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How good is the 2008-09 Neumann-Goretti boys’ basketball team?
The real answer will come in February and March when the playoffs roll around.
But two weeks into the new year, the boys from 10th and Moore streets are looking as good as advertised with a perfect 8-0 mark in Catholic League Blue play that includes Monday’s 82-43 victory over Lansdale Catholic. Overall, the lone blemish came against Friends Select back on Dec. 29. Coach Carl Arrigale said his team is pleased with the results heading into tonight’s home game against Cardinal Dougherty at 7:30. He said the early 66-58 loss to Friends, which many considered a huge upset, might end up being the difference-maker.
"It was something we learned from," Arrigale said. "I was able to get the guys attention again. We’ve been playing fairly well since."
"Fairly well" might be an understatement as Neumann-Goretti is pulling out double-digit victories on a nightly basis. The team will be tested Sunday afternoon in Springfield, Mass., when it faces Maryland’s DeMatha High School, rated No. 24 in the USA Today Super-25 poll. The Saints are No. 8 in the East, according to the national publication.
This also is the first season Catholic League teams are eligible for States and the South Philly squad is shaping up as an early favorite in the AAA classification. Neumann-Goretti is rated No. 1 in this week’s Harrisburg-Patriot News Class AAA poll. Fellow league members Archbishop Carroll (No. 7) and Archbishop Wood (No. 9) also cracked the list. The Saints have defeated both in head-to-head competition.
Fans searching schedules for a showdown with Roman Catholic or St. Joe’s Prep are in for a long wait as the league has realigned schools based on enrollment. Like other sports, boys’ basketball has switched to the Red/Blue format and coaches and players are adjusting to the new system.
"It’s something different and something we are trying to get our hands around," Arrigale said of the PIAA setup. "We are trying to approach it as our next game is Dougherty."
Last week, Arrigale said he got a call from ’07 grad Rick Jackson, who is a sophomore forward at Syracuse University. The former All-City/All-Catholic standout was checking up on his old team. When he found out Roman was no longer on the regular-season slate, Jackson was like, "oh no," Arrigale said with a laugh.
"[Roman and Prep] were games everybody wanted to see," Arrigale said. "Now we have to develop some new rivalries."
Under the current playoff system, the top six teams in each of the two divisions qualify for the postseason with the top two getting a first-round bye. If the season goes according to plan, an old rivalry could be renewed in the league semifinals or championship game.
The first step is getting there.
"Hopefully, we are good enough to be there in the end," Arrigale said.
Contact Managing Editor Bill Gelman at bgelman@southphillyreview.com or ext. 123.
John Guarino, of the 1300 block of Porter Street, won a $50 gift certificate to McFadden’s for answering last week’s Eagles trivia contest questions correctly. The answers in order were: Tampa; Arizona/Carolina; and Steve Spagnuolo.
With the Eagles one win away from Super Bowl XLIII, there is another $50 McFadden’s gift card up for grabs this week. So, how well do you know the Eagles? Below are this week’s multiple-choice questions. Choose the correct answers from the three provided for each question at www.southphillyreview.com/eagles in our Web-exclusive contest and you’re in the running for this week’s prize.
The deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. Jan. 19. One winner will be selected at random Jan. 20. Only entries submitted at www.southphillyreview.com/eagles will be accepted.
Question 1:
What was the final score of the regular-season game played against the Arizona Cardinals at Lincoln Financial Field Thanksgiving night?
Question 2:
Before moving to Arizona, what city did the Cardinals call home?
Question 3:
How many times have the Eagles advanced to the NFC Championship Game with Donovan McNabb as their quarterback?
