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BOYS' BASKETBALL: After Exciting Quarterfinal Contests, PCL Boys' Final Four Prepare for Semifinals on Thursday

By John Knebels - Photos: Geneva Heffernan, Liam Turnbach & Rich Flanagan, 02/19/19, 12:30PM EST

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La Salle, Bishop McDevitt, Roman Catholic & Neumann-Goretti prepare to take the floor in the Palestra.

By: John Knebels

Photos/Videos: Geneva Heffernan, Liam Turnbach (La Salle Jr. Reporter) & Rich Flanagan 

PHILADELPHIA – It’s the Final Four, and we’re not talking about the NCAA’s.

On February 20 at the Palestra, the top four seeds will compete in the Catholic League boys’ semifinals. If the games emulate the just-completed quarterfinals, fans will get their money’s worth.

“We are a very senior heavy team, and making it to the Palestra was one of our big goals this season and ours for the last four years,” said La Salle senior Konrad Kiszka. “We hope to keep our run going.”

Kiszka might as well have been speaking for every player who has ever suited up in the hallowed halls of the basketball Mecca. As far back as the preseason, aspiring Catholic League playoff teams use the phrase “getting to the Palestra” even more than “winning the Catholic League championship.”

Two-seed La Salle will face three-seed Bishop McDevitt at 6:30, followed by top-seed Roman Catholic meeting rival four-seed Neumann-Goretti in the nightcap. The two winners will strive for gold five nights later.

The Explorers (21-2 overall) appeared destined for an excruciatingly difficult ouster. Once 17-0, La Salle had its perfect season snapped by Archbishop Carroll, then lost to Roman Catholic before winning their final four games to wrap up second place.

In the quarterfinals February 15, La Salle trailed visiting seven-seed Archbishop Carroll (14-10) by a seemingly insurmountable 38-21 deficit. But an amazing 28-9 fourth quarter highlighted by a game-winning, three-point play by senior Zach Crisler with four seconds left propelled the Explorers to a 49-47 victory comprised of 20-percent elation, 80-perfect relief. 

“We definitely did not draw it up that way,” said Crisler, who joined senior Allen Powell for a team-high 13 points. “I drove down the lane and tried to find Konrad, but the ball got popped up and I made a good hustle play to grab the ball with two hands and finish. It was just a small part of all of the winning plays that our team made in the fourth quarter. 

“Coming back from down 17 showed our character and our poise. We stuck to the plan that Coach (Mike McKee) gave us, and we played for each other down the stretch.”

(Videos/Photos by LSCHS Jr. Reporter Liam Turnbach)

Senior Konrad Kiszka talks about the Explorer's improvements from the first half:

Senior Zach Crisler talks about La Salle's comeback victory:

Senior Allen Powell says the win was a total team effort:

“Coming back from down 17 showed our character and our poise. We stuck to the plan that Coach (Mike McKee) gave us, and we played for each other down the stretch.”

The Explorers will meet three-seed Bishop McDevitt. The Lancers (18-5) outlasted six-seed, 15-8 Archbishop Wood, 52-49, behind brilliant performances by juniors Robert Smith (19 points, five rebounds, three steals) and Jamil Manigo (10 points, nine rebounds, two assists).

Cue the court-storm after McDevitt defeats Wood - video by John Knebels:

McDevitt is making its first visit to the Palestra – and the league semifinals – since 1989, when the Lancers lost to La Salle.

“La Salle is a very good team,” said Smith. “One thing about them is that they take the best open shot, but it’s gonna be a different game than last time (a 58-35 La Salle win on January 4). 

“The first time we weren’t ready for the atmosphere and environment of that game, so we didn’t know what to do to. This is gonna be a close one.”

The Roman Catholic vs. Neumann-Goretti contest will feature the league’s most successful programs. The two have combined to win 12 of the past 14 titles. Roman’s 31 championships include three of the past four. The legendary stretch inside N-G’s 20 features six straight from 2009 through 2014 and eight of 10 from 2005 through 2014. 

The Cahillites edged the Saints, 79-76, in an overtime thriller on January 18 at Community College of Philadelphia. 

Roman Catholic (19-4) needed a 17-8 fourth quarter to deny eight-seed St. Joseph’s Prep (13-11) a supreme upset bid. The Hawks led, 42-36, entering the fourth, but with senior Hakim Hart scoring 14, senior Seth Lundy contributing 13, and junior Lynn Greer adding 10, the Cahillites avoided ignominy. 

“We knew that could’ve been the last game of our season,” said Lundy. “For the seniors and I, we did not want to play our last game of our high school careers at (Temple University’s) McGonigle Hall. We wanted to be playing at the Palestra Wednesday and Monday night, and (in the PIAA state finals) at the (Hershey) Giant Center in March. 

“So we dug deep and knew we worked too hard all season long to let it come to an end early. We did the little things that made the big difference. In the second half we made huge adjustments, thanks to Coach (Matt Griffin). We got defensive stops when we needed them, won the 50-50 balls, and got huge rebounds to seal the game.”

Roman Catholic vs. St. Joe's Prep Highlights by Geneva Heffernan:

(Roman vs. SJP - Photos by Geneva Heffernan) 

Junior Louie Wild was impressed with Roman’s opponent and looks forward to the next chapter.

“The Prep is well coached and executed their game plan really well to keep it close,” said Wild, who scored five key points. “I’m really excited to be back at the Palestra again. It’s gonna be a crazy atmosphere. I can’t wait.”

Four-seed Neumann-Goretti (17-6) took a 30-28 lead at halftime and never looked back in its 73-62 win over visiting five-seed Bonner-Prendergast (17-5). The Saints had also defeated the Friars, 78-70, earlier this season.

A balanced attack paced by senior Chris Ings (19 points, including his career 1,000thearly in the first quarter), senior Ja’cor Smith (17), junior Hakim Byrd (14 points, five assists), junior Jordan Hall (eight points, nine rebounds), sophomore Chris Evans (eight points), and senior Cameron Young (seven points, six rebounds) overcame a combined 44 points by B-P senior Isaiah Wong (25) and junior Donovan Rodriguez (19).

Neumann-Goretti vs. Bonner-Prendergast Highlights by Rich Flanagan:

“It was very important for our team to win that game because last year we came up short, so we had to make sure that we won this year,” said Smith. “The semifinal against Roman is gonna be the biggest game this year because we understand how important this game is.

“They have what we worked so hard for this entire season, and we must go through them to get to where we want, and that’s the PCL championship.”

Byrd said the Saints were “underdogs” against B-P despite being the higher seed.

“This just gave us a whole lot of confidence going into the semifinal game against Roman,” said Byrd. “People expect us to lose the semifinal game as well.”

Added Ings: “It was a very important win, but we are focused on the next step. We believe we can win, but it’s going to take all of us as a group to play as a unit. If we do that, we have a really good chance this Wednesday.”

 

(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)

*UPDATED* 2019 PCL Boys’ Semifinals Thursday, Feb. 21 at the Palestra (University of Pennsylvania)

Game 1: No. 2 La Salle College HS vs. No. 3 Bishop McDevitt 6:30 PM. 

Game 2: No. 1 Roman Catholic vs. No. 4 Neumann-Goretti 8:15 PM.