Game Recap: Lansdale Catholic 68, La Salle 55

Visiting Lansdale Catholic won its second Catholic League game in three tries after recently notching its first win in league play since 2021, going on the road to take down La Salle College HS with a commanding 68-55 win. The Crusaders got a balanced effort with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2450682' first='Chase' last='Stevens'] taking control in the second half, while junior swingman [player_tooltip player_id='2462304' first='Max' last='Okebata'] led La Salle with a game-high 19 points.    Stevens struggled through a quiet first half with foul trouble while LC clung to a narrow lead, but the sophomore mismatch forward controlled the game in the second half as the Crusaders established nearly a 20-point lead. He scored a workmanlike 10 points, cerebrally attacking from all over the floor while finding particular success in the midpost. His body looks the best it ever has, allowing him to punish smaller matchups while still using his size and strength against guards. If he can continue to refine his jumper from the perimeter, Stevens should have significant upside left to tap into as he learns to consistently deploy his entire skillset in an efficient manner.     Pacing the Crusaders during Stevens' slow first half was Lewis, a sophomore swingman emerging quickly as one of the more talented perimeter players in his class across the state. A transfer from Neumann-Goretti (PA) who played on the Saints' JV team, Lewis impressed with his natural poise and skill as a ballhandler at his size. He attacked with pace using either hand while using his height to survey the floor and make simple plays over the top as a passer. With a lean frame that's ripe to pack on functional strength, Lewis figures to continue to emerge as a D1 prospect with his multifaceted skillset.     Leading the Explorers as he's done throughout the year was Okebata, as the powerful and explosive swingman used his instincts and physical gifts to make a downhill impact around the rim. Okebata was effective playing off of 2 feet, showing off his strength and athleticism while taking on contact for a handful of finishes in traffic. He shined on the defensive end as well, getting his hands on a handful of loose balls while showing impressive ability to level out and keep his chest in between the ball and the rim. There's still progress to be made with his ballhandling and shooting consistency, but Okebata's ability to thrive on the margins with his unique athletic makeup should give him a chance to garner D1 attention throughout the spring and summer.     Continuing to emerge as a key factor in the Catholic League, Branson struggled with his shooting efficiency but nonetheless impressed with his ability to control the game from the point of attack for the Explorers. The Medford Tech (NJ) transfer kept the ball on a string, expertly managing the tempo of the game while getting to his spots off the bounce essentially on command. He showed polished footwork and advanced dexterity with his ability to use either hand as both a handler and finisher. Branson made an abundance of heady plays to keep the ball moving and put teammates in position to score, while also setting a tone as a pesty defender with solid ball pressure on the other end. He's placed himself firmly on scholarship radars with his play so far in the PCL.     Joining Lewis as an incoming transfer from Neumann-Goretti's JV team, Green has stepped seamlessly into the starting rotation at LC with a hefty workload as the team's only natural lead guard. Green wound up with a team-high 14 points, thanks to an efficient 10-for-13 effort at the foul line in the second half alone. He impressed throughout with his ability to get north-south with his handle, maturely taking on contact both at and en route to the rim. We'll look to see growth in his ball security and perimeter shooting moving forward but Green looks clearly on track to be a college-ready guard by the time his time comes.

Visiting Lansdale Catholic won its second Catholic League game in three tries after recently notching its first win in league play since 2021, going on the road to take down La Salle College HS with a commanding 68-55 win. The Crusaders got a balanced effort with sophomore Chase Stevens Chase Stevens 6'3" | SF Lansdale Catholic | 2028 State PA taking control in the second half, while junior swingman Max Okebata Max Okebata 6'4" | SF La Salle College | 2027 State PA led La Salle with a game-high 19 points.