PHILADELPHIA -- As they pieced together a gameplan heading into a state-level scrap with three-time PIAA Class AAA champ Neumann-Goretti, Jeff Hoke knew his Bishop McDevitt side would have some matchup issues.
Like dealing with energetic John Davis in the low block and on the glass.
Or trying to prevent slippery guard Ja'Quan Newton from getting to the rack with frequency or burying an excessive number of treys.
After that, however, Hoke thought his club would fare OK.
Turns out, Neumann-Goretti's lineup is loaded with potentially explosive players who can go off at any time. Or, worse yet, at the same time.
And that's what happened to McDevitt Friday night at Archbishop Ryan High School, as the Crusaders would get one problem area calmed down only to find another and then another cropping up almost immediately.
Bloodied heavily by a 23-1 eruption that bridged the halftime break, McDevitt couldn't patch the water main in time as Neumann-Goretti wheeled to an 81-54 victory in the Class AAA state opener for both sides.
Davis wound up with a double-double (19 points, 12 rebounds), while Newton dropped in 14. The guys who really hurt the Crusaders, though, were Troy Harper (16) and Lamarr "Fresh" Kimble (10).
Those two shared 30 points -- 20 before the break -- and were especially effective from beyond the 3-point arc. Kimble buried three consecutive treys at one point, while Harper cashed in twice from deep.
Everything added up to Neumann-Goretti's 16th consecutive state playoff victory. Plus, Carl Arrigale's Saints (22-5) are ticketed for a second-round date Tuesday with Scranton Prep at a site and time to be determined.
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McDevitt (19-8) picked up 13 points from Dyllon Hudson-Emory.
The 6-6 junior also grabbed five rebounds and blocked several shots, but ultimately his productivity did not affect the result.
Not on this night.
"With all their weapons firing on all cylinders tonight, it's hard for me to believe a Triple-A team playing any better," said Hoke, who had a first-hand look at the Saints' 52-51 victory over Imhotep last Friday night at St. Joseph's.
"What are you gonna do? They're strong inside. They're a perfect mix. And they're experienced. I thought we battled with them. We battled, we never quit. Again, I'm so proud of the kids."
While Neumann-Goretti threatened to blow this thing open real early -- Arrigale's Saints led 21-10 after one quarter and by 14 (32-18) when Kimble drilled the first of his three treys at 5:13 of the second.
The 6-4 Davis really gouged the Crusaders in the opening half, scoring 14 points, grabbing eight boards and even initiating contact while providing a constant physical presence underneath.
"He's an outstanding basketball player," Hoke said of the Towson recruit.
"I told Johnny it didn't look like there was anybody physical who could match up with him," said Arrigale, whose Saints have won their last five. "If he just went hard to the glass and did his thing, we would be fine there.
"And really I wanted to get off to a good start, because they're so dangerous. They play fast. They shoot a lot of long shots. I didn't want to give them any reason to think they had a chance.
"I wanted to jump them early and kind of break their spirit. To their credit, they hung in there and they fought. They're young, they'll be back."
Although Arrigale's Saints appeared to have things in hand early, a quick 7-0 spurt capped by Will Pierce's sweet spin move and finish had Hoke's no-quit Crusaders within seven and threatening.
Once Kimble drained his second trey and then a third, Arrigale's high-powered Saints were off and running on a 14-1 kick that closed the first half.
Nine more to start the second half -- including a conventional three-point play from the relentless Davis and a pair of authoritative flushes from Tony Toplyn -- had Neumann-Goretti up 55-26.
Just like that.
Or so it seemed.
And it wasn't just Neumann-Goretti's attack that proved problematic for the Crusaders, who changed defenses frequently in an effort to corral Arrigale's high-powered outfit. The Saints owned a 45-20 advantage on the backboards. They also flashed plenty of physical man-to-man defense.
Hanif Sutton was especially effective on D, locking up McDevitt's Justin McCarthur and limiting him to six points. The 5-9 senior, the Philly Catholic League's defensive player of the year, also pulled down seven rebounds.
Plus, he dished out seven assists.
"He's guarded a lot of good ones," Arrigale said of Sutton's efforts. "He's guarded a lot of good guys for us, that's why he got that assignment. I was hoping to chop the head off, really.
"We let [Milik] Gantz get a little too much penetration. Ja'Quan got a little lazy there. ... But we did enough in the first half to get us through to the finish line healthy and move on to the next one."
Gantz, the 6-3 soph point forward who had a triple-double in McDevitt's first 3-AAA consolation bracket victory and a double-double in the second, was limited to five points, three boards and three assists.
Gantz also had Boston University assistant and former Trinity High School star Shaun Morris on hand to see him play.
And even Morris would likely admit that Neumann-Goretti's first seven -- which included Harper and Jamal Custis (9 points, 7 rebounds, at least three blocked shots) off the bench -- was simply lethal.
Individually.
Collectively.
"I don't see a weakness in that squad," said Hoke, whose starting lineup was completely filled by underclassmen.
No wonder yet another state playoff victory followed.
"I saw them six times," Hoke said. "I thought our plan was good. I thought our kids executed the plan. The better team won."
MICHAEL BULLOCK: mbullock@pennlive.com
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n