The Ss. John Neumann-Maria Goretti boys’ bowling team defeated St. Joseph’s Preparatory High, 2,637-2,389, to move one step closer to its championship goal.
The Catholic League opening-round playoff match was held Tuesday at St. Monica Lanes, 16th and Shunk streets.
Today, the Saints will head to Hi-Spot Lanes in Roxborough to face Roman Catholic in the quarterfinals. Neumann-Goretti coach Gene Mattioli expects a strong challenge from the second-place Cahillites, whose five starters earned All-Catholic honors.
"Their coach has done a good job of turning around a program that hardly made the playoffs to one that finished second in the South [Division] this year," Mattioli said.
But the third-place Saints have their own winning combination in seniors Joe Stankiewicz and Steve DiGiovanni, who played on Neumann’s 2002 and 2003 championship teams. On Tuesday, junior Chris Pezzano, a Third Team All-Catholic selection, led Neumann-Goretti with a high series of 600. Stankiewicz, whose 197 average was the third highest in the Catholic League this season, tallied a 584 series and a high game of 244.
Prep senior Drew Beaver, of the 1700 block of East Moyamensing Avenue, bowled the high series of the day with a 610.
The Saints closed the regular season with a 27-21 record; the final game was a 4-0 win over Cardinal O’Hara.
Co-captains Stankiewicz and DiGiovanni (189 average), along with Pezzano (184), have provided leadership for senior and varsity newcomer Nick Rossi (176) and freshmen Anthony Spino (176) and Joe Donnelly (165).
"The nucleus kept things together pretty well," the coach said.
The Neuman-Goretti girls’ basketball team also made it the playoffs – for the first time since 1986.
By defeating Hallahan 56-53 Tuesday night, the Saints clinched the final Catholic League Southern Division playoff spot.
"When the last second ticked off the clock, we were more relieved than anything else," said coach Chip Reitano.
Sophomore Gloria Brown came up huge with 35 points, 19 rebounds and eight blocks. The Saints, who are 18-7 overall and 5-6 in the Catholic League, will close the regular season tonight with a home game against Little Flower.
The squad will face either Archbishop Carroll or O’Hara in next week’s opening-round playoff game. Reitano knows his squad is the underdog against either of the high-caliber opponents.
"They’re not out of our league, we’re just not there yet," he said. "You have to play a near-perfect game.
"It’s going to be a good challenge and I am looking forward to it."
