scored nine of his team’s 14 points in overtime to lead Marian to a 64-60 win over Jim Thorpe in the season opener for both teams.

The home crowd really motivated me,” said Fritz, who scored a game high 33 points on the night.

-Rich Strack | tnsports.com

WBA boys prevail in debut

The Wilkes-Barre Area era of boys basketball officially began Friday night as the Wolfpack won the first game of the new program’s history with a 68-44 drubbing of Delaware Valley.

Paul Sokoloski – psokoloski@timesleader.com

Loyalsock’s Aiden Gair scores 41 in win against Whitehall

In boys basketball Saturday, Loyalsock defeated Whitehall, 83-71. Tournament MVP Aiden Gair scored a team-high 41 points including eight treys.

-Staff Reporter | Williamsport Sun Gazette

“Cathedral Prep’s Alfonso Pickens scored 18 points for Prep in win over Lake Catholic (OH)” –Erie Times

Indians triumphant in tip-off tourney

Shamokin boys basketball beat Mahanoy Area in the championship game of its annual tip-off tournament on Saturday night, 62-56.

The Indians were led by Joey Masser and Mason Filarski offensively. Masser was able to knock down 10 field goals and added four at the free throw line to score a total of 24 points. Filarski tallied 19 and hit three 3-pointers in the contest.

-Staff Reporter | newsitem.com