Philadelphia High School
Basketball
State Playoff Recaps, 2017-18
(Catholic Teams Only)
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.