Lower Merion celebrates its state championship Aces

On a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon, the Lower Merion High School boys’ basketball squad basked in the glow of a throng of adoring Aces fans, who came out to cheer their PIAA Class AAAA state championship.

The parade started in Suburban Square, and flanked by numerous fire trucks, the Lower Merion players travelled in five open convertibles, down Coulter Avenue, as Aces fans lined both sides of the road.

Lower Merion senior guard Raheem Hall said, “I was dreaming about the parade [the night before]. It’s everything I thought it would be – a beautiful day, the sun shining, people smiling and having fun, music playing.”

LM senior forward Yohanny Dalembert said, “[The parade] was amazing, we had a lot of fun [riding in the convertibles] and everyone coming out here [to cheer us].”

Aces senior BJ Johnson said, “[The parade] was exciting. …. I wanted to ride one of the fire trucks but they wouldn’t let me (laughs), I had to ride in the convertible.”

Lower Merion’s Justin McFadden said, “The parade was a great experience, I’ve never seen that many people [in one place] all in support of me [and the team] before.”

The parade, which included an appearance by the Greater Overbrook Mummers, a 1919 Buick convertible, and Lower Merion cheerleaders who held banners reading “2013 State Champions,” then veered left on Llanfair Road, and right on the four open lanes of Montgomery Avenue for the two blocks to Lower Merion High School.

The parade crowd then filed into the Bryant Gymnasium. Lower Merion head coach Gregg Downer walked into the gym carrying the PIAA Class AAAA state championship trophy, the cheers of the crowd.

One of the people in the bleachers was Downer’s 83-year-old father, who attends many of Lower Merion’s home games.

“It’s great having [my dad] here,” said Downer. “He was here for the 2006 state championship [parade] when he was 76 years old, and now he’s 83 and here again.”

Lower Merion assistant coach Doug Young said, “This parade is just like the one we had in 2006 – the weather was the same for that one – beautiful.”

The scoreboard in the Bryant Gymnasium read, “Home 63, Visitors 47” (the score of the state final against Chester with the time set at 20:13.

Lower Merion principal Sean Hughes, who spoke first at the celebration in the Bryant Gymnasium, paid tribute to the Aces: “We are all in awe of your sportsmanship and dedication.”

Following the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner, Young gave a brief review of the Aces’ highlights: winning 59 games in the past two years (best in program history), beating four nationally-ranked opponents, and finishing the season being ranked No. 21 in the country for the first time ever.

At the end of the celebration, the Lower Merion players stood and applauded the Aces fans, then sat down at a long table just outside the Bryant Gymnasium to autograph posters of the Lower Merion squad.

Hall said, “[Signing these autographs] makes you feel like a professional. It’s amazing, all these people that came out today [for the parade] and that care about us.”

Johnson said, “It’s nice to see the smiles on little kids’ faces [when we sign]. They’re looking up at us like we’re celebs (laughs).”
Lower Merion guard JaQuan Johnson said, “[Signing these autographs] is great – it makes you feel like a king.”

McFadden said, “We’ve got to show our appreciation for the fans, they showed us their support all season.”