The basketball season kicked off Friday night with a flourish. There were high scorers abound, some upsets and some high expectations that were given foundations for the rest of the season.

For starters, Chichester upended host Ridley, 50-39, behind 12 points and nine rebounds from Dan Clapp and 11 from Malik Carter (pictured).

The Eagles, who have just two wins in their last six openers, desperately needed to get off to a good start. In the always-competitive Del Val, their toughest tests are ahead of them.

Marple Newtown's Soutiri Sapnas scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter of a win at Harry S Truman.

Strath Haven's Calvin Newell dropped 28 on Carlisle, the hosts of a tipoff tournament and losers to the Panthers.

Glen Mills' Aaric Murray lived up to all the hype, tossing in 32 points.

And Archbishop Carroll escaped a three-overtime thriller over La Salle, 86-84, behind 21 from D.J. Irving and 19 from Juan'Ya Green.

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Daily Times reporters are scattered about the East Coast today, covering some bigtime games. I'm taking a day off from the high school beat to visit Lincoln Financial Field and the 109th Army-Navy Game. A lifelong Philadelphian, it's hard to believe that I've never covered one of these games. In fact, I've never even attended one. Today should be a treat.

Terry Toohey is in Harrisonburg, Va., for Villanova's second-round FCS playoff game against top-seeded James Madison. And Anthony SanFilippo is down in Carolina for a Flyers-Hurricanes game.

It's a big day for sports, certainly, so pick up Sunday's Daily Times for all the latest.

We're still a month out from tipoff of the boys basketball season, but it's never too early to talk hoops.

The schedule for the Prime Time Shootout was released this week. And here are a couple of the marquee matchups:

If you're looking for a night out, there might be none better than Friday, Jan. 30 at Villanova's Pavilion, where an incredible doubleheader will feature arguably the county's top teams:
...Penn Wood vs. Neumann-Goretti, 7:30 p.m.
...Chester vs. Roman Catholic, 9 p.m.

The following day, Saturday, Jan. 31, features Lower Merion vs. Coatesville; Pennsbury vs. Norristown; and Plymouth-Whitemarsh vs. Holy Ghost Prep.

For the complete schedule, click here.