Walsh, Wood rally past St. Joe’s Prep

If Jack Walsh's strong perimeter shooting game doesn't pave the way to playing college basketball, all is not lost.

The Archbishop Wood wing guard also succeeds on the links, where he has a five handicap and won the Catholic League individual golf title as a junior. When he's not on the hardwood, he often can be found taking swings at Old York Road Country Club.

"I like golf a lot, but it's a sport where you have to play a lot to stay good and stay among the best," Walsh said. "With basketball in the picture, that's hard to do."

On Friday afternoon, with Walsh netting 13 points and serving as the perfect complement to high-scoring guard Joe Getz, Wood fought past host St. Joseph's Prep, 61-57, in a Catholic League game at Kelly Fieldhouse.

Walsh, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior, drilled three shots from beyond the arc, grabbed five rebounds, made three steals, and dealt two assists as the Vikings improved to 9-3 overall and 3-0 in the league.

Walsh's father, also named Jack, is in his second year as Wood's head coach. Since the elder Walsh can be demanding, the father-son relationship has had its tense moments.

"My dad can be tough on me, but he's doing it for one reason," the 17-year-old said. "That's for me to be a better player and for us to do well as a team."

Getz, the league's leading scorer, produced a game-high 23 points, seven rebounds (five on offense), and three steals. He went 6 for 6 from the free-throw line in the final 27 seconds.

"He's got great quickness, and he can get to the rim against anybody," Walsh said of his senior backcourt mate.

When he was about five years old and his dad was a freshman and JV coach at Wood, Jack Walsh came to games and "would just grab balls and shoot," he said. The coach-player relationship began with a Warrington youth travel team and continued at St. Jude, in Chalfont.

"I've coached him for a long time," said Jack Walsh Sr., a 990-point career scorer at Wood (Class of 1981). "He knows what I expect of him. He knows I'm trying to get the best out of him."

And the strengths of his son's hoops game?

"He's a got a great jump shot, but he can also put the ball on the floor and get to the basket," the coach said.

Against the Prep, the Vikings trailed by four, 48-44, early in the fourth quarter. Sophomore forward Shane Neher's three-point play and follow of Walsh's missed baseline trey put the visitors in front, 51-48, with 2 minutes, 41 seconds to go.

In the last 42 seconds, with the Hawks (7-5, 1-2) forced to foul, Wood made all eight of its free-throw tries. Neher (13 points, five boards, two blocks) and freshman forward Joe LoStracco (12 points, five boards) joined Walsh as double-digit scorers.

Steve Vasturia, a sophomore point guard, paced the Prep with 20 points. Junior swingman Gene Williams nailed four treys on the way to 14 points.

Archbishop Wood   16 14 12 19 – 61

St. Joseph's Prep   11 14 18 14 – 57

AW: Jack Walsh 13, Shane Neher 13, Joe LaStracco 12, Joe Getz 23.

SJP: Mike Fee 6, Miles Overton 13, Steve Vasturia 20, Gene Williams 14, Kevin Oberlies 4.