Videos/Photos: Rich Flanagan, Kathy Leister & John Knebels
By: Rich Flanagan
PHILADELPHIA – Joe Zeglinski had to finally soak it all in. After leading Archbishop Ryan to five consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League semifinal appearances in the last seven seasons, one thing was missing from all of those: a victory.
Wednesday marked Zeglinski’s first triumph at the Palestra and the Raiders first berth in the league title game since 2008 following a 59-55 victory over West Catholic. The win sets up a date with Neumann-Goretti in the title game on Monday.
Instead of postgame angst and frustration like in the previous four appearances, it was a more upbeat and jovial tone of the Raiders head man.
“It’s my fifth time here and I didn’t want to go 0-5,” Zeglinski said. “The kids stepped up for the program and the alumni.”
The Raiders entered the postseason with little momentum having dropped three of their last four games, all to playoff teams including a nine-point loss to the Burrs at home on Feb. 4. After outlasting Archbishop Wood in one of the most thrilling Philadelphia Catholic League quarterfinal matchups in recent years, Archbishop Ryan (17-6) entered the Palestra with a wealth of confidence and Zeglinski expanded on the differences between this year’s team and others that had fallen short.
“I felt our defensive intensity has been there since day one,” Zeglinski said. “We have a big guy in the middle that demands so much attention. It’s tough to game plan for when you have a guy that eliminates easy layups.”
That big guy in the middle is 6-foot-9 sophomore Thomas Sorber, who had 17 points and six rebounds against the undersized Burrs front line. West Catholic threw various players at him such as 6-7 twin forwards Kaseem and Kareem Watson, 6-7 senior and East Stroudsburg commit Nasir Griffin, and 6-5 juniors Zion Stanford and Marcus Branker Jr. Regardless, when the Burrs went man-to-man in the first half, Sorber had his way, particularly in the second quarter. He scored five of the Raiders’ first nine points and his tough finish with 3:47 left before halftime gave Archbishop Ryan a 23-21 lead.
Archbishop Ryan vs. West Catholic PCL Semifinal Highlights by Rich Flanagan, Kathy Leister & john Knebels:
Post Game Press Conference: L to R - sophomore Thomas Sorber, Ryan head coach Joe Zeglinski, senior Jalen Snead - Video by John Knebels
For Sorber’s first time on the Palestra floor, the ambiance and electricity in the building did not disappoint and neither did his performance.
“It was entertaining and a special moment for all of us,” Sorber said. “I had chills going through my body but once I stepped on that court and the clock started, I was fine.”
Kareem Watson answered Sorber’s finish with one of his two three-pointers in the second but then senior guard Jalen Snead converted in the lane and Sorber found room underneath to put another layup home to push the lead to three again. Snead, who posted an impressive 10 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks, closed out the half with another layup and the Raiders took a 29-26 advantage at the break.
Archbishop Ryan junior Michael Paris picked a great time to provide more offense than usual - Video by John Knebels
Ryan senior Luke Boyd’s outside daggers were a key component to the Raiders’ victory - Video by John Knebels
West Catholic (19-4) switched to a zone defense in the second half to limit Sorber but he began the third with another finish in the paint off a nice seal of his defender. Stanford, who led the way for the Burrs with 17 points, converted a layup down the left side but Darren Williams answered with a trey to give the Raiders their biggest lead of the night at 37-28. From there, the Burrs team that had won 12 league games, finished as the No. 2 seed and made its first trip to the Philadelphia Catholic League semifinals since 1999 started to showcase its versatility and depth.
Shemar Wilbanks-Acqui (12 points) scored four straight points then point guard Adam “Budd” Clark, who dished out 10 assists on the night, was doubled on the baseline but found Stanford in the lane to cut the deficit to six. Clark hit 1-of-2 at the free throw line, Kaseem Watson, who scored 10 points, hit a three-pointer from the wing then Griffin tipped home a missed layup from Clark, and the Burrs were in front, 40-37.
Snead and Luke Boyd were sophomores the last time Archbishop Ryan played at the Palestra and experiences like their loss to Neumann-Goretti as well as their upset of Bishop McDevitt in the quarterfinals in that same playoff run allowed them to be composed down the stretch, especially when the Burrs got back into it.
“When you look at most of our games, especially the McDevitt game a few years ago, they’re all close,” Snead. “Close games help us out. We’ve been in a lot of them this year, too and they help us prepare, including the losses.”
Archbishop Ryan vs. West Catholic - PCL Semifinal Gallery by Kathy Leister for PSD
The two seniors, who were starters on last year’s team that advanced to the PIAA Class 5A title game in Hershey, made sure the Raiders got to Monday night. Boyd made one of his three three-pointers just before the third-quarter buzzer then he began the second half by hitting a trey while being fouled. With a swish of his free throw, Archbishop Ryan led 44-42 with 6:38 left to play. A mid-range jumper from straightaway by Kaseem Watson then a Stanford three put the Burrs back in front by one at the 5:09 mark.
Sorber converted two more baskets inside but the biggest lift the Raiders received came from junior guard Michael Paris, who shot 5-for-7 from the floor and scored 13 points off the bench. He put home an and-one to push the lead to 49-47 then Williams drove baseline and found a slashing Paris to give the Raiders a 55-51 lead with 1:27 remaining.
While the Burrs did everything to take Sorber away, he found opportunities but also freed up teammates like Paris to be effective on the offensive end, according to Zeglinski.
“Thomas demanded so much attention and I kept telling him, ‘Don’t get frustrated. It’s going to open up for you,’” Zeglinski said. “He opens up so many lanes for our guards. In the fourth quarter, Darren drives baseline, Thomas brings two defenders to the foul line and that’s a big play.”
Wilbanks-Acqui drew two defenders and found Clark lurking behind the defense for a layup and the Burrs were still hanging around, trailing by two with 42.4 seconds left. That’s when Snead, one of the league’s premiere defenders and passers (5.2 assists per game coming in), stepped up and went 4-for-5 at the foul line to close things out and got Zeglinski his first league semifinal win as head coach.
While he may be known for his defense, Snead’s defensive prowess is what allowed him to enter the rotation as a sophomore and it has also allowed the rest of his game to develop, which Zeglinski noted greatly aided him in the closing seconds.
“We have the best defender as a guard I’ve had in the history of our program with Jalen and It’s noticeable when you take him off the floor,” Zeglinski said. “He raises the level of everybody and continues to step up in big moments.”