Even with school out for the last four weeks, there have been some goings-on with the high schools scene:

BOYS BASKETBALL

Strath Haven's Avatar Jones and Monsignor Bonner's Brian Boyle, pictured, joined the incoming class at the University of the Sciences. The backcourt duo will join seven others in coach David Pauley's 2009 crop of recruits.

Pauley, a Ridley alumnus, found some talent in his own backyard.

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Elsewhere on the boys hoops front, Delaware County Christian hired a new head coach -- Erick Woods.

A Saint Joseph's alumnus and a native of St. Louis, Mo., Woods takes over the Knights in what will be his first venture into head coaching. He had served as an assistant at Bayard Rustin, Imhotep Charter and at Penn Wood, under Rap Curry.

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GOLF

Jackie Calamaro did not have a banner day at the U.S. Junior Girls Championship this week at Merion West, but her finish is something she hopes to build on.

The rising senior at Radnor, and a 2009 All-Delco selection, Calamaro placed 13th out of an international field of 36. She went eight-over on the back nine, after posting an impressive one-over on the first nine holes.

STAY CLOSE TO GETTIN' SCHOOLED ALL SUMMER FOR THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON THE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS SCENE.

The wait is over. Finally.

Ridley officially announced that Dennis Decker, a former standout with the Green Raiders, will take over as coach of the school's football team. The decision was made official when the Ridley school board confirmed Decker's hire Monday.

This is big news for the Green Raiders. Not only do they get a class-act hometown boy to follow in the footsteps of freshly-retired coach John Waller, they also get someone who is quite familiar with the legacy of Pennsylvania's all-time winningest football program.

In leading the Raiders to the 1990 PIAA championship game, Decker accrued 2,737 passing yards - a single-season record in Delaware County. The 35-year-old told Daily Times staff writer Jon Campbell he is aware of the pressure involved with the Ridley job.

"There is a little more at Ridley, with the tradition," Decker said. "Passion runs depe with Ridley football. Guys follow the program 30 or 40 years. There was going to be pressure whether I got this job this year or four or five years down the line."

Decker's hire comes three months after Waller stepped down. There was much debate how long Ridley could hold out without a coach.

As of Monday, the Green Raiders have found their man.

For Campbell's story in its entirety, click here.

Three down, five to go.

All-Delco Week for the spring season is well underway. So far Chichester's Aurora Kan was named the golf Player of the Year, and Penncrest's Karen Shump defended her status as girls track Athlete of the Year with her fourth-such honor.

Now we move onto today's honoree - Penncrest's Anthony Batch, whose superb all-around season earned him boys track Athlete of the Year. Batch had the second-best time in the state in the 400 - his best event - and won all but one race this year, the 400-meter final at states.

In other high school news:
Batch's teammate Jerry Thompson made his commitment to South Carolina recently. Thompson, an All-Delco pole vaulter for two seasons, looks to continue that down in S.C., though he could pursue a future in the decathlon.

And finally, Chichester has hired Tom Dougherty as its new boys basketball coach. Dougherty has a bevy of experience, having coached at Sun Valley, Academy Park and Neumann-Goretti among others. He will replace Alan Munford, who left the Eagles to accept a head-coaching vacancy at his alma mater of Harry S Truman H.S. in Levittown.

With newly retired coach Buddy Gardler on hand Tuesday, Cardinal O'Hara ushered in a new era of Lions basketball.

The Lions introduced Tim Kelly, who served as Gardler's top assistants for the past 11 seasons, as Gardler's successor. Here's the report on Kelly:

• An O'Hara alumnus and former baseball and basketball player at the school.
• A graduate of Muhlenberg College, where he played basketball.
• The Lions' top scouting assistant, Kelly also worked with their post players.

For more on Kelly's hiring, be sure to check it out here at Gettin' Schooled or in the pages of Wednesday's Daily Times.

It took two months, but Cardinal O'Hara is ready to name Buddy Gardler's successor.

The longtime boys basketball coach, and all-time winningest coach in Catholic League history, announced his retirement March 4. Right out of the gate, several names floated to the top of the list.

All of the speculation comes to an end today at 1:30 p.m., when O'Hara introduces its new coach during a press conference held at the school's main auditorium. Pick up a copy of Wednesday's Daily Times for the latest.