Central League (SEPA) Standouts: Playoffs Edition
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A Covid 19 pause kept Harriton from participating in the Central League playoffs and contact tracing reduced Lower Merion’s roster to one varsity player and a slew of JV call ups. Still, the Central League playoff schedule rolled on and…
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Continue ReadingA Covid 19 pause kept Harriton from participating in the Central League playoffs and contact tracing reduced Lower Merion’s roster to one varsity player and a slew of JV call ups. Still, the Central League playoff schedule rolled on and the games produced numerous outstanding performances by CAL prospects.
Prep Hoops is here to highlight those outstanding individual performances from the Central League Playoffs.
Luke Edwards Luke Edwards 6'2" | CG Strath Haven | 2021 State PA – 6’2’’/ Senior / Strath Haven / Shooting Guard: A 2019-20 1st Team All-League selection, Edward posted 13 points in Haven’s quarterfinal win over Haverford. In that win Edwards scored 6 points in the 4th quarter, including the Panthers final 4 points and the game winning elbow jumper at the buzzer.
Andrew Fox Andrew Fox 6'8" | PF Conestoga | 2021 State PA – 6’8” / Senior / Conestoga / Power Forward: Fox (team captain) has been a major contributor on the interior for Conestoga all season and his offensive output continued in CAL playoffs. Fox scored 12 points in the semifinals. Then he produced a near double-double (14 points & 9 rebounds) in the championship game loss to Garnet Valley.
Saahir Lee Saahir Lee 5'11" | PG Penncrest | 2022 State PA – 6’0’ / Senior / Penncrest / Point Guard: This season Lee was called upon to score the ball every night and the floor general has responded to that challenge. His latest scoring efforts were a 20 point night vs Ridley in an opening round CAL playoff win and then 9 points in a quarterfinal loss to Garnet Valley.
Demetrius Lilley Demetrius Lilley 6'8" | PF Lower Merion | 2022 State PA – 6’9’’ / Junior / Lower Merion / Forward-Center: Thanks to Covid tracing the Aces were forced to play Lilley and a host of JV players in their CAL quarterfinal matchup with Marple Newtown. The result was that Lilley netted 23 of LM’s 46 points and the Aces lost to Marple Newtown.
Owen Mathes – 6’2” / Junior / Marple Newtown / Wing: Mathes’ increased scoring has been a significant part of Marple’s late season hot streak and he continued to contribute nicely in the Central League playoffs. First he posted 10 points in an opening round win over Springfield. Then 14 points as Marple downed LM in a quarterfinal match-up. Finally, Mathes recorded a 10 points and 6 rebounds performance in a semifinal loss to eventual champion Garnet Valley.
Gannon McKee – 6’3” / Senior / Garnet Valley / Wing: In the regular season McKee was a great running mate for GV’s star player Carl Schaller Carl Schaller 5'11" | CG Garnet Valley | 2021 State PA and he continued to fill that role successfully during the Central League playoffs. First, McKee scored 18 points (3 threes) in quarterfinal win over Penncrest. Then he chipped in 10 points in the championship game win over No. 1 seed Conestoga.
Carl Schaller Carl Schaller 5'11" | CG Garnet Valley | 2021 State PA – 5’10” / Senior / Garnet Valley / Point Guard: The reigning Central League MVP is closing in on back-to-back MVP awards. Schaller posted 20 points and 9 rebounds in the Jaguars semifinal W over Marple Newtown. In the CAL Championship game win over ‘Stoga, Schaller scored 18 points. The majority of which came via isolation dribble drives for lay ups in traffic. As they head into the District 1 tournament, the Jaguars record now stands at 15-3.
Ryan Straub – 6’2” / Senior / Marple Newtown / Combo Guard: Marple’s gritty and versatile backcourt player contributed 16 points in an opening round win over Springfield. Then Straub’s 13 points and 7 rebounds were clutch in the Tigers quarterfinal win over Lower Merion.
Ryan Wooten – 6’0” / Junior / Garnet Valley / Shooting Guard: Wooten typically is the 7th/8th man for the Jaguars, but in the Central League championship game vs. No. 1 seed Conestoga, his number was called. He responded with some lights out shooting. Wooten drained 3 threes in 2nd quarter (4 overall in 1st half) and tallied 14 points on the night to help Garnet bring home the CAL tournament trophy.
Prep Hoops is going to continue to give you the best in-season content, so watch out for more as the 2021 Pennsylvania high school boys basketball season continues.