MIDDLE ATLANTIC SPORTS NEWS/LLHo

The Clippers opened the District 1 AAAA tournament with a 68-56 victory over Methacton. Nasir Robinson, who was honored by McDonaldÕs as a ÒFinalistÓ for their All-American Team before the game, did not disappoint as he had game-highs of 22pts and 18rebs. Kevin Green-Germany was the only other Clipper in double-figures with 16pts but Karon Burton did dish out 10 assists.

2. Philadelphia Roman Catholic (17-4) (Philadelphia Catholic League)

Roman defeated Philadelphia Monsignor Bonner 71-58. Maalik Wayns led five players in double-figures with 20pts, Rakeem Brookins, Wes Kirkland and Aaron Brown all scored 12pts and Courtney Stanley added 10pts. Then blasted Norristown Kennedy-Kenrick 68-38 led by Wes Kirkland with 17pts, Wayns scored 16pts, Kevin Regan had 12pts and Will Kirkland had 10pts. Then at the Prime Time Shootout in Trenton, NJ, Roman lost to Mount Vernon, New York (18-4) 74-73. This was tight all the way, tied at 22 after the first quarter, Roman led 36-35 at the half and Mount Vernon took a 56-54 lead into the final eight minutes. Wayns led with 26pts, Wes Kirkland had 13pts, while Will Kirkland and Brown both had 10pts. In their fourth game of the week, Roman finished regular season undefeated against every team they played in Pa but Chester, with a 74-46 win over Springfield Cardinal OÕHara. Will Kirkland led with 22pts, Wayns had 20pts and Wes Kirkland added 18pts.

3. Pennsbury (24-1) (District 1 AAAA)

The Falcons opened the District 1 AAAA tournament by crushing Chichester 77-50 as 12-players broke into the scoring column led by Dalton Pepper with 28pts and Marcus Healey with 11pts.

4. Reading (26-0) (District 3 AAAA)

Reading opened the BCIAA tournament and led from the start, but needed a 20-8 fourth quarter to really pull away from Wyomissing, 69-47. Jermaine Jackson led with 19pts, 11rebs, while Jordan and Trenity Burdine both scored 15pts. Reading took a 24-11 lead after the first quarter and was never in trouble as they defeated Muhlenberg 79-58 in the semifinals. Jordan Burdine was high with 28pts, 4-for-5 on treys, Jackson scored 18pts and Trenity Burdine had 17pts. In the championship game, Reading got out to a 19-11 first quarter lead as Jermaine Jackson (12rebs) scored 11 of his career-high 27pts in that first quarter. The lead swelled to 40-23 in the third quarter, but Boone would cut it to seven points. However the Knights took control again with a 22-12 fourth quarter for a 72-54 victory. Justin Rodriguez had 16 of his 18pts in the second half.

5. Philadelphia Imhotep Charter (22-2) (Philadelphia Public League-District 12 AA)

The Panthers took a 39-16 lead at the half and went on to a 71-45 victory over Philadelphia Nueva Esperanza. Miguel Bocachica led with 18pts, Rashad Savage had 13pts, Will Adams had 11pts and Sam Prescot added 10pts. Then won the Public League Division C title with their first ever win over Philadelphia Prep Charter 67-63. This one was tight all the way as the lead changed hands 13-times and there were four ties. Neither team led by more than seven points. Bocachica put the Panthers ahead to stay 63-61 with 1:09 left when he drained a three-ball from the corner. Adams led with 23pts, Savage (14rebs, 4assists and 3 steals) and Bocachica both scored 16pts

6. Norristown (25-0) (District 1 AAAA)

The Eagles opened District 1 AAAA tournament with an easy 80-51 victory over Hatboro-Horsham. Khalif Wyatt with 27pts, Maurice Briggs and Quentin Watson with 14pts apiece led 11-players who scored.

7. Philadelphia Communications Tech (21-3) (Phila. Public League-District 12 AAA)

The Phoenix defeated Philadelphia FitzSimons 68-30 behind 24pts from Andrew Randall and 16pts from Chris Jones. Then defeated Philadelphia Electrical 66-60 behind 20pts from Randall, 13pts from Shaquille Shannon and 11pts from Raheem Roher. Wrapped up regular season by thumping Philadelphia Kensington 83-43 after leading 52-19 at the half. 13-players scored in this one, led by Randall with 20pts, Jones with 14pts and Manny Jordan with 10pts

8. McKeesport (18-3) (District 7 WPIAL AAAA)

The Tigers opened the WPIAL AAAA tournament with a 53-44 victory over Hempfield Area. Davon Alexander led the way with 16pts and Zeke Marshall added 11pts. McKeesport was locked in a 29-29 tie at the half, but broke away in the third quarter to lead 40-36.

9. Philadelphia Prep Charter (16-6) (Philadelphia Public League-District 12 AA)

Ferg Myrick (knee injury) and part-time starting guard Willis Nicholson (car accident) did not play in the 67-63 loss to Philadelphia Imhotep Charter, that decided the Public League Division C championship. Still the Huskies hung tough the whole game as there were 13 lead changes in the contest. Jesse Morgan led with 18pts, Parrish Grant had 15pts, and Tyree Harris and Ameen Tanksley both scored 11pts Bounced back after two consecutive losses to defeat a strong Winslow Township, New Jersey (14-4) 87-86 in double-overtime. Morgan scored a career-high 36pts in the win. Grant had 16pts and Tanksley and Myrick both scored 12pts apiece.

10. Philadelphia St. John Neumann-St. Maria Goretti (15-9) (Philadelphia Cath. League)

The Saints defeated Philadelphia West Catholic 72-65, but it was not that close a game as they led 65-37 heading into the final quarter, where they were outscored 28-7. Daniel Stewart led with 18pts, 10rebs and Jamal Wilson had 11pts, 7rebs. Then defeated Radnor Archbishop Carroll 76-63 as Tyreek Duren led with 20pts, Tony Chennault had 18pts and Wilson and Stewart both scored 11pts. Ended their regular season with a 58-51 victory over Philadelphia St. JosephÕs Prep to avenge an earlier loss to the Hawks. Cheannault led with 20pts and Wilson added 12pts for the Saints.

11. Beaver Falls (19-3) (District 7 WPIAL AA)

The Tigers did not play. They open the WPIAL AA tournament February 12 or 13 against Springdale.

12. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (20-4) (District 7 WPIAL AAAA)

The Vikings opened the WPIAL AAAA tournament by coming behind for a 69-62 victory over Latrobe. Lucas Mickens led with 21pts, Matt McKenna had 16pts and Brandon Sams added 10pts.

 13. Pittsburgh Schenley (22-2) (Pittsburgh City-District 8 AAAA)

The Spartans defeated PittsburghÕs Perry 72-62 and Allderdice 59-47 to extend their winning streak to 73 against City League foes and end their regular season.

14. Philadelphia Strawberry Mansion (16-4) (Philadelphia Public League-District 12 AA) The Knights ran all over Philadelphia Saul 73-25. 10-players hit the scoring-column led by Darren Lawrence with 17pts, Dwayne Davis with 12pts and Eddie Frazier had 11pts. Then won the Public League Division D title with an 80-63 victory over Philadelphia Mariana Bracetti. A 22-9 second quarter led to the win. Frazier led with 24pts, Davis had 23pts, Lawrence had 14pts and Devon White added 11pts.

15. Philadelphia North Catholic (19-5) (Philadelphia Catholic League)

North Catholic defeated Philadelphia LaSalle 53-47 to clinch at least a tie for the North Division title. Lenny Young led with 23pts. Defeated Philadelphia Bishop McDevitt 71-50 thanks to a 21-10 third quarter that broke open a tight game at the half. Young led with 16pts, Velton Jones had 15pts and Redding added 11pts. The Catholic League North champs finished the regular season with a 65-52 win over Philadelphia Conwell-Egan. Young led with 20pts and Peter Sellecchia scored 10pts.

16. Lancaster (19-4) (District 3 AAAA)

The Red TornadoÕs Jerren Harris had a monster game with 28pts, 14rebs, 7blks to lead McCaskey to a 73-44 romp over Manheim Central in the quarterfinals of the Lancaster-Lebanon tournament. Jamaal Parker added 10pts for the winners. In the semifinals, the Tornado hooked up with AA power Columbia and this one was everything everyone was waiting for all year long. Columbia would jump out to a 10-5 lead but the Tornado paced by 15 first half points by Leontae Turner raced to a 41-25 halftime lead. Columbia then scored the first nine points of the third quarter to pull within 41-34 and got to within 46-40 after three. Columbia would tie the game at 51-51 with 4:00 left, but McCaskey used their inside strength to pull away for a 61-54 victory. Turner and Lamar Patterson both scored 17pts to lead and Harris added 12pts for the winners. The Red Tornado won their fourth consecutive L-L championship with their third win over Section 1 rival, Hempfield 62-53. Hempfield had come back and tied the game just before halftime and led 43-40 heading into the final quarter. But the Tornado went on a 22-10 tear in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Leontae Turner led with 19pts, Jerren Harris had 18pts, Lamar Patterson 13pts and Jamaal Parker added 10pts.

17. Steelton-Highspire (20-5) (Distict 3 AAA)

The Rollers opened the Mid-Penn Conference tournament by falling behind Class A power, Scotland, 16-8 at the end of the first quarter, and still trailed 46-43 after three quarters but used a 16-11 fourth quarter advantage to pull out a 59-57 win. Josh Proctor led with 14pts, Jeff Davis had 13pts, Jordan Smith had 12pts and Lance Chisholm added 10pts for the Rollers. Then in the semifinals, the Rollers got out to a 37-22 lead at the half and led by as many as 17pts, but Mechanicsburg cut the lead to four (50-46) after three quarters. They took a lead, 54-52, in the fourth, but the Rollers came back for a 63-62 victory. Six players scored seven or more points for Steel-High led by Lance Chisholm with 20pts and Jeff Davis with 12pts, 11rebs. A 13-2 second-quarter run gave Steel-High a 28-22 halftime lead over Susquehanna Township in the Conference championship game. But the Indians rallied to within four points early in the fourth quarter 49-45 with 6:08 to go. After that it was all the Rollers as they finished the last six minutes on a 24-7 tear for a 73-52 victory and the Conference championship. Josh Proctor led with 27pts, 12rebs, Lance Chisholm had 22pts and Lloyd Hill had 12pts.

18. Susquehanna Township (24-2) (District 3 AAA)

The Indians got out to a 31-12 halftime lead, but Boiling Springs outscored them 15-4 in the third quarter to pull to within 35-27 after three quarters. They would get even closer, but Township pulled away for a 48-40 victory in the quarterfinals of the Mid-Penn Conference tournament Matt Jones led a balanced Indian attack with 11pts. In the semifinals, the Indians raced to a 30-17 lead at the half and led by as many as 16 points on the way to a 58-50 win over Greencastle-Antrim. The lead was double-digits for most of the game until GAÔs, Dameatric Scott fired in five treys in the final quarter. Matt Jones led Susquehanna with 20pts, Tahj Turner had 14pts and Ben Dupree added 10pts. In the Conference championship game a 13-2 second-quarter run gave Steel-High a 28-22 halftime lead. But the Indians rallied to within four points early in the fourth quarter 49-45 with 6:08 to go. After that it was all the Rollers as they finished the last six minutes on a 24-7 tear for a 73-52 victory and the Conference championship. The Indians were led by Greg Edwards with 18pts and Matt Jones with 12pts.

19. Ridley (20-4) (District 1 AAAA)

The Green Raiders opened the District 1 AAAA tournament with a 60-43 win over Owen J. Roberts. Steve Egee and Dan Robinson both scored 23pts and Shamar Harris had 10pts.

20. Erie McDowell (21-2) (District 10 AAAA)

The Trojans move back into Top 20 after they finished their regular season by hammering Erie Cathedral Prep 62-39. It was an earlier loss to Prep that had knocked McDowell from the ratings. Dillion Loomis scored 20pts and hit five threeÕs in the first half in the win.