Catholic League Playoff Recaps, 2006-07

NORTH PRE-PLAYOFF
(At Ryan)
La Salle 56, Judge 51: After falling behind by 30-17 late in the first half, the Explorers stormed to a 36-15 run and then held on as Judge made a late push. Clay Penecale saved 17 of his 21 points for the second half and Frank Pierson, a spotty shooter all season, went 4-for-5 (two treys) for 10 points. His layup and subsequent three-pointer made it 53-45. The substitute guard also trailed only Matt Crozier (10) in rebounds for La Salle with four; he also managed two assists and two steals. After Bob Zanneo (13) could not connect on a late trey that would have been his fifth, and would have tied the game, Pierson rebounded and passed to Penecale for breakaway layup. Kevin Lynch led Judge with 25 points, thanks mostly to perfect shooting (9-for-9, three threes) from the floor. He scored the Crusaders' first 14 points and had assists on the next two baskets, a trey and a regular.

QUARTERFINALS
(Two North Games at Ryan)
N. Catholic 53, Ryan 48: The Falcons used balanced scoring (Velton Jones 15, Chris Edwards 14, Andrew Pomager 13) to overcome having to play in their opponent's gym (pre-arranged site). The Falcons were especially effective in grabbing offensive rebounds down the stretch, keeping alive possessions and negating shaky foul shooting. Andrew Rogers scored 17 points for Ryan, which was coached by his brother, Bernie.
Dougherty 68, La Salle 50: A closing run of 13-1 enabled the Cardinals to make this one look like a blowout. Kahlil Mumford and Justin Minter (eight rebounds) scored 16 points apiece and Roberto Townsend made amends for two earlier missed dunks by wolfing down a pair that would have been SportsCenter worthy. On the latter, on a three-quarter-court drive that followed a steal, he purposely bounced the ball and caught it on the way up before thunder-slamming. Clay Penecale (25) led La Salle.
(Two South Games at O'Hara)
Roman 47, SJ Prep 36: The Cahillites used suffocating defense to sentence the Prep to 35 percent shooting (12-for-34) from the floor. Brian Wanamaker scored 16 points. His twin, Bradley, a Pitt signee, totaled 10 points and the same number of rebounds. All 14 points scored by the Kirkland twins came courtesy of Will. Jim Mower (10) led Prep.
Neumann-Goretti 81, Bonner 57: Syracuse-bound best buddies Rick Jackson (11-for-12) and Antonio "Scoop" Jardine halved 44 points as the Saints stormed to victory. There were also co-leaders (Rashad Savage and Jamal Wilson, nine) atop the rebound category. Bonner's Jeff Jones (Virginia) scored 20 points to conclude his career with 1,923, the No. 1 total in CL history. He'd tied the school record with 41 in the Friars' second regular season meeting with N-G.

SEMIFINALS
(Doubleheader at the Palestra)
Roman 62, Dougherty 44: The Cahillites used relentless defensive pressure, especially against the North MVP, Kahlil Mumford, to claim what evolved into an easy victory. Dougherty shot 14-for-41 and committed 19 turnovers. Roman's Bradley Wanamaker shot 8-for-12 and 6-for-8 for 22 points. Maalik Wayns also shot well (4-for-6, 7-for-8) en route to 17 points. Nick Daggett, with help from Courtney Stanley, held Mumford to seven points. Nos. 6 and 7, on free throws with 3:06 left, froze his career total at 1,001. Roberto Townsend (12) and frosh sixth man Willis Nicholson (10) led Dougherty in scoring. The Cards surrendered 12 of the game's first 14 points and then 10 straight to start the second half after scrambling within 23-19.
Neumann-Goretti 73, N. Catholic 45: Rick Jackson slapped together one of the most dominant performances in city playoff history. He totaled 51 markers in the three main big-man categories, thanks to 26 points, 17 rebounds and eight blocks. Antonio "Scoop" Jardine scored 17 points and dished all 10 of his assists in the second half. Jamal Wilson mixed eight points and as many rebounds. Sixth man Mark Hatty, the football quarterback, scored twice on follows when the game was still competitive and was able to laugh at himself after missing a late-game breakaway dunk; his jump left him short and he pounded the ball against the rim. He promised to attempt no dunks in the final. Lenny Young and Velton Jones halved 22 points for North. The combined 46-point differential was the third highest in CL semis history behind 55 in '01 and 50 in '97.

FINAL
(At the Palestra)
Roman 59, Neumann-Goretti 56: Just when it appeared the Cahillites were dead meat, with just under six minutes left, they overcame a 10-point deficit by roaring to 11 consecutive points in 1 minute, 40 seconds, and wound up scoring 17 of the game's final 21 points. The win gave 21-year coach Dennis Seddon his 10th title, eclipsing the CL record of nine by Roman's Billy Markward in the 1920s and '30s and preventing N-G's Carl Arrigale from capturing his fifth in seven years. Roman went ahead for good, at 56-54, with 2:22 left as members of the team's two sets of twins did the honors: Will Kirkland (also Wes) scored on a pass from Pitt signee Bradley Wanamaker (also Brian). Will Kirkland was the defender in '06 when Derrick "D.J." Rivera hit his game-winner; he said he wasn't himself for a whole month afterward. Bradley Wanamaker had 17 points, six rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Wayns (13), Will Kirkland (12) and Brian Wanamaker (10) also scored in double figures. N-G's leaders were Syracuse signees/best buddies Rick Jackson (20 points, 18 rebounds, six blocks) and Antonio "Scoop" Jardine (11 assists). Jackson's three-game playoff averages were 22.7, 14 and six. Will Kirkland sank the first of two free throws at 6.4 for a 62-59 lead. Teammate Courtney Stanley grabbed the rebound of the missed second shot, then clanked two FTs of his own. N-G's Jamal Wilson rebounded and passed ahead to sixth man Mark Hatty, who hit the rim with a 24-foot, right-wing trey at the buzzer. As the Cahillites began to celebrate, roughly a half-dozen, liquid-filled plastic bottles were fired onto the court from high above N-G's bench. Roman's contingent sought refuge in the locker room, then later returned to accept the plaque and cut down the net.