THE GOAL – State Champs. The central goal of any high school sports program is to not only find success at the league and district levels, but to walk home with the state title. This illustrious distinction can both be the framework of a season and the identity of the team for years to come. LM’s boys basketball team has
received the title on seven occasions in its long history—the second-most of any program in Pennsylvania. Kobe Bryant led the most famous season in 1996, where Bryant capped off his personal success by garnering the title for the school. LM most
recently won the state title in 2013, yet the team is looking to spur their way back to the state tournament this year. This year’s victory at Reading embodied the spirit of the team and their fight for the future.
READING, PA – It takes a coordinated army and finely tuned strategy to conquer a beast. When the mission seems impossible, the mighty rise to the challenge and march to conquer the competition.
The quest for the state trophy was aided on January 16 when the LM team pulled off a stunner against Reading Senior High School. The reigning state champions, the Red Knights, could not fend off the Aces from conquering their castle.
Guard Justin Poles ’23 stepped up to the intense moment and led the team offensively, notching a career-high nineteen points against a physically and monstrously huge, state title-clinching defense.
The Aces stormed the defense and were able to beat Reading 61-57. While the first quarter included a barragement of offense from the Knights, the Aces were able to eventually pierce through the pressure to garner a lead. As the game passed, the Aces displayed more strength and valor than the opposing Knights. Led by forward Demetrius Lilley ’22, the Penn State Basketball commit, with 28 points and 23 rebounds, the Aces’ offense proved to outlast the Knights’ defense. Guard Jaylen Shippen ’22 powered LM’s dominating play on the defensive end to ensure the victory for the Aces. While the lead at the end of the game was a narrow four points, second half pressure from the Aces held off the state champs from making any sort of a comeback. An in-bounds play that launched the ball backcourt to Guard Sam Wright ’23 was enough to prevent the Knights from any last minute magic on their home court. This rallying win is one of the many reasons for LM’s high ranking in the state. Currently ranked thirteenth in PA, LM basketball continued their dominant play.
Since the win against Reading, LM has continued their dominant poise in the Central League. The Aces went on a 8-1 streak before dropping their last regular season game to Haverford High School in overtime. The final games of the regular season consisted of other impactful wins, such as the victory in the rematch against Conestoga. A nail-biting loss in the first affair against Conestoga rallied the Aces to beat the Central League rival in the second game by a score of 50-37. The Aces wrapped up the regular season with an 18-3 record, a record that is reflective of the talent the team possesses. Their 14-2 record in Central League play garnered them a first-round bye as they entered the playoffs. The Aces now look to the postseason where they hope they continue the success that they have found throughout the regular season.
