5 SEPA Games to Watch This Week

[caption id="attachment_1396143" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/IMG_20211223_151612531_HDR-crop-2291x1504-1646059584.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1396143 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/IMG_20211223_151612531_HDR-crop-2291x1504-1646059584-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="991324" first="Luke" last="Boyd"] (C/O 2022) from Archbishop Ryan.[/caption] Below is a preview of five southeastern Pennsylvania games we are looking forward to watching the week of February 27th, 2022. This week’s slate features two district semifinal games, as well as a district championship tilt, and the Philadelphia Catholic League title contest. Mon., Feb. 28th…Neumann-Goretti vs. Archbishop Ryan: The Palestra will be the site of the 2022 Philly Catholic League championship game. Goretti’s electric point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1116063" first="Robert" last="Wright III"] led the PCL in scoring this season at 19.3 ppg. and put on a show in the Saints PCL semi-final win – 20 points and 4 steals. When you combine Wright III with interior force [player_tooltip player_id="1279647" first="Sultan" last="Adewale"] (12.4 ppg.) and combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="991316" first="Masud" last="Stewart"] (11.4 ppg.; 40% on threes), you have a trio of player who can get buckets. Big fella [player_tooltip player_id="1213553" first="Thomas" last="Sorber"] will lead Archbishop Ryan. Sorber averaged a double-double (16.5 pts & 10 rebs per) during the regular season and was a 1st Team All-PCL selection. Sorber will get significant help from perimeter threats [player_tooltip player_id="991324" first="Luke" last="Boyd"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1192641" first="Darren" last="Williams"]. Both Boyd (15.3 ppg.) and Williams (13 ppg.) shot over 34% from three this season. Tue., Mar. 1st…Cheltenham vs. Lower Merion: This District 1-6A semifinal will feature two teams having historic seasons. Cheltenham (#1 seed) owns a 25-0 record and captured the Suburban One League regular season as well as tournament titles. Three prospects have really stood out for Cheltenham this winter: 3-point sharpshooter Rasheem Dearry, slashing wing Justin Savage and standout freshman [player_tooltip player_id="1379428" first="Josiah" last="Hutson"]. Dearry is a physical, 6’3” guard who in addition to splashing triples, can score at the rim. Savage is superb in transition and plays above the rim. Hutson grabbed headlines earlier this season when he registered multiple 20 point runs and splashed home 6 threes in a game. Lower Merion (#2 seed) also posted a tremendous season. The Aces won the Central League regular season and tournament ‘chips while racking up 20 wins along the way. Lower Merion big fella [player_tooltip player_id="991216" first="Demetrius" last="Lilley"] (Penn State commit) continues to dominate on the interior. He is averaging 25 ppg. during this District 1 tourney. LM’s elite scoring guard [player_tooltip player_id="991391" first="Sam" last="Brown"] (three DI offers) is an elite perimeter threat. Tue., Mar. 1st…Norristown vs. Methacton: In the other District 1-6A semifinal contest 12th seeded Norristown will have to play a near perfect game to upset top seeded Methacton. The good news in Norristown has the talent to play at that elevated level. Combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="1382950" first="Zaki" last="Gomez"] (11.3 ppg.) is a high energy prospect who can score in bunches from behind the arc or using his floater game. Fellow seniors DJ Johnson and John DiNolfi can make major contributions in this game as well. Of course, Methacton (23-2) boasts one of suburban Philadelphia’s best one-two punches in small forward [player_tooltip player_id="991198" first="Cole" last="Hargrove"] (15.5 ppg.) and combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="1200797" first="Brett" last="Byrne"] (13.2 ppg.). Additionally, expect Methacton’s combo-guard [player_tooltip player_id="1200783" first="Cam" last="Chilson"] to have an impact on this game. [caption id="attachment_1344050" align="alignleft" width="279"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Lively-Dereck.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1344050" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Lively-Dereck-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="279" height="209" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="991185" first="Dereck" last="Lively II"] (C/O 2022) from Westtown School.[/caption] Fri., Mar. 4th…Academy of the New Church vs. Westtown School: Over the weekend it took a game winning 3-pointer by All-American [player_tooltip player_id="991185" first="Dereck" last="Lively II"] for Westtown to defeat Malvern Prep and advance to the PAISAA Tournament semifinals. Now they face FSL rival ANC for a ticket to the championship game. The two teams played back in mid-February for the FSL tournament title and ‘Town won that contest 60-52. ANC’s elite trio of [player_tooltip player_id="1119147" first="Elmarko" last="Jackson"], [player_tooltip player_id="991213" first="Anthony" last="McCall"] and Gabe Harris will be out for revenge and to end Westtown’s state tournament dominance. However, Lively II as well as fellow seniors [player_tooltip player_id="991188" first="Jameel" last="Brown"] (Penn State commit) and [player_tooltip player_id="1379563" first="Quin" last="Berger"] are intent on adding one more state title to their high school hoops resumes. Sat., Mar. 5th…Chester vs. Radnor: The District1-5A championship game will be match-up of stalwart defensive teams. Radnor (22-3; #1 seed) will employ a zone-trap press and then fall back into a suffocating man-to-man defense spear headed by guards [player_tooltip player_id="1200791" first="Cooper" last="Mueller"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1200819" first="Danny" last="Rosenblum"]. Chester (18-5; #2 seed) will counter with different versions of a full court press that typically produce a slew of turnovers. On offense Radnor is paced by shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id="1119137" first="Jackson" last="Hicke"] (18 points & 9 rebounds in semis) and wing [player_tooltip player_id="1212678" first="Charlie" last="Thornton"] (11 ppg.) For Chester, sophomore shooting guard Kevin Rucker (27 points & 11 boards in semis) will supply the bulk of the scoring. However, also keep an eye on Chester’s [player_tooltip player_id="991400" first="Larenzo" last="Jerkins"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1187903" first="Kyree" last="Womack"]. Both players are solid college prospects.