Father Judge defeats Roman Catholic 71-60 to win its first ever PIAA 6A State Title - PSD Photo by Donna Eckert
Photos/Videos: Donna Eckert, John Knebels & Rich Flanagan
By: Rich Flanagan
HERSHEY, PA – It was always about “one more.”
Those are the two words that encapsulate Father Judge’s road to the PIAA Class 6A Tournament Championship Game. Two words that reflect a much deeper meaning than they convey. Two words that amplify the bigger picture on the road to a historic season. Two words that described one team and its resilience throughout a season that saw its share of difficulty. “One more” was about giving this group one more opportunity to play together and reach heights a program that has existed for nearly 70 years has never experienced prior.
Chris Roantree professed this immediately following the Philadelphia Catholic League championship game as a rallying cry to motivate his team for the next portion of its season, the state tournament. The broader message echoed within the locker room and eventually onto the court.
“I talked after the PCL about one more because these guys, especially Kevair [Kennedy], Everett [Barnes], Kiev [Rucker], Kevin [Beck] and Dylan [Handley[ put so much work into the program and been through so much from not being good their freshman year to building into a champion. They took those steps, and I wanted to coach them. If I could coach them for five more weeks, I would love to do it, even though it’s long. We’ve talked about one more and after tonight, there isn’t another opportunity. I’m just so happy we don’t have to go home disappointed.”
PIAA 6A Father Judge vs. Roman Catholic. (video highlights by Rich Flanagan for PSD)
Father Judge has officially joined the pantheon of all-time great Philadelphia Catholic League teams following its 71-60 victory over Roman Catholic to secure the PIAA Class 6A championship at the GIANT Center in Hershey. It became the eighth different Philadelphia Catholic League boys basketball program to win a state title, joining Archbishop Carroll, Neumann-Goretti, Conwell-Egan, Archbishop Wood, Devon Prep, West Catholic and Roman Catholic. It also became the first Philadelphia Catholic League boys program to win the league title and a state crown in the same season since Neumann-Goretti in 2022.
The Crusaders stormed through the PIAA tournament in their first ever trip to the state playoffs. The road started by hosting its first state playoff game on Solly Avenue where Derrick Morton-Rivera surpassed 1,000 career points and culminated in defeating Roman Catholic for the third time this season. Father Judge (24-7) claimed the Philadelphia Catholic League title by beating the Cahillites, 41-34 at the Palestra on February 23 and it beat the very same program again, this time for the PIAA trophy instead of the coveted league plaque.
Morton-Rivera, who poured in 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting, understood the gravity of what he and his teammates had accomplished and how being in this position was always part of the plan.
“This was a goal from the beginning,” Morton-Rivera said. “We wanted to keep playing with each other. We’re good friends outside of basketball. It definitely means a lot of us with these memories to come.”
The 6-3 junior guard started off the scoring with a pull-up from the right elbow then later converted an and-one at the 3:22 mark of the second quarter to make it 29-28. Morton-Rivera showcased a more developed version of his game on the biggest stage. He came in having made 78 three-pointers on the season and 181 for his career and left the GIANT Center with only one more make to those totals. It speaks to how far he as well as many others on this Father Judge squad have vastly improved with each new victory, which in turn led to “one more” game.
Kevair Kennedy put on a show for his current coach in Roantree and his future coach, Merrimack College head man Joe Gallo. The 6-2 senior floor general was masterful with 29 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals on a loaded stat line that has become all too common when he steps out on the floor.
Kevair Kennedy: The engine that fueled state champion Father Judge - PSD Video by John Knebels
father Judge coach Chris Roantree can’t find enough words to encompass a season for the ages - PSD Video by John Knebels
More impressively, he shot 15-17 from the foul line, a performance that was eerily reminiscent of the 2024 Philadelphia Catholic League quarterfinals against Archbishop Wood when he set a league playoff record with 18 made free throws including 17 of those in the fourth quarter. Kennedy went 8-8 in the final quarter to close out the state title because he wanted to be the one to shoot the ball in that situation.
“I just know we need these shots,” Kennedy said. “When it comes down to big shots, I don’t freeze up. I like them and I like my chances of making those big shots all the time. The work showed today.”
He finished his career with 1,178 points and had his coach, who has helped develop Collin Gillespie, Dereck Lively II, Jalen Duren, Rahsool Diggins and many more, putting him into the same category those former standouts.
“I talked about it with him from day one this year about cementing a legacy,” Roantree said. “You have to cement your legacy and be one of the best. Nobody can take away him being the first state champion and not just him but all our guys. We always talk about saying, ‘When you come back…,’ because we have guys from my first year that come back and work out. We wanted that culture of guys wanting to come back and this will help guys come back and say, ‘Look what we built. Look what we did. Look what we accomplished.’ He laid the foundation, and it will help our younger guys understand what it takes to do it. He has taken on that role and been great.”
The Crusaders’ road to the state championship saw them beat Imhotep Charter, a team that has won 10 PIAA state titles and was riding a 35-game state tournament winning streak before the semifinal loss. Father Judge limited Roman Catholic (25-6) to 38.5% shooting and halted Shareef Jackson, one of the best winners the Philadelphia Catholic League has produced, from winning another championship. Jackson, who is headed to play at Lafayette next season, finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, surpassing 1,000 career rebounds in his final game. Shareef His brother, Sammy Jackson hit five three-pointers and finished with 17 points while Sebastian Edwards was the only other player in double figures with 12 points.
Everett Barnes, the 6-10 senior forward and Loyola (Maryland) commit, had six points and six rebounds. He arrived at Father Judge by way of Burlington City (N.J.). Once an overmatched big man who was trying to find his way, Barnes found his spot as a legitimate post threat and rim protector especially during the postseason. This game was one more opportunity to display his improved foot work, conditioning and savvy as a big man the Crusaders could count on.
Junior Rocco Westfield extols his Crusader teammates and coaches - PSD Video by John Knebels
Fathers judge receives PIAA 6A State Championship trophy - PSD Video by John Knebels
“We had goals to get a home playoff game, win the PCL, get to states and win states,” Barnes said. “Coach Chris has been telling us all year about one more game, especially now in the playoffs. It was about one more for the seniors. When we played Imhotep in the semifinals, even though we lost to them before, it wasn’t about revenge; it was about one more game in order to get to the championship so the seniors could win.”
The score was tied at 36-36 at halftime and Father Judge's dynamic backcourt pushed the tempo in the second half. Kennedy started the third quarter with a pair of free throws then Morton-Rivera put home a tough finish through contact. Morton-Rivera’s second and-one came with 3:06 remaining in the third, igniting the crowd. It was the type of finish that becomes emblematic of a game and monumental run like this.
This was the performance Morton-Rivera had been hoping for since the beginning of the season. The Philadelphia Catholic League championship means everything but it was a low scoring affair with both teams struggling to put the ball in the basket. This game was vastly different and etched a player like Morton-Rivera into the record books.
“We will definitely look back in the future and look back at the history we left behind,” Morton-Rivera said. “It was about good players and good coaches.”
Father Judge State Championship Celebration Gallery - PSD Photos by Donna Eckert
Tyler Sutton (five points), the heralded Roman Catholic point guard, dealt with foul trouble then later a bad cramp following a hard fall to the floor and never seemed to get going. With Sutton not making shots, the Crusaders dropped into a zone and the Cahillites could not shoot the opposition out of it. By the end of this one, Roantree’s defensive adjustments were a focal reason why Father Judge now has this state championship.
Seizing that moment and delivering one of his best career performances with that magnitude is why Kennedy was one of the best players in Pa. over the last two seasons. He is now enshrined in Father Judge basketball history as one of the best, if not the best.
“It means a lot to me knowing I’m one of the starters that has become legendary,” Kennedy said. “In a few more years, you’re going to see people talking about Father Judge since we were the first ones to do it.”
Kennedy was Roantree’s first recruit to Father Judge when he took over four years ago and after telling the administration it would take four years to win the Philadelphia Catholic League title, Roantree notes that Kennedy’s name will be remembered throughout the next several decades, in the same way Jim Reeves, an assistant on Roantree’s staff who had a double-double in the 1998 Philadelphia Catholic League title game, is regularly remembered for his stellar performance in the biggest game of his life.
PIAA 6A State Championship Gallery Father Judge vs. Roman Catholic - PSD Photos by Donna Eckert
Roantree feels Kennedy is now the best ever to play Father Judge, a program which has produced championships and individual excellence, and feels vindicated in his decision to bring Kennedy with him as the two embarked on a journey to resurrect Father Judge basketball. They did just that.
“He stamped himself,” Roantree said. “He’s a winner and he competes. I’ve coached a lot of great guards and had a lot of success with guards. He’s up there with high major guys and pros I’ve been around with his work ethic and the things that he does. His energy and toughness are contagious. It’s about being the best ever and for me it’s his legacy. I’m just super proud of him.”
The plaque and trophy will be placed within the school for all to see and the story of this Father Judge team will be told decades from now. Kennedy, Morton-Rivera, Barnes, Rocco Westfield, Nazir Tyler and the rest of the roster will be spoken about as the best team that has ever played at Father Judge. Barnes still can't believe what he and his teams have successfully done during these past few months.
“This is something I’m going to remember my whole life, especially since we made it to the state championship and won the PCL in the same year,” Barnes said. “It’s really memorable.”
Kevair Kennedy #5 notched 29 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals in the PIAA 6A State Championship - PSD Photo by Donna Eckert
Kennedy is the player who set these unfathomable events in motion then Morton-Rivera came along a year later to create perhaps the most heralded backcourt the Crusaders have ever produced. One four-year player and one who will finish his career at Father Judge and potentially as the all-time leading scorer have done more than they can truly understand at this stage in their playing careers. The community and alumni will remember this 50 years from now as they’re discussing what is hopefully more accolades and championships from the next era. For now, Kennedy is taking in the moment and appreciating what this has all meant to him.
“I ain’t ready to leave yet but I have to,” Kennedy said. “I’ve been here for four years seeing these kids pretty much every day. I can’t even imagine life without seeing them. It’s going to be a different feeling for me.”
Kennedy can’t leave just yet because he has one more thing he has to do. He has celebrate and dap up his teammates. He has to relive this season over and over through photos, videos and highlights with the entire locker room.
He has to think once more about what it is they truly accomplished. It all came together as each person affiliated with the program gave one more ounce of themselves and this roster illustrates that exact point.
One more free throw from arguably the best player to don the Columbia blue and white. One more three from one of the elite shooters the league has seen in quite some time. One more block from a much-improved big man who learned to use his size to his advantage. One more contribution from a host of players who rose to the occasion when called upon. One more signature moment for a school and community that had been waiting for this program to return to glory. It transcended into elation and an everlasting anthology of euphoria.
One more embrace from their head coach. One more fist raised in victory for the single greatest season in Father Judge basketball history. One more reflection on a historic four-month campaign that culminated with the program’s first state championship. One more memory created as they met the moment and delivered in crucial situations. One more time to relish being the one and only team to do this.