By Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
—
The area’s high school league conference races are in full swing, so we’re taking a look around the Delaware Valley’s various high school basketball leagues to see where things stand at the moment and what games will determine regular-season champions and postseason spots down the stretch.
Read ahead for the Central League update, or click the links below to check out the other leagues we’re providing updates on:
~~~
Catholic League | Central League | Ches-Mont League | Pioneer Athletic Conference | Suburban One League
~~~
Girls
Click here for CoBL’s Central League page with standings and schedules for every team
Ryann Jennings (above) and Conestoga are one of three one-loss teams. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
Midway through the league slate, there are three front-runners as expected: Conestoga (7-1), Garnet Valley (7-1) and Haverford (6-1) are all at the top, the three 6A schools also the three squads with committed Division I players. In their first meetings, Haverford beat Garnet but lost to Conestoga, who lost to Garnet. Both ‘Stoga and Haverford High have also beaten Radnor (5-2), the only two loss team, which plays Garnet Valley at home on Jan. 21.
There are a bunch of other teams still in the running for the top half of the league, with Lower Merion (5-3), Harriton (4-3) and Strath Haven (3-4) next up in the standings, as the top six teams in the league qualify for the playoffs. Still, it’s hard to think it’ll be anybody other than one of the Pioneers, Jaguars or Fords who ends up with the title.
In the race for the top seed, Haverford’s games at Garnet Valley (Jan. 30) and at Conestoga (Feb. 4) are part of four straight on the road to finish the game for the Fords, including one at Lower Merion (Feb. 1) right in between. Garnet hosts Conestoga on Feb. 1, the redo of a 29-24 win at ‘Stoga in December. Lower Merion has a big week this week, with games at Radnor (Jan. 14) and at home against Harriton (Jan. 16), and a couple wins would put the Aces in great position to earn a postseason bid. Harriton, meanwhile, closes the season with four games against teams with losing conference records, so there’s a chance for the Rams to finish strong.
Boys
Click here for CoBL’s Central League page with standings and schedules for every team
Mikey Mita (above) and Penncrest are the only unbeaten team in District 1. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)
There’s only one unbeaten team left in all of District 1, and it’s Penncrest. The Lions are 13-0 (8-0) heading into the back half of the league slate, having already beaten the three teams behind them in Conestoga, Garnet Valley and Springfield (Delco.), all 6-2. The top half of the league is really strong, with Lower Merion and Marple Newtown currently tied for fifth at 5-3; Haverford (4-4) is alone behind them, but the Fords haven’t beaten anybody ahead of them in the standings and face an uphill battle against six quality teams to qualify for the postseason.
In terms of earning a top-four spot in the league and a home game in the opening round of the league playoffs, Springfield’s game at Lower Merion on Jan. 21 will be critical, with the Cougars turning around and traveling to Marple two days later and to Penncrest on Jan. 30. Penncrest hosts Garnet Valley on Thursday before three road games at teams in the bottom half of the teague, before hosting Springfield and then Marple (Feb. 1) and Radnor (Feb. 4) to close out the season.
Regardless of what happens in the league’s regular season, it’s clear there are several quality contenders for the league title, and the Central League semifinals should be a lot of fun regardless of who’s participating.
Tag(s): Home Josh Verlin High School Boys HS Central League (B) Conestoga Garnet Valley Harriton Haverford High Lower Merion Marple Newtown Penncrest Radnor Ridley Springfield (Delco.) Strath Haven Upper Darby Girls HS Central League (G) Conestoga Garnet Valley Harriton Haverford High Lower Merion Marple Newtown Penncrest Radnor Ridley Springfield (Delco.) Strath Haven Upper Darby