Neumann-Goretti boys capture Catholic League crown

Despite losing several Division I players to graduation after winning a state championship, Neumann-Goretti climbed to the top of the Catholic League mountain for the third straight year.

But because of a horrible showing at the free-throw line against Archbishop Carroll, the Saints' latest title didn't come without a few hairy moments.

Behind 16 points apiece from senior catalyst Lamin Fulton and sophomore John Davis, the Saints, overcoming an 18-for-37 effort at the charity stripe, turned back archrival Carroll, 59-55, Monday night at the Palestra.

"That wasn't us at all," Fulton said of the foul-shooting woes. "We usually knock down our free throws. I take responsibility for that."

N-G became the first team to win three straight league crowns since Roman Catholic earned six in a row from 1989 to 1994. It was the program's seventh title in the last 11 seasons.

"After losing the guys we lost last year, a lot of people thought we would fall off the map," Saints coach Carl Arrigale said. "I thought we'd be good. I knew there were some pieces there and that it was a good, cohesive unit."

N-G was ahead, 47-38, early in the fourth quarter. Over the final eight minutes, the Saints were 10 for 23 at the line.

"We're not a great foul-shooting team," Arrigale said, "but we make them. It should have been a lot easier."

Fulton, bound for St. Peter's, was 4 for 13 from the line. He made up for that by collecting six rebounds, five assists, and two steals.

"I wasn't nervous at all," Fulton said. "That wasn't it. I started to cramp up at the end."

Davis and 6-foot-5 junior Derrick Stewart (seven points, two blocks, two steals) combined for 18 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end. Freshman standout Ja'Quan Newton contributed 13 points.

Davis sank two free throws to make it 58-55. After a missed trey by Carroll's Juan'ya Green, who poured in 30 points, Stewart made one of two tries with 1.1 seconds to go to clinch it.

The Saints pushed in front, 27-21, in the second quarter on three consecutive field goals: Newton's put-back of Fulton's missed trey; Davis' follow of his own miss; and Fulton's driving layup.

Green accounted for 14 of his team's first-half points, including a pair of treys. Fulton's 12 points, with a pair of first-quarter triples, paved the way for a 30-25 advantage at the break.

The Saints (21-4) will take on Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter, of the Public League, for the PIAA District 12 Class AAA title Friday at 8 p.m. at Archbishop Ryan.

Like N-G, the Patriots (20-5) are guaranteed a berth in the state tournament. On Wednesday, in a contest to determine the district's third- and fourth-place seeds, they will meet Boys' Latin at Southern at 7:30 p.m.

Carroll and N-G could meet up again in the state playoffs, as they did in the quarterfinals in each of the last two seasons. Carroll prevailed in 2009, and N-G triumphed last year. In both seasons, the victor went on to claim state gold.

Archbishop Carroll   14 11 13 17 - 55

Neumann-Goretti   13 17 13 16 - 59

AC: Yosef Yacob 6, Juan'ya Green 30, Tracy Peal 12, Jay Donovan 7.

NG: Lamin Fulton 16, Billy Shank 7, Derrick Stewart 7, John Davis 16, Ja'Quan Newton 13.