Neshaminy boys basketball falls on Phil-Mont free throws in Deby Recupido Memorial

LANGHORNE >> Neshaminy registered its first win of the season Dec. 29 in the second annual Deby Recupido Memorial Basketball Tournament. That’s when the Skins got past KIPP DuBois Charter, 64-36.

Unfortunately, Neshaminy couldn’t keep it going the next night in the championship battle with eventual tournament champion Phil-Mont Christian Academy.

Trailing 21-15 at halftime, Neshaminy began the third period with an 8-point run on buckets by sophomore Chris Arcidiacono (6 pts.), sophomore Anthony Papeo (7 pts.), senior Matt McGinty (4) and junior Zach Tredway.

With the Skins up by 10 points, the Falcons cut the margin to seven (40-33) heading into the final frame on a 3-point play by P-MC junior David Giuliani.

From there, Bicentennial Athletic League (BAL) rival Phil-Mont assembled a fourth quarter run that gave it a 51-47 lead with just under a minute left to play.

While the Skins tied the score at 51-apiece on a layup by Arcidiacono, the Falcons sealed a 2-point win on a pair of free throws tossed into the basket by P-MC senior Sean Griffin, who scored 10 of his 14 points in the last period.

Phil-Mont had two additional players in double-digit scoring including senior Noah Baldez (14 pts.) and Giuliani (15 pts.).

Warren was one of two Redskin players with double digits. He led Neshaminy with 14 points and Tredway added 11.

Deby Recupido was a social studies teacher for 13 years in the Neshaminy middle schools and the late wife of Fred Recupido, who is presently employed by the school district as support staff. Deby passed away in June 2014.

To honor Deby’s memory, the Neshaminy basketball teams hosted a two-day holiday hoops tournament last year and this, naming it after Mrs. Recupido.

NOTES: >> The Skins won the inaugural tournament with wins over Suburban One League (SOL) American Conference rival Upper Merion and Philadelphia Public League rival Abraham Lincoln.

Contact the author at ssherman@buckslocalnews.com, or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter

Phil-Mont Christian 53, Neshaminy 51

(Dec. 30 at Neshaminy)

Phil-Mont 13 8 12 20 – 53

Neshaminy 9 6 25 11 – 51

PHIL-MONT CHRISTIAN — Sean Griffin 14, Tabeel Shafqat 2, Noah Baldez 14, Osaze Thornton 6, Mike Almack 2, David Giuliani 15; TOTALS — 23 7-12 53.

NESHAMINY — Matt McGinty 4, Billy Warren 14, Anthony Papeo 7, Zach Tredway 11, Chris Arcidiacono 6, Pat Campbell 5, Shammond Thomas 4; TOTALS — 20 9-12 51.

3-POINT GOALS: N — Papeo, Campbell.