5 SEPA State Tourney Games to Watch This Week
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[player_tooltip player_id="1379441" first="Josiah" last="Jordan"] (C/O 2023) of Berks Catholic. Below is a preview of five southeastern Pennsylvania games we are looking forward to watching the week of March 6th, 2022. This week’s slate features five opening round games from PIAA…
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Continue ReadingBelow is a preview of five southeastern Pennsylvania games we are looking forward to watching the week of March 6th, 2022. This week’s slate features five opening round games from PIAA state tournament action.
Tues., Mar 8th…Archbishop Carroll at Berks Catholic: This 4A opening round contest will pit Archbishop Carroll (12-10) out of the Philadelphia Catholic League against District 3-4A champion Berks Catholic (23-4). It was a roller coaster season at Carroll, but with sensational scoring lead guard Moses Hipps Moses Hipps 6'4" | SG AZ Compass Prep | 2024 State AZ (18.3 ppg; 2nd Team All-PCL) at the helm, anything is possible — including a deep state tourney run. Hipps has a fantastic running mate in Dean Coleman-Newsome Dean Coleman-Newsome 6'2" | PG Archbishop Carroll | 2023 State PA (14 ppg. & 6.5 rpg.), who is an elite combo guard with a speedy first step. Berks Catholic has an outstanding duo of its own. Josiah Jordan Josiah Jordan 5'11" | PG Berks Catholic | 2023 State PA (15.4 ppg.) is an ultra-quick, dribble drive threat who gets to the tin at will. Senior point-forward Aidan Sands (11.6 ppg.) is a unique prospect we have been tracking all season.
Tues., Mar 8th…Allentown Central Catholic at West Philadelphia: Allentown CC (21-5) is the defending PIAA 4A state champions and this season’s roster returns the all-state duo of Liam Joyce Liam Joyce 6'6" | PF Allentown Central Catholic | 2022 State PA and Tyson Thomas Tyson Thomas 6'1" | PG Allentown Central Catholic | 2022 State PA . That pair has been getting significant help from interior standout David Fridia David Fridia 6'6" | PF Allentown Central Catholic | 2024 State PA . Fridia also added a dependable 3-point shot this season and can now operate as a stretch-4. West Philly (19-5) had their best regular seasons in recent history and made a post season run to the District 12-4A finals where they lost to Imhotep. The Speedboys roster features two of the Philadelphia Public League’s top players in Deyishon Miller Deyishon Miller 6'4" | SF West Philadelphia | 2022 State PA (21 ppg.; 5.5 apg. & 8.5 rpg.) and Elijah Hester Elijah Hester 5'11" | PG West Philadelphia | 2023 State PA (8 ppg. & 4 apg.). How a prospect with Miller’s size, quickness and skills remains uncommitted is a complete mystery.
Tues., Mar 8th…West York at Archbishop Ryan: For this 5A first round game, West York (24-4; YAIAA Tournament Champs) travels to Northeast Philadelphia to take on Philly Catholic League runner up Archbishop Ryan (18-7). If West York is going to pull off the upset, the Bulldogs will need a huge night from their standout players Jaden Walker and Braedyn Detz. This season Archbishop Ryan rode big man Thomas Sorber Thomas Sorber 6'9" | C Archbishop Ryan | 2024 State #58 Nation PA to the PCL championship game, and they will do the same here in the state tournament. Sorber averaged a double-double (16.5 pts & 10 rebs per) during the regular season and was a 1st Team All-PCL selection. On the perimeter Ryan has a pair of prospects who shot over 34% from three this season — Luke Boyd Luke Boyd CG Archbishop Ryan | 2022 State PA (15.3 ppg.) and Darren Williams Darren Williams 6'4" | SG Archbishop Ryan | 2024 State PA (13 ppg.).
Wed., Mar 9th…Downingtown West at Reading: Downingtown West (16-9) faces the defending state champions, Reading (25-3), in this 6A opener. D-West’s dynamic 2023 duo of point guard Dylan Blair Dylan Blair 5'10" | PG Downingtown West | 2023 State PA (1st Team All Ches-Mont League; 1,000-point scorer) and “stretch-4” Jake Warren Jake Warren 6'10" | C Downingtown West | 2023 FL (6’10”) have faced a brutal schedule this season. So, they are battle tested and ready to take on 6A juggernaut Reading. Reading captured the District 3-6A championship again this season and their roster is filled with DI prospects. Heading that list is 2021-22 Berks Conference POY Ruben Rodriguez Ruben Rodriguez 6'2" | PG Reading | 2023 State PA as well as elite two-way player Daniel Alcantara Daniel Alcantara 6'4" | SG Reading | 2022 State PA and 3-point sniper Myles Grey Myles Grey 5'10" | CG Reading | 2024 PA . Reading will go nine deep and look to rattle D-West with their intense full court press.
Wed., Mar 9th…Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. Archbishop Wood: Plymouth Whitemarsh (18-8) is an underrated suburban Philadelphia public-school program that each year has significant talent on their roster and plays an extremely tough schedule. The 2021-22 PW squad is led by Qudire Bennett Qudire Bennett 6'4" | SF Plymouth Whitemash | 2023 State PA , Jaden Colzie Jaden Colzie 6'0" | PG Plymouth Whitemarsh | 2024 State PA and Marshall Baker. Bennett (1st Team All-Suburban One League selection) is a junior who is comfortable playing at the 1 through 4 spots and can splash threes from anywhere on the floor. Colzie is one of top 2024-point guards in the area, while Baker is another high percentage three-point shooter. Archbishop Wood (17-7) is traditional PCL power that imposes its up-tempo pace of play on opponents. Wood’s up and down style is pushed by 1st Team All-PCL guard Justin Moore Justin Moore 6'1" | CG Archbishop Wood | 2022 State PA (16 ppg.; Drexel commit). Class of 2024 prospect Jalil Bethea Jalil Bethea 6'4" | SG Archbishop Wood | 2024 State #5 Nation PA (6’3”; 12.6 ppg.) provides lethal three-point shooting for Wood. Junior power forward Carson Howard Carson Howard 6'7" | PF Archbishop Wood | 2023 State PA (9 pts & 8 rebs per game) is a solid prospect who scores at will in the paint with his jumper and via the offensive glass. This opening round 6A game is can’t miss streaming action.