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BOYS BASKETBALL: Neumann-Goretti Puts Finishing Touches on a Title Two Years in the Making

By Rich Flanagan Photos: Mike Nance, 03/01/22, 2:00PM EST

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Neumann-Goretti Saints - 21-22 Philadelphia Catholic League Champions - PSD Photo by Mike Nance

Photos/Videos: Mike Nance, John Knebels & Rich Flanagan

By: Rich Flanagan

PHILADELPHIA – As he climbed the ladder to cut the net down at the fabled Palestra for the 12th time as a Philadelphia Catholic League champion, Carl Arrigale couldn’t help but reflect on how improbable this title was compared to all the others. Sure, winning No. 12 extends his all-time league record as a head coach, but when looking back at what his Neumann-Goretti team had to do just to get onto the practice floor then reconstruct a schedule on the fly, it was simply astonishing to the longtime head man.

“That was one of the advantages of our schedule is that we played so many close games,” Arrigale said. “We were close with everybody because we didn’t have the legs to do it. These guys just got a little bit better at it then a little bit better at it.”

Robert Wright III poured in a game-high 22 points and nine rebounds while big man Sultan Adewale recorded a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds as Neumann-Goretti downed Archbishop Ryan, 61-57 in the Philadelphia Catholic League championship game on Monday night. The victory secured the program’s 22nd league title but, as Arrigale attested, nothing could have prepared the Saints for what the last two years threw at them. 

Philadelphia Catholic League Championship Highlights - Neumann-GOretti vs. Archbishop Ryan - By Rich Flanagan:

After winning the 2020 title, Neumann-Goretti (17-4) came into the 2020-21 season marred by the COVID-19 pandemic trying to keep its gaze on a repeat, but those dreams were dashed just following the regular season. This season, the team went through a 19-day layoff due to contact tracing and having to follow protocols. During that lapse, Neumann-Goretti couldn’t practice, lift or even have individual instruction in its gym. That was followed by 13 league games played in 20 days to close out the regular season.

No surprise, the Saints played 12 games decided by 10 points or less and all three postseason games were decided by no more than four points. Yet, they came out victorious once again, continuing a tradition of excellence perhaps not seen in the history of the Philadelphia Catholic League and a track record that may never be duplicated again.

Players like Antonio "Scoop" Jardine, who won titles in 2005 and 2006, and Hysier Miller, the Temple guard who was on the 2020 team, were courtside to see Arrigale literally and figuratively climb the ladder once again.


Neumann-Goretti head coach Carl Arrigale climbs the ladder to snip the net after winning his 12th Philadelphia Catholic League Championship - Photo by Rich Flanagan

With the unprecedented dominance Neumann-Goretti has maintained under Arrigale, there are countless stories of moments and personal triumphs on the floor of the Palestra and the legendary head coach has prided himself on connecting the old regime with the new one.

“It’s great for these guys to see those dudes because it’s a tradition that we’ve built, and we’ve had a lot of success in this building,” Arrigale said. “They hear the stories and they want to have their own stories. I told them it takes 32 minutes to create a lifelong memory and these guys still talk about these games. It’s a bond that these guys will have with their teammates forever.”

Wright, who Arrigale noted “thinks nothing can get in the way of him being the best player on the floor,” became the first Neumann-Goretti player to score 20 points in consecutive games at the Palestra since Quade Green in 2015 and he did in a variety of ways. The 6-foot sophomore guard and First Team All-Catholic Instagram messaged with former Neumann-Goretti great Ja’Quan Newton earlier in the day, who told him “to stay focused and stay locked in. He wanted me to play my game and not force anything but let the game come to me,” according to Wright.

He hit a floater in the lane then hit the first three-pointer of the night to give the Saints a 7-4 lead. He scored five of Neumann-Goretti’s final 10 points of the first half, but Archbishop Ryan’s Luke Boyd hit three of his game-high five three-pointers during that same run and the Saints took a 26-24 lead into the locker room.

(Left to Right) Neumann-Goretti sophomore Robert Wright III, head coach Carl Arrigale, and sophomore Khaafiq Myers discuss their PCL championship win PCL over Archbishop Ryan - Video by John Knebels

Green won a title during his time with Neumann-Goretti and suffered more than his share of mishaps at the Cathedral of College Basketball, but he knows what this title means to this team and their legacy.

“They can say they have a championship because some guys who have played in this program can’t say that,” Green said. “I only have one so if they have that one, they can say they have that, and it goes down in history. They can hold their heads high.”

Wright scored the first basket of the second half with a three-pointer from the wing then sophomore guard Khaafiq Myers (15 points) hit one from the corner and the Saints led 32-30 with 5:21 left in the third quarter.

Following a terrific 16-point outing in the semifinals, Myers wrote his own story with his play during this title run.

“That was the motto all season,” Myers said. “Just get here and we’re going to finish the job.”

Neumann Goretti coach Carl Arrigale lauds Ryan for a terrific effort- Video by John Knebels

Disappointed Archbishop Ryan junior Michael Paris reflects on tough loss - Video by John Knebels

Thomas Sorber was a focal reason for the Raiders victory over West Catholic in the semifinals and he carried them through most of this game, despite a flurry of double teams and having to catch the ball higher in the post than he would’ve liked. After Boyd hit his final trey of the night, Sorber followed that with two free throws and Archbishop Ryan (17-7) trailed by one entering the final quarter.


Neumann-Goretti junior Sultan Adewale (#11) & Archbishop Ryan sophomore Thomas Sorber (#35) - PSD Photo by Mike Nance

While Sorber accounted for 17 points, six rebounds and eight blocks, Adewale matched him and the two big men battled all night long. Adewale’s putback with 5:48 left to play put the Saints in front, 48-47 then Sorber answered with a strong finish of his own. Senior guard Masud Stewart was quiet with only eight points but the only member of the 2020 title team with any title game experience made the biggest play of the night catching a mid-court lob from Myers and finishing through contact to put Neumann-Goretti ahead 53-51. Adewale, a London, England native who came over to the U.S. last season, hit two free throws to make it a five-point game but more than that, he is the next standout big man at Neumann-Goretti following in the line of Rick Jackson, Derrick Stewart, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree, Marcus Littles and more.

While holding offers from Memphis, DePaul, Georgia Tech and Rutgers, among others, performing well at the Palestra was the pinnacle for a player that first saw a Neumann-Goretti game online two years ago while still in the UK.

“These guys city-ized him really quick,” Arrigale said. “He did take a while to get used to the physicality and some things about the game here surprised him a little bit. The funny thing was that he saw that 2020 game online a couple of years ago and wanted to play here. He made it a point to come over here to the states.”

Sorber cleaned the glass and converted inside to cut the Archbishop Ryan deficit to 57-54 with 1:15 remaining. A pair of free throws from Michael Paris (nine points) had the Raiders within two but Adewale got free behind the defense on the ensuing inbound and his emphatic two-handed slam put the Saints up, 60-56. Jalen Snead, who tallied 10 points, five rebounds, two assists, five steals, two blocks, played hero in the semifinals hitting clutch free throws late to seal the win and he had one more heroic play in him.

After hitting a free throw, he stole the ensuing inbound pass and the Raiders called timeout trailing by three with 32.4 seconds left. Sophomore Darren Williams got two looks at three from opposite sides of the court then Boyd missed one of his own but that was the final shot attempt of the night for the Raiders, who were playing in their first title game since 2008.

Another chapter of Neumann-Goretti basketball was written on Monday following a somewhat tumultuous and hectic two years. Tony Chennault wasn’t on hand to take in the title game but after winning two during the late 2000s, he was able to put into perspective what this title means for the 2022 team.

“It’s a standard of excellence that was set by the guys who came before me like Tabby Cunningham, D.J. Rivera and Scoop,” Chennault said. “They set a precedent of what it meant to wear a Neumann-Goretti jersey and when I was playing there, I wanted to continue that legacy so that when guys like Ja’Quan, Lamarr “Fresh” Kimble, Quade and Dhamir came behind me, they understood what that meant. The tradition is constantly passed on and former players, like myself, are always pouring out to the new guys just reminding that nobody cares unless you win. Did you win and did it happen on the biggest stage at the Palestra in the Philadelphia Catholic League championship?”

This team did it on the biggest stage after dealing with more obstacles than simply basketball game situations and their legacy is cemented forever as the 12th title in Arrigale’s historic career.