Vincentian overwhelms Gators, 99-51
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Vincentian Academy鈥檚 Trey Champine (right) defends Geibel Catholic鈥檚 Enzo Fetsko during Thursday night鈥檚 WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School. Fetsko scored 13 points in the Gators鈥� 99-51 loss.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Geibel Catholic鈥檚 Ryan Anderson cuts between Vincentian Academy鈥檚 Angelo Reeves (24) and Alex Griggs (5) to score during Thursday night鈥檚 WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School. Anderson had a team-high 17 points but the Gators lost.
Geibel Catholic's Drew Howard (right) looks for an opening in Vincentian Academy's defense聽during Thursday night's WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School. Howard scored 14 points but the Gators lost, 99-51.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Geibel Catholic鈥檚 Ryan Anderson (5) and Drew Howard (23) box out Vincentian Academy鈥檚 Angelo Reeves (24) and they vie for a rebound during Thursday night鈥檚 WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Geibel Catholic鈥檚 Ryan Anderson (5) looks for an open teammate as Vincentian Academy鈥檚 Angelo Reeves (24) defends during Thursday night鈥檚 WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School.
Geibel Catholic's Enzo Fetsko takes a jump shot in the lane against Vincentian Academy聽during Thursday night's WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School. Fetsko scored 13 points in the Gators' 99-51 loss.
Geibel Catholic's Ryan Anderson (5) puts up a one-handed shot against Vincentian Academy聽during Thursday night's WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School. Anderson scored a team-high 17 points in the Gators' 99-51 loss.
Geibel Catholic's Cole Kendall (1) attempts a 3-pointer as Vincentian Academy's Alex Griggs (5) defends聽during Thursday night's WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School.
Geibel Catholic's Ryan Anderson (5) lofts a shot over Vincentian Academy's Angelo Reeves (24)聽during Thursday night's WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School.
Geibel Catholic's Drew Howard (23) hits a 3-pointer against Vincentian Academy聽during Thursday night's WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School.
Geibel Catholic's Ryan Anderson secures a rebound against Vincentian Academy聽during Thursday night's WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School.
Rob Burchianti | 缅北禁地
Geibel Catholic鈥檚 Enzo Fetsko kicks the ball out to an open teammate after driving into the middle of Vincentian Academy鈥檚 defense during Thursday night鈥檚 WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School.
Geibel Catholic coach Don Porter gives instructions to his players during a timeout in their WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game against Vincentian Academy at Peters Township High School last season.
Geibel Catholic's Jaydis Kennedy dribbles the ball up court against Vincentian Academy聽during a WPIAL Class 1A quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School last season.
PETERS TWP. 鈥� Vincentian Academy is the top-seeded team in the WPIAL Class 1A boys basketball playoffs, but even that might not accurately convey how talented the Royals are.
At least that鈥檚 what Geibel Catholic coach Don Porter thinks after seeing the team close up.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a well-oiled machine there gentlemen,鈥� Porter said after Vincentian dismantled his Gators, 99-51, in a quarterfinal playoff game at Peters Township High School on Thursday night.
Angelo Reeves tossed in a game-high 28 points, including three of the Royals鈥� four dunks, and Matt McDonough hit seven of his team鈥檚 10 3-pointers in scoring 23 points as Vincentian (19-4) advanced to the semifinals where it will play fifth-seeded and defending champion Nazareth Prep on Monday at a site and time to be determined.
Nazareth Prep defeated the Royals in last year鈥檚 WPIAL final, 69-62, although if Vincentian plays like it did against Geibel there could be a different outcome in this season鈥檚 rematch.
鈥淭he length they bring on the court, the speed and just their skill is at a whole different level than I would say most teams in the whole WPIAL, regardless of the classification,鈥� Porter said of the Royals.
Reeves and Vincentian鈥檚 full-court press blindsided the Gators from the beginning. Reeves scored the game鈥檚 first four baskets and the Royals forced a turnover after each one.
鈥淲e looked on the film and their slides were a little bit different than what they did tonight, which is good coaching on their behalf,鈥� Porter said. 鈥淭hat kind of set the tone right there.鈥�
The Gators fought back. A steal by Drew Howard led to a bucket by Enzo Fetsko to get Geibel on the board. Howard hit a driving shot and Fetsko made a 3-pointer to get his team within 10-7.
Reeves鈥� first dunk and consecutive baskets by Ethan Embleton made it 16-7 before back-to-back 3-pointers by Howard and Fetsko again sliced the gap to three at 16-13.
The Royals took off from there, scoring the final four points of the first quarter and the first 12 of the second in surging to a commanding 32-13 lead. The spurt included a steal and dunk by Ryan Priest, who finished with 17 points, and a lob dunk by Reeves.
Vincentian dominated play the rest of the way and led 49-22 at halftime and 80-40 after three quarters.
Ryan Anderson played well in defeat and led Geibel with 17 points, Howard followed with 14 and Fetsko added 13. Each made a pair of 3-pointers.
Nate Cullo gave Vincentian four double-digit scorers with 10 points, including two treys.
The Gators are hoping the Royals juggernaut continues for now. If Vincentian reaches the WPIAL final, it will drag Geibel into the PIAA tournament.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great season,鈥� Porter said. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the kids. Hopefully, Vincentian can win the next game and then we can piggy-tail back into the state tournament and keep playing basketball which is what our goal is.鈥�