5 PIAA State Championship Games to Watch This Week

[caption id="attachment_1358577" align="alignleft" width="187"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/IMG_20211223_201849168_BURST000_COVER_TOP-e1643554771362.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1358577" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/IMG_20211223_201849168_BURST000_COVER_TOP-e1643554771362-295x300.jpg" alt="" width="187" height="190" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1116063" first="Robert" last="Wright III"] (C/O 2024) from Neumann-Goretti[/caption] Below is a preview of five southeastern Pennsylvania games we are looking forward to watching the week of March 20th, 2022. This week’s slate features five championship games from PIAA state tournament action. Thurs., Mar 24th…Neumann Goretti vs. Quaker Valley: The PIAA 4A championship tilt will be a contest between two teams filled with college prospects who can light up the scoreboard. Goretti is the Philly Catholic League as well as District 12 champion. Their number one option is electric point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1116063" first="Robert" last="Wright III"]. Wright led the PCL in scoring this season at 19.3 ppg and notched 30 points in their PIAA semi-final win. Combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="991316" first="Masud" last="Stewart"] (11.4 ppg.; 40% on threes; multiple DI offers) and big fella [player_tooltip player_id="1279647" first="Sultan" last="Adewale"] (12.4 ppg.) will have Wright’s back. At 6’10” and with an even longer wingspan, Adewale is an intimidating shot blocker as well. Quaker Valley will rely heavily on their dynamic duo of guard [player_tooltip player_id="991203" first="Adou" last="Thiero"] and wing [player_tooltip player_id="991235" first="Markus" last="Frank"]. Thiero is a scoring lead guard who is ranked as a Top 10 prospect in the state. Earlier in the post season he recorded a double-double of 31 points and 17 boards. Frank is a 2022 prospect who can use his quickness and creative dribbles to score at the rim. Back in late February, Frank established a single-game school record by going off for 45 points in a win over Deer Lakes. Fri., Mar 25th…Constitution vs. OLSH: The 2A championship game is a rematch of last year’s title contest. It is no secret that Constitution’s lineup boasts elite guard [player_tooltip player_id="991231" first="Jacob" last="Beccles"]. This season Beccles posted games of 45 and 32 points, so you know he can score at all three levels. Still, it is the deep, deep range on his jumper that shocks folks. Beccles will have support from seniors Jamal Carr and Lamar Glover. Both are high percentage 3-point shooters. Earlier this month OLSH captured its fourth straight WPIAL championship. Their legendary win streak now stands at 67 games. The outstanding play of combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="991219" first="Jake" last="DiMichele"] has been a big reason for their success this season. DiMichele netted 39 points in OLSH’s come from behind OT win in the 2A semifinals. On the interior, Dawson Summers will be a major factor at both ends. In their semifinal win the big fella posted a triple double -- 16 points, 11 rebounds and 11 blocks. Fri., Mar 25th…Imhotep Charter vs. New Castle: The 5A championship game features nationally ranked Imhotep (Philadelphia Public League and District 12-5A Champion) matching up against a New Castle (27-2) squad that was the WPIAL-5A runner up. Imhotep’s lineup features the all-state backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id="991341" first="Justin" last="Edwards"] (No. 1 ranked 2023 prospect) and [player_tooltip player_id="991339" first="Rahmir" last="Barno"] (No. 2 ranked 2023 prospect). Sophomore sensation [player_tooltip player_id="1281786" first="Ahmad" last="Nowell"] completes Imhotep’s three guard scheme. DI prospects [player_tooltip player_id="1287322" first="Mo" last="Abdullah"] (Committed to Rider), [player_tooltip player_id="1121757" first="Ronny" last="Raphael"] (Committed to Gannon), and [player_tooltip player_id="991316" first="Masud" last="Stewart"] are major contributors in ‘Tep’s rotation. New Castle’s lineup is stacked with talent too, especially perimeter shooters. Standout wing prospect [player_tooltip player_id="991204" first="Michael" last="Wells"] can rain threes and score of the bounce. Junior combo guard Isaiah Boice is another 3-point sniper. Finally, [player_tooltip player_id="991295" first="Michael" last="Graham"] is also a legitimate three-point shooter who must be guarded tightly. [caption id="attachment_1178091" align="alignleft" width="240"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Jacen-Holloway-3-e1619389346517.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1178091" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Jacen-Holloway-3-e1619389346517-277x300.jpg" alt="" width="240" height="260" /></a> Jacen Hollloway (C/O 2023) from Devon Prep. Photo: Dveon Prep Athletics[/caption] Sat., Mar 26th…Devon Prep vs. Aliquippa: Devon Prep used the momentum from their Elite 8 upset of West Catholic to propel them to the 3A championship game. Under the radar wing prospect [player_tooltip player_id="1178095" first="Jacen" last="Holloway"] has been tremendous. He is averaging 20 ppg. over the last two state tourney contests. DP has also been receiving outstanding performances from [player_tooltip player_id="1116055" first="Lucas" last="Orchard"] and [player_tooltip player_id="991309" first="Argel" last="Pettit"] IV. Orchard is a DI wing prospect who can score (15.6 ppg. and 34% on threes this season) as well as defend multiple positions. Pettit (14 ppg. & 7 rpg.) is a lead guard who can get buckets. He posted 29 points (4 threes) in Devon’s 2nd round victory. Aliquippa (21-8) is young team that is led by junior Donovan “DJ” Walker. Walker (leading scorer at 13 ppg.). He has posted 21 and 20 points is the ‘Quips last two state tourney games. Sophomore point guard Quentin Goode is one of top floor generals in the WPIAL. Fellow sophomore Cam Lindsay (Holds numerous DI football offers.) provides scoring in the paint and shot blocking at the other end. Aliquippa won the 3A state title in football this year and their entire starting five played on that football team. So, the ‘Quips know how to handle the pressure that comes with state title games. Sat., Mar 26th… Archbishop Wood vs. Roman Catholic: This 6A championship game will feature two of the region’s legendary hoops programs. Archbishop Wood (17-7) has a dynamic backcourt in 1st Team All- Philadelphia Catholic League point guard [player_tooltip player_id="991202" first="Justin" last="Moore"] (15.5 ppg.; Drexel commit) and shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id="1189096" first="Jalil" last="Bethea"] (6’3”; 12.6 ppg.). Moore scores off the dribble and Bethea provides lethal three-point shooting (42% on threes). Bethea knocked home 11 triples on his way to 37 points in Roman’s state quarterfinal win. Junior power forward [player_tooltip player_id="1013075" first="Carson" last="Howard"] (9 pts & 8 rebs per game) is a rising prospect who scores from the elbows to the rim. Roman was the PCL regular season champion (12-1 in PCL play) and won the District 12-6A championship. RC’s roster is headlined by superstar [player_tooltip player_id="901951" first="Daniel" last="Skillings"] (19.5 ppg. & 8 rpg.; Committed to Cincinnati), who was the 2021-22 Philadelphia Catholic League POY. Roman’s [player_tooltip player_id="991212" first="Khalil" last="Farmer"] (Committed to Hofstra) averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds per game while shooting 40% from deep this season. Plus, Roman has elite junior prospect [player_tooltip player_id="991334" first="Xzayvier" last="Brown"] (14.4 ppg.). Both Farmer and Brown were also 1st Team All-PCL selections after this season.