City of Basketball Love

By Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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WEST CHESTER — When Nelson Lamizana, Connor Fleet and Nyle Ralph-Beyer teamed up at Peirce Middle School for the first time in seventh grade, they knew there was something special.

The trio was part of two undefeated middle school seasons. They continued to rack up wins in travel ball with the Downingtown Heat. They arrived together at the varsity level for West Chester Henderson as sophomores in 2021-22 ready to leave their mark on the program as a group.

“We’re probably up there,” Lamizana said. “We’re definitely the most talented that they’ve had, especially in middle school, as a class coming up.” 

A sophomore campaign that ended one win shy of a state playoff trip followed with the program’s first playoff win since 2007 last season, except Lamizana wasn’t there.

After a season at Bonner-Prendergast, Lamizana reunited with his former teammates at Henderson this school year. He’s back looking to accomplish even more with them in 2023-24 — the chemistry built over the years not taking long to return.

The connections were apparent Friday at West Chester University’s Hollinger Field House as Henderson (2-1) tipped off the Ches-Mont Challenge with an 80-66 win over Phoenixville (3-1).

Lamizana dominated in a career-high 31-point outing; Ralph-Beyer added 14 points; and Fleet chipped in 12 points and 14 assists. Jesse Smith and Evan Kearney added key perimeter shooting, both adding nine points apiece on three 3-point shots.

“As soon as we got back on the court, it was like we were in middle school and when he was in 10th grade back here,” Fleet said. “I love playing with him, so it’s good to be back with him.”

Phoenixville sophomore point guard Dawson Brown led a quartet of double-figure scorers that also included junior Deacon Baratta (12), senior Max Lebisky (12)  and senior Bryce Absher (11). Lamizana scored 12 of his 14 first-half points in the second quarter to put the Warriors up by double digits before Absher’s buzzer beater made it 39-31 at half.

The Phantoms went on a run in the third quarter to tie the game 49-49, but Lamizana helped his team recapture the momentum. His transition slam gave Henderson a 56-50 advantage heading to the fourth.

“My energy goes off to Evan McFadden and that goes to our point guard,” Lamizana said. “Connor always brings it. Nyle always brings it. Then it goes to the bench, goes to the fans. Just makes the whole environment good on our side.”

He added 12 more points in the fourth as the Warriors continued to pull away. The Warriors spread out Phoenixville in the fourth quarter, allowing Fleet to penetrate and dump to Lamizana down low for easy hoops, including an alley oop or two.

“It’s really fun,” Fleet said of throwing the lobs. “Sometimes I can do it to Nyle, but Nyle’s on the perimeter most of the time, so having (Nelson) down low is easy and he can come down from the 3-point line and I can just throw it up.”

Ralph-Beyer, Lamizana and Fleet were Henderson’s top three scorers as sophomores. Lamizana, a 6-foot-8 forward averaged 7.6 ppg and 6.2 rpg in 17 games (12 starts) at Bonner last season. 

While Ralph-Beyer and Fleet elevated their games with Henderson, Lamizana’s towering presence was certainly missed as highlighted by several blocked shots and a ton of rebounds Friday. 

He gives the Warriors possibly District 1’s tallest front court pairing alongside 6-7 senior forward Evan McFadden, a St. Joe’s lacrosse commit, raising the ceiling of the squad to one that is up there with the favorites in the Ches-Mont, District 1 and beyond.

 “It’s huge,” Fleet said. “I think it will be what makes or breaks us. That with our defense. It’s a key piece that we were missing last year.”

Lamizana hasn’t played a full season of hoops since starting high school. He missed his freshman year after having surgery to repair cartilage in his knee. A fractured ankle forced him to miss the postseason stretch for Henderson as a sophomore.

He was supposed to play in the team’s state play-in game against Haverford but didn’t have the necessary doctor’s note and had to watch from the bench as his team’s season ended.

Fleet, Ralph-Beyer and the rest of the returners got to experience a state playoff run last winter, but they missed out on the Ches-Mont playoffs and lasted just one game in the PIAA tournament.

There’s unfinished business this winter. 

“We got bigger goals than this game right here,” Lamizana said. “We got Ches-Mont, states and after that we’ll be good. A great way to end senior year.”

West Chester Henderson 80, Phoenixville 66

By Quarter:

PHOENIXVILLE: 13 | 18 | 19 |16 || 66

HENDERSON: 15 | 24 | 17 | 24 || 80

Scoring: 

PHOENIXVILLE: Dawson Brown 14, Deacon Baratta 12, Max Lebisky 12, Bryce Absher 11, Christian Cervino 9, Michael Venezia 7, Aidan McClintock 1.

HENDERSON: Nelson Lamizana 31, Nyle Ralph-Beyer 14, Connor Fleet 12, Jessie Smith 9, Evan Kearney 9, Evan McFadden 3, Jack Bell 2.

~~~

Lower Merion 71, Downingtown West 61

While many of the faces are new, the results have stayed the same early this winter for Lower Merion.

The Aces improved to 3-0 as they dispatched the Whippets (2-2) with relative ease. It marked the third win for Lower Merion over a 2023 state playoff team, also taking down West Chester Henderson and Upper Darby.

Senior guards John Mobley and Owen McCabe exploded for 26 and 22 points, respectively. They outshined the strong efforts of Downingtown West juniors Donovan Fromhartz (18) and Zeke Staz (17).

Lower Merion led after all three quarters, extending its lead to double digits in the third and fourth quarters. Mobley’s eight first-quarter points got his team off to a hot start, and he helped the Aces close strong with nine in the fourth.

By Quarter:

LOWER MERION: 13 | 18 | 19 |16 || 66

DTOWN WEST: 15 | 24 | 17 | 24 || 80

Scoring: 

LOWER MERION: John Mobley 26, Owen McCabe 22, Justin Mebane 8, Gus Wright 5, C Kasher 3, Cole Nocek 3, Adam Herenkohl 3, Tate Perkins 1.

DTOWN WEST: Donovan Fromhartz 18, Zeke Staz 17, Antonio Lewis 6, Brady Moore 7, Alex Neuhaus 5, Ryan Barker 4, Jase Lasher 4.