"Tails never loses. Or at least that was what the Neumann-Goretti players told their coach, Carl Arrigale, before a coin flip to determine the top-seeded boys’ basketball team in the Catholic League.
Neumann-Goretti lost 55-53 Sunday to St. Joseph’s Prep, leaving the teams tied for the Catholic League Southern Division title with 13-1 records.
So it was on to the coin flip at Monday night’s Catholic League coaches’ meeting, after which Arrigale had this report: "Tails lost."
That means the Saints will open the Catholic League playoffs Saturday against third-place Roman Catholic. The Southern Division doubleheader begins with the Saints-Roman game at 6 p.m. at La Salle University. Neumann-Goretti won both regular-season meetings. The St. Joe’s Prep-West Catholic match-up will follow at 8.
Arrigale, now in his seventh season, is used to playing Roman in the Catholic League playoffs. The South Philly squad is 3-1 in four previous postseason meetings, which includes last year’s quarterfinal win.
"It’s not going to be easy," Arrigale said. "They are a good team and so are we."
THE SAINTS’ BOWLING team said goodbye to its championship hopes in last Thursday’s 2,897-2,609 quarterfinal loss to Roman Catholic. The Saints couldn’t catch up after trailing by 103 pins at the end of the first game.
Freshman Anthony Spino had one of the best individual performances of the day with a 531 series. After struggling with a 134 in the first game, the rookie made a valiant comeback effort with a 201 and 196.
"I think Anthony Spino did a really nice job and got some valuable playoff experience as a freshman," said coach Gene Mattioli.
Neumann-Goretti’s core for next season also will include junior Chris Pezzano, a Third Team All-Catholic selection with a 184 average, and freshman Jonathan Donnelly. The challenge will be in replacing the strikes and spares of senior First Team All-Catholic selection Joe Stankiewicz (197 average) and classmate Steve DiGiovanni, a Second Team selection with a 188 average. Joe Venuto and Nick Rossi also are graduating.
Still, Mattioli said he is excited about the future.
"I think the proud tradition of our program is in good standing with what we have coming back," he said.
In other Catholic League bowling news, St. Joe’s Prep’s Drew Beaver, of the 1700 block of East Moyamensing Avenue, closed out his high-school career with a First Team All-Catholic nod. His 204 average ranked second best in the Catholic League South.
