UPPER PROVIDENCE >> There were plenty of questions surrounding Pope John Paul II basketball this preseason.
After all, a year ago the Golden Panthers missed out on the District 1-4A title game for the first time in five years.
But a combination of seasoned senior leaders and new underclass contributors, led by a new coach in Earl Wise, overcame early growing pains to earn not only the program’s first District title since 2021, but the right to host a state playoff game.
The Golden Panthers’ bounce-back season came to an end Friday night in a 53-49 overtime loss to Overbrook of District 12, and while the outcome demonstrated the program still has work to do, it also underscored the determination of the squad that brought PJP back from a rough start to the season.
“It’s hard to play for a coach all those years, and then everything’s different senior year,” said Wise.
“But I knew we would get it together, and toward the end of January we did exactly that. Better late than never, as they say.”
Unfortunately for PJP, that was also Overbrook’s Omar Davis’ motto on Friday.
Davis led Overbrook in scoring with 15.3 points per game in the regular season but was ice cold to start Friday night’s game. Hitting only two of his first dozen attempts from the field, his issues were compounded by some early foul trouble.
But starting with the final minute of the third quarter, the senior guard was unstoppable, contributing 20 of his game-high 25 points from that point forward. The highlight, back-to-back 3s to start the overtime period after a furious PJP rally sent the game into the extra period, gave Overbrook the lead for good.
“I was rushing, and I think I got in my own head early,” said Davis. “My teammates were there for me, keeping my head up. In the end, we pulled it together and came out on top.”
The victorious Overbrook squad said they drew motivation from a raucous PJP student section.
“Everyone always talks about keeping your head, on and off the court,” said Davis. “And as long as we do that, I love playing here with the fans being so into it.”
The game was a hard-fought battle from the start, a first quarter that saw PJP claim a 7-3 lead but featured extended possessions, tenacious defense, and lots of one-and-done opportunities at the rim for both sides.
The offensive story was the inside game for the first three quarters, as PJP’s Caleb Zavertnik and Overbrook’s Tahmiere Manning traded baskets.
On the other end, Manning’s seven blocks highlighted an Overbrook defensive effort that allowed the District 12 representatives to survive a slow offensive start – only 17 points at halftime – and buy themselves time. Overbrook took its first lead since the opening minute, going up 27-26 as the third quarter expired.
Then Davis caught fire.
“As a senior, a captain, my job is to pick my teammate (Davis) up,” said Manning. “I know what he can do, we just had to keep working, keep going, and he got it turned around.”
Zavertnik led PJP with 17. The Golden Panthers rallied from a late seven-point deficit on the strength of strong foul shooting and a Chase Mondillo 3 to send the game into overtime.
“Things started out rough this year, and a lot of people certainly didn’t expect us to be here,” said Zavertnik. “I’ll never forget this season, we made some lifelong memories. I guess I would tell the younger guys that – don’t miss a second, because it goes by way too quickly.”
Overbrook (13-13) advances to Tuesday’s second round where they’ll take on District 2’s Scranton Prep, a winner over Fleetwood of District 3.
“I feel like we can go far,” said Manning. “We have the type of team where when we play together, nobody can stop us.”
PJP finishes the season with a mark of 12-12. Aside from the District 1-4A championship victory over Bishop Shanahan, the squad rebounded from a 3-8 start to finish the regular season with five straight victories, a string that continued in Districts allowing them to enter Friday’s contest on a seven-game winning streak.
Friday night was the final game for seniors Dom DeMito, Caleb Zavertnik, Kevin Bustynowicz, and Chase Mondillo in the PJP uniform.
“Our seniors worked extremely hard,” summarized Wise. “They fought. They’re the reason we were able to get things together.”
“Teams better get us now. Once we have a full off-season, we’ll be a real problem.”
BOX SCORE
Overbrook — 3 14 10 13 13 — 53
Pope John Paul II — 7 13 6 14 9 — 49
Overbrook: Kelly 0 0-0 0, Davis 4 5 2-7 25, Hall 0 0-0 0, Manning 7 3-8 17, Jones 0 0-0 0, Warring 2 0-0 4, Belcher 2 1 0-0 7, Armstrong 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 6 5-15 53.
Pope John Paul II: Wise 2 0-1 4, Zavertnik 5 1 4-4 17, DeMito 1 5-6 7, Mondillo 0 3 1-2 10, Owens 1 0-4 2, Bass 2 0-0 4, Green 0 2-2 2, Reed 0 1 0-0 3. Totals 11 5 12-18 49.
