Duren's 26 lead Neumann-Goretti to title

It was the kind of moment Tyreek Duren longed for: big game, an electric crowd and a lot at stake.

And last night at the Palestra, the Neumann-Goretti junior guard showed why he's a standout basketball player.

Duren scored 26 points to lead Neumann-Goretti to an 86-53 victory over Roman Catholic in the Philadelphia Catholic League championship game.

"I figured that I had to step up and let the game come to me in the beginning," said Duren, who scored 16 of his points in the first half. "It was looking real easy. . . . Everything worked out good. We are cutting down the nets right now."

The 6-foot speedster made a game-high three three-pointers in the victory.

Neumann-Goretti also received big performances from guard Tony Chennault (19 points), forward Daniel Stewart (16 points), and center Andre "Scooter" Gillette (14 points and two blocks).

The foursome's effort gave the Saints (23-2) their third PCL title in five seasons and 15th overall.

Neumann-Goretti, The Inquirer's second-ranked team in Southeastern Pennsylvania, was formerly known as South Catholic, Bishop Neumann and St. John Neumann. St. John Neumann merged with sister school St. Maria Goretti before the 2004-05 school year.

The Saints also defeated the Cahillites (17-8) in the 2006 championship game. The two rivals also competed in the 2007 final, which was won by Roman.

The 10th-ranked Cahillites were looking to win their first title since that season and their 29th overall.

Both teams will represent the Catholic League in the PIAA District 12 championship tournament.

Neumann-Goretti takes on Franklin Learning Center in Saturday's 7 p.m. Class AAA final at Temple's Liacouras Center. Roman Catholic meets Southern in Sunday's 1 p.m. Class AAAA championship at the Liacouras Center.

Playing for a district title was far from the Saints' minds last night. They and their fans were too busy celebrating their latest title.

"That's a big honor," Chennault said. "That's something I am going to live with for the rest of my life. Nobody can take this away from me."

It started to become obvious that Neumann-Goretti would win the title in the second quarter. A basket by Lamin Fulton gave the Saints a 29-17 cushion with 3 minutes, 33 seconds left in the half. Duren's jumper 48 seconds before intermission gave Neumann-Goretti a 35-19 lead.

Chennault's foul shots extended the Saints lead to 23 points, 56-33, late in the third period. Neumann-Goretti then opened up a 30-point lead late in the game.

Roman senior point guard Maalik Wayns missed his eighth game after suffering a meniscus tear in his right knee on Jan. 26. The McDonald's all-American met with his doctor yesterday and was cleared to start running. The Villanova signee's status for Sunday's district final is unclear.

Neumann-Goretti 23 12 21 30 - 86

Roman Catholic 17 6 10 20 - 53

NG: Tyreek Duren 26, Mustaafa Jones 3, Tony Chennault 19, Andre Gillette 14, Will Huff 2, Daniel Stewart 16, Lamin Fulton 4, Billy Shank 2.

RC: Rakeem Brookins 24,Marvin Champ 2, Kevin Regan 6, Andre Horne 15, Brandon Moultrie 2, Koron Reed 4.