Friends Schools League Playoffs: Semifinals Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the toughest leagues in PA, both FSL semifinals games went down to the wire. The competition brought out the best in a number of players, particularly in crunchtime. Here's who stood out:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1 Academy of the New Church over #4 Friends Select, 53-45</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2229148' first='Bahsil' last='Laster'] | 6'5 G 2024 ANC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Friends Select almost exclusively playing 2-3 zone, Laster's first-quarter catch-and-shoot three would be his only field goal make of the game. But he still managed to total 14 points by going 11-for-12 from the free throw line. Rather than settle for jumpers or be passive against the 2-3, the uncommitted point guard earned every attempt by forcefully striding into the lane. He pitched in 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1411649' first='Tobe' last='Nwobu, Jr.'] | 6'1 G 2026 ANC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Going into the fourth quarter, the Lions needed a spark after falling down by 1, and that's exactly what Nwobu gave them. He cashed his second and third threes from the right corner, one on a swing pass, the other on a baseline out-of-bounds play. Nwobu immediately followed that up by forcing a turnover and turning it into a layup. His 10 points and 2 steals in those final 8 minutes made all the difference. He finished with 13 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1865291' first='Isaiah' last='Marshall'] | 6'1 G 2025 Friends Select</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the leader in points for the Falcons, Marshall kept them afloat with his physical drives to the cup. The junior combo guard absorbed contact and delivered some of his own while, scoring 12 of his 15 deep in the paint or at the free throw line. It seemed like whenever Select went a couple possessions without a bucket, Marshall tried to get them one.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2 Friends Central over #3 Westtown, 62-59</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1176360' first='Muhsin' last='Muhammad'] | 6'4 W 2024 FCS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Phoenix got behind early and were down as many as 17 points in the third quarter. But Muhammad wouldn't quit. When he didn't have straight-line drives to the cup, jump-stops, spins, and ball-fakes to find angles to score inside. He also knocked down a couple threes in the third as FCS mounted its comeback. The unsigned senior led all scorers with 22 points, 4 boards, and 3 assists.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1173986' first='Fazl' last='Oshodi'] | 6'3 G 2024 FCS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oshodi, also still-available, sank two triples across the first three quarters. He contributed a modest 13 points in total, but those last 3 were major. With 33 seconds left in regulation, he drew a shooting foul and made his second free throw to give FCS their first lead since the beginning of the game, 60-59. Then,on the ensuing offensive possession, after getting a stop on defense, he got a crucial putback to secure the win and his team's spot in the Friends League Championship game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1383005' first='Cameron' last='Wallace'] | 6'5 W 2025 Westtown&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westtown's most reliable scorer, Wallace opened up the game as playmaker, hitting Lydner on a cut for layup and kicking the ball out to Kelsey for a three. They soon returned the favor by finding on a cut to the basket, then a cut he turned into a post up for two more points. Wallace ripped off 8 more points in the third, putting pressure on the rim to extend the Moose lead. He finished the game with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals Honorable Mention</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1192647' first='Reid' last='Belcher'] | 2024 Friends Central </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1460781' first='Jalen' last='Chiles'] | 2025 Friends Select</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1667409' first='Owen' last='Coughlin'] | 2025 Friends Select</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1369805' first='Jayden' last='Kelsey'] | 2025 Westtown</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1865346' first='Nigel' last='Pierman'] | 2025 Friends Central</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1477774' first='Malik' last='Rasul'] | 2024 Westtown </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1865294' first='Cameron' last='Smith'] | 2026 ANC </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2056714' first='Ryan' last='Warren'] | 2026 ANC</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->