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Just before the Neumann-Goretti girls’ basketball team traveled to Delaware County Jan. 25 to face defending Catholic League champ Cardinal O’Hara, there was self-assuredness in the air. Coach Chip Reitano noticed it during Thursday afternoon’s shoot around at school.
"You could see how focused they were and they were confident and relaxed," Reitano said.
Would the mood carry over to the crucial evening contest, with first place in the Catholic League South on the line? Judging by the Saints’ 62-49 victory, the answer was a resounding yes.
"It was nice to see them chasing us and fouling us at the end of the game," Reitano said of O’Hara. "We did what good teams are supposed to do: We made our foul shots.
"I am really proud of those kids. Our kids from one to 13 were just tremendous."
Beating O’Hara is no easy task. In Reitano’s seven years as coach he has faced the Lions 16 times, including the 2006 championship game. Last week was just the second time Neumann-Goretti was victorious. The other was a one-point win during last year’s regular season.
This time around, Gloria Brown led the way with 28 points, 14 rebounds, five steals and five blocks. Amberel Diaz chipped in 17 scores, including four three-pointers in the second half, to go along with nine rebounds. Jasmine Daniels added five points and eight assists. The coach noted Diaz and Allison Nelson did a great job of playing perimeter defense.
"I couldn’t have asked for a better effort from the team," Reitano said.
Neumann-Goretti is on pace to host a quarterfinal playoff game at 10th and Moore streets the end of February — a result of splitting the regular-season series with O’Hara and winning the first of two meetings with Archbishop Carroll. The playoff seeds could be decided the final week of the season, as the 7-1 Saints host 6-2 Carroll Feb. 13 and, two days later, Carroll plays at 7-1 O’Hara.
Reitano doesn’t want his team looking that far ahead, believing the other contests are equally meaningful.
"We’ve got to stay focused on the task at hand," he said. "We need to consider everybody the best team in the league.
"One loss could ruin the season. Every game we play is a must-win."
At least for now, it’s a good time at 10th and Moore streets, as both the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams are sitting atop the Catholic League South standings. The boys — two-time defending champs — hold sole possession of first with an 8-1 record. Their lone defeat came at the hands of Roman Catholic Jan. 26, 59-58.
March 4 — when the Catholic League titles will be decided at the Palestra — is the day both squads have circled on their calendars.
"No matter who we play, the goal is to be playing on March 4," Reitano said.
