Neumann-Goretti wins second straight state championship

UNIVERSITY PARK - In separate conversations, Ja'Quan Newton and Hanif Sutton uttered the exact same words.

"I'm looking forward to working hard all summer."

Hey, how can they not be making such a statement?

Ss. Neumann-Goretti High indeed completed another wonderful basketball season in git-'er-done fashion Friday night at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center, but the team included just one senior of significance, St. Peter's-bound point guard Lamin Fulton, so it's impossible not to believe the program's powerhouse days are destined to continue.

"This is a very special group of people," said Newton, a freshman guard and occasional forward. "I'm glad they wanted me coming out of eighth grade.

"When we come back next year, we're going to do this all again . . . For 3 more years."

Is that a hope or a promise?

"Promise," Newton said, smiling.

Minutes earlier, Newton and his jubilant teammates had been dancing around the court, celebrating a 55-45 win over Montour, of suburban Pittsburgh, that enabled the Saints to become the first PIAA squad to capture consecutive Class AAA championships since Blackhawk in 1995 and '96.

In fact, N-G is only the second repeat titlist in the classification's 27 years as the organization's second highest, enrollmentwise.

Also, the Saints finished 27-4 and raised their record over the last three seasons to 83-8. Therein, they also claimed all three Catholic League crowns and were perfect against league opposition (19-0 twice, then 16-0).

As for Newton . . . you may call him the King of Finals.

Feb. 28 at the Palestra, Newton shot 5-for-8 (two treys) en route to 13 points, while adding two assists as N-G notched CL win No. 54 in a row, over Archbishop Carroll. In this one, he posted a team-high 17 points and packed 13 of those markers into a 31-24 second half. Most of his field goals (he made his last five shots) came on hard drives. Of length, even. And he capped his last one with an emphatic, this-one's-ours dunk.

"My mom and dad [Joe, the former West Philadelphia High star] always raised me to be a winner," Newton said. "All the way through my career, I've always won.

"I only had four points at halftime, and my coaches told me to step up my game. So I did that. The guy covering me was a pretty good defensive player, but I felt I had a quickness advantage. Every chance I got, I took it to the hole."

Meanwhile, Sutton's job was to taketh away. The 5-7 soph, backup to Fulton and slated to become his replacement for 2011-12, is not likened to a glove for nothing.

His assignment off the bench was to dog Montour's acknowledged best player, Devin Wilson, who was able to take only seven shots. He hit two, finishing with four points.

"I didn't see tape on him," Sutton said. "But my coaches did, and they gave me tips on how to control him. Mostly, it was just, 'Stay in front of him.' That's what I did. I love playing defense because I know how important it is."

Scoring? Did you have to ask?

Sutton went 0-for-4 at the line and never did attempt a shot from the floor.

"It's funny," he said. "I went to the gym the other night and was there for hours. I was making them all. Like water. Then I come out here and leave 'em short. Man! That next-to-last one was in and out. Almost had one. Oh, well."

Coach Carl Arrigale expects Sutton to replace Fulton next season.

"I'm already looking forward to it," Sutton said. "I'll be leading my team. Playing more of a role. I had an important role this year, don't get me wrong, but it'll be even bigger next year. Whatever my team will need me to do, I'll be ready."

For bits and pieces of the evening, it looked as if N-G might have to prepare for disappointment.

Montour was often outhustling the Saints, in addition to doing a nice job with backdoor plays and baskets off dangerous, yet successful passes.

One of those patented flurries got the job done. A five-point run to end the third quarter enabled N-G to turn a 34-33 deficit into a 38-34 lead. The baskets - by Newton and Derrick Stewart - came on transition layups and Stewart added a free throw. The fourth quarter commenced with 11 of the next 15 points. Newton's get-it-and-go approach was the difference.

"Ja'Quan likes the bright lights," Arrigale said. "He has some tightening up to do, but he's a big-time player in the making. He's certainly not afraid and that's a big component in being great.

"Once we got ahead, we wanted to spread them out. And we knew we'd get past them with Lamin and Ja'Quan. Once they hit that crease, they're golden."

Fulton managed seven points and two assists, along with five steals. Soph John Davis totaled 12 points and seven rebounds while Stewart (same categories) had 14 and 10. Newton snagged eight rebounds, most on long rebounds of missed treys.

In the late going, Arrigale made sure to send the Saints' other senior, Jordan "Smooth"Johnson, onto the court and, ultimately, waved in other deepsters. By then, the mainstays were already exchanging hugs.

Arrigale would not quite say this season's accomplishments (27-4) meant more than last year's (30-1, only loss being a one-pointer to Yates, of Houston), although Fulton was the only returning starter.

"It means a lot," Arrigale said, "especially since a lot of people thought we wouldn't be any good, let alone make this kind of run.

"I feel so good for Lamin. He has meant so much to our program. That's all he has cared about since the moment he walked in the door. It meant the world to see him go out this way."

A light went on in Arrigale's head.

"I remember last year," he added. "Some of his [then-senior] teammates were teasing him, 'Hey, you're gonna be by yourself next year.' No way. This was a great group of kids all year." *