State Playoff Recaps, 2017-18

Philadelphia High School

Basketball State Playoff Recaps, 2017-18 (Catholic Teams Only)

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CLASS 3A First Round At Ryan Neumann-Goretti 80, Steelton-Highspire 59: Senior Noah Warren sniped

5-for-7 from beyond the arc while posting a career high in points (28). Ja'cor

Smith was also a bulwark with 18 points and nine rebounds while Hakim Byrd,

Dymir Montague and Chris Ings thirded 15 assists. The Saints dominated the

second-fourth quarters to the tune of 47-32. At Gov. Mifflin Intermediate, Shillington McDevitt 59, Kutztown 42: Robert Smith (18), Jamil Manigo and

Shamir Mosley (10 apiece) reached double figures as the Lancers mostly coasted;

up 31-14 at intermission. Tahmir Thompson saved his nine points for the fourth

quarter and hit three treys to score them. The Lancers' game was the last to

start and their win capped a 7-0 weekend for Catholic League teams. Second Round At Bethlehem Freedom Neumann-Goretti 62, Wyoming Seminary 44: Dymir Montague scored eight of his 16 points in a 10-1 run that created a

36-23 lead. The score after three quarters was 55-31. Noah Warren and Chris Ings

halved 22 points. Marcus Littles' contributions included 10 points and nine

rebounds. At Council Rock South McDevitt 77, Notre Dame Green Pond 51: Eleven players scored

as the Lancers (16-10) claimed a 16th win for the first time since 1988. Robert

Smith reached 15 points while Jamil Manigo and Tahmir Thompson tallied 11

apiece. Prior to the state playoffs, Thompson had scored 35 points all season.

McDevitt owned a 23-point lead at halftime. Quarterfinal At Jefferson Univ. Neumann-Goretti 66, McDevitt 54: Based on the teams' records

in CL play (12-1, 4-9), a romp would not have surprised. And one looked possible

when the Saints built a 31-17 halftime lead as sub Hakim Byrd scored 11 of his

15 points. The Lancers stood tall, however, and trailed by only six with 90-odd

seconds remaining. Dymir Montague (16), Noah Warren (11, seven assists) and

Chris Ings (10) also scored in double figures as N-G won its eighth quarterfinal

in 10 tries. TaQuan Woodley snatched 11 rebounds. Robert Smith (18) and Shamir

Mosley (13) led the Lancers. Semifinal At Gov. Mifflin Intermediate, Shillington Neumann-Goretti 66, Trinity 56: Ja'cor Smith (16 points, 14 in

32-25 first half) reached double figures for the sixth time in eight games after

having done so just once in the Saints' first 11 league games. Meanwhile, TaQuan

Woodley (also nine rebounds, two blocks) contributed 11 points and he hadn't

reached double digits since tilt No. 2 of league play. Dymir Montague totaled 15

points, seven assists and three steals. Chris Ings had 12 points. N-G scored

seven of the game's last nine points. Snow issues moved this tilt forward four

days to Saturday, March 24. Final At Hershey's Giant Center Neumann-Goretti 57, Richland 42: On a night when no teammates

were able to reach double figures in points, Dymir Montague picked the perfect

time to tie his career high with 23 and give the Saints their fifth consecutive

state crown and eighth over the last nine seasons. Quality shooting from beyond

the arc (4-for-8) helped to aid Montague's cause, as did 5-for-6 sniping at the

line. He added six rebounds, five assists and four blocks. Chris Ings and sub

TaQuan Woodley managed eight points apiece while Chris Ings dealt seven assists

and Marcus Littles posted four rejections. The Saints were in command (45-29) by

the end of the third quarter. This crown was No. 27 (in 40 chances) for coach

Carl Arrigale over 20 seasons, counting Catholic/City/State.

CLASS 4A First Round At Judge Conwell-Egan 73, Wilson Area 58: The Eagles led throughout

(39-17 at halftime) and the starters, with all in double figures, combined for

69 points. Patrick Robinson led the way with 25. Eric Esposito and Delroy Gayle

halved 24. Donavin Crawford and Joe Baldacino did likewise with 20. Esposito

pogo-sticked for three first-quarter blocks. Second Round At Souderton Bethlehem Catholic 97, Conwell-Egan 66: This was a rough night

for the Eagles, who trailed by 30 points just 2:49 into the third quarter.

Patrick Robinson (11-for-13 line) finished with 23 points while Eric Esposito

added 15. Robinson finished his career with 1,067 points, No. 3 in school

history.

CLASS 5A First Round At Jefferson Univ. Bonner-Prendie 56, New Oxford 45: Isaiah Wong packed 12 of his

22 points into a 20-8 second quarter as the Friars, making their first

appearance in a state tournament, overcame a slow start. Wong's final stats also

included 12 rebounds and seven steals. Ajiri Johnson added 10 points and 11

rebounds while Mahir Sharif gave out five assists. At Bensalem Carroll 66, Wissahickon 58: AJ Hoggard sniffed a triple-double

with 16 points and eight apiece of rebounds/assists. Two of those dishes were

posted when Luke House (20 points) drilled back-to-back treys (he had four

total) to provide a 51-37 lead with seven minutes remaining. Justin Anderson

tallied 15 points and Keyon Butler mixed eight points with as many boards. Second Round At Reading High's Geigle Complex Bonner-Prendie 93, York William Penn 73: The Friars dominated

the inside thanks to Ajiri Johnson (26 points, nine rebounds) and Tariq Ingraham

(13, 17) while Isaiah Wong was the ever-impressive floor general with 32 points,

seven boards and three apiece of assists/steals. He notched 20 of those points

in a 40-27 first half. At Gov. Mifflin Intermediate, Shillington Carroll 77, Lampeter-Strasburg 76 (OT): AJ Hoggard nailed two

free throws with 6.7 seconds remaining to provide a four-point lead and his

overall output featured 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. Keyon Butler

scored nine of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and they were definitely

needed to help offset an 11-0 run by L-S. Justin Anderson (17) and Luke House

(13) also scored in double figures. For L-S, 6-10 Ryan Smith was a monster with

34 points, 22 rebounds. Quarterfinals At Reading High's Geigle Complex Bonner-Prendie 71, Allentown Central Catholic 61: In not an

uncommon occurrence, point guard Isaiah Wong led the Friars in rebounds with

nine. He also sniped 14-for-16 at the line while collecting 27 points. B-P

totaled 35-for-44 at the stripe and hit 86 percent (19-for-22 ) in the fourth

quarter. Ajiri Johnson (15 points) and Tariq Ingraham (11) halved 14 rebounds

while Yohance Garner created good vibrations with two early treys. At Garden Spot, New Holland Milton Hershey 73, Carroll 66: The Patriots scored 15 of the

game's first 19 points, but surrendered 20 of the last 32. Having to go without

Justin Anderson (tweaked ankle) for much of the fourth quarter did not help

their cause. AJ Hoggard finished with 19 points and five apiece of

rebounds/assists. Devon Ferrero offered a season high 17 points. This was only

the third time all season that Carroll did not have at least three guys in

double figures. Devon Butler claimed nine boards. Semifinal At Bethlehem Freedom Abington Heights 56, Bonner-Prendie 51 (OT): Due to a wild

sequence at the end of regulation, the Friars had a chance to claim what likely

would have been called the most controversial win in Pennsylvania (United

States? . . . world?) history. As the clock wound down, B-P trailed, 48-45.

Isaiah Wong (19 points) missed a three-pointer. Michael Perretta was fouled

after grabbing the rebound. But the time read 0:00, the buzzer sounded and AH's

fans tossed Hershey Kisses onto the court because they thought a spot in the

championship game had been earned. The refs called a tech and put one second

back on the clock. Perretta hit the first three free throws . . . and missed the

fourth. Donovan Rodriguez could not sink a trey on the tacked-on possession. The

Comets scored the first six points of the extra session and two free throws at

11.7 made it 56-51. B-P's Tariq Ingraham had 12 points, eight rebounds. The

Friars totaled just four field goals over the final 20 minutes.

CLASS 6A First Round At Pleasant Valley SJ Prep 62, Northampton 57: Soph Trevor Wall scored a

season-high 21 points (previous best: 17) for the Hawks, who rallied from a

nine-point halftime deficit. Ed Croswell contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds,

Kyle Thompson had 14 points and Darius Kinnel added 10 points while holding

Northampton's main threat to two points after a 26-point first half. At O'Hara Roman 58, Pennridge 56: Seth Lundy hit three treys while

scoring 13 of his 15 points in the third quarter and that outburst proved to be

crucial as Pennridge won the fourth quarter, 18-9, and tallied seven of the last

nine points. Hakim Hart (22, also eight rebounds) connected for four

three-pointers and Lynn Greer had 16 points. Second Round At Bensalem Roman 75, Plymouth-Whitemarsh 71: After scoring no points in the

first round and managing six in the first half of this one, Allen Betrand shot

6-for-6 (one trey) and 7-for-8 for 20 second-half markers as the Cahillites

roared back from a 34-23 deficit. He also passed to John Kelly for the bucket

that put Roman ahead for good at 65-63. Hakim Hart had 18 points. Lynn Greer and

Seth Lundy halved 26. At Ryan Abington 66, SJ Prep 61: Darius Kinnel shot 12-for-19 (three

treys) en route to 28 points for the Hawks, who could never quite get over the

hump after falling into an early mini-hole. Trevor Wall added 11 points. Early

foul trouble helped to limit inside force Ed Croswell to nine points and four

rebounds. Quarterfinal At Bensalem Roman 75, Central Bucks West 56: Hakim Hart led the Cahillites

by nailing three treys in a 34-20 first half and finishing with 24 points

overall. Allen Betrand was right behind with 23 points while soph Lynn Greer was

a triple threat with 10 markers, eight boards and seven assists. Seth Lundy,

usually a stalwart, was limited to nine minutes by a tender ankle. The waning

moments provided excitement as deep subs Nick Tolomeo and Michael Anderson both

made it into the scoring column (two points apiece) for the second time all

season. Semifinal At Chambersburg Roman 81, Pine-Richland 73 (OT): The Cahillites averaged 5.3

points per minutes in the extra session after Lynn Greer scored the last points

of regulation by hitting a trey for 60-60 with 1:43 remaining; he fouled out 13

seconds later. P-R held for a last shot, then missed two. Allen Betrand (seven

rebounds) and Hakim Hart (five steals) halved 50 points, Seth Lundy claimed

eight rebounds and sixth man Louie Wild mixed 11 points, four assists. This game

was played Saturday, March 24, after two postponements. Blame a Nor'easter and

its aftermath. Final At Hershey's Giant Center Roman 92, Lincoln 80: Defense was only a rumor as the teams

combined for 172 points. And though a quick glance at the final score might make

you think the Cahillites earned their third state crown in four years in

semi-comfortable fashion, that was hardly the case. They led by only 82-80 with

1:06 left. Seth Lundy created some space with a three-point play and Roman was

in lock-down mode from there while avenging its 10-point loss to the

Railsplitters 25 days earlier in the City Title. Lundy was a versatile force

with 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Hakim Hart was right behind with

26 points and shot a sizzling 12-for-17 from the floor. Overall, Roman was

33-for-53 (62.7) from the floor and 20-for-26 (76.9) at the line. Lynn Greer

(9-for-11 line) added 20 points and Allen Betrand mixed five assists with 14

points. Khalif Meares was Lincoln's rock with 28 points and four apiece of

assists/steals. Shakeir Morrison and Emuel Charleston managed 14 points apiece.

This game was played on Wednesday, March 28.