WCAC Title Game Report with 2024 Look-Ahead

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top 2 seeds in the WCAC matched up as Paul VI came into a championship game against Gonzaga looking to cap off a perfect conference season with a championship and their leaders ensured just that on Monday night. [player_tooltip player_id='1259620' first='Darren' last='Harris'] hit shots from all 3 levels while putting up one of his better performances on the glass and on the defensive end of the floor to finish with put up a 21p 7r 2a 1b 1s. Sophomore standout [player_tooltip player_id='2148767' first='Jordan' last='Smith'] Jr (12p 8r 2b 1s) left a forceful impact on the game defensively and down the stretch, with senior PG [player_tooltip player_id='1259542' first='Ben' last='Hammond'] (10p 8a 3r 2s) spearheading a defensive effort that closed out the game with a win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harris got off to a quick start with two 3s and all 5 starters scored in the 1Q to push PVI out to a 20-13 1Q lead, with their counterparts answering their runs with some shot-making from a pair of junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='1370496' first='Derek' last='Dixon'] (15p 2r 1a) and [player_tooltip player_id='1370498' first='Nykolas' last='Lewis'] (14p 6r 4a 1s) while junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1409272' first='Christian' last='Gurdak'] (12p 11r 5a) battled a slew of PVI bigs on the low block. Junior PVI forward [player_tooltip player_id='1494103' first='Jaquan' last='Womack'] (9p 2r) scored 7 points and grabbed 2 rebounds in a 3-minute stretch to push the PVI lead out to 9 at half, impressing with some versatile defense throughout that half as he guarded Gurdak on the low block and the guards on switches. Gonzaga cut the lead to 4 leading into the final quarter behind some perimeter shot-making from Lewis and Dixon, and eventually got it as close as 3 points-- but the duo of Hammond and Smith sealed the game with steals, fastbreak buckets, and free throws to win 63-51. Congrats to Coach Farello and Paul VI for finishing the season a perfect 18-0 in the best HS basketball conference in the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LOOK-AHEAD TO NEXT SEASON:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of these teams had phenomenal runs locally and in national tournaments, what's next? PVI graduates all 5 starters and Gonzaga brings back their 2025 crew in addition to an infusion of young talent into the mix from their freshman class and JV team. Let's briefly touch on what each team might look like coming into next year with the rosters as they stand today. Keep in mind, these rosters are as they stand today and don't include incoming freshman or transfers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PVI:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PG: [player_tooltip player_id='1782683' first='Anthony' last='Brown'] Jr (2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1782691' first='Jordan' last='Hunter'] (2026), NaVorro Bowman Jr (2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SG: [player_tooltip player_id='2148767' first='Jordan' last='Smith'] Jr (2026), [player_tooltip player_id='2353620' first='Troy' last='Tomlin'] (2027), [player_tooltip player_id='2612817' first='Colin' last='Byrd'] (2026), Dylan Harsanyi (2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SF: [player_tooltip player_id='1956071' first='Adlan' last='Elamin'] (2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PF: [player_tooltip player_id='1494103' first='Jaquan' last='Womack'] (2025), [player_tooltip player_id='2146762' first='Jacob' last='Moore'] (2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>C: [player_tooltip player_id='1782697' first='Cooper' last='Sundra'] (2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gonzaga:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PG: Nyk Lewis (2025), [player_tooltip player_id='2353547' first='Jymin' last='Veney'] (2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SG: [player_tooltip player_id='1370496' first='Derek' last='Dixon'] (2025), [player_tooltip player_id='2353555' first='Malachi' last='Terrell'] (2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SF: Will Harper (2025), [player_tooltip player_id='1782769' first='Saxton' last='Simley'] (2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PF: [player_tooltip player_id='1434219' first='Alex' last='Touomou'] (2025), [player_tooltip player_id='1784446' first='Alan' last='Mbuyamba'] (2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1784444' first='Tyson' last='Harley'] (2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>C: [player_tooltip player_id='1409272' first='Christian' last='Gurdak'] (2025), [player_tooltip player_id='1784445' first='Carter' last='Meadows'] (2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->