SEPA Tuesday Night State Tourney Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a slew of PIAA State Tournament 2^nd Round games taking place on Tuesday night, gyms all over southeastern Pennsylvania were buzzing with hoops action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is review of eight players who posted standout performances during Tuesday night's state tourney contests.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1812662' first='Alex' last='Cercado'] – 5'11” / Senior / Bethlehem Catholic / [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] Red / Point Guard: </strong>Cercado was a 2nd team All-EPC selection and recently committed to Alvernia University (D3 in PA). So, it should not be a surprise that this crafty lead guard with a watery jumper was one of the few bright spots for BC in their lopsided 4A tourney loss to heavily favored Neumann Goretti. Cercado did all he could against NG, pouring in 29 points on the strength of 5 made threes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1850267' first='Reece' last='Garvin'] </strong><strong>– 6'3” / Junior / Exeter / Berks Warriors / Shooting Guard: </strong>Garvin (11.5 ppg.) is earning himself a reputation as a clutch performer here in the post season. First, in the District 3-5A championship game he posted a double-double (11 pts. &amp; 11 rebs.). Then last night in the 2nd Round of states, this 2024 prospect with textbook shooting mechanics and a quick trigger splashed 5 threes on his way to 21 points. That impressive performance helped Exeter advance to the 5A quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='991392' first='Elijah' last='Hester']</strong> <strong>– 5'11″ / Senior / West Philly / SK Elite 17s / Point Guard:</strong> On Tuesday night Hester once again gave opponents fits with his 3-level scoring and creative handles. His ability to use a head &amp; ball fake, then put the ball on the floor for a mid-range jumper or to distribute to an open teammate was impressive. Hester posted 17 points last night, but it was not enough to overcome a white-hot Radnor squad in the 2^nd Round of the 5A bracket. Across two state tourney contests this month Hester averaged 22.5 ppg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1200791' first='Cooper' last='Mueller'] </strong><strong>– 6'1” / Senior / Radnor/ Prim3Tim3 / Wing: </strong>Mueller (Princeton lax commit) owns the reputation as one of the elite lockdown defenders in the region, but last night his offensive skills were on full display too. In Radnor's 5A 2^nd Round win over West Philly, Mueller (18 points) sliced and diced the Speedboys with dribble drives to the rack. Included in those drives was a smooth baseline attack that Mueller ended with a one-handed flush. His ability to absorb significant contact at the rim and still convert was noteworthy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1865351' first='Lucas' last='Mushrush'] – 6'3” / Sophomore / Allentown Central Catholic / [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] Red / Shooting Guard: </strong>On a team that boasts several flashy perimeter prospects, Mushrush (11.7 ppg. and 70 made threes) is a 2025 who was flying under the radar. Well, this sniper with logo range is currently using the 2023 postseason as his personal breakout month. Tuesday night he tallied 14 points (2 triples) and hit the game winning 3-ball at the buzzer as ACC upset Cardinal O'Hara in the 4A 2^nd Round. In three post season games during March 2023 Mushrush is averaging 15 ppg. along with 3 made threes per night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1281811' first='Izaiah' last='Pasha'] – 6'4” / Senior / Cardinal O'Hara / [program_tooltip program_id='2078697' first='Philly' last='Pride'] National UAA / Point Guard:</strong> Pasha (1,000+ point scorer; Iona commit) posted 18 points last night during O'Hara's 4A 2^nd Round loss to ACC. On Tuesday night this speedy and creative ball handler got buckets at all 3-levels. Plus, in clutch time Pasha scored 7 straight points (1 three) for O'Hara to tie the score at 46-all with under a minute to play. Unfortunately, Pasha's tremendous efforts were not enough as Allentown Central Catholic buried a triple at the buzzer to grab the win (see above).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1213553' first='Thomas' last='Sorber'] </strong><strong>– 6'8” / Junior / Archbishop Ryan / [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] EYBL / Power Forward: </strong>Bully ball was in full effect Tuesday night as Sorber recorded 22 points, 15 boards and 4 blocks in Ryan's 5A victory over West Chester East. This physical forward with solid footwork scored on quick post ups, patient back downs, dives from the elbows, via the offensive glass and baseline drives. In short, it was a master class in big man play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1116063' first='Robert' last='Wright III'] – 5'11” / Junior / Neumann-Goretti / [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] EYBL / Point Guard:</strong> Wright III (Baylor commit) is having himself a ridiculous month. The latest jaw dropping performance by this all-world lead guard was a 33-piece (3 threes) Tuesday night in NG's drubbing of Bethlehem Catholic. Over his last three post season games Wright is averaging an insane 33 points and 3 made treys per contest. Good luck to the remaining 4A field at stopping Wright from bringing NG a second consecutive state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->