Paul VI loses in South A final

JACKSON, N.J. - A 6-foot-10 freshman isn't supposed to make a four-point play at the pivotal moment of a South Jersey championship game.

A veteran team with the lead, the momentum, and the full-throated backing of a large student section isn't supposed to go more than five minutes of the fourth quarter without a point.

But strange things sometimes happen in the sectional finals.

Paul VI pushed to the brink of the program's first South Jersey title since 1988, when senior guard Ron Curry made a three-point jumper for a 37-33 lead with 6 minutes, 6 seconds to play.

But fueled by 6-10 freshman Karl Towns' four-point play - a deep jumper, plus a free throw - top-seeded St. Joseph of Metuchen went on a 15-0 run and emerged with a 51-41 victory in the Non-Public South A final Wednesday at Jackson Liberty.

Towns collected 11 points, eight rebounds, and seven blocks, and Temple recruit Quentin DeCosey generated 14 points for St. Joseph of Metuchen (28-1), which advanced to face the Seton Hall Prep-DePaul winner in Sunday's Non-Public A state title game at Toms River North.

The disappointing loss marked the end of the careers of Paul VI seniors Curry, Roosevelt Cubbage, and Kris O'Connor, who combined to lead the team to a 50-7 record and Olympic National titles in the last two seasons.

Curry was overcome with emotion when he fouled out with 21 seconds to play. Curry declined comment after the game.

"Our seniors have been phenomenal," Paul VI coach Tony Devlin said. "They've been warriors. They enabled us to play against anybody."

Curry scored 13 with four assists and three steals. Cubbage collected four points and five rebounds, and O'Connor scored seven with a pair of steals.

Paul VI (26-4) got a strong game from sophomore forward Jay Howard, who scored 14 with 11 rebounds.

"I don't think we played our 'A' game," Devlin said. "But we still were right there."

Paul VI held St. Joseph to 13 points in the middle two quarters. When Curry took a feed from O'Connor and made that three-pointer from the left wing with a little more than six minutes to play, the Paul VI student section erupted in cheers.

But on the next possession, Towns made a three-point jumper and added a foul shot to tie the score at 37.

"That four-point play really stung us," Devlin said. "I thought when we were up by four that we could build it to six or seven and settle down from there."

Although the score was tied, St. Joseph seemed to have the momentum. Over the next five minutes, Towns blocked three shots, grabbed three rebounds, and dished to Danny Brix for a pair of layups.

DeCosey, a 6-5 swingman, added a short jumper and free throw, and Brix made three free throws as the Falcons built a 48-37 lead with 0:59 on the clock.

Paul VI finally broke a scoring drought of 5:24 when Howard converted an offensive rebound with 42 seconds to play.

"We thought we could go inside," Devlin said. "But he [Towns] was a lot better defensively than we thought."

Paul VI   11 11 10 9 – 41

St. Joseph   17 7 6 21 – 51

PVI: Ron Curry 13, Kris O'Connor 7, Roosevelt Cubbage 4, Jay Howard 14, Matt Risse 3.

SJ: Jimbo Long 6, Karim Arnold 10, Quentin DeCosey 14, Karl Towns 11, Danny Brix 10.