Neumann-Goretti eases past Manheim Central

NEW HOLLAND, Pa. - For the first 16 minutes in the Class AAA second-round matchup Tuesday between Neumann-Goretti and Manheim Central, Taylor Funk was the best center on the court.

As a team, Manheim Central may have been no match for the Saints, who cruised to a 72-44 win at Garden Spot, but Funk, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, still finished the first half with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Neumann-Goretti's own 6-foot-8 sophomore, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree, had to regroup at halftime.

"Actually, I didn't even realize he was [playing well]," he said. "He was getting a lot of offensive rebounds, so I just wanted to get down there and crash with him."

Cosby-Roundtree dominated the third quarter on the glass.

The Southwest Philadelphia resident grabbed seven of his 15 rebounds in the frame. Funk finished the game with 16 points and 14 rebounds.

The Saints led 34-18 at the half and by 60-25 after the third quarter. N-G plays Bishop McDevitt of District 3 on Friday at a time and place yet to be determined.

Cosby-Roundtree is no stranger to slow starts. His foray into organized basketball is still young.

"My first officiated basketball game was in the summer of my eighth-grade year," he said. "My first game, all I knew how to do was catch the ball."

Early on, catching the ball was also a struggle.

"It was hard to know when the pass was coming and then trying to finish through the contact once I caught the ball," he said.

On a team where scoring is handled by committee, Cosby-Roundtree has improved throughout this season.

Offensively, fellow sophomore Quade Green led the Saints with 24 points. Lamarr Kimble added 16 and six rebounds. Zane Martin scored 15.

That just leaves everything else for the Saints big man, who finished with five points and two blocked shots.

"Rebound, change shots, and score off offensive rebounds and hustle," Cosby-Roundtree said. "I'm used to doing it, but I want to expand my game more and be able to score myself."

To that end, Cosby-Roundtree occasionally works on shooting with Green, a fellow Southwest Philly resident, after practice with the coaching staff.

Despite his late start, Cosby-Roundtree wants to become a big-time contributor.

"I want to expand my post game," he said, "dribble, shoot, have an all-around game and be able to do it all."

Manheim Central 4 14 7 19 - 44

Neumann-Goretti 21 13 26 12 - 72

MC: Matt Walsh 11, Tony Staffieri 4, Dan Wiederrecht 3, Taylor Funk 16, Tanner Brenize 5, Roman Wagner 2, Trevor Hosler 3.

N-G: Vaughn Covington 5, Lamarr Kimble 16, Quade Green 24, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree 5, Zane Martin 15, Rasheed Brown 4, Mike Milsip 2, Amir Tyler 1.