Catholic League Playoff Recaps, 2008-09
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FIRST ROUND
(Neutral Sites)
Wood 49, Conwell-Egan 37: At Ryan, Fran Dougherty posted 14
points, 13 rebounds and five blocks as the Vikings gained their second
regular-playoff win in 43 seasons of CL membership. Joe Getz, Brian O'Grady (11
apiece) and Tim Fahy (10) also scored in double figures. For C-E, making its
third playoff appearance in 46 CL seasons, Isaac Robinson scored 14 points.
W. Catholic 50, Dougherty 45: At Carroll, Rob Hollomon (19) shot
9-for-10 at the line en route to 13 points in the fourth quarter. Ade Barek
added nine points, nine rebounds and six blocks. Only Brandyn Wims (18) reached
doubles for Dougherty.
La Salle 32, SJ Prep 30: At O'Hara, Eddie Joyner-Mitchell scored
the Explorers' final four points on two free throws and a buzzer-beating layup;
they sandwiched Mike Leithead's midrange jumper. Only La Salle's Malik West (10)
scored in double figures. This was only the second time since 1950 that a CL
playoff produced as few as 62 points.
Bonner 45, Ryan 32: At Dougherty, Jamal Melvin mixed 13 points and
five assists and Bill Scanlan scored eight of his 10 points in a 32-10 second
half. Ryan (Eric Fleming 11) played without star guard Rus Slawter (ankle
injury).
QUARTERFINALS
(Doubleheader at Ryan)
N. Catholic 69, Bonner 49: Woody Redding set the tone with 12
points, six assists, three steals and just one turnover while 6-9 soph Rakeem
Christmas contributed 19 points and four blocks. Bonner's Brian Boyle hit two
treys en route to 12 points.
Roman 73, La Salle 49: Rakeem "Rahk" Brookins exploded for 31
points, shooting 9-for-15 (three treys) and 10-for-13. He also had five of the
Cahillites' 22 steals; Kawaun Chavis led the way with six. Koron Reed totaled 13
points, six rebounds. La Salle's Eddie Joyner-Mitchell and Todd Stokley halved
24 points.
(Doubleheader at O'Hara)
Carroll 51, W. Catholic 48: Andre Wilburn collected nine points,
13 rebounds and two blocks and hit a free throw with 1.7 seconds left after West
committed an inbounding violation. Soph Juan'ya Green had 17 points and three
steals. West's leaders were soph Aquil Younger (14, four assists) and Ade Barek
(12, 10 rebounds, five blocks).
Neumann-Goretti 64, Wood 46: Sixth-man Lamin Fulton, a soph, shot
8-for-9 (4-for-5 on treys) en route to 21 points. Tony Chennault totaled 17
points, six rebounds, four assists. Tyreek Duren added 10 points, six boards,
eight assists, three steals. Wood's Fran Dougherty scored 17 points.
SEMIFINALS
(Doubleheader at the Palestra)
Neumann-Goretti 77, N. Catholic 62: Danny Stewart powered home
five dunks in an 18-point performance as the Saints cruised. He added eight
rebounds and enjoyed watching his freshman brother, Derrick, blocking a dunk
attempt by North's 6-9 Rakeem Christmas. Tyreek Duren added 15 points, five
assists. North's leaders were Jack O'Neill (18, eight rebounds, four assists)
and Christmas (14, seven boards, seven rejections).
Roman 63, Carroll 59 (OT): Kevin Regan, who said he'd struggled
with his shooting all season, lit up the Big House with 24 points on 10-for-15
marksmanship that included 4-for-7 sniping on treys. He also notched a late
block to help force OT. Rakeem "Rahk" Brookins added 13 points and nine assists.
Andre Wilburn (14), Juan'ya Green (13), Kasheef Festus (12) and DJ Irving (10)
scored in double digits for Carroll and Ben Mingledough just missed (eight).
Festus (12) and Wilburn (10) led in boards. Brookins passed to sub Abdul King
for the first points of OT and Roman led the rest of the way.
FINAL
(At the Palestra)
Neumann-Goretti 86, Roman 53: The Saints stormed to their
fifth title of the decade while lifting their finals record therein to 3-2
against Roman. Tyreek Duren was the headliner. Aside from shooting 10-for-16
from the floor en route to 26 points, he forced Rakeem "Rahk" Brookins (24
points) to go 8-for-31 total and 2-for-11 on threes. Andre "Scooter" Gillette,
the lone senior rotation member, contributed 14 points, nine rebounds and four
blocks. Danny Stewart was almost perfect (6-for-7, 4-for-4) while scoring 16
points and Tony Chennault added 19 points, seven boards, four dishes.
Villanova-bound Roman star Maalik Wayns (recent meniscus surgery) received word
four hours prior to gametime that he would not be cleared to play. Andre Horne
(15) also scored in double figures for Roman while Koron Reed and Kevin Regan
halved 18 rebounds. In '91, South MVP Marvin Harrison led Roman past La Salle,
70-36, in the final. This 33-point setback came on the same day he was released
by the Colts.
CITY TITLES
(At Temple's Liacouras Center)
CLASS AA
Imhotep 59, West Catholic 53 (OT): In the first contest since
the series was canceled in 1980, four players did a majority of the scoring. MVP
Sam Prescott (26) and Will Adams (22) led Imhotep while Rob Hollomon (24) and
Aquil Younger (17) topped West. Prescott added 11 rebounds, six steals and four
blocks. Hollomon's outing included a 14-for-19 showing at the line.
CLASS AAA
Neumann-Goretti 80, Franklin LC 78: MVP Tony Chennault totaled
22 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals as the Saints matched
Imhotep's experience -- league champ that barely survived. Tyreek Duren added 18
points, five assists. As he'd been throughout the postseason, Denzel Yard was
sensational for FLC with 29 points and four assists. He shot 10-for-14 overall
and tied the city's postseason record for treys with seven (in nine attempts);
he hit his last right before the buzzer. The Bobcats shot 29-for-29 total and
11-for-19 on threes. Sub Jamil Drake, a sub guard, grabbed seven rebounds.
CLASS AAAA
Roman 60, Southern 48: Though its best player, Villanova
signee Maalik Wayns, was still unavailable (recovering from meniscus surgery)
and its leading scorer, Rakeem "Rahk" Brookins, owned just two points, Roman
held a 17-point lead late in the third quarter. Frosh Andre Horne (20 points, 13
rebounds) and MVP Koron Reed (18, 10, five dunks) picked up the slack. Kevin
Regan and Brookins had eight and seven assists, respectively. Southern's Deshon
"Biggie" Minnis collected 19 points, five assists, four steals.