Central League Standouts: PIAA District 1 Tournaments

<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Top-Performers-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1048356 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Top-Performers-1-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" /></a>This year the District 1 5A and 6A tournaments featured a single elimination format. So Central League participants – Garnet Valley (received 6A 1st Rd bye), Lower Merion (received 6A 1st Rd bye), Conestoga (received 6A 1st Rd bye), Marple-Newtown (5A), Haverford (6A), and Strath Haven (6A) – needed to bring their best efforts from the opening game or it would be one and done this March. Regardless of the results, the District 1 tourney games produced numerous outstanding performances by CAL prospects. Prep Hoops is here to highlight those outstanding individual performances from southeastern Pennsylvania’s District 1 5A and 6A tournament games. 1st Round: [player_tooltip player_id="991049" first="Luke" last="Edwards"] – 6’2’’/ Senior / Strath Haven / Shooting Guard: A 2019-20 1st Team All-League selection and 1,000 point scorer Edwards ended his high school career in a blaze of glory. One of the best uncommitted seniors in suburban Philly. Edwards drained 6 threes on his way to 32 points. Unfortunately that outstanding effort wasn’t enough as the Panthers lost to North Penn, 68-62 in this 6A contest. Strath Haven finished 8-5 on the season. Eric McKee – 6’3” / Junior / Marple Newtown / Small Forward: McKee has been a great running mate for Marple’s Mike Tansey (see below) all season and that trend continued in the District 1-5A tournament as McKee notched 14 points in a W (56-39) over Chichester. [player_tooltip player_id="990994" first="John" last="Seidman"] – 6’3’’ / Senior / Haverford / Point-Forward: Unfortunately for senior standout Seidman, Haverford dropped a 48-46 heartbreaker to Upper Dublin in the opening round of the District 1-6A tournament. However, the 2019-20 1st Team All-Delaware County guard and 1,000 point scorer ended his high school career in style with a 27 point effort. Mike Tansey – 6’0” / Senior / Marple Newtown / Combo Guard: Tansey’s outstanding play down the home stretch of the regular season was a huge reason the Tigers went 6-2 in their last 8 games. In the District 1-5A 1st Round contest against Chichetser, Tansey took his game to another level. Marple’s floor leader scored 27 points (4/4 on threes) in a 56-39 win for the Tigers. 2nd Round: [player_tooltip player_id="991391" first="Sam" last="Brown"] – 6’2’’ / Sophomore / Lower Merion / Shooting Guard: The smooth shooting Brown scored 14 points in a win over Downingtown West as the Aces rebounded from a Covid-19 pause that shredded the end of their regular season to advance in the District 1-6A tourney. Sam Davison – 5’10’’ / Senior / Lower Merion / Combo Guard: After missing his junior season in order to rehab a torn ACL, Davison has posted an outstanding senior season as a perimeter threat and defensive menace. His 2nd Round effort continued that stretch of stellar play as Davison recorded a 15 point night in LM’s District 1-6A 2nd Round win over Downingtown West. Justin Langan – 6’2’’/ Senior / Garnet Valley / Small Forward: Langan’s hot shooting continues into the post season as he drained 3 threes on his way to 17 points in a District 1-6A win (69-41) over Upper Dublin. That effort marked the sixth game this winter that Langan has splashed home 3 or more treys. [caption id="attachment_1152840" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Demetrius-Lilley-2022-3-crop-378x248-1616168258.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1152840 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Demetrius-Lilley-2022-3-crop-378x248-1616168258-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="991216" first="Demetrius" last="Lilley"] (C/O 2022) from Lower Merion. Photo: Lower Merion Athletics[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="991216" first="Demetrius" last="Lilley"] – 6’9’’ / Junior / Lower Merion / Forward-Center: The Central League’s double-double machine went bananas in LM’s District 1-6A 2nd round win over Downingtown West. ‘Define bananas’, you say. Okay…31 points (3 threes), 20 rebounds and 4 blocks. That’s bananas. Eric McKee – 6’3” / Junior / Marple Newtown / Small Forward: McKee’s junior season came to a crashing halt as Marple suffered a 56-40 loss to the D1-5A heavy favorite Chester. McKee scored 11 points in the final game of the season for Marple Newtown (11-8). [player_tooltip player_id="990991" first="Carl" last="Schaller"] – 5’10” / Senior / Garnet Valley / Point Guard: The 2019-20 Central League MVP continues to post another MVP caliber season as he scored 19 points in Garnet Valley’s 69-41 win over Upper Dublin. Mike Tansey – 6’0” / Senior / Marple Newtown / Combo Guard: Tansey’s outstanding career at Marple-Newtown came to a close with an 11 point night in Marple’s loss to District 1-5A basketball powerhouse Chester. Quarter Finals: Sam Davison – 5’10’’ / Senior / Lower Merion / Combo Guard: One of the most underrated seniors in suburban Philadelphia, Davison continued his season of high level play by scoring 18 points in LM’s District 1-6A win over Cheltenham. Justin Langan – 6’2’’/ Senior / Garnet Valley / Small Forward: Langan is arguably one of the best shooters in the Central League and he showed that again by scoring 16 points on mid-range Js and 2 threes during the Jaguars D1-6A win over Perkiomen Valley. [player_tooltip player_id="991216" first="Demetrius" last="Lilley"] – 6’9’’ / Junior / Lower Merion / Forward-Center: Cheltenham did their best, but even their intense, high pressure defense could not prevent another double-double game from Lilley. This time the big fella posted 12 points and 10 boards in a 59-50 District 1-6A win by the Aces. [player_tooltip player_id="990991" first="Carl" last="Schaller"] – 5’10” / Senior / Garnet Valley / Point Guard: The [player_tooltip player_id="990991" first="Carl" last="Schaller"] show rolled on as the odds on favorite to be the 2020-21 Central League MVP scored 26 points in Garnet Valley’s 63-38 District 1-6A blowout of Perkiomen Valley. Semifinals: If you are following along, then by now you realize that Central League foes Garnet Valley (#4 seed) and Lower Merion (#9 seed) faced each other in one of the District 1-6A semifinals. Lower Merion defeated Garnet Valley, 56-41. The usual suspects from both teams performed well in that contest. [caption id="attachment_1152844" align="alignleft" width="200"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Carl-Schaller-2021-2.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1152844 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Carl-Schaller-2021-2-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="990991" first="Carl" last="Schaller"] (C/O 2021) from Garnet Valley. Photo: Garnet Valley Athletics[/caption] Sam Davison – 5’10’’ / Senior / Lower Merion / Combo Guard: Davison’s senior season to remember continues thanks to his 14 point (2 threes) contribution to the Aces win. Justin Langan – 6’2’’/ Senior / Garnet Valley / Small Forward: Langan splashed home 3 threes and totaled 15 points overall for Garnet Valley, but it wasn’t enough. The loss ends an outstanding season for Langan who will likely receive All-Central League honors of some nature. [player_tooltip player_id="991216" first="Demetrius" last="Lilley"] – 6’9’’ / Junior / Lower Merion / Forward-Center: Garnet Valley held Lilley in check earlier this season (a 68-52 win by GV), but they could not duplicate that performance in this District semifinal game. The result was that Lilley tallied 18 points and 9 rebounds and LM advanced to the D1-6A championship game. [player_tooltip player_id="990991" first="Carl" last="Schaller"] – 5’10” / Senior / Garnet Valley / Point Guard: Over the last two years Schaller was one of the most enjoyable players to watch in the Central League. His high school playing days came to a close with a solid 14 point performance. However Schaller will play at the next level (committed to Gettysburg College) so the exciting lead guard has plenty of games remaining in his basketball career. Final: In the District 1-6A Championship Game Lower Merion defeated Abington by a score of 62-41. The win earned the Aces a birth in the PIAA 6A state tournament. The usual suspects played well for LM. [player_tooltip player_id="991391" first="Sam" last="Brown"] – 6’3’’ / Sophomore / Lower Merion / Shooting Guard: The smooth shooting lefty had been quiet since the 2nd Round, but in the ‘chip game he reemerged and contributed 15 points; 4 rebs; and 3 assists. Sam Davison – 5’10’’ / Senior / Lower Merion / Combo Guard: The Aces do-everything backcourt player recorded a stat line of 13 points; 8 dimes and 4 steals. The fact that Davison is not drawing significant DII/DIII interest is a crime. [player_tooltip player_id="991216" first="Demetrius" last="Lilley"] – 6’9’’ / Junior / Lower Merion / Forward-Center: In a shocking turn of events, Lilley posted a double-double. This one of the 31/10 variety. Lilley also showed off his developing outside jumper by connecting on four 3PAs. Prep Hoops is going to continue to give you the best in-season content, so watch out for more as the 2021 PIAA state high school boys’ basketball tournament moves along.