PCL Quarterfinals: Bonner-Prendergast 72, Archbishop Ryan 57

Second-seeded Bonner-Prendergast took care of business on its home floor, knocking off visiting Archbishop Ryan for a berth in the Catholic League semifinals at the Palestra. Newly-crowned league MVP [player_tooltip player_id='2398422' first='Korey' last='Francis'] led the way with a dominant 33-point performance, setting up a matchup with Neumann-Goretti next Wednesday.    The recently-named PCL MVP has been playing at a different level from anybody in the league as of late and continued that trend with arguably his best performance to orchestrate the win. Francis was utterly dominant with 33 points on just 16 shots to go along with (unofficially) 10 rebounds and 4 assists. He scored 20 of his 33 after halftime while taking over primary ballhandling duties in the halfcourt, showing improved polish to his pace and handle while weaving to his spots with ease before finishing at the rim or dishing to an open teammate. If there's a nit to pick with his play right now it's that he's largely abandoned his 3-point shot, but that's hard to critique too much when there's been seemingly nobody able to stop him from getting to the rim when he wants to. Francis continues to trend up as a potential high-major target in the junior class, with tonight's game offering a glimpse into his long-term upside as a lead ballhandler.     Part of a multi-pronged Bonner backcourt that carries almost the entire load for the Friars, Carroll continues to be a two-way spark from his off-ball role. Carroll contributed 13 points, knocking down a pair of 3's while spacing the floor as a dynamic movement shooter with a lightning-quick release. He's a constant pest on the defensive end and offers some secondary ballhandling when called upon as well. We'll be curious to see if he's able to shoulder more lead guard responsibilities in a different settings, but Carroll is playing his role at a consistently high level right now and trending toward scholarship radars in the process.     Ryan largely struggled on the offensive end for much of the night but received a needed spark in the form of Brown. The senior guard tied for a team-high with 13 points, providing instant offense in a microwave scoring role off the bench. He showed a crisp handle and quick burst getting to his spots off the bounce with a polished pullup arsenal and flashes of athleticism as a finisher at the rim. While he didn't convert any of his 3's, he shoots a pure ball with consistent mechanics as a spacer off the catch. We'd like to see him improve as a playmaker for others, but Brown's scoring ability is potent enough to translate at the college level. He should be on the radar of programs at the D2, D3, and JUCO levels.     The junior member of Bonner's high-octane backcourt, Holden provided an efficient spark with 11 points, helping to seal the game with 9 of his points coming in the second half. A Delaware native, he's a rock solid ballhandler who put on a dribbling display throughout the fourth quarter, weaving through Ryan defenders as Bonner looked to drain time off the clock and protect their lead. He also knocked down an early third-quarter 3 to help swing momentum firmly in the Friars' favor. Holden's size presents obvious limitations in the long run but his impact is unquestionable toward Bonner's quest for a PCL title.     Fresh off a First Team All-PCL selection, Jackson was limited by foul trouble but nonetheless was impactful in his minutes. The junior lead guard came out aggressive during a first quarter that saw Bonner establish clear control of the game, scoring seven of his nine points in the opening frame. Jackson sat most of the second quarter with three fouls and took a back seat for the second half, but continued to offer a steady hand as a ballhandler and also displayed his leadership qualities with his communication when restricted to the bench. It wasn't his night to shine but make no mistake that Jackson had a key hand in engineering the win.

Second-seeded Bonner-Prendergast took care of business on its home floor, knocking off visiting Archbishop Ryan for a berth in the Catholic League semifinals at the Palestra. Newly-crowned league MVP Korey Francis Korey Francis 6'3" | CG Bonner-Prendie | 2027 State PA led the way with a dominant 33-point performance, setting up a matchup with Neumann-Goretti next Wednesday.