Naazir Lowe of Williamsport drives to the ring in opposition to Central Catholic through the Christmas Tournament at Williamsport High School. Central Catholic received 48-26.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Pittsburgh Central Catholic gamers held a tournament championship trophy as dad and mom snapped photographs on the Magic Dome Tuesday afternoon.
Williamsport gamers didn’t pose for photographs, however coach Allen Taylor desires them to maintain on to the reminiscence of that game. Central Catholic showcased its expertise, physicality and steadiness, capturing the Williamsport Tournament championship, defeating Williamsport, 48-26.
Now Williamsport’s objective is popping a destructive right into a optimistic shifting ahead.
“I tell these guys all the time, don’t let failures go to waste,” Taylor stated. “Learn from them; learn from all of them.”
Williamsport (4-4) has performed a very good job to date in that division and received three of 4 video games getting into the ultimate, together with a 67-35 semifinal demolition of eight-win Thurgood Marshall Academy. Central Catholic, a 2025 Class AAAAAA state qualifier, was a unique beast and led from early on, irritating the Millionaires with suffocating protection which pressured 22 turnovers and allowed simply 10 subject targets.
The effort was there, however the execution was not. Williamsport led 4-2 in the opening minutes, however was down 24-12 at halftime and couldn’t cease the bleeding in the fourth quarter when Central Catholic pushed a 15-point lead to 22.
Still, in the large image, nothing was misplaced Tuesday. It’s all about studying and progressing all through the common season to try to get the place one desires to go by the postseason. In that regard, a crew which has three new starters from a yr in the past, may use this game to hold climbing the ladder later this season.
“It was a good experience for us. We have not allowed a failure to go to waste,” Taylor stated. “This game will make us better for the rest of the season.”
A brilliant spot in defeat was protection. Coming off its finest defensive exhibiting this yr in opposition to Thurgood Marshall, Williamsport once more made issues tough for lengthy stretches in opposition to Central Catholic.
The largest drawback was its personal offense. Turnovers steadily led to factors and/or prime Vikings’ scoring alternatives.
Williamsport pressured 9 turnovers itself in the primary half however typically turned the ball again over seconds later. The Millionaires had been restricted to simply three subject objective makes an attempt in the second quarter however its protection stored them in the game, trailing by 12. They additionally had a minimum of 4 turnovers in every quarter and didn’t rating greater than eight factors in any.
Foul bother additionally was a problem and provided Williamsport one other studying alternative. Some of the foul points got here from retaliatory reactions, letting the gamers perceive that they need to reply with their very own bodily play throughout the confine of the principles.
Sure, the Millionaires would have somewhat discovered through victory however typically a defeat can unlock the important thing to success, a narrative which so many championship groups from all sports activities in any respect ranges can attest to.
“They’re playing hard. That’s the most important thing. Now we have to get them to play smart, so we just have to do a better job coaching them,” Taylor stated. “At first, they weren’t playing hard. They were playing but they weren’t competing. Now they’re competing, so now we have to get them to compete and play smart. They’ll learn.”
Williamsport begins two seniors, however Ethan Chilson missed the final two years with damage, so in a way this rotation is nearly all underclassmen, together with freshmen Mekhi Gaston and Saleem Overton. Against a rugged early-season schedule, Williamsport has proven some thrilling items.
It’s only a matter of placing them collectively. Flashes got here by way of in opposition to Central Catholic with Williams scoring eight factors, grabbing six rebounds and blocking 5 photographs. Kason Ulmer pulled down six boards and Gaston threw down a highlight-reel one-hand dunk in the fourth quarter. Naazir Lowe dealt three assists and 7 completely different gamers made steals.
Williamsport additionally reduce a 21-point deficit to 15 getting into the fourth, so the struggle is there. The potential is, too, and no matter Tuesday’s end result, that makes the close to future thrilling.
“I saw some good things. This group has a huge upside,” Taylor stated. “The potential with this group of kids that we have is really high. I like it.”
CENTRAL CATHOLIC (48)
Alex Betancourt-Jones 1 0-0 2, Owen Campfield 1 0-0 2, Danny Haller 2 0-0 4, Enzo Khalil 4 2-5 10, Christian Williams 5 2-3 16, Jack Stoessel 4 0-0 10, Ryan Haller 2 0-0 4. Totals 20 4-8 48.
WILLIAMSPORT (26)
Tevin Williams 3 2-2 8, Kason Ulmer 3 0-1 6, Naazir Lowe 1 0-0 3, Quincy Williams 0 0-0 0, Ethan Chilson 1 1-2 4, Mekhi Gaston 1 0-2 2, Saleem Overton 1 1-2 3. Totals 10 4-9 26.
C Catholic 12 12 11 13–48
Williamsport 6 6 8 6–26
3-pointers: Central Catholic 4 (Williams 2, Stoessel 2); Williamsport 2 (Lowe, Chilson).
Records: Central Catholic 7-1. Williamsport 4-4.