NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA -
All wins feel good. Some feel way much better than just good.
As much as they tried to temper their glee, the Archbishop Wood boys’ basketball team had to be downright elated on January 26. Competing against Neumann-Goretti, which seemed almost a lock to run through the regular season unblemished, the Vikings steamrolled logic and with boundless energy toppled the Saints, 82-73, at Archbishop Ryan High School.
The victory catapulted the Vikings (11-3 overall, 7-1 league) into a first-place tie with defending state champion Neumann-Goretti (11-6, 7-1) with five games to play. If the two teams finish in a tie, Wood would be deemed regular-season champions via head-to-head tiebreaker.
“We had a ton of support,” said Wood senior guard Matt Cerruti, who scored 10 points. “We have great spirit at our school and our fans were great.”
Arch. Wood Game/Fan Photos
The star of the game was senior Collin Gillespie. The 6-foot, 2-inch, Villanova University-bound guard dispensed a career-high 42 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Gillespie scored 26 of his points in the second half, helping offset the typically powerful output of N-G senior star Quade Green, who recorded 30 points and seven assists.
This night, however, belonged to the Vikings.
Post Game Interview with Archbishop Wood's Collin Gillespie
Collin Gillespie 42-point Gallery
“This was a big win for us,” said Gillespie, who shot 13 of 23 from the field, 4 for 11 on three’s, and 12 of 17 from the foul line. “I think coming into the game many people didn't expect us to win, but we went in with the right mindset and stuck together and played as a team, and we got the job done.”
Trailing 40-36 at halftime, the Vikings meticulously seized control.
Although the game’s eventual outcome appeared safe late in the fourth quarter, Wood wasn’t taking any chances.
“They're a good team and they didn't stop playing,” said Gillespie. “We made some big shots down the stretch, and with about 30 seconds left, I felt like we had it.”
Gillespie understood that many people had predicted a different result. He didn’t much care.
“Our guys knew coming in that we can compete with them, so we just played our game,” he said. “We have to play every game the same way.”
Wood junior Tyree Pickron tallied 11 points. Wood junior Andrew Funk scored 10, and senior Keith Otto added eight.
Funk thoroughly enjoyed the playoff-like atmosphere.
“With a packed gym, the game definitely lived up to its hype,” said Funk. “It was two really good teams going against each other. We did the little things well and that's what helped us win. It was high scoring, but we got stops when we needed to and made foul shots to seal it.”
Should the two teams play again, it would be in the playoffs. Best to get tickets early.
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.)
