Wed. Pa. boys: Lower Merion advances

The state boys' basketball showdown between Lower Merion and Martin Luther King came up Aces on Wednesday night, as Lower Merion ran away with a 63-50 victory in the second round of the PIAA Class AAAA tournament at Plymouth Whitemarsh.

Senior forward B.J. Johnson scored a game-high 18 points, leading four Aces in double figures.

Center Yohanny Dalembert dominated the interior with 19 rebounds and 12 points, and Raheem Hall and Jaquan Johnson each scored 14 for Lower Merion.

Guard Shakoor Woodson paced the Golden Cougars with 14 points in his final game for King.

Lower Merion will face Harrisburg on Saturday for a quarterfinal matchup.

Great Valley 64, Parkland 61 - Mikal Bridges, a 6-foot-6 junior guard, was nearly automatic from the floor, hitting 11 of 14 shots en route to a game-high 26 points in Great Valley's narrow escape at William Tennent.

The Patriots held a slim lead for much of the game and sank 21 free throws, 16 in the fourth quarter, to keep surging Parkland at arm's length.

Junior point guard Cyree Ames scored 14 points, draining 6 of 8 from the line in the final quarter.

St. Joseph's Prep 72, York 55 - Junior guard Kyle Thompson outshined his better-known teammates, scoring a game-high 22 points as the Hawks got out to an early lead and cruised to victory at Coatesville.

Notre Dame-bound wing Stephen Vasturia scored 15 points, adding 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Wake Forest recruit Miles Overton chipped in with 12 points.

Not to be outdone, Hawks sophomore Chris Clover posted a double-double of his own with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

St. Joe's Prep will play Coatesville on Saturday.

Chester 67, Williamsport 50 - McDonald's All-American Rondae Jefferson scored his 1,000th career point on a pair of third-quarter free throws as the Clippers breezed past Williamsport in a freewheeling contest at Pottsville.

With the two teams trading dunks for much of the second half, Jefferson, a 6-7 Arizona commit, punctuated the victory with a windmill jam late in the game, sending the two-time defending state champs into Saturday's quarterfinals against Great Valley.

Harrisburg 79, Upper Darby 62 - The Royals fought valiantly before fading against Harrisburg's depth at Reading.

Senior guard James Fisher hit five three-pointers for a game-high 20 points, but only four Royals reached the score sheet as Upper Darby's bench was outscored by 25-0.

Constitution sophomore Ahmad Gilbert dominated Delone Catholic with 20 points, leading the Generals to a 63-55, second-round triumph at Governor Mifflin Intermediate School.

The lanky 6-6 forward was aided by burly frontcourt partner Raheem Liggins and his 15 points, and junior guard Floyd Preito scored 13.

Constitution will face Holy Cross on Saturday.

Trinity 74, Sayre 47 - Junior forward Antwan James led the Panthers with 15 points as Sayre bowed out at Governor Mifflin Intermediate School.

Jesse Abarca scored off an assist from Kevin Cleary in overtime to lift West Chester East over West Chester Rustin, 5-4, in the semifinals at Ice Line in West Chester.

Abarca, a senior forward, also assisted a first-period goal. Tyler Percival posted the win with 23 saves.