Late Rally Lifts Roman To 2023 PCL Boys' Basketball Championship
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PHILADEPHIA, PA - Senior Xzayvier Brown's three-point field goal as time expired sent the game into overtime before Roman pulled out a thrilling 57-52 win over defending champion Neumann-Goretti on Monday evening in the finals of the 2023 PCL Boys' Basketball Championship.
The win securied the Cahillites' (22-3) first league title since 2019 and marked the third PCL crown for head coach Chris McNesby.
Trailing by five in the final minute, No. 2 Roman rallied and following a missed free throw, Brown dribbled the length of the court before banking a three-point field goal from the top of the key that brought the sellout crowd at The Palestra to its fieet. Brown scored a game-high 20 points while senior teammate Anthony Finkley added 13 points.
Seeiking its third title in four seasons, top seed Neumann-Goretti (21-3) took a 44-39 lead entering the fourth quarter as senior Bruce Smith scored five straight points for the Saints. Junior guard Rob Wright III and senior Sultan Adewale led the Saints with 13 points apiece while Smith scored all 12 of his points in the second half.
NG will face Overbrook at 6:00 p.m. on Mar. 1 at La Salle College in the District XII 4A Championship while Roman meets Central on Mar. 2 at 6:00 p.m. at Father Judge in the District XII 6A Championship.
2023 PCL Boys' Basketball Championship
First Round
No. 7 Cardinal O'Hara 69, No. 10 Bonner & Prendie 60
No. 8 Archbishop Carroll 66, No. 9 Father Judge 61
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Neumann-Goretti 86, Archbishop Carroll 51
No. 2 Roman 76, Cardinal O'Hara 52
No. 6 West Catholic 71, No. 3 Archbishop Ryan 51
No. 4 Archbishop Wood 84, No. 5 St. Joseph's Prep 73
Semifinals
at The Palestra
Roman 66, Archbishop Wood 59
Neumann-Goretti 69, West Catholic 56 (OT)
Finals
at The Palestra
Roman 57, Neumann-Goretti 52 (OT)
