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BOYS BASKETBALL: Frustration Fuels Neumann-Goretti's Return to the Philadelphia Catholic League Semifinals

By Rich Flanagan Photos: Krystal Williams, 02/19/22, 3:30PM EST

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Photos: Krystal Williams

By: Rich Flanagan

PHILADELPHIA – Carl Arrigale emerged from the locker room to a site he had not seen firsthand in over two years. Neumann-Goretti students and alumni talking about the atmosphere of the Philadelphia Catholic League playoffs returning to South Philadelphia. Former players like St. Joe’s sophomore Jordan Hall, who was a starter the last time the Saints hosted a postseason game, were on hand to take in the euphoria of that historic gym where so many greats have performed under the brightest lights. Most importantly, Arrigale smiles as he sees his current roster of players interacting with family and friends.

What was once a customary postgame ritual disappeared during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and now walking through the crowd, shaking hands and hugging those closest to him, Arrigale can finally breathe and bask in something so real that a few months ago seemed like an unlikelihood.

“It was our first hint of normalcy in this place,” Arrigale said. “We’re still really going through a lot of growth in our development because we haven’t had a whole lot of practice time. You have to be mindful of the kids and we weren’t really learning anything. We finally had three days to tighten up things defensively and talk about others, but we’re still learning other things like our end-of-game work; that’s not stuff we’ve been able to work on.”

Robert Wright III poured in 20 points and eight assists while senior guard Masud Stewart added 10 points as the Saints held off the Explorers, 51-48 to advance to the Philadelphia Catholic League semifinals for the 12th time in 14 seasons. After being the first Saints sophomore to be named First Team All-Catholic since Quade Green, Wright evoked memories of what the former Kentucky and Washington standout did for four seasons at the intersection of 10th & Moore.

Neumann-Goretti vs. La Salle PCL Quarterfinal Highlights by Rich Flanagan:

After trailing by eight following a first quarter that saw Army commit Nix Varano score all 10 of his points, including two three-pointers, Wright tallied 10 of his own in that second quarter. He scored his first basket on a three-pointer from straightaway to cut the deficit to 16-14 with 5:52 left before halftime. Two possessions later, he converted a layup to tie the game at 18.  He finished the second with a free throw and for a player who looks like the next great guard to come out of Arrigale’s program, his confidence is growing steadily.

“[Coach Arrigale and the coaches] tell me not to worry about making a mistake but to worry about making the best play for the team and to do what I do,” Wright said.

Just getting to Friday’s Philadelphia Catholic League quarterfinal matchup against La Salle took everything Arrigale and Neumann-Goretti had and then some. After dealing with an outbreak and contact tracing just after the New Year while following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, the Saints program did not play a game for 19 days. In this month alone, Neumann-Goretti played eight league games in 11 days leading into the postseason, a run that started with the regular season matchup against the Explorers on Feb. 2.

The Explorers came out hot to start the first quarter and, while the Saints made a run in the second, the crowd was antsy and Hall, who played in his fair share of big games, pulled Wright aside at halftime to offer some words of wisdom.

“He told me to pick up and lead the team,” Wright said. “He implored me to get everybody involved so we could get to the Palestra.”

And lead he did. Wright intercepted a pass intended for Varano on the opening possession and took it the other way to push the lead to 28-25.

Stewart, who had the opportunity to play in the last semifinal appearance the Saints (15-4) were in two years ago, finished through traffic on the ensuing possession.

For Stewart, having players like Hall, Green and all-time leading scorer Ja’Quan Newton (Miami (Fla.)) consistently come back and share stories with the current group is indispensable to the team’s success each and every season.

“They went through the same stuff that I’ve been through and they’re successful now, whether it be in college or other teams,” Stewart said. “Getting feedback from them really helps a lot.”

Aamir Hurst followed Stewart’s layup with two consecutive baskets of his own, including a thunderous dunk, then later in the third he found Stewart for an alley-oop to extend the lead to 44-30 at the 2:12 mark.  The Explorers (15-8) kept clawing back into the game and would not go away. Sam Brown, the Rutgers football recruit and First Team All-Catholic selection, scored four of his 13 points to cut the deficit to six. Later, Horace Simmons, who posted a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds, converted a jumper in the lane then Brown finished again to make it 47-44 with 3:25 left to play.

As he did time and again, Wright hit a floater and the lead was back to five at the 2:23 mark of the final quarter. Seeing Wright and the younger players, such as sophomore Khaafiq Myers (six steals), persevere down the stretch meant more than words when reflecting on what had transpired since the pandemic canceled the 2020 PIAA Tournament, not allowed the Saints an opportunity to win another state title and put some much uncertainty around each new day.

“[Rob] didn’t have a normal freshman year and neither did Khaafiq,” Arrigale said. “Imagine if they would’ve been through our program during normal years right now. We had no preseason a year ago and our season got cut short then we thought it was going to be normal then a new variant affects us. Rob and Khaafiq are now officially sophomores, but they were still freshmen for a good part of the year, especially in the beginning.”


Neumann-Goretti's Robert Wright III scored 20 points for the Saints in game vs. La Salle. (photo/Krystal Williams for PSD)

Chris Williams drilled the biggest three-pointer of the night then La Salle had a possession to take the lead but Myers stepped in front of Brown and took a charge. Wright hit 1-of-2 at the free throw line to make it 51-48 with 4.4 seconds left. With one last chance, Varano got a clean look from the top of the key but it was off the mark. Wright was the last person holding the ball after the clock hit zero and the student section rushed the court.

Wright is constructing his unique path at Neumann-Goretti and the next chapter will include his first trip to the Palestra.

“It means a lot because I have never been there and only heard about it,” Wright said. “Now, I get to experience it.”

From a Philadelphia Catholic League title to a canceled state tournament to a shortened season due to a variety of reasons to a full preseason that turned into a gauntlet to close out the regular season, Arrigale somehow has the Saints back in the semifinals with a chance to play for a title that has seemed secondary for over two years when taking into account everything the program and city has dealt with.

“For us to do what we had to do, I don’t think anyone really understands what that was like,” Arrigale said. “We were playing every other day and I don’t care who you’re playing. We didn’t have things in place that in past years would be and we literally added stuff this week.”

Neumann-Goretti will meet Roman Catholic on Wednesday night at the Cathedral of College Basketball.