Tony Chennault, with ball, and his Saints eliminated Archbishop Carroll in last month’s state quarterfinal contest.
The Neumann-Goretti boys’ basketball team has received plenty of attention this season as a top-10 team in several national polls. The roster includes four future Division I players. But the results in the win column are what truly puts a squad over the top.
What the team from 10th and Moore streets has accomplished is something that will be talked about for decades to come. Friday, the squad traveled to Penn State University and defeated Chartiers Valley, 65-63 for its first-ever PIAA Class AAA state championship. It capped off a memorable run that also included defending Catholic League and City championships. The 30-1 squad actually came within a point of finishing the year undefeated. The lone blemish came against Houston-based Yates — rated No. 1 in the nation by USA Today — 97-96 at a national tournament in Hawaii.
It makes up for last season when Neumann-Goretti, who was one of the favorites to win the state crown fell to eventual champs Archbishop Carroll in the quarterfinals. It left a sour taste with the players and coaches after winning Catholic League and City crowns. The defeat provided the fuel for this year’s run.
“I felt a lot of pressure myself because I didn’t want it to end any other way than the way it ended,” coach Carl Arrigale said. “They’ve been smiling ever since [the state championship win].”
The Saints avenged 2009’s season-ending loss by defeating Carroll for the league crown, 75-59, as well as in the state quarterfinals, 53-38.
“We played with a certain toughness, had a great will to win and most of all, a great deal of chemistry,” Arrigale said.
With seniors Daniel Stewart (Rider), Tyreek Duren (La Salle), Mustafaa Jones (Hartford) and Tony Cheannault (Wake Forest) all heading off their respective Division I schools next fall, who knows if or when Neumann-Goretti will be able to match this season’s triple-crown performance. The Saints closed out the year ranked No. 5 in the nation by USA Today.
“If it can ever be duplicated, I can’t wait for it to happen again,” Arrigale said of the memorable run. SPR
Contact Managing Editor Bill Gelman at bgelman@southphillyreview.com or ext. 123. Comment at www.southphillyreview.com/sports/features.
“We have a philosophy. If you’re in it, you might as well win it,” coach Carl Arrigale said Tuesday at Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School, 1736 S. 10th St.
St. Joe’s Prep knocked down the game’s first three-pointer, but Neumann-Goretti senior guard Lamin Fulton made sure the last one sent his team’s supporters home happy. In a riveting Friday contest, the Saints, 1736 S. 10th St., escaped with a 77-74 victory on Fulton’s buzzer-beating swish, giving them a record-setting 50th straight against Catholic League foes.
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1. Rob Miller said... on Aug 25, 2011 at 07:51AM
“cool site.”