PCL Playoff Recap: West Catholic 41, St. Joe's Prep 39 (3OT)

West Catholic went on the road in the first round of the Catholic League playoffs and knocked off St. Joe's Prep in a 9 vs. 8-seed upset. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2693524' first='Rakim' last='Johnson'] hit the game-winning layup as time expired in the third overtime, scoring 12 points to lead the way for the Burrs.    After a somewhat quiet first half, Johnson came alive after the break to control the game for much of the second half and into the overtimes. He was a reliable ballhandler as West Catholic milked clock before showing his downhill burst on a series of tough drives, none bigger than on the final possession of the game. His buzzer-beating jumper to end the third quarter was also key toward securing momentum heading into the final frame. Johnson helped flip the game with his stifling ball pressure at the point of attack, forcing a handful of Prep turnovers. He projects to be a staple of the Burrs' program moving forward and should be on scholarship-level radars in due time.     Teaming with Johnson to form a sophomore backcourt that carried the load for much of the game, Ortiz-Muhammad showed enticing flashes as both a scorer and playmaker to finish with eight points. He was effective handling the ball in both the halfcourt and transition, using a shifty handle and polished footwork to get to his spots off the bounce. Ortiz-Muhammad finished effectively with a crafty below-the-rim package and also showed himself to be a reliable shooter from the perimeter. Perhaps his most intriguing skill is his passing, highlighted by a few lefty skip passes to corner shooters that are pretty high-level for a guard his age. We're eager to see where Ortiz-Muhammad's game goes from here after a breakout sophomore year.     Fresh off a All-PCL First Team selection, Wheatley took advantage of an undersized Prep lineup to put up nine points in limited minutes. The Florida Gulf Coast commit used his size, length, athleticism, and motor to make an impact near the rim on both ends. He was effective as a finisher via offensive rebounds or faceup drives and came out of nowhere to prevent a pair of Prep buckets with wildly explosive blocks all the way at the summit. Wheatley's two-way versatility should make for a nice piece to Pat Chambers' rotation at the next level.     For the second consecutive viewing, Howlett popped off the bench to provide a massive lift for the Hawks. The former quarterback turned full-time hooper scored a spirited and efficient eight points including six in the waning minutes. Howlett is quick off the dribble and showed to be an effective defender at the point of attack. He's a bit undersized and may lack a standout skill to earn himself a scholarship, but there's been a long line of guards in his mold to rise through the Prep program and go on to highly successful small-college careers.     In the final game of his high school career, Lesovitz left it all on the floor in a gritty two-way effort. A sturdy, well-rounded wing, he struggled with his efficiency from the field but was effective in manufacturing points from the line in a game where  offense was at a premium. He also stood out with his versatile defense, highlighted by a pair of first half blocks. It wouldn't surprise if a few scholarship-level programs wind up regretting holding off on recruiting him.

West Catholic went on the road in the first round of the Catholic League playoffs and knocked off St. Joe's Prep in a 9 vs. 8-seed upset. Sophomore guard Rakim Johnson Rakim Johnson 5'8" | PG West Catholic | 2028 State PA hit the game-winning layup as time expired in the third overtime, scoring 12 points to lead the way for the Burrs.