Photos/Videos: Kathy Leister & Rich Flanagan
By: Rich Flanagan
WARMINSTER, PA – Four years ago, Miguel Bocachica stood on the sideline at Archbishop Wood as the final seconds ticked off the clock and his West Catholic Burrs suffered a seven-point defeat at the hands of the Vikings. Even with high-scoring guards Imere Harris and Samier Kinsler, the Burrs weren’t prepared to win a game of that magnitude during Bocachica’s first season at the helm. Cal State Bakersfield commits Kareem and Kaseem Watson were freshmen on that squad and played sparingly in their first season.
Falling to an Archbishop Wood team that eventually made a run to the PIAA Class 5A title game is nothing to be ashamed of but to beat a team of the Vikings’ caliber, the Burrs had to learn to grow together and play as one. For the second time this season, the Burrs secured a victory that took years of development and perseverance to achieve.
Behind 20 points, eight rebounds and nine assists from junior Adam “Budd” Clark, the Burrs pulled away and captured a 74-64 win over the Vikings on Friday night. After winning 11 Philadelphia Catholic League games combined over the previous two seasons, West Catholic has won 11 this season alone, its most since winning that same total in 1999.
West Catholic vs. Archbishop Wood - PSD Higlights by Rich Flanagan & Kathy Leister:
After knocking off a perennial contender like Neumann-Goretti earlier this season, a win like this is something Bocachica has been preparing his team for and now it’s starting to become a regularity.
“It’s cliché but hard work pays off,” Bocachica said. “They dedicate a lot of their time to West Catholic basketball and want to better this program just as much as I did when I came in. We go by the saying, ‘Just keep working.’ It’s all about them.”
The Burrs offense has been spearheaded by Clark’s outstanding play at the point this season. The 5-foot-9 junior floor general hit a jumper in the lane off the glass to tie the game at 17-17 in the first quarter. Two possessions later, the Boys’ Latin transfer drove to the rim and finished through two defenders for an and-one to push the West Catholic (17-3, 11-1 Philadelphia Catholic League) lead to 23-21.
After being known as an elite scorer in the Philadelphia Public League, Clark has emerged as one of the elite point guards in the area with his ability to score out to the three-point line while also finding ways to get into the lane and dishing to his array of skilled teammates for an open look in a spot where they’re comfortable. Clark credits the team’s rise to the tutelage and guidance of Bocachica.
“He totally changed [the culture,]” Clark said. “West Catholic hasn’t won a league championship since 1959 and hasn’t been going to the playoffs too much but now we have a chance to be a top seed. He’s a great coach and he really changed things.”
West Catholic vs. Archbishop Wood - PSD Gallery by Kathy Leister
Junior Zion Stanford had a big night with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The 6-foot-5 forward got to the glass early and often, and his putback late in the second quarter put the Burrs up by five. Archbishop Wood answered as Drexel commit Justin Moore drove into the lane, drew a second defender, and found Jalil Bethea for a corner three to cut the deficit to 31-29 heading into the locker room.
Moore was sensational in the second half, scoring 13 of his 18 points after halftime, particularly from the free throw line where he was 11-for-12 over the final two quarters. He also added nine rebounds and nine assists on the night. Vikings big man Carson Howard put together a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. He scored back-to-back baskets inside then Moore nailed two free throws to put Archbishop Wood (15-5, 9-2) up 38-37. Playing against one of the top point guards in the league in Moore, Clark was more than prepared for the challenge and he took over down the stretch.
He converted a tough drive through traffic then threw a gorgeous outlet pass to Kaseem Watson (13 points, eight rebounds), who found Shemar Wilbanks-Acqui for the transition layup to give West Catholic a 53-47 advantage after three. Wilbanks-Acqui, a Sankofa Freedom transfer who tallied 15 points and eight rebounds, notes that the Burrs are still learning to play in this type of atmosphere but they’re growing more accustomed to this environment.
“I’m not used to all of these people, but I adjust easily as a smart player and play under control,” Wilbanks-Acqui said. “We just stay humble and look at it game by game.”
Clark started the fourth quarter with six straight points, including a nifty left-handed layup to put West Catholic up by seven. Clark’s composure has changed the dynamic of the Burrs offense and Bocachica credits his maturation to the rest of this group.
“It helps us all breathe a little easier because no one is worried about the ball when he has it in his hands,” Bocachica said. “His teammates trust that he’s going to make the right play. Today, it was the rim but other times teams are taking that away and he’s kicking it out. He came in as a scorer and he just listens while trying to make the right play over and over again.”
Adam “Budd” Clark led the Burrs with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists - PSD Photo by James Williamson
Zion Stanford also had a big night for the Burrs with 16 points & 12 rebounds - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister
On the ensuing possession, East Stroudsburg commit Nasir Griffin converted the decisive and-one to put the Burrs in front, 62-52 with 4:42 left to play. Moore took a straight drive for two as Archbishop Wood trailed by eight but, as Vikings head coach John Mosco stressed, playing a team that was determined to beat one that has elevated itself into a yearly contender required more effort than his team put forth.
“We’re rebuilding and doing well, but teams like West see championship banners and they want to come knock us off and be where we were,” Mosco said. “Nobody even knew where Archbishop Wood was before a few years ago.”
With one final regular season game before the playoffs, Clark feels West Catholic is rolling as it heads into the postseason and this victory exemplifies what it can accomplish when it’s playing at its best.
“We were already confident coming into the game but now we believe we can win it all,” Clark said.