The past two seasons Malvern Prep Basketball has risen to among the top ranks in the Philly area. Compiling a 48-10 record over the last two years, Malvern has won back to back Inter-Ac Championships and has been to two straight Independent Schools Tournament Final Fours. Under the superior coaching of Coach Jim Rullo, the Friars have displayed toughness in their play and always have shown a resiliency to win close games. Some of the stars over the last few years like Brendan Kilpatrick (Vermont), Steve Perpiglia (Boston College), Sean Gordon (Gettysburg), Tom Pitt (Penn, track), and Dennis Gabert (Gettysburg, football) have set the example of winning through hard work in practice and leaving it all on the court in games. As these leaders have graduated, it’s up to a new class of Friars to continue the tradition and follow the example set by the last few Malvern teams who have not always been the most talented, but certainly the best prepared and the some of the hardest working around. It won’t be easy for the 2012-13 Friars to repeat as champs as close to 75% of the scoring from last year has been lost to graduation, but with the usual grit and determination, this new look Friars team is looking to buy into Coach Rullo’s system and continue Malvern’s winning ways.

Dec. 4
Non-League
Phelps 43, Malvern 38
   Following a loss to Friends’ Central in their season opener, Malvern looked to avenge the defeat to pick up their first victory of the season. The Phelps School has a lot of new members of their team this year who have transferred to the school. Four out of their five starters were transfers who weren’t with the program last season. The Friars knew they had to cut down on the numerous turnovers from last game and try to force some of the Lions’ big men into foul trouble. Senior guard Jimmy Gordon (18 points vs. FCS) didn’t play because he was sick with the flu. Sam Ramagano started the scoring for the Friars with a three pointer early in the first to give Malvern the 3-0 advantage. After a Ryan Ammerman free throw made it 4-0 Malvern, Phelps went on a 9-0 run helped by three treys, two from senior guard Shak Humphrey and another from 6’7” junior Terry Larrier. Alex Dentinger hit a 12 foot jumper for MP to cut the lead to 9-6 and to end the run. After a few more baskets from each side, the Lions led 13-9 after the first period of play. Most of the second quarter was dominated by Phelps as they had a 9-1 run midway through the quarter. Ramagano finished a three point play off a drive to put a stop to the Lions’ momentum and cut the lead to 24-15. Another jumper from Dentinger made the score 25-17 at the half. Malvern kept their momentum from the end of the first half going as they went on an 8-0 run to start the half. In that series, Jeff Hagen scored 3 points off a basket and foul shot, Ramagano hit his second three of the game, and Pat Giampietro also added basket for the Friars. The score was now tied at 25 midway through the third, and the momentum had shifted. Just as I thought Malvern’s offense would really start to click, the Friars went ice cold making no more field goals in the quarter, just two more free throws from Ramagano. The Lions on the other hand finished the quarter strong making the score 33-27 at the end of three. Early in the fourth, Malvern cut the lead to 4 following Ryan Ammerman going 1-2 from the line but grabbing his own miss and putting it back to put the score at 34-30 in favor of Phelps. A lot of back and forth scoring had the Phelps lead around 6-8 points for most of the frame. A jumper from the corner by sophomore Brendan Inglis and a free throw from Ammerman put the score at 40-35 with a little over 2:00 left. Larrier then went 1-2 for the line after Malvern fouled to get the ball back pushing the lead to 41-35. Then with about 45 seconds left to play, Ramagano hit another three to cut the lead to three at 41-38 prompting Coach Rullo to call timeout and give his team a few final instructions. On the ensuing possession when Malvern was pressing, Ramagano knocked the ball away from Phelps forward Martin Bedulskij and almost regained possession, but the Friars couldn’t come up with the loose ball. Luckily, Marcus Floyd missed the front end of a one and one giving Malvern the ball back with close to 30 seconds on the clock. After running a play or two, the Friars finally found Ramagano on the perimeter open for the tying three pointer. The shot was a little short and bounced into Phelps’ possession, and the game was iced after two more Lions’ free throws. Sam Ramagano led the way for the Friars in his first career start with 16 points on three treys. He also dished out 6 assists in the contest. Alex Dentinger had 4 points to go along with 7 rebounds for the Friars. Terry Larrier scored a game high 18 points for the Lions with 7 coming in the fourth quarter. I think the game may have turned out Malvern’s way if Jimmy Gordon, the Friars’ leading scorer had played. With the loss, MP dropped to 0-2, and the next game is at 7:30 home against Bonner on Friday.

Nov. 29
Non-League
Friends’ Central 58, Malvern 46
   Both Malvern and Friends’ Central came into the game missing significant pieces of their squads from last season. The Phoenix were missing Amile Jefferson, the McDonald’s All-American and ESPN Top 25 recruit, who has now moved down to Durham to play for Coach K’s Blue Devils. Also gone is guard Conrad Chambers, who transferred to Chester before the season. For the Friars, Brendan Kilpatrick and Steve Perpiglia have graduated and are playing college basketball at Vermont and Boston College respectively. Even without these pieces, the game was still shaping up to be a good opening matchup for both teams. (Malvern’s first scheduled game against Shipley was postponed due to the snowstorm last week).  After the Friars won the tip, 6’6” junior Jeff Hagen scored the first points of the game and for the Friars this season with a nice post move and finish down low. Both teams went back and forth for a few possessions before the Phoenix went on a 4-0 and 6-0 run to gain a 19-12 lead after the first quarter. In the middle of one of those runs, freshman guard De’Andre Hunter picked off an errant pass and raced down the court throwing down an MJ like slam over a MP defender. Hunter, who was playing in his first high school game, was very calm and poised throughout and will definitely be a player to watch over the next few years. The Phoenix picked right up where they left off beginning of the second period as senior Karonn Davis got a few transition baskets to give him 8 points in that frame and 14 for the first half. Malvern was kept in the game by senior guard Jimmy Gordon, who scored 5 points in the quarter. At the break the Phoenix led 36-21, and Coach Rullo stressed in his halftime speech to cut down on the turnovers and chip away at the lead over time. Gordon helped put the Friars on the right track in the third quarter to try and stage a comeback. After an opening Friends’ Central basket, the 6’5” senior scored 5 quick points to cut the lead down to 12. A little later in the quarter, Gordon hit another trey to make the score 41-30 cutting the advantage again. Gordon scored all 9 Friars’ points in the quarter, but the Phoenix lead was 44-30 heading into the final frame. Early in the fourth quarter, the Friars cut the lead to 9 following a three-pointer by sophomore Chris Anderson and a sweet reverse lay-up by junior Andy Pancoast making the score 46-37. The Friars regained possession still down by 9 but the turnovers haunted them again as they threw the ball away. Friends’ Central then went on a 5-0 run led by sophomore Jonathan Lawton. Later in the fourth, Malvern again cut the lead to 9 after a three by senior Sam Ramagano, but the Friars couldn’t get any closer as FCS won 58-46. It was the first career victory for Phoenix coach Ryan Tozer at Friends’ Central who was hired this season after their former coach Jason Polykoff accepted a job to be an assistant at Penn. Jimmy Gordon led the way for the Friars with 18 points, 6 assists, and 2 blocks. Ryan Ammerman scored 10 points for Malvern and chipped in 6 rebounds. For FCS, Davis and Lawton both scored a game high 20 points, and Hunter added 9 points in his first varsity game. The 14 turnovers killed Malvern as Friends’ Central scored a lot of their points in the transition game. The Friars drop to 0-1 and below .500 for the first time in over 5 years. The Friars will be looking for their first win when they take on The Phelps School for their home opener next Tuesday.