The battle-tested Aces take on District 2 champion Scranton Saturday at 4:30 PM at Marywood University.

After a one-year hiatus, the Aces are headed back to the State Playoffs thanks to a successful run in the District 1 tournament. Seeded #13 to start the playoffs, the Aces improved their rank to #6 in the district after knocking off Methacton, Upper Darby and Bensalem. The Aces were the only district team to upset a top eight seed to earn a state playoff berth. On Saturday, LM will travel to Marywood University in Scranton to take on Scranton High in round one of the state tournament. Game time is 4:30 PM. The Knights (24-2) are the District 2 champions and return four starters from last year’s team that made it to the state quarterfinals. They are led by junior forward Terry Turner (16.8 ppg) and guard Tim Fisch, who connected for a school-record eight treys in a recent game. Scranton boasts a number of big wins on the year, including victories over a very talented Eastern York team and Public League contender Prep Charter. They have also beaten Wyoming Valley West, the only other AAAA state playoff team from District 2, twice by 67 combined points. The Knights have not lost since January 4th.

Needless to say, this will be a very stiff test for the Aces, but it may not be impossible. Lower Merion’s balanced lineup has played well of late and the Aces have been hardened by a grueling schedule ranked as the second toughest in all of District 1. They have battled and beaten some of the area’s top teams, including a dramatic state-playoff clincher at Upper Darby. To have any chance of pulling off an upset in Scranton’s backyard, however, the Aces will have to play their best basketball of the season. Tickets for Saturday’s game are available in the Lower Merion Athletic Office. Student tickets are $3; adult tickets are $6. LM students are invited to take a fan bus to the game ($2); students must sign-up for the bus in the Athletic Office by 3 PM on Thursday. The bus will depart at 1:30 PM on Saturday at the bus loop.

Directions to Marywood University…Take I-476 N to Exit 115 – PA-315/I-81/Pittston/Scranton (approximately 102 miles). Merge onto PA 315 N, then merge on to I-81N (via ramp to Scranton). Continue for 11.6 miles on I-81. Take exit 188 toward Dunmore. Turn left at PA-347 S. Take third right onto Electric Street, then turn right at Jefferson Avenue. Take 2nd left onto Woodlawn Street, then turn right at Adams Avenue. Marywood University will be on left