BOYS' BASKETBALL: Ryan Lays Eyes On PCL Championship
PHILADELPHIA – The Archbishop Ryan varsity boys’ basketball team is hoping to make it to the Philadelphia Catholic League championship this year.
Ryan’s varsity squad is a relatively young team, but it also houses six tenured seniors. During the off season, the team played in a few tournaments and in the Plymouth Whitemarsh League, which the team won. The Raiders also made it the the championship game of a West Chester tournament over the summer, but they lost by two points.
“Last year we got to the Palestra,” said junior Brendan Scanlon. “I’m hoping that we get back there this year. I want to make it all the way this year. The championship is definitely our goal for the season.”
Senior point guard, Izaiah Brockington, is going to be stepping up as the leader on the team this season. Last year he was named 1st team All Catholic.
“It’s pretty crazy to think that I am a senior now, the captain, the guy calls all of the shots. So it's definitely a journey figuring out how to lead these guys. Right now, I am really working on being vocal, positive, and levelheaded to keep us focused on our goal, the championship,” said Brockington. “I’m most looking forward to playing Neumann-Goretti during the season. They really crushed us last year at the Palestra. That was probably the most embarrassing loss we took. We are definitely circling that one on our schedule. We’re ready to get our payback.”
Ryan's Izaiah Brockington pulls up for a shot on Neumann-Goretti's Quade Green in the 2015 PCL semis - PSD Photo
For Brockington, making it back to the mecca of college hoops is his main focus in his final season.
“I think the season is going to go great, and we definitely have more talent than last year. So I think we will do even better than last season,” said Brockington, who just committed to New Jersey Institute of Technology. “Our goal is the Philadelphia Catholic League championship, nothing less.”
Sophomore guard, Amin Bryant, also has great expectations for his team this season.
“We’ve been working really hard to prepare for the season,” said Bryant. “The team's prediction for the season is to remain as one of the top three in the league.”
The Raiders return head coach, Joe Zeglinski, who is in his second season at the helm. Archbishop Ryan’s pre-season commenced on December 3rd against Wissahickon. The team will begin Catholic League play away at Cardinal O’Hara on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.