City of Basketball Love

By Owen McCue (@owen.mccue)
__

ARDMORE — When Rashyne Patterson stepped into the Lower Merion lineup for the first time at the start of this season, he was given a few simple instructions by the Aces coaching staff.

“They always told me, ‘Rebound and protect the rim. Protect the house,” Patterson said. “That’s always been my role on this team. I try to protect the house as best as I can.”

The 6-foot-3 senior swatted away five shots in a 54-45 win over Central League foe Springfield-Delco on Tuesday night — a matchup between two squads jockeying for league playoff position.

Patterson’s most important rejection came during a key fourth-quarter stretch that turned the tide for the Aces, who trailed by as many as seven in the second half.

“Huge,” said fellow senior Lamont Grier. “He’s been making plays like that the whole season. I’m glad we have him on the team. He does way more than that off the scenes with the rebounding besides blocking, with the scoring too. He’s really playing a big part in our game.”

Gettysburg commit Carson Kasmer led Lower Merion (12-4, 8-3 Central) with 19 points. Senior Gus Wright followed with 13, and Grier joined them in double figures with 11. Sophomore T.J. Valletti led the Cougars (11-5, 7-4) with 12 points, and senior Jah’Mair Marshall added 11 points (three 3s) off the bench.

After the two teams were tied 12-12 after a quarter of play, Marshall pushed Springfield out to a 20-13 lead early in the second quarter with a personal 8-1 run. The advantage stood at 27-25 at halftime before the Cougars built it back up to eight, 35-28, on a bucket by junior Peter Altes (six points) with 2:43 left in the third.

Kasmer drilled a buzzer beater to cut the deficit down to 35-32 entering the fourth. Grier hit a big triple early in the final quarter. The Aces finally retook their first lead since the first bucket of the second quarter when Patterson assisted Kasmer on an and-one for a 44-43 advantage with 2:16 to go.

“That was the momentum changer right there, the and-one,” Patterson said. “That was a great call from Coach (Gregg) Downer, absolutely. And that really was a big play. That turned the whole game.”

Springfield looked like it had an answer to the big play on its next possession on the other end of the floor when a Cougar caught the ball open underneath the hoop. Instead a Patterson block gave his team the ball back, allowing Kasmer to extend the lead to three with a pair of free throws.

“To be honest, he did get me with a little spin, but I knew he’s a lefty,” Patterson said. “Read the scouting report, I know he’s a lefty, so I was like, “OK. He’s going to go up with the left hand, just beat him to the spot and protect the house.’ That’s my role.”

Grier came away with three steals in the fourth quarter, swiping the ball away before Wright hit another pair of foul shots to make it 50-45 Lower Merion with 1:01 to play. Springfield got within three one more time, but the Aces didn’t miss at the line, never giving the Cougars a chance to tie. Lower Merion shot 5-for-9 in the first three quarters before making 11-of-12 attempts in the fourth.

Lower Merion dropped its first two Central League games to Garnet Valley (66-61 on Dec. 10) and Conestoga (73-70 on Dec. 12). The Aces have now won 11 of their last 12 overall with the exception a 75-71 defeat to current league leader Penncrest (10-1) on Jan. 11. 

The Aces are tied with Conestoga (8-3) for third in the league standings after Tuesday night with Garnet Valley (8-2) in second. And Penncrest (10-1) in first After dropping its second straight game, Springfield is tied with Marple Newtown (7-4) for fifth — a game ahead of seventh place Haverford (6-5).

Kasmer and Wright were in the rotation of last season’s Central League and District 1 championship team, but Patterson, Grier and Sam’I Singletary (four steals) are three seniors who rarely saw the floor before this season. Sophomores Kyle Parrish, Will Yard and Chris Cook are still figuring things out at the varsity level as well. Tuesday’s result hints that the group is figuring out what it takes to win in these tight league games.  Lower Merion will get another crack at Garnet Valley on Thursday and face Conestoga again on Jan. 28.

“Closing out the game, making the right plays, the right decisions in the tight times,” Grier said of the win. “A couple of times we melted. We melted like a stick of butter, but we’re working on that right now.”

“We’re learning as it goes on,” he added. “We’re loving the learning experience. Playing in that type of environment, playing in that type of game only makes us better.”

Patterson recalls watching Lower Merion games in elementary and middle school when his older brother Rodney, a 2020 Lower Merion grad, was a member of the basketball program. He always wanted to be an Ace.

It was challenging at times though, waiting his turn. He saw “about 25 seconds” of action last season. 

Talks with former teammates like John Mobley, and watching the success of players who waited their turn before breakout senior seasons like Owen McCabe and Adam Herrenkohl last year gave him optimism about what his senior season could look like. Now, Lower Merion’s “home protector” is reaping the rewards of his hard work and patience.

“There was a lot of doubt. I wanted to transfer. But I’m really glad I stayed though,” Patterson said. I really am.”

“I waited for this moment since freshman year. Now that I’m here, it’s time.”

Lower Merion 54, Springfield-Delco 45

Springfield-Delco 12 | 15 | 8 | 14 || 45

Lower Merion 12 | 12 | 8 | 22 || 54

Springfield-Delco: TJ Valletti 12, Jah’Mair Marshall 11, Chris Dolan 8, Peter Altes 6, Patrick Flaherty 4, Peter McMonagle 4, Mason Ellis 2.

Lower Merion: Carson Kasmer 19, Gus Wright 13, Lamont Grier 11, Rashyne Patterson 4, Sam’I Singletary 4, Kyle Parrish 3.