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Lower Merion explodes past Chester in second half for rivalry victory

12/31/2022, 1:00am EST
By Rich Flanagan

Rich Flanagan (@richflanagan33)
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CHESTER — Each new installment of the historic rivalry between Lower Merion and Chester presents different nuances that make the latest version so distinct.

Rosters change from year to year, and the venue in which the matchup is played tends to differ. The magnitude in which the teams play has also differed, like when the Aces and Clippers have faced off in the state championship game on three separate occasions with the most recent example coming in 2013. The one constant is Aces head coach Gregg Downer and his philosophy on player development is one of the most renowned in all of Pa. high school basketball.

Downer began this year without one of his most accomplished classes in Penn State forward Demetrius Lilley, who won Central League MVP and finished his career seventh on the Aces all-time scoring list, Clarion University guard Jaylen Shippen, Duke lacrosse player Henry Bard and Peter Gribbon. That group returned Lower Merion to the apex of southeastern Pa. hoops with a Central League title, consecutive district crowns and a pair of state semifinal appearances.


Lower Merion's Sam Wright was one of five double-figure scorers. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

While a wealth of production and leadership moved on, Downer has focused on the transitional tunnel vision that aided him when a heralded class has ended its career and the time for new pieces to emerge comes about. There was a lot to replace but the Aces have plenty to work with as they move into Central League play with a target on their backs.

“I have three or four senior guards who have seen a lot and there’s very few environments that they haven’t seen,” Downer said. “Sam Wright, Sam Brown, and Justin Poles have been with me since their freshman year. I think they’re very battle tested.”

Wright was one of five players in double figures on Friday as Lower Merion dismantled Chester, 75-60 in the 18th annual Pete & Jameer Nelson Classic at Widener University. Wright scored 13 points while Poles and 6-2 junior wing John Mobley chipped in 14 points apiece and Brown, a University of Pennsylvania commit, had all 12 of his points after halftime. 

After trailing 16-6 after the first quarter, Lower Merion responded in a surprising way for this team compared to the expectation set by last year’s group.

Wright was part of that rotation, and he notes that this group of Aces has a simple mantra in how it goes about its business.

“We’re playing like dogs and that’s our mascot,” Wright said. “We want to channel that inner dog and that’s what we’re taking on this year.”

Wright helped push the comeback early in the second with a layup that was nearly missed but goaltending was called. Mobley hit a pair of free throws then came flying in for a tip slam on the ensuing possession and Lower Merion (8-1) trailing by eight. The Aces closed the quarter on a 15-5 run and tied the game at 27 heading into the locker room. Wright hit a three-pointer to start things off after intermission then Mobley took his man straight down the lane for an easy finish and Lower Merion led, 32-27.

No player on the Aces roster has made a bigger jump than Mobley, who also contributed eight rebounds and four assists, and Wright has seen the growth in his game as his playing time has expanded.

“I think he’s had his biggest leap due to his athleticism,” Wright said. “He’s really grown as a man and he’s starting to jump. He can now really help us on the varsity level, particularly on the glass and defensive end. He’s playing really well.”


Lower Merion's John Mobley, left, goes up for a shot Friday against Chester. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Brown finally got on the board at the 5:16 mark of the third with an and-one then scored the subsequent five points, and the Aces had their first double-digit lead of the night. Jordan Meekins, the 6-3 senior wing, was the other double-figure scorer for Lower Merion with 10 points. 

He hit a trey from the wing then drove in deep, turned and scored over his left shoulder to make it 49-34. Meekins showed the ability to penetrate into the lane and finish, but his best attribute may be driving and pivoting into the post before finding an open teammate on the wing or in the corner, like he did several times in this one. Downer has taken notice of his all-around play.

“He’s waited a long time for this,” Downer said. “We ask him to rebound and protect the rim. He can definitely make a three.”

Mobley turned the corner and converted an and-one out of the Aces’ vaunted four corners offense and put Lower Merion up by 17 late in the third. After starting the game with so much momentum, Chester (4-4) made a last-ditch effort to cut into the deficit as the fourth quarter began. 

Kyree Womack, who led the Clippers with 16 points, hit two free throws then forward Dominic Toy finished two of his 14 four-quarter points inside and Chester trailed, 56-41 with 6:59 remaining. Wright put a stop to that spurt with a burst to the rim for his final bucket of the night.

After coming on strong during the state tournament a season ago, Wright has been one of the catalysts and the 6-1 senior guard wants to continue to make a major impact.

“With Demetrius and Sam having been our two leading scorers last season, I’m taking on more of a role as a scorer with Sam,” Wright said. “I have to lead the team because we had four senior leaders last year and I’m taking on more of a leadership role.”

The Aces head into the crux of the Central League slate in terrific position and will be vying for the title once again with the likes of Radnor, Haverford, and Garnet Valley, who took home a 65-63 win over Coatesville at Widener earlier in the day. Each season brings about its own set of changes, but the expectations do not, and Downer will continue to hold this group of Aces to that.

“Tradition never graduates,” Downer said. “We’re feisty and we work hard. We believe in each other and there’s no challenge that we’re not willing to accept.”

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By Quarter

Lower Merion 6 I 21 I 29 I 19 II 75

Chester 16 I 11 I 8 I 25 II 60

Shooting

Lower Merion: 28-53 (4-11), 15-16 FT

Chester: 22-48 (0-11), 16-26 FT

Scoring

Lower Merion: Poles 14, Mobley 14, Wright 13, Brown 12, Meekins 10, McCabe 6, Coyne 4, Pendergast 2.

Chester: Womack 16, Toy 14, Cobb 12, Atkinson 8, Williams 6, Young 2, J. Thompson 2.


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