NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA-- Friday night basketball in Northeast Philly couldn’t get better than this as another sold out crowd greeted Archbishop Ryan as they hosted rival Father Judge. The arena was more electric than ever this night, as long-time foes vied for a spot in the PCL semifinals.
It hard to describe this neighborhood rivalry. It is a kind of healthy competition that emanates from the young and old alike. It is an event looked forward to with much anticipation and excitement. A game that turns these high school athletes into local stars even just for one night.
“All week, all the kids were floating on air, with ticket sales and t-shirts…their minor celebrities for a week. Kids were in the hallway slapping their hands, little kids in the neighborhood wanting to get into the game… I just can’t thank them enough (for this season), it was unbelievable,” said Father Judge head coach Sean Tait.
The Crusaders were hoping to make it to the final four. A trip they had not taken since 1999.
Crusaders' bench encourage their teammates from the sideline photo: Kevin Murphy
Raiders in team huddle before the game. photo: Kevin Murphy
The Raiders, hoping to secure their second straight PCL semifinal seat.
Ryan head coach Joe Zeglinski, talked about the pressures of the matchup as well.
“Our whole thing was trying to stay poised. The school knows. The team knows how big it was for northeast Philadelphia. Everyone has been talking about it for a week, and I was proud of our guys and how we came out composed. Our seniors led us. We played great defense, and followed the game plan. When you play that hard defensively, good things are going to happen offensively.”
And happened it did. Before a boisterous crowd, the Archbishop Ryan Raiders secured their semifinal spot defeating Father Judge 68-55.
The standout early for the Raiders, Izaiah Brockington (14 points), led the team with his energy on defense, disrupting passing lanes and being a hassle for Judge’s offense. Brockington did it from the opposite side of the court as well. With Ryan up 7 early in the 2nd quarter, Brockington buried a 3 to put Ryan up 10, and forced a Father Judge time out.
The Crusaders remained persistent. Father Judge’s first 1,000-point scorer and First Team All-Catholic Marc Rodriguez, determined to keep it close, responded with a 3 of his own. The teams went back and forth, The Crusaders headed into the half with an 11-point deficit, trailing Ryan 33-22.
Judge would score the first basket of the second half, but after that it was all Ryan. Stand-outs West Chester commit Fred Taylor (11 points) and First Team All-Catholic Matiss Kulackovskis, with a team high score of 25 points, led the Raiders on a 10-0 run to put their team up 43-26 in the 3rd quarter.
The Crusaders were forced to change plans and become more aggressive to get back into the game. Out of a timeout, Rodriquez posted up a Ryan defender and took him to the hole. Rodriguez (32 points) draws the foul sending himself to the line to chip into the lead.
Judge still trailed by 10 late in the 4th quarter. In the final minutes of the game, Brockington took a questionable shot, which gave the ball back to the Crusaders. Determined to make up for his mistake, Brockington on defense, forced up a bad shot from the Crusaders. The ball bounced off the rim, and Brockington soared through the air and hit it to his teammate on the break. The stop and then following score by Ryan put them up 14 with a little under two minutes to go. Ryan held on to the lead and victory over their neighborhood contenders.
Quarterfinal Game Father Judge vs. Archbishop Ryan photos: Kevin Murphy
While the schools share a historic rivalry, two standouts from each team share a friendship that endured through it all. Izaiah Brockington and Marc Rodriguez have known each other, whether playing for or against one another, since the 5th grade. Friday night, they settled it on the court for the final time.
Judge's Marc Rodriquez goes in for a shot against long-time friend Ryan's Izaiah Brockington. photo: Kevin Murphy
Marc Rodriguez on his friendship with Izaiah Brockington.
“It's great, I’ve known him since 5th grade, him and I would always play one on one, in fact, I played him at Judge this summer in June…and it’s the same thing, always one-on-one. He’s a great player obviously, and I just wish them the best of luck at the Palestra. Of course, I wish that Judge was going, but God has a plan for everything,” said Rodriquez.
Izaiah Brockington on their friendship and the game.
“That’s my man, we’ve been friends since we were young, you know, playing AAU since 5th grade, so I know him, I know how he plays… It was just studying his game, watching the game tape, studying his game, his tendencies, what he likes to do, and what they like to run for him. I just had to know that he was gonna hit a couple and I just had to not let it phase me and keep going at him and keep being aggressive,” said Brockington
Ryan's Izaiah Brockington leaps to make a basket by defender and friend Judge's Marc Rodriquez. photo: Kevin Murphy
Archbishop Ryan will play No. 1 seed Archbishop Wood in the semifinal round this Wednesday night at the Palestra.