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PIAA 3A/4A: Valley Forge relies on leaders to top Mid-Valley; West Philadelphia, Neumann-Goretti also pick up wins

03/18/2017, 1:30am EDT
By Will Slover

Will Slover (@WillSlover31
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- In Friday night’s PIAA 3A second round contest, Mid-Valley was doing everything in its power to throw Valley Forge off its game. 

From full-court pressing, to constantly fouling Valley Forge’s twin towers in Abraham Deng and Marius Ntwari, there wasn’t a trick in the book that the Spartans didn’t attempt to try to get the upper hand on Valley Forge.

Valley Forge had no trouble though, as the elder guards for the Trojans in seniors Devin Hill and Myles Bunyon and junior Arion Lewis were as cool as cucumber in crunch time ensuring their squad a spot in Sunday’s quarterfinal round.

Despite all of the havoc Mid-Valley was trying to cause, the guards led Valley Forge to a 65-47 win at Liberty High School in the third game of a triple-header on Friday night.

“It means the world. When you get as far as you can in this tournament, it’s because of leadership and good guard play,” Valley Forge head coach Francis Bowe said. “When we realized that they were going to foul us for probably the whole fourth quarter, we realized how to get the ball and how to get to the foul line. Arion Lewis was fantastic from the foul line. It was awesome, great composure from my guards.”

After Mid-Valley tried to get back in the game by fouling on nearly every possession with just under five minutes left to play, Valley Forge’s guard trio responded accordingly as the three went a combined 12-for-12 from the stripe in the final frame despite Mid-Valley’s late push which was led by a 27-point, nine-rebound outing from Brad Kalinowski.  

“It’s relying on our leadership to get the ball around, make the smart plays and put everyone in the position to win the game,” Hill said. “It’s very important for us to be those leaders and help us win.”

Knocking down free-throws wasn’t all these poised guards did though, as each of them turned in complete performances on Friday night.

Lewis led the way with 17 points and six rebound while Hill added in 14 points, four rebound and a steal and Bunyon turned in a 10-point, three-assist, two-rebound outing of his own.

“I have dual-threat guards,” Bowe said. “Devin can score, can handle it and he can pass it. Arion can score and pass it. They have great composure with the ball.”

Perhaps playing just as large of a role in this one for the Trojans though, was their frontcourt of Ntwari and Deng, who used their size advantage to dominate the paint against an undersized Mid-Valley team whose tallest player was just 6-foot-2. 

The 6-foot-9 Ntwari cashed in for 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Valley Forge, while Deng, who stands 6-foot-10 added in another four points, nine rebounds and five blocks.

“That’s an intangible you can’t coach. You can’t coach height but they have great effort too,” Bowe said of the junior big men. “They work their rear ends off, they get those rebounds and the putbacks so I’m really proud of those two.”

“It helps a ton to have two big 6-10 guys in there,” Hill added. “They’re monsters.”

Seeing Deng back on the court was a relief for the Trojans, as their Division I-bound big man has missed the last month of the season after injuring his wrist on February 16th in the Bicentennial Athletic League semifinals. 

“We need him,” Bowe said. “It was good to get his legs back into game mode a little bit. It’s going to be crucial to have him the last few games of the year.”

Deng’s absence motivated the Trojans though, as they wanted to see their catalyst make it back on the floor this season and Valley Forge made school history as it brought home a BAL title, District 1 3A title, and the school’s first ever state tournament appearance with Deng on the sidelines.

Making school history has been a special feeling for the Trojans, as the players know what they’ve accomplished is remarkable even though the main goal of a PIAA 3A state championship still lies ahead. 

 It’s just so special,” Bowe said. “These kids don’t take for granted what’s a happening right now. It’s an amazing journey and we hope we can just keep continuing it.”

The next step of the journey will take place on Sunday, when Valley Forge will face off with District 12’s Delaware Valley Charter at a site and time still to be determined by the PIAA. 

Though Del-Val will be a tough challenge for Valley Forge, as the Warriors are no stranger to making deep state tournament runs.

But with Deng back on the floor and everything clicking for the Trojans, they have their eyes set on Hershey and a state championship.

“Knowing we can win a district championship and a league championship without him, it goes to show we can win a state championship with him,” Hill said. “We have our monster back so it’s time to go win.”

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West Philadelphia shakes off slow start to top Wilkes Barre GAR
It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.

This sports cliche has been used time and time again and it could not have held more true in the first game of three at Liberty High School on Friday night.

After falling behind by double digits in the first quarter, West Philadelphia exploded in the second and rode that hot streak to a 74-60 win over Wilkes Barre GAR in this PIAA 4A second round matchup.

Falling behind 22-11 after the first and shooting just 4-of-14 from the field, West Philadelphia turned the tide in the second quarter by forcing nine turnovers in the frame and took a 33-32 lead into the half and never looked back.

The Speedboys’ lead only grew from there and that growing lead can be largely attributed to the full-court pressure West Philadelphia was applying that had Wilkes Barre GAR scrambling for a solution. 

No solution could be found though, as West Philadelphia forced 22 total turnovers and left the gymnasium with a spot in the quarterfinals secured. 

Leading the way for West Philadelphia was wiry sophomore Cyrie Coates.

Coates turned in a 21-point, five-rebound, five-assist performance and was also a huge factor in forcing a number of those turnovers as his long frame made it nearly impossible for the Wilkes Barre ball handlers to get by him.

Aiding Coates was senior big man Latrell Carroll, who chipped in another 13 points and game-high 12 rebounds in the win.

Pacing Wilkes Barre GAR was 20 points and 11 rebounds from senior center Keyshawn Palmer and another 12 points and seven boards from forward Andrew Campbell

West Philadelphia will try to keep its season going on Sunday, when it will face Greater Nanticoke, who defeated Conwell-Egan by a score of 62-54 shortly after the conclusion of this contest.

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Spectacular showing from Neumann-Goretti puts Saints in quarterfinals

From the opening tip in the second game of the triple-header on Friday night, it was clear that the contest would belong to Neumann-Goretti. 

After coming out of the gates on fire, the Saints used the momentum to leave Liberty High School on the winning end of a 72-27 blowout victory over Holy Redeemer in the PIAA 3A second round. 

After jumping ahead 12-0 less than halfway through the first quarter, Carl Arrigale’s squad was nearly flawless for the entire contest. 

Neumann-Goretti held Holy Redeemer to just 11-of-62 (.177) from the field and 3-of-21 (.142) from beyond the arc while also forcing 15 turnovers and shooting an impressive 28-of-50 (.560) clip of its own.

Also impressive for the Saints in the win was it’s offensive balance, as eight Neumann-Goretti players scored at least five points in the win. 

Seniors Mike Milsip (14 points, four rebounds, four blocks), Quade Green (11 points, 10 assists, five rebounds) and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (10 points, four rebounds, three assists) led the Saints in scoring on the night. 

Underclassmen Marcus Littles (eight points, 12 rebounds), Noah Warren (eight points), Christian Ings (seven points, four assists), Dhymir Montague (five points, three steals), and Hakim Byrd (five points) all also made their impact felt in the win. 

Senior forward Luke Nealon led Holy Redeemer with six points and three rebounds in his last game in a Royals uniform. 

Up next for Neumann-Goretti is a clash with Lancaster Mennonite on Sunday at a time and place still to be announced by the PIAA with a spot in the PIAA 3A semifinals on the line.

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