BOYS' CHAMPIONSHIP
SJ PREP vs.
NEUMANN-GORETTI
When: Tonight, 8:15
Where: Palestra
Records: SJ Prep is 20-4 with a two-game winning streak. N-G is 21-3 with a seven-game winning streak.
Coaches: William "Speedy" Morris, 11th season, 234-71 (622-167 in 27 total seasons at three schools). Carl Arrigale, 14th season, 319-76. In the 1983-84 season, Arrigale was the Inter-Ac MVP while playing for Penn Charter under Morris. Their teams have met 19 teams during Morris' 11 seasons at SJP. Arrigale leads, 12-7 overall and 3-0 in playoffs.
Previous meeting: Visiting N-G triumphed, 66-53, on Feb. 10 as all of the starters posted from nine to 15 points (Derrick Stewart).
Background: SJ Prep, a private school located at 17th and Girard, has participated in all 93 of the CL's basketball seasons. It won the first title in 1919-20, and has captured seven total, including two under Morris ('03 and '04). N-G, located at 11th and Moore, entered the CL for the 1935-36 season under its original name, Southeast Catholic. It has captured 17 titles, including seven under Arrigale ('01, '02, '05, '06, '09, '10 and '11). The Saints have won 69 consecutive CL games, counting the regular season and playoffs.
SJ Prep personnel: Stephen Vasturia (Notre Dame) is sometimes so smooth, people lose track of his inner fire . . . Miles Overton, aggressive and feisty, is showing improved overall instincts . . . Gene Williams thrives behind the arc and would win any quickest-release contest . . . Kevin Oberlies has moved way past does-little-things status . . . P.J. Kelly helps with ballhandling and distributing . . . Off the bench, Kyle Thompson has become a no-fear driver.
N-G personnel: Ja'Quan Newton is an explosive, multifaceted scorer with sky's-the-limit possibilities . . . John Davis plays hard and smart and is tough in traffic . . . Billy Shank is a mad bomber . . . Derrick Stewart (Rider), formerly an inside-only guy, has expanded his game . . . Hanif Sutton lives to dish/defend . . . Off the bench, La'Quan Coaxum shows some of Newton's traits on offense and Sutton's on defense.
What SJ Prep must do: Remain aggressive no matter what (and, yes, a few shots will get blocked). Stay out of foul trouble. Make sure the game is still very close as the stretch approaches, thus creating enormous pressure for the Saints.
What N-G must do: Guard the arc. Guard the arc some more. Oh, and guard the arc like crazy. Completely dominate the defensive boards and look for run-outs. Power the ball inside.
What can be expected: Only a fool would pick against a team with a 69-game winning streak and a 13-point victory over tonight's foe in that team's gym. Only a bigger fool would think this is a done deal. I'm picking N-G, but there's a hint of hmmmmm in the air.
THE MAIN MEN
ST. JOSEPH'S PREP
PROJECTED STARTERS
Pos. Name Hgt. Yr. Pts.
G Stephen Vasturia 6-4 Jr. 326
G-F Miles Overton 6-3 Jr. 217
G Gene Williams 6-3 Sr. 182
G Kevin Oberlies 6-1 Sr. 101
G P.J. Kelly 5-11 Jr. 53
KEY SUBSTITUTES
F Kyle Thompson 6-1 So. 44
G-F Tom Stewart 6-3 Sr. 24
Ss. NEUMANN-GORETTI
PROJECTED STARTERS
Pos. Name Hgt. Yr. Pts.
G Ja'Quan Newton 6-3 So. 232
F John Davis 6-4 Jr. 198
G Billy Shank 5-9 Sr. 172
F-C Derrick Stewart 6-5 Sr. 172
G Hanif Sutton 5-9 Jr. 52
KEY SUBSTITUTES
G La'Quan Coaxum 6-2 Sr. 132
G Lamarr Kimble 6-0 Fr. 55
G Troy Harper 6-1 So. 48
(Scoring for 15 CL games, including playoffs.)
- Ted Silary
