Holy Ghost Prep no match for Archbishop Carroll in PIAA opener (VIDEO)

WYNCOTE – Archbishop Carroll senior Ryan Daly – the Philadelphia Catholic League’s leading scorer – did what league scoring leaders do, he hit for 18 points in the first period, sparking the Patriots to a 48-9 halftime lead in a PIAA playoff opener against Holy Ghost Prep Friday night (March 4) at Cheltenham High School.

When Daly wasn’t hitting shots, his classmate John Rigsby was. The 6-3 Rigsby racked up seven points in each of the first three periods including a 3-pointer in each of those quarters, putting the 2015 PIAA runners-up on top, 66-22, going into the final frame.

“Rigsby is so tough; he brings all the intangibles that you could ever ask for,” stated AC head coach Paul Romanczuk. “He’s a senior, he has experience and he’s been through all the battles in the Catholic League.

“He’s just gotten better and better and I’m thrilled he’s on our team.”

By the beginning of the fourth quarter, the mercy clock was running and so was Carroll – to a 76-27 triumph over the Firebirds (20-8), who, less than a week earlier, captured their second District 1 Class AAA championship in three seasons with a win over Bicentennial Athletic League (BAL) rival Lower Moreland.

Holy Ghost is no match 4 Archbishop Carroll @DelcoSports @ArchCarrollHS @PaPrepLive @HGPBasketball pic.twitter.com/FdmuYGi0hR

— BucksLocalSports.com (@BucksLocalSport) March 5, 2016

“Going into the game, we were focusing on number 3, (Josh) Sharkey and number 11, (Ryan) Daly,” stated Holy Ghost senior Julian Turner, who played his last basketball game in an HGP uniform. “I don’t think we realized until the game started just how good all their players are.”

“We were going box and one, triangle and two but they just have guys who can contribute in all kinds of ways.

“We were trying to shut down number 11 (Daly) and we couldn’t do it. He was hitting shots with hands in his face.

“When he wasn’t hitting shots, other guys were contributing so it was tough.”

What was really tough was the draw the Firebirds got stuck with as District 1 champions. Carroll (23-3) is most likely the toughest three seed in the PIAA Class AAA tournament and could be the best in the state.

The Patriots defeated defending PIAA Class AAAA champ and this year’s PCL champion Roman Catholic earlier in the season, though they lost to the Cahillites in the PCL semifinals. Carroll advances to face District 3 champ Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg) Tuesday, March 8 at a time and place that is to be determined.

On the other hand, Lower Moreland (20-5), the District 1 runner-up, drew Milton Hershey (25-3), the third-place finisher from District 3, where the competition isn’t nearly as tough as it is in District 12 and Philly’s Catholic League. The Lions topped Hershey 67-56 and advance to take on District 11 champ Pottsville (27-0), a 43-25 winner over West Scranton.

For Ghost, its season ends at 20-8 less than a week after topping Lower Moreland by 20 points in the District 1 title tilt. While the ending of the campaign left a sour taste, Chapman is proud of his squad, one that captured three tournament titles including the Manheim Township Tipoff, the Jack Schott Memorial Tournament and districts.

“I don’t know if we could ever beat that team (the Patriots) but on a different night, I think we could have stayed in a little bit longer,” stated Holy Ghost head coach Tony Chapman. “That part is disappointing but it doesn’t take away from what we’ve accomplished this season.”

For Carroll, Daly finished with a game-high 23 points, though he really didn’t see a lot of minutes after the first period. The 6-4, 195-pound forward committed to Hartford drained three of the Patriots’ four 3-pointers in the first quarter and he hit six of their eight shots from the floor in the initial frame.

“Ryan has been fantastic the entire year; there’s no surprise now about how well he plays,” commented Romanczuk. “He shoots so well and he’s very underrated as a playmaker for us.

“He defends and rebounds; he’s just a really, really good basketball player.”

“He can do it all; he’s a Division 1 player,” added Chapman. “He plays under control, he’s talented and strong. He’s a great basketball player.”

Trailing 27-6 heading into the second period, the Firebirds scored just two points in the second quarter on 1-for-14 shooting. Meanwhile, the Patriots hit seven more shots from the floor in the second period including a pair of 3-pointers by junior Khari Williams.

Ghost went on a bit of a spurt in the third quarter with junior John McCrane pouring a pair of 3-pointers into the basket, classmate Mike McFadden adding a 3-ball and senior Jack Coolahan hitting two shots from the floor.

But by then, the game was out of reach.

McCrane led Holy Ghost with nine points, Coolahan added six and McFadden chipped in with five.

“I knew we had to come out and play incredibly hard and smart so that we could stay in the game early,” explained Chapman. “You fall that far behind that quick, you have to play away from your game and then, it gets even worse.

“Things just didn’t go our way.”

Chapman believes that Carroll is good enough to beat any team in the tournament including defending PIAA champion Neumann-Goretti and District 12-AAA champ Del Val Charter, which upset the Saints in the city championship game.

“They’re right there with anybody in the tournament,” said Chapman. “They have size, they have speed, they know how to defend – pretty much everything you need.”

“That’s a different world; we don’t have athletes like that.”

Trailing by nearly 40 points at the half, Chapman told his players to be ready to play in the second half and to his word, all of them saw some minutes after the intermission.

The ‘birds wave goodbye to seniors Jim Armentani, Ryan Wade, Turner and Coolahan, who checked out of the game for the last time with 4:37 showing on the clock

The good news is 14 varsity players return to the HGP lineup in the fall including McFadden, who scored 15 points in a 74-54 romp over Lower Moreland in the district championship. Junior Aidan Bauer is also returning; he led Ghost with 22 points, three assists and two steals in the title tilt.

Coolahan, who led the ‘birds to victory over the Lions with 15 points, four rebounds, three blocks, two steals and two assists in the D-1 finale, is looking to take his game to the next level.

NOTES: Holy Ghost has captured four district championships in its last seven campaigns. Chapman has led the team to seven D-1 titles during his 38-year tenure at HGP.

Contact the author at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter

PIAA CLASS AAA (first round)

Archbishop Carroll 76, Holy Ghost Prep 27

(March 4 at Cheltenham)

Archbishop Carroll 26 22 18 10 – 76

Holy Ghost Prep 7 2 13 5 – 27

ARCHBISHOP CARROLL (23-3) — Josh Sharkey 1 7-8 9, Ryan Daly 8 4-6 23, Colin Daly 1 0-0 3, John Rigsby 8 2-2 21, Devon Ferraro 1 0-0 2, Khari Williams 4 0-0 10, Alex House 0 0-2 0; Mark Bradshaw 3 0-2 6, Keyon Butler 0 0-2 0; Jimmy Lake 1 0-0 2; TOTALS — 27 13-23 76.

HOLY GHOST PREP (20-8) — Mike McFadden 2 0-0 5, Jack Coolahan 3 0-0 6, John McCrane 3 0-0 9, Ryan Wade 0 1-2 1, Ryan Starpoli 1 0-0 2, James Armentani 1 0-0 2, Jack Rittenmeyer 1 0-0 2; TOTALS — 11 1-2 27.

3-POINT GOALS: AC — R. Daly 3, Rigsby 3, Williams 2, C. Daly; HGP — McCrane 3, McFadden.