In Public League girls’ basketball action, Prep Charter and Engineering & Science faced each other once again for the District 12 AAA title in a match Wednesday afternoon that started after press time.
The North Philadelphia squad, who lost to Central in the last three Public League championship contests, had the Lady Huskies number heading into their most recent meeting as it took the earlier league match, 61-45, as well as the 2006 and ’07 Class AAA championship games. A win yesterday would have been Prep Charter’s first-ever over its city rival.
The schools advanced by defeating their respective opponents in Feb. 8’s opening-round action. The South Philly squad scored a convincing 66-24 victory over West Philadelphia with senior Alyea Miller’s double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds setting the pace, while sophomore Lashay Banks added 12 points.
Engineering & Science also made easy work of first-round opponent Roxborough with a 78-34 victory. Both Prep Charter and E&S; qualify for next month’s state tournament.
Wednesday’s winner advances to the Feb. 18 league semifinal at Community College of Philadelphia to meet the victor of the Bodine/Hope Charter game, which was played yesterday after press time.
In catholic League action, the Neumann-Goretti boys’ and girls’ basketball teams both qualified for the playoffs.
The guys locked up second in the Southern Division following Sunday’s 58-51 victory over St. Joe’s Prep in the regular-season finale. They will open the Catholic League playoffs against Monsignor Bonner as part of a Feb. 16 double-header at Cardinal O’Hara with a noon tip. The Saints are vying to make their fourth-straight championship showing Feb. 25 at the Palestra. To advance, the squad also needs to win next week’s semifinal against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
Neumann-Goretti’s girls’ squad closed out the regular season with Wednesday night’s game against West Catholic, which started after press time. The squad clinched third in the Southern Division by sweeping Hallahan, Little Flower, Archbishop Prendergast and West Catholic. The Saints now have the task of traveling to Delaware County to face either Archbishop Carroll or Cardinal O’Hara. Both schools defeated the Saints twice in the regular season. The semifinal round is Feb. 19 at St. Joe’s University.
In non-playoff news, the Neumann-Goretti girls’ basketball team hosted South Jersey’s Burlington Township in a "Think Pink" event at the school. Fans were asked to wear pink and give a $2 donation to the Kay Yow/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Cancer Fund. Yow, who has been battling breast cancer since 1987, is the head women’s basketball coach at NC State where ’07 Neumann-Goretti grad Gloria Brown plays.
