Chester pounds N-G in showdown

THE THRILL of playing before a national-TV audience was erased by the agony of a resounding defeat.

Sunday night, before a turn-away crowd at Neumann University, and ESPN2's cameras, Ss. Neumann-Goretti absorbed a 58-41 whipping from Chester in a battle of city-suburban powers.

That score is misleading. The Saints trailed by 47-22 before semi-regrouping.

"If you don't make shots, it's hard to win," said N-G coach Carl Arrigale.

The Saints finished 16-for-51 from the floor and were 10-for-38 through three quarters. Almost every shot was contested, sometimes by two guys, as the Clippers, stacked with tall and/or rangy guys, were relentlessly aggressive on defense.

"I told our guys, 'We can't get back up,' " Arrigale said. "That's what they want and that's what they got us to do. After a while, it was like the feeling-sorry-for-ourselves thoughts kicked in."

Both teams are multiple-times defending state champions, Chester in Class AAAA (two) and N-G in AAA (three). To boot, the Clippers stormed to 61 consecutive overall victories and N-G claimed 73 in a row in Catholic League play, counting the regular season and playoffs.

Chester parted company with its glorious run back on Dec. 20, falling to Lone Peak, of Utah, 73-50, in a Florida tournament. N-G was surprised by La Salle, 65-62, on Jan. 6 in game No. 4 of CL regular-season play.

Chester received tremendous one-two punches from Rondae Jefferson, an Arizona commit, and Richard Granberry. The 6-7 Jefferson posted 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Granberry added 14, 14 and five.

N-G's John Davis, a Towson signee, had five points and 15 boards.

"I'm disappointed with how we let them dominate the game," Arrigale said. "In the beginning, we were right there with them. Then they took control and . . . We didn't have an answer."