Photos/Videos: Zack Beavers, Kathy Leister, John Knebels & Rich Flanagan
By: Rich Flanagan
PHILADELPHIA – The drive-and-kick is a hallmark of many successful offenses across basketball, especially at the high school level. The ability to get into the lane or penetrate down the baseline only to draw the defense in so the ball can be swung to the wing or corner is part of what keeps a defense off-balance and allows an offense to dictate the flow of the game.
A staple of Carl Arrigale’s offensive scheme at Neumann-Goretti, the drive-and-kick was run to perfection by the likes of Antonio “Scoop” Jardine (Syracuse), Tyreek Duren (La Salle), Troy Harper (Drexel) and Jordan Hall, who turned his vast knowledge of the idiosyncrasy into an accomplished career at St. Joe’s and ultimately signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs.
The player with the ball in their hands will certainly get the attention that is due but what about the players on the receiving end of those pinpoint passes of Saints’ floor generals?
Neumann-Goretti vs. West Catholic - PSD Semifinal highlights by Rich Flanagan
Chris Evans – currently playing at Claflin University - hit 143 three-pointers over his final three seasons in a Neumann-Goretti uniform and shot 40.8% from behind the arc as a senior. Cameron Young, who plays for Saint Peter’s University, scored 20 points in the 2020 Philadelphia Catholic League final but his true maturation came when he was able to finally combine his improved shooting form with his sensational athleticism. Both of those players shined alongside Hall and used the three-point shot, particularly the corner three, to their advantage within the Neumann-Goretti offensive structure. On Wednesday night, Amir Williams took up the mantle of excelling in this same role and vaulted the Saints back into the title game.
Williams knocked down five three-pointers, including two in overtime, and finished with 17 points as Neumann-Goretti pulled out a 69-56 victory over West Catholic to advance to the Philadelphia Catholic League championship game on Monday night. The 6-foot-6 junior wing came into the contest with 35 three-pointers made this season and quickly added to that total on the Palestra floor. Bruce Smith – another player who has flourished as a spot-up shooter – hit two treys as part of a 10-4 run to start the first quarter then Williams got involved as Baylor commit Robert Wright III found him for an alley-oop. He then subsequently sank two three-pointers from the left corner on back-to-back possessions and the Saints were rolling, up 18-8 at the 2:48 mark of the opening quarter.
Amir Williams swished two 3-pointers to start off OT and led Neumann-Goretti past West Catholic and into the PCL final - PSD Video by John Knebels
Robert Wright III helped Neumann-Goretti defeat West Catholic and advance to the 2023 PCL Championship against Roman Catholic - PSD Video by John Knebels
For Williams – who boasts offers from Wichita State, St. Joe’s, Delaware, Binghamton and Drexel, among others - Wednesday marked the culmination of his hard work and the transformation into the perfect player to complement what Wright and Khaafiq Myers, who combined for 12 assists in the game, do so well as a dynamic backcourt capable of penetrating at any given moment.
“I worked on that over the summer because I really couldn’t shoot it last year and now, I know my role,” Williams said. “Shots are dropping, and my team is trusting me more.”
Sultan Adewale was dominant as he asserted himself against a Burrs frontline of 6-5 Temple signee Zion Stanford, 6-2 senior Amyr Walker and 6-3 senior Shemar Wilbanks-Acqui. The 6-8 forward posted 18 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks and continued his strong play at the Cathedral of College Basketball that began with last year’s run to the league title, the 12th of head coach Carl Arrigale’s historic career. Adewale stopped a 9-0 West Catholic run with a strong finish inside to close out the first quarter.
2023 PCL Semifinal Gallery - Neumann-Goretti vs. West Catholic - PSD Gallery by Kathy Leister
Adewale has learned to step up in the biggest moments of his Saints career and he’s ecstatic that Williams took advantage of his opportunity to prosper on this stage.
“I’m so happy he finally came out of his shell and started raining threes,” Adewale said. “His threes put us ahead in the game and gave us big momentum. Every time he shot, it looked like it was going in. He worked on that, and his hard work is paying off.”
Stanford, who poured in 23 points and 11 rebounds, started a 6-0 run to close the half and cut the Neumann-Goretti (21-2) deficit to six at halftime. Wright, who didn’t score until the 2:47 mark of the second quarter, began the half with a layup then Myers recorded a steal and found Wright ahead of the pack to give the Saints a 36-28 lead. West Catholic (14-10) stormed back with an 11-0 run that began with a Walker corner trey and ended with Wilbanks-Acqui (12 points) sinking two free throws to give the Burrs a 39-36 advantage. Adewale finished inside once again then Williams hit another three from that left corner and the Saints led by two heading into the fourth.
Williams is thriving at the perfect time and Arrigale has seen the maturity in his game over the course of this season.
“He’s been trending upward lately and really starting to figure things out,” Arrigale said. “Some guys like Rob are born with it and Khaafiq has it, but Amir has been trending up. It was nice to see him throw some in for people who don’t usually see him, and he had some shots go in tonight. People recognize him a little more.”
Wright started and closed out an 8-0 run to start the final quarter then Stanford scored five of the Burrs’ next six points to cut the Neumann-Goretti lead to 51-50 with 42.5 seconds left to play.
Neumann-Goretti coach Carl Arrigale credits his players for keeping composure throughout win over West Catholic - PSD Video by John Knebels
During that run, two-time First Team All-Catholic point guard Adam “Budd” Clark – who finished with 12 points – fouled out at the 1:09 mark. Wilbanks-Acqui missed a floater to tie it but Smith corralled the rebound, was fouled and missed both free throws. Micah Waters, who was replacing Clark, hoisted a trey from the corner that missed everything except for Walker who was there for the putback to tie the game at the buzzer and forced overtime.
Just as he did to start the game, Williams propelled Neumann-Goretti into the title game for the 18th time since 2000 with those two consecutive three-point daggers from none other than his corner spot and the lead was 58-52. Adewale converted an and-one to increase the lead to seven with 1:57 remaining and Wright closed things out with six free throws down the stretch to finish with 15 points.
While there’s a plethora of options in Neumann-Goretti’s drive-and-kick offense, Williams is one of the keys to its success and his deadeye shooting adds another nuance to a team looking for a second straight league title.
“I’ve been confident in my shot, but the game is starting to slow down, and shots are dropping more,” Williams said. “I’m getting more chances.”