Photos/Videos: Kathy Leister & Jack Verdeur

By: Rich Flanagan

WARMINSTER, PA – John Mosco’s prototypical stance on the sideline tends to be arms crossed and a stern face toward the court. The sternness has more to do with his focus on the game and pushing to get the most out of his team while the posture is attributed to how he’s mentally decoding ways to be two steps ahead of the opposition.

He had the same demeanor in his first game on the Archbishop Wood sideline in 2013 then four years later when he took down his mentor in Neumann-Goretti’s Carl Arrigale at the Palestra to capture his first Philadelphia Catholic League title as head coach. Those same mannerisms continue to percolate from him at games today but for the last five years, one day has brought a different demeanor.

On this day, those arms which have embraced players like Collin Gillespie, former PCL MVP and current member of the Denver Nuggets, and Rahsool Diggins, a two-time league MVP now playing at UMass, a multitude of accomplishments are still crossed but a consistent grin combined with a magnetic charisma permeates from the longtime coach. Just behind him are flyers and banners that display the Diane Mosco Shootout, and the spirit of his late wife echoes throughout the Richard “R” Kelly Gymnasium as some of the marquee programs in the area converge on York Road for a full day of basketball.

“We started getting teams to want to play and getting great matchups has been lucky all along,” Mosco said. “It’s been a great day for years.”

The fifth annual Diane Mosco Shootout took place on Saturday in an event that honors its namesake with six games that featured the likes of Downingtown West, Reading, Archbishop Ryan, Central York and North Catholic, to name a few. It has unequivocally evolved into the premiere event of the nonleague season after transitioning from the Mary Kline Classic, which was founded by Alex Kline – the New York Knicks scout who founded the event in honor of his mother who lost her battle with breast cancer when he was 10 years old. The first time the Mary Kline Classic was held at Archbishop Wood was December 2014 with players like Ewing’s Trey Lowe (Temple) and Salesianum’s Donte Divincenzo (Villanova) facing off and combining for 58 points.

Neumann-Goretti and Imhotep Charter were both present for that first edition and Mosco notes that both programs have been staples in the event ever since.

“The basketball community is strong, and everybody supports each other, especially for good causes,” Mosco said. “Carl is a very dear friend of mine and Neumann-Goretti had played in it almost every year, except they’re in Hawaii this year, and Andre Noble is another close friend and Imhotep is always in it but they’re in the City of Palms Classic.”

“All the local teams help out whenever they’re asked to play in it and they’re very receptive. Teams don’t mind who they play, and they just show up, play, and have fun. They put on for all the great fans who come and support it.”

“For my players to come back, they know what the event means to me, and they talk to our players about how they played in it,” Mosco said. “Most of all, they talk about how it’s a special day for me and my family. I just appreciate all the support we get from the Archbishop Wood community and the basketball community.”

Saturday’s event concluded as it always does with the Vikings taking the court in the nightcap. The hosts closed things out with a 78-69 victory over North Catholic behind a career-high 16 points from sophomore Mike Green. The 5-foot-10 guard drilled four three-pointers and helped stave off an early scare from North Catholic, which hit its first six shots from deep and led by eight heading into the final quarter. Jalil Bethea shook off a tough shooting night and contributed 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists while 6-3 junior guard Josh Reed led the way with 18 points and shot 7-for-10 from the floor. Andrew Maddalon was electric for North Catholic with 28 points.

The Vikings win was preceded by the most exhilarating contest of the day as Central York appeared to have escaped with a win over Father Judge after Ethan Dodson turned the corner and slammed one home with two hands in the waning seconds. With both benches standing and fans still raucous from Dodson’s dunk, senior guard Kyle Jones calmly drove downcourt, penetrated toward the right elbow and flipped the ball to Kevair Kennedy, who sank a game-winning three-pointer from the top of the key at the buzzer to give the Crusaders a 60-59 victory. Kennedy’s heroics concluded a game that saw him tally seven assists and four steals. Jones had an incredible stat line of 21 points (three three-pointers), six rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks. Laquan Byrd had a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards and 6-5 senior guard Ernest Shelton knocked down four treys and finished with 12 points. Dodson paced Central York with 17 points.

Radnor, a team that advanced to the District 1-5A title game a season ago, showed it has similar aspirations this season as it took care of Archbishop Ryan, 57-42. Princeton commit Jackson Hicke was the catalyst with 24 points, 10 of which came in the final quarter, and 10 rebounds and Charlie Thornton chipped in 13 points for the Raptors, which fell to PIAA 5A champion Imhotep Charter in the second round of the state playoffs last season. In a matchup of two teams that could potentially meet in the state tournament in a few months, the game was a good barometer for the type of competition it will face down the road. Michael Paris led the Raiders with 17 points and four steals while 6-9 junior big man Thomas Sorber posted 12 points, seven boards and four blocks.

Adam “Budd” Clark had a masterful day against Reading going for 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals but it was the Red Knights who left Warminster with a 65-54 win over West Catholic. Temple signee Zion Stanford had 14 points and four rejections while MJ Branker Jr. added 10 points for the Burrs, who only trailed by two at the half. Aris Rodriguez sank five three-pointers and led Reading with 24 points while Rider commit Ruben Rodriguez finished with 18 points.

St. Joe’s Prep looked like a team on the rise as they dismantled St. John's Catholic Prep (Md.), 71-40 behind a 20-point, six-rebound, four-block game from 6-9 junior center Tristen Guillouette, who also hit a pair of three-pointers and showed off expanded range in year two under Jason Harrigan. While Guillouette dominated inside, Jaron McKie - the son of the Temple University head coach – and Olin Chamberlain Jr. displayed their evolving games on the perimeter. McKie hit three of the Hawks’ 10 three-pointers and scored 15 points while Chamberlain had a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists. Jordan Ellerbee hit two treys and was the fourth Hawks player in double figures with 10 points.

The opening game of the day featured Downingtown West and Bishop Eustace (N.J.) with the Whippets cruising to a 61-44 victory as Army commit Dylan Blair – son of the West Chester University head coach – had 21 points and five assists and 6-5 sophomore Donovan Fromhartz chipped in 17 points.

Following another successful event that saw a tremendous turnout for a good cause and an appreciation for the highest level of high school basketball, Mosco is confident it will only continue to grow and expand its reach. As he graciously thanked players, coaches, and fans, he was once again reminded that a simple idea like the shootout can have an overarching impact that stretches throughout the northeast.

“We’ve had teams from Baltimore and Virginia, and this year we had teams from Maryland and New Jersey,” Mosco said. “Teams are looking to come down and play.”