Lower Merion, ranked No. 1 in the PIAA District 1 6A Boys Basketball Power Rankings, carries an 11-game winning streak into the District 1 6A tournament and is the No. 1 seed, with its opening game scheduled for Feb. 18, against the winner of the Great Valley (No. 16 seed) vs. Pennsbury (No. 17 seed) first-round contest.
The Aces (20-4) are led by seniors – guard Carson Kasmer (18.3 ppg, 2.1 apg, 3.0 rpg, shooting 35.7 percent from 3-point territory and 88.9 percent from foul line), forward Rashyne Patterson (11.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 79.4 percent from foul line, 27 treys), forward Sam’i Singletary (10.9 ppg, 2.0 apg, 4.0 rpg), Gus Wright (10.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.6 rpg, 36.5 percent from three) and Lamont Grier (5.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 77.8 percent from foul line).
The Gettysburg College-bound Kasmer, the MVP of the recent Central League boys’ basketball tournament, scored 24 points in the championship final.
“Carson is a dynamic three-level scorer who is not afraid of bright lights. He does not like to lose and plays with a swagger,” said Lower Merion boys basketball coach Gregg Downer.
The LM coach added words of praise for Wright, Singletary and Patterson, all of whom are averaging double digits in scoring.
“Gus is our glue,” said Downer. “Gus does a little bit of everything, he’s the kind of guy you want to go to war with. Rashyne and Sam’i both have had good seasons, they don’t like to lose and both of them have waited a long time for their turn.”
The Aces have not lost since a 75-71 double overtime loss to Penncrest Jan. 11.
Downer said, “(Since that Penncrest loss) we’ve just been trying to get one percent better every day.”
Lower Merion got off to a 2-3 start this season, and has posted an 18-1 record since then, including a 67-39 win against Haverford High Dec. 20 that was Downer’s 700th coaching victory for the Aces.
Singletary said, “After we started the season 2-3 we put it behind us and just looked forward. The coaches said you want to go 1-0 every time you play, so we just focused on the next game.
“We knew that if we played with effort, we would be OK. Losing Tate (Perkins) in the beginning of the year really hurt, and we had to make adjustments and learn to play without him. I think once we made the adjustments we were fine.”
The Lower Merion girls’ basketball team (14-10) is ranked No. 20 in the District 1 6A Power Rankings and opens its district play against No. 13 seed Spring-Ford Feb. 14. They are a young team that competed in the Central League tournament for the first time since 2012.
The LM girls are led by a powerful backcourt featuring freshman guard Natalia Kasmer (10.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.1 apg and 1.0 spg) and junior point guard Alexa Braslow (7.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.9 apg, 4.1 spg). Other contributors have included senior center Megan Walters (4.2 rpg, 6.5 ppg), freshman Clara Rendle (scored six treys against Radnor on Jan. 14), freshman Ella Liberatoscioli (netted 61 free throws this season) and sophomore Harper Gust (consistently defended opponents’ top player in every game she’s been available for, while battling through an ankle injury).
Lower Merion girls basketball head coach Erin Laney said, “Our recipe for success this season has been an unwavering relentlessness to win. Led by the grit and tenacity of Alexa and Natalia in the backcourt, we’ve played with something to prove this year. While we haven’t always produced winning on-court play, we’ve never let a game finish without battling. We survived two overtime wins in a row during January that reminded us of what it takes to win. They’ve shown themselves, through their own play, and through contributions from our underclassmen, that they can compete with the best in the Central League.”
The Harriton girls basketball team is the No. 12 seed in the District 1 5A tournament and will face No. 5 seed West Chester Rustin Feb. 14 in the opening round. The Rams are led by senior Anna Chimento (10.5 ppg, 8.7 rpg), junior Addison Levensten (12.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 4.6 apg), junior Maddie Bacine (6.7 ppg, 3.9 apg) and junior Chelsea Poli (3.2 apg, 5.8 rpg).
Conestoga, the No. 3 seed in the District 1 6A boys basketball tournament, on Feb. 18 will face the winner of the Methacton (14th seed) vs. Council Rock South (19th seed) first-round contest.
The Pioneer girls are the No. 9 seed in the District 1 6A girls’ basketball tournament and will face No. 24 seed Coatesvile in the first round Feb. 14.
Haverford is the No. 10 seed in the District 1 6A girls basketball tournament and will face No. 23 seed Central Bucks South in the first round Feb. 14.
Radnor is the No. 2 seed in the District 1 5A girls basketball tournament, and on Feb. 18 will face the winner of the Strath Haven (No. 7 seed) vs. Academy Park (10th seed) first-round contest.
Villa Maria Academy, the No. 6 seed in the District 1 5A girls basketball tournament, will face 11th seed West Chester East in the first round Feb. 14.
Merion Mercy Academy, the No. 3 seed in the District 1 4A girls basketball tournament, will face No. 2 seed Villa Joseph Marie Feb. 18 in the first round.
Sacred Heart, the No. 2 seed in the District 1 1A girls basketball tournament, will face No. 3 seed Dock Mennonite Feb. 18.
Eddie Levin contributed to this article.
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