Aces come up short against Ridley; look to playoffs Friday
The Aces battled a tough, senior-laden Ridley team on Saturday night, but came up just short in a 60-65 loss at Villanova. The Aces split the season series with Ridley, but fell one win shy of a league co-championship with the Green Raiders. LM started hot, taking a 16-10 first quarter lead, but the game soon had the look of most games in this classic rivaly: taught, physical and down-to-the-wire. The second half saw seven lead changes, with Ridley surging ahead for the final time with 2 minutes and 40 seconds on the clock. The Aces were within three and had the ball with just under a minute to play, but could not convert. Ridley hit key free throws down the stretch to ensure the outcome.
Greg Robbins led the Aces with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Carl Johnson (13 pts) and Steve Meehan (3-5 3 PT) also scored in double figures. Ridley's senior stars Dan Robinson (23 pts), Steve Egee (18 pts) and Shamar Harris (19 pts) all had strong games, with Robinson scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter.
The Aces conclude the regular season with an 18-6 record. Thanks in part to strength schedule and key non-league wins against Prep Charter (ranked #4 in SE PA) and Woodbridge, DE (ranked #1 in the state of Delaware), LM garnered the eighth seed among 32 teams in District 1. The Aces will open the District playoffs at home against Academy Park of the Del-Val League on Friday, February 8 -- tip-off is 7 PM.
The Central League placed five teams in the Disrict playoffs, including Ridley (#6), Conestoga (#9), Haverford (#21) and Upper Darby (#26).
In this, the final year of the Main Gym, the Aces will honor the District title teams of 1976 and 1978 at Friday night's game and will welcome back all Main Gym alumni at a reception to begin at 5:30 PM.