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Earl Pettis is walking around La Salle University’s Tom Gola Arena with the Catholic League title plaque firmly in hand.
If he could, he would pack it in a suitcase and take it to Ireland to show older brother Robert "Beattie" Taylor, a 2001 St. John Neumann grad. Taylor, who is playing professionally in Ireland, also graduated with a championship when his Pirates defeated Roman Catholic, 60-59, in 2001.
Saturday, Pettis’ Neumann-Goretti squad defeated Roman Catholic, 44-41, at the buzzer.
"I get to go out with a championship, the same thing as my brother," Pettis said.
The big difference is the younger Pettis will graduate with two Catholic League titles, while Taylor had one.
"I can’t wait to call and tell him," said Pettis, who will graduate with 1,055 career points.
Had Taylor been healthy his junior year, Neumann might’ve won the 2000 Catholic League crown instead of losing by three points. The athlete had a sprained left ankle, limiting him to a few minutes of play. He made up for it the following year, tallying 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the victory. He took home the Review’s 2001 Male Athlete of the Year Award.
The younger Pettis also has had his share of playoff drama. In the March 1 semifinal game against Cardinal Dougherty, which the Saints won, 84-73, the forward fouled out with 4:31 remaining with his team trailing, 71-66. But he knew his squad would come through.
"It was tough because I wanted to be out there with my teammates," Pettis said. "I just told them since I can’t be out there with you all … to get through this whole thing, and I’ll be in the championship with you."
Neumann-Goretti won and, sure enough at the championship Saturday night, Pettis came through with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Neumann-Goretti coach Carl Arrigale, who also coached Taylor, said he was happy for the family.
"I told his mom after the game that [Pettis] has got one more than Beattie," Arrigale said. "I am really happy for those guys. I am sure I’ll be around them for the rest of their lives."
Like big brother, who played four seasons at Division I Rider University, Pettis is looking forward to playing college ball. Temple University, George Washington, Miami, La Salle, Seton Hall and Connecticut are some of the schools recruiting Pettis.
"I am going to sit down with my family and sort things out," he said of his next step.
