Archbishop Wood pulls away from La Salle
WARMINSTER >> When Daeshon Shepherd slammed home Rahsool Diggins’ perfectly-placed alley-oop pass midway through the fourth quarter Friday night, Archbishop Wood had applied an appropriate finishing touch to its victory over rival La Salle.
The Vikings got it done at both ends of the court in their 79-62 Philadelphia Catholic League win.
“I think it was our defensive intensity, shutting down their main players,” junior Jaylen Stinson said of what allowed the Vikings to pull away in the second half. “It’s always good to get a win, keeps our momentum going.”
The victory raised Wood’s overall record to 17-4, with a near-perfect 12-1 mark in the PCL.
Stinson hit a trio of threes in the contest and finished with 19 points. Diggins led the Vikings with 20 points, and had two of the team’s eight 3-pointers.
Wood got to the line and made it count — the Vikings made 27 of their 31 foul shots, with Stinson going a perfect 10-for-10.
“I think it’s great (the way we’re playing). Our team chemistry is really showing,” Stinson said. “We’re moving the ball. Everyone’s getting theirs. If we keep it up, the sky’s the limit.”
Archbishop Wood hosts Archbishop Ryan Sunday at 3 p.m. for Senior Day.
After that, the Vikings begin what Stinson hopes is a deep run into the playoffs.
“We’re really excited for it. That’s what we’ve been working for the whole season,” he said. “Our main goal is to win at The Palestra.”
Brown’s in Town
Sam Brown, coming off an outstanding season of football, continues to be a major presence for the Explorers on the basketball court.
He finished tied for the game high with 20 points Friday night and was a constant force at both ends.
“I feel like, earlier in the game, we played better defense and in the second half, we started out strong, but we lacked that later in the game,” he said. “I feel like that was the difference in the game.”
Of the rivalry with Wood, which had the stands packed Friday night, Brown said: “I like it a lot. Last year I didn’t get to play as much because I was a freshman, but this year was good and I got two more years to go.”
La Salle (10-11, 3-10 PCL) hosts St. Joe’s at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Archbishop Wood 79, La Salle 62
La Salle 15 15 14 18 – 62
Wood 19 18 19 13 – 79
La Salle: Brown 6 7-11 20, Holland 2 0-2 4, O’Donnell 2 0-0 5, Timby 2 3-4 8, Jennings 0 1-2 1, Simmons 3 3-4 9, Verano 2 0-0 6, DiPietro 2 4-4 9. Totals 19 18-27 62.
Wood: Randolph 3 2-4 10, Shepherd 5 6-7 16, Newton 4 3-4 12, Diggins 7 4-4 20, Stinson 3 10-10 19, Borzachello 0 2-2 2. Totals 22 27-31 79.
3-pointers: L-Brown, O’Donnell, Timby, Verano 2, DiPietro; W-Randolph 2, Newton, Diggins 2, Stinson 3.
