ALLENTOWN — Neumann-Goretti showed off the type of basketball that has produced 10 PIAA state boys titles in the past 16 seasons.
The best Crestwood could counter with Tuesday night at William Allen High School was giving a sneak preview at what the future could be like for the Comets.
The defending state champion Saints forced nine first-half turnovers and hit half of their 3-point attempts through three quarters while running away for a 55-24 victory in the Class 5A second-round game.
Neumann-Goretti scored the last 10 points of the first quarter then hit its first three shot of the second, including a 3-pointer, for a 25-4 lead less than a minute in.
Moments later, Crestwood scoring leader Ayden Agapito went down clutching his left knee in pain. He did not return.
The extent of Agapito’s injury is unclear, but coach Mark Atherton described keeping him out the rest of the game as a “precautionary” step.
“We got a double punch in the mouth there, between them coming out and shooting lights out and then Ayden going down,” Atherton said.
At the time Agapito exited the game, the Saints were 10-for-14 from the floor, including 5-for-7 on 3-pointers.
All that was left was for Jack Rodgers to lead a noble hustling effort in a game that had gotten out of hand and Avery Brace, Agapito’s replacement, to show promise as one of three freshmen playing together before halftime.
Rodgers finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and two steals.
“Jack is the epitome of that idea of playing right to the end,” Atherton said. “ … That’s how he plays every game. I use him as an example for future kids on that’s how you play the game.”
Brace hit his first three shots and contributed six points, four rebounds (three offensive) and a blocked shot.
“The second round of the state tournament is not the time you want to have three freshmen in the game, but it was a great experience for those guys,” Atherton said.
Kody Colson led Neumann-Goretti, going 6-for-12 on 3-pointers while scoring 20 points.
E.J. Stanton added 12 points, six assists and four steals. Deshawn Yates took just one shot, but dished out eight assists and grabbed five defensive rebounds.
PIAA Class 5A Boys Second Round
Neumann-Goretti 55, Crestwood 24
CRESTWOOD (24) — Miles Metz 0 0-0 0, Connor Wagaman 2 0-0 4, Gio Barna 1 0-0 2, Jack Rodgers 4 2-4 10, Ayden Agapito 0 2-2 2, Avery Brace 3 0-0 6, Zach Sechleer 0 0-0 0, Brady Johnson 0 0-0 0, Ruben Montanari 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 4-6 24.
NEUMANN-GORETTI (55) — Deshawn Yates 0 2-2 2, Kody Colson 7 0-0 20, Ernest Stanton 5 0-0 12, Allassane N’Diaye 4 0-0 8, Jayden Williams 3 0-0 9, Oreace Torrance 0 0-0 0, Amar’e White 0 0-0 0, Oscar Brislin 1 0-0 2, Ethan Vest 0 0-0 0, Ethan Tran 0 0-0 0, Chase Harris 1 0-0 2, Eli Starks 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 2-2 55.
Crestwood`4`8`5`7`— 24
Neumann-Goretti`18`19`14`4`— 55
Three-point goals – CRE 0, NG 11 (Colson 6, Williams 3, Stanton 2).