Lower Merion got 16 points and seven rebounds from sophomore guard Israel Ingram, who hit two 3-pointers in both the first and third quarters, which saw Lower Merion get off to hot starts in both halves. 

The Aces led by as many as 21-9 in the second quarter before Springfield closed the first half on a 15-2 run to take a one-point lead into the break. Lower Merion went up as many as eight in the third quarter, but a 3-point play by Altes, a 3-pointer by Valletti and five points from Carr helped Springfield keep it at a five-point gap entering the fourth.

“We weren’t worried at all,” Altes said. “We knew if we just did our thing, we’d come back and we started a little slow in the first half, we just knew we had to fix a couple mistakes and we’d be fine.”

Beating Lower Merion means Springfield went 6-0 against the 6A schools in the Central League, which doesn’t have outright divisions but has the 12 teams playing uneven schedules based on enrollment size. McCormick, who’s in his 32nd year at the Cougars’ helm – just a few years less than Downer – couldn’t remember doing that since the league moved to its current format in 2008. 

Springfield’s only loss thus far came to Central League leader Penncrest, the Lions winning 51-36 on their home court in December. The rematch is a week away — Thursday, Jan. 29 — though both teams have three games to play before then. 

“We haven’t talked [about] record or schedule, not at all,” McCormick said. “It hasn’t been brought up once. We’re now talking about Marple Newtown. It fits us well, it keeps us focused. 

“That’s what makes them successful, they don’t get caught up in who’s two weeks from now and what have we accomplished. We haven’t accomplished anything. When we’re done Friday night, we’ll start worrying about Strath Haven and right on down the line. I know it’s a cliche, and with this group it’s really true, they don’t get caught up in it at all.”

By Quarter

Springfield:        9   |  15  |  14  |  15  ||  53

Lower Merion:  16  |   7   |  20  |   9   ||  52

Shooting

Springfield: 19-42 FG (4-15 3PT), 11-18 FT

Lower Merion: 22-48 FG (8-24 3PT), 0-1 FT

Scoring

Springfield: Will Carr 20, TJ Valletti 14, Peter Altes 12, Tom Toomey 5, Mason Ellis 2

Lower Merion: Israel Ingram 16, Kyle Parrish 11, Bereket Darsenie 8, Darius Mitchell 7, Will Yard 6, Nick Dragut 2, Finn Pulsifer 2