Lower Merion Wins Another Central League Hoop Title

To no one’s surprise, Lower Merion’s Boys Varsity Basketball Team lost back-to-back league games in December. The only thing unexpected about those games was how close they were. On December 10, the Aces lost 66-61 to Garnet Valley at Garnet Valley. Two nights later, they lost an even closer home game to Conestoga, 73-70. At that point, Lower Merion, having lost the nucleus of last year’s Central League and District-winning team to graduation, was 0-2 in league competition and 2-3 overall.

And then they started winning. Lower Merion beat Ridley and Haverford High. They went to State College for a tournament between Christmas and New Year and beat Phoenixville and Meadville. Then, they beat Upper Darby, Marple Newtown, and Strath Haven.

On January 11, they lost to an undefeated Penncrest team, in double overtime. Since then, Lower Merion has won 11 straight games, defeating Radnor, Harriton, Springfield (Delco), Garnet Valley, Niagra Falls, Conestoga, Ridley, Haverford High, and Springfield  (Delco) again – in the Central League Semi-Final.

Monday night, they avenged their loss to Penncrest, 63-55, winning the Central League Championship in a game that was not as close as the score might indicate.