For the first time in 18 years, both the Harriton’s boys and girls’ varsity basketball teams beat Lower Merion High School’s boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams. While each team got the win in very different ways, the end result was the same: a huge “W” for the Rams.
The first game of the night was the Lady Rams against the Lady Aces, with Harriton led by senior Ava Paternoster and junior Alexia Louca. Right out of the gate, there was a mismatch between the two teams, with the Rams starting the game on a 14-0 run over LM. By halftime, the girls were up by 17 points. They never looked back.
“We’re just getting started.”
Annie Aspesi, HHS girls varsity basketball star player
The girls team ended up beating the Aces by a score of 58-36, which got the Herd, the name of the student section at Harriton sporting events, roaring. The girls team was led in scoring by sophomores Annie Aspesi and Maretta Smith, followed by the Calhoun sisters, Mady and Lexy. When asked about the win, Aspesi confidently said, “We’re just getting started.”
From there, the boys varsity team squared off against the LM boys, with the expectation of the game being that LM would beat the Rams, since the Aces team was thought to be one of the best teams in years. After all, the Aces had a 6’8” center who is reportedly committed to Texas A&M.
While the Rams came ready to play from the tip, the LM boys didn’t expect that type of energy and thus gave up lots of good looks around the perimeter. Harriton was sure to take advantage of this. The Rams went into the half up by 9, but that lead wouldn’t last.
The Aces came out with a new offense in the second half, which put LM up by 6 at the end of the 3rd quarter. While the confidence level in the Herd started to decline, Coach Sample knew that his guys had what it took to get back into and win this game. After a couple of late shots and defensive stops by seniors Alex Torbeck and Michael Tobasso, suddenly the Rams were tied with the Aces, 49-49, with the ball in the Rams’ possession, and just 45 seconds left on the clock.
With time winding down after an inbound pass, star shooting guard senior Markus Bradley-Lowry took the ball, drove in, almost lost possession, got by the LM defenders, put up floater, and banked it off the glass as the clock hit zero. Harriton beat LM. Yes, you read that right.
The shot from Bradley-Lowry has garnered a lot of attention, especially after the game-winning clip was put up on House of Highlights, a basketball highlight account that has gotten the shot over 1 million views and counting in less than a day.
Catch our exclusive interviews with Harriton players, coaches, and administrators:
After the Herd stormed the court following the buzzer beater shot, the feeling of total surrealness and the thought of a Harriton boys varsity basketball win against LM was just beginning to sink in. When asked about the win, senior guard Khayri Ransom said, “Everybody counted us out going into this game, but we just showed them what this team can do.”
“LM’s our little sister now!”
Michael Tobasso, Harriton HS Senior and star Varsity Basketball Center
When asked about whether this win is the beginning of a new chapter for the Harriton basketball team, senior center Michael Tabbaso said, “Hell Yeah, [LM’s] our little sister now!” Hopefully, LM will keep the “Little Sister” title for a while.
