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The Ben Franklin and Bok athletic squads have become rivals over the last of couple years, battling it out for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association District 12 AAA championship. Both times, Bok won and advanced to the state tournament.
Ben Franklin finally tasted some revenge last Thursday with an 84-73 win in the championship game of Bok’s Sunoco-sponsored holiday tournament. The Wildcats took an early 8-2 lead, but the visitors pulled away, 21-11, by the end of the first quarter. Their lead grew to 30 points in the second half, but Bok kept battling, closing the gap to 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Senior guard James Jones was the Wildcats offensive leader with 35 points, while senior forward Gary Harris added 17. After graduating last season’s top three scorers, the Wildcats remain a work in progress. The team’s members have hopes of once again representing the Public League in the PIAA AAA playoffs.
"We just want to play one game at a time," Jones said. "When we got down [in the holiday tournament game], it was hard to come back."
In the consolation game, the GAMP Pioneers defeated the High School for Creative and Performing Arts Pegasus, 55-46. Junior Khiry Gordon came up big for GAMP with his 22 points and 15 rebounds, while senior Samuel Bennett led CAPA with 22 points. The Pioneers just missed making the championship game, losing 54-53 to Bok in the semifinal match-up. The Pioneers had a commanding 40-28 lead heading into the fourth quarter, by 16 costly turnovers late in the game ended up costing them a victory.
New Bok Athletic Director Frank "Roscoe" Natale dedicated several hours last week, including a couple eight-hour days, to make sure the two-day tournament ran smoothly.
"I wanted it for the kids," Natale said.
AFTER SPENDING THE week before Christmas in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the Saints girls’ basketball team stayed home for winter break and hosted the third annual Neumann-Goretti Roundball Classic at 10th and Moore streets. Coach and Assistant Athletic Director Chip Reitano started the event in 2003.
"I tried to really start something a few years ago that was our tradition," he said.
The tradition includes winning the tournament championship each year. The Saints latest win came Friday night, when Neumann-Goretti defeated Episcopal Academy, 58-31. The Saints led 22-2 after one quarter and never looked back. Junior Gloria Brown led the way with 15 points and 15 rebounds, while senior teammate Shante Cummings took home MVP honors following her 12-point performance.
Cummings also came up big in last Thursday’s 104-49 semifinal win over Springfield, leading all scorers with 21 points. Brown added 20 points and 12 rebounds and Alison Nelson tallied 15 points.
When December rolls around again, these Saints will be ready to defend their holiday tournament crown.
"Next year, I hope to double the amount of teams," Reitano said.
The Saints boys’ basketball team spent their vacation in Houston, Texas, competing in the prestigious Nike Academy National Invitational. Playing some of the top teams in the country, they advanced to Friday’s third-place game against Georgia-based Wheeler High, but lost 77-63. Senior Derrick Rivera led Neumann-Goretti with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists, while junior Antonio Jardine chipped in 18 points and five assists.
The squad missed the championship game as a result of Thursday’s 57-47 semifinal loss to California-based Fairfax High. Neumann-Goretti had a 41-39 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but Fairfax secured the win by outscoring the Saints 18-6 in the fourth quarter. Despite the loss, the Saints had four starters reach double figures, with Jardine leading the way with 14 points and four steals, while Jackson recorded a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds to go along with two blocks. Rivera finished with 11 points and Pettis added 10.
The Saints opened the tournament with a convincing 59-41 win over Texas-based Bellaire High Dec. 28. Rivera led the offense with 22 points, shooting seven-for-12 from the field and added nine rebounds and three steals. Pettis added 15 points, while Jackson tallied 11.
Monday night, the Saints played their first home game of the season against St. Joe’s Prep in a rematch of last year’s Catholic League title game – and picked up a 50-43 victory.
IN OTHER HOLIDAY action, the Southern Rams boys’ basketball team took third place in the Lancaster Black Knights Tournament, defeating Hempfield, 48-39. Junior Ramone Moore, who made the All-Tournament Team, scored a team-high of 14 points, while Bryheem Charity finished with 10 points. The Rams, which entered the week 7-5 overall, will host Parkway this afternoon in Public League competition.
