Sutton helps Neumann-Goretti shut down SJ Prep

AS DOES all of sporting life, basketball requires perspective.

So, upon falling to La Salle High, 65-62, on Jan. 7, after claiming 73 consecutive Catholic League victories, including playoffs, over five seasons, Ss. Neumann-Goretti's players needed to remember a streak had ended, not the world.

Sure, senior point guard Hanif Sutton found himself among the guys who got misty-eyed. More than once, even. But as the days passed, he found himself able to proceed in surprisingly smooth fashion.

"It did hurt. Can't deny that," Sutton said. "I'd never lost a Catholic League game in my 4 years at Neumann. And that included my time on JV. My emotions caught up to me a couple times. But in talking with my coaches and parents, I was able to get back to focusing on what really matters - winning another championship."

Monday, one school of thought foresaw the Saints again being vulnerable as they traveled to 17th and Girard for a CL meeting with St. Joseph's Prep and its pair of prominent Division I signees, guards Stephen Vasturia (Notre Dame) and Miles Overton (Wake Forest).

Talk about incorrect . . .

The Saints mostly cruised and even semi-frolicked, 67-43. If tears of joy had been appropos for a game played Jan. 14, Sutton would have been shedding 'em.

The 5-9, 155-pounder's primary purpose is to play beyond-sticky defense and, because of foul trouble, his playing time against La Salle had been severely limited. In part, that enabled La Salle signee Amar Stukes to explode for 26 points, including 11 in a 22-15 fourth quarter.

This time? Sutton played Vasturia. And the latter finished with a way-low-for-him 14 points. He shot only 6-for-16 from the floor and 1-for-2 at the line. Additionally, Stevie V, a master of body control, did not get to the line until 4:17 remained in the third quarter, and his one successful three-pointer (in five attempts) wasn't posted for another 2 minutes, 12 seconds.

Sutton was not on the floor when that happened.

"It feels good to shut down a guy that's going to be on ESPN next year," Sutton said, smiling. "I'm always given challenges like this, and, most of the time, I step up to them.

"The way I look at this is, it gives me an opportunity to shine even when I don't have the ball . . . It helps my team win.

"My sophomore year, playing defense was a great way to get onto the court. Even as a freshman, I tried to make a name for myself in practice against Tony Chennault and Tyreek Duren and all those guys. Danny Stewart, he 'hated' me. I'd get up underneath him and drive him crazy."

In practice, for fullcourt battles, coach Carl Arrigale sometimes aligns the Saints in teams of starters/subs mixtures. When that happens, Sutton is often sicced on Ja'Quan Newton, a born-scorer junior guard.

"He calls me 'The Hack,' " Sutton said, laughing. "He says I'm always hackin' him. Am I? Nah, he's dreamin'."

How about it, Ja'Quan?

"Oh, he's definitely 'The Hack,' " Newton cracked. "I don't mind it, though. After taking all his slaps on the arms, I don't even feel them in games."

In this one, Sutton experienced a brush with foul trouble. But when he incurred one personal apiece in the first and second quarter, at least Vasturia wasn't shooting. Also important was that sub Troy Harper and Newton did good jobs on Vasturia, when needed.

Meanwhile, soph Lamarr "Fresh" Kimble and Newton were mostly responsible for limiting Overton to 16 points (4-for-15 floor). And the Hawks weren't helped by the fact the other rotation members missed 15 of their first 16 attempts.

With the score at 60-36, large numbers of spectators began departing at 4:48 remaining. The differential then mushroomed to 28 points and the coaches soon were waving deep subs toward the scorers' table.

This is season No. 12 for coach William "Speedy" Morris at SJ Prep. The 24-point setback was his worst in CL play, surpassing a 55-35 setback vs. N-G in a 2006 quarterfinal. Fifteen points (62-47 vs. Archbishop Carroll in 2011) had been the highest margin of defeat in CL regular-season play.

Newton led N-G with 15 points, while John Davis (Towson) mixed 12 points with as many rebounds, and Kimble hit two treys while notching 10 points.

Aside from his defense, Sutton, who lives in West Philly and is receiving Division II interest from schools such as East Stroudsburg, Lock Haven and Wheeling Jesuit, dealt three assists and shot 4-for-5 for eight points. One bucket, a foul-line jumper, even ended the first half.

Wow, who would have thought? Hanif Sutton taking the final shot of a quarter.

"Ah, we had to break a press," he said. "I got open and there wasn't much time, so . . . Did feel good to hit a last shot in a big game."

Same as muffling many shots in all kinds of games.

"I do take pride in defense," he said.

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