Central League Semis: SEPA Standout Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Central Athletic League semifinal playoff games took place on Friday night. In one match-up, Penncrest (1-seed) defeated Marple Newtown (6-seed), 61-56. Meanwhile Lower Merion (2-seed) topped Springfield (5-seed) by a score of 49-43 in the other semifinal contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thus, on Monday night it will be Lower Merion versus Penncrest for the 2024-25 Central League title. LM will be looking to repeat as champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a review of prospects from southeastern Pennsylvania who impressed during the Central League semifinal playoff games.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2767945,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sean Benson ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026 ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Penncrest ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a78d4013124"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Benson was profiled in in my Central League playoffs preview article and last night he made me look good by pouring in 21 points during Penncrest's semifinal win. Benson (12 ppg.) is a fast and agile two-way guard who is a smooth operator on the court. Benson played with a level of poise that is unique. He never allowed Marple's pressure defense to speed him up. That was especially true when it came to popping jumpers. In this contest Benson used him polished mechanics and smooth release to knock down 5 threes. He also scored in transition and made several impressive live dribble passes. Benson was a plus defensive player too.     </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1382984"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a78d4013186"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 2023-24 Central League POY was not going to let his underdog Marple squad go down without a fight against top seeded Penncrest. On Friday night Gardler poured in 23 points, 10 of which came during a fourth quarter comeback by Marple Newtown that fell just short. Gardler was on his game last night as he popped 2 threes and got to his mid-range spots. Gardler has now hit 51 triples on the season. On Friday night Gardler also served as a primary ball handler. In that role he relentlessly attacked the paint for scores and well-timed kick out passes. Gardler's knack for drawing a whistle on his dribble drives is James Harden-esque.            </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Theo Gladue ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Penncrest ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2078678' first='East' last='Coast Power']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a78d4013210"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gladue (11 ppg.) is well known as a high percentage three-point shooter and that held true on Friday night as he drained 3 triples on his way to 19 points. But this long and wiry guard will surprise opponents with his two-way skills. He is an underrated on-ball defender with active hands that produced several turnovers against Marple Newtown. His handles and court vision enabled Gladue to generate fast break buckets for himself or teammates off those steals. Gladue excelled at moving without the ball and converting on back door cuts. He also did a solid job of crashing the glass and collecting rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2699527"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67a78d401325b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This Gettysburg commit (D3) is posting a monster senior season and that trend continued in LM's defeat of Springfield. On Friday night Kasmer dropped 19 points and was the best player on the court. This quick and high IQ guard splashed 2 threes and hit a few runners as well as lay-ins off the dribble. Kasmer converted on a slew of transition buckets too. Kasmer (20 ppg.) also handed out a host of assists. To be honest, his ability to work as a distributing guard is vastly underrated. LM has now won nine straight games and is 17-1 in their last eighteen games.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->