Playing like a team chasing its fourth consecutive state championship, Neumann-Goretti emphatically opened the Class AAA portion of the PIAA playoffs by handling Bishop McDevitt 81-54 in North Philly.
Leading by seven points midway through the second quarter, Carl Arrigale's sizzling Saints embarked on a lightning-quick 23-1 spurt that had the five-time Philly Catholic League champs in complete control (55-26).
Not even three minutes into the second half.
"I don't see a weakness in that squad," McDevitt coach Jeff Hoke said afterward.
Neither did PennLive.com/Patriot-News, which still has Arrigale's powerful squad plugged in at No. 1 in the latest Class AAA rankings. Imhotep, which won convincingly in another part of Philly, remains No. 2.
However, several of Friday night's other opening-round results forced some shuffling in the Class AAA top 10.
Records are current through March 10.
1. Neumann-Goretti (22-5) -- last week: 1 -- Winning for the 16th consecutive time in state tournament play, Neumann-Goretti made a strong statement Friday night with its 81-54 trouncing of Bishop McDevitt. Robo-rebounder John Davis cranked out another double-double (19 points, 12 boards) for Carl Arrigale's Saints, who turned a tight contest into a 55-26 lead with five-plus left in the third quarter. Guards Troy Harper, Ja'Quan Newton and Lamarr "Fresh" Kimble -- effective from the arc, in the halfcourt and in transition -- added a combined 40 points for N-G. Headed for Parkland on Tuesday night, Arrigale's Saints will meet Scranton Prep.
2. Imhotep Charter (24-5) -- last week: 2 -- After capturing two consecutive Class AA state titles, Andre Noble's Panthers obviously weren't bothered by their first taste of the AAA cuisine as they spent Friday night chewing up Salisbury 79-34 in south Philly. Brandon Austin, Jalil Myers and Jakwan Jones shared 41 points for Imhotep, which shrugged off an early deficit by outscoring the 11-AAA entry 57-15 in the middle two quarters. Up next for Noble's powerful Panthers is a Tuesday night trip to Reading's Geigle Complex for a scrap with Susquehanna Twp.
3. Allentown Central Catholic (24-3) -- last week: 3 -- Although unable to completely put away Northeastern, Dennis Csensits' potent Vikings still ground out a 64-51 victory over the York County Bobcats in their state opener. Jean Lee Baez racked up a 22-point performance for ACC -- the 6-6 Baez also latched on to nine boards -- while Mike Kammerer added 17 and Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman chipped in 11. Also headed for Reading's Geigle Complex on Tuesday night, ACC will find No. 8 Donegal sitting on the other bench.
4. Abington Heights (26-2) -- last week: 4 -- Flashing balance up and down the scoring column, Ken Bianchi's Comets opened the state playoffs Friday night by easing past Shikellamy 67-37 and running their winning streak to 17 games. Jamie Egan's 14 points paced Bianchi's club, while J.C. Show (12), T.J. Murray (11) and Kevin Elwell (10) also reached double figures. Up next for the Comets is a journey to Bethlehem's Freedom High School Tuesday night for a scrap with a high-powered Philly Electrical outfit that will bring it.
5. Montour (23-4) -- last week: 6 -- With Phil Martelli of Saint Joseph's and Villanova's Jay Wright on hand Friday night -- St. Joe's offered earlier in the week -- all-state lead guard Devin Wilson took over the game late and wound up with a triple-double as Montour turned back South Fayette 52-43. Trailing 41-39 with 4:33 left, Wilson flashed his clutch gene repeatedly down the stretch by bagging eight of his 24 points as Adam Kaufman's Spartans rallied. Wilson also finished with 10 boards and 10 assists for Montour, which will take on No. 9 Girard in Tuesday's round of 16 at Slippery Rock.
6. Archbishop Carroll (20-6) -- last week: 7 -- If it's state playoff time, watch out for Paul Romanczuk's always-capable Patriots. And Romanczuk's club -- which bounced Trinity in last year's opening round -- took out 3-AAA champ Berks Catholic 47-42 at Garden Spot. Nick Jones, Derrick Jones and Yosef Yacob shared 34 points for Carroll, which also tossed some effective defensive play at Berks Catholic catalyst Chris Warren. Now ticketed for Plymouth-Whitemarsh for Tuesday night's round of 16, Romanczuk's ballclub will square off against Pope John Paul II.
7. Chartiers Valley (23-4) -- last week: 9 -- Another program that's almost always visible in March, Tim McConnell's Colts opened the state playoffs with a 71-54 triumph over Erie Strong Vincent. Spencer Casson (22), Matty McConnell (15) and Dom Castello (12) reached double figures for Char Valley, which was able to generate separation after the halftime break. Safely in Tuesday night's round of 16 yet again -- McConnell's Colts spent the past two seasons at the Class AAAA level -- Chartiers Valley will take on 6-AAA champ Johnstown at Hempfield High School in Greensburg.
8. Donegal (27-2) -- last week: 10 -- Able to stretch their lead as the game played out, Ryan Butt's Indians opened state play Friday night by collaring GAR Memorial 64-44 at Wilkes-Barre's Holy Redeemer High School. Jason Dietrich poured in 26 points for Donegal, which led by 11 (35-24) at the break. Martin Dietrich finished up with 17 points and Matt Foltz tacked on 12 for Butt's Tribe, which will meet No. 3 Allentown Central Catholic in Tuesday's round of 16 at Reading's historic Geigle Complex.
9. Girard (21-5) -- last week: Not ranked -- Canning 10 3-point buckets, Darren Mayes' YellowJackets stunned previous No. 8 Mars 66-62 in their state opener Friday night at Gannon's Hammermill Center. Joe Swanson rang up 24 points and Joe Dunn added 16 -- Dunn buried a 70-foot rip at the halftime buzzer -- as Girard advanced to the round of 16. Alex Cruz chipped in 11 points and Kendall Bonnett popped a double-double (10 points, 10 boards) for the Jackets, who will meet No. 5 Montour Tuesday night at Slippery Rock.
10. Berks Catholic (26-4) -- last week: 5 -- Unable to squeeze past Archbishop Carroll in Friday's state opener -- Berks Catholic dropped a 47-42 result -- Snip Esterly's two-time 3-AAA champs had their season come to an abrupt halt. Carroll also brought an end to Berks Catholic's 21-game winning streak. Nana Foulland netted 15 points and grabbed eight boards for the Saints, who were hampered significantly by the defensive effort Carroll worked on lead guard Chris Warren. Warren, the MVP of the 3-AAA tournament, was limited to five points and four assists by the 12-AAA Patriots.
OUR HONORABLE MENTIONS
District 10-AAA champ General McLane (21-5) hammered Thomas Jefferson 67-42 -- McLane beat Girard in the 10-AAA final, but the Jackets won both regular-season matchups -- to move into Tuesday's round of 16. ... McLane will meet Beaver Area (20-4), which sidelined Bradford 60-46 in another opening-round scrap. ... Philly Electrical (16-11), which bumped Palmyra 48-44, must go through No. 4 Abington Heights to reach Friday's quarterfinals. ... Susquehanna Twp. (25-4) landed a date with No. 2 Imhotep Charter after dismissing 1-AAA champ Upper Moreland 62-42 in its state opener. UM was playing without lead guard Matt Kohn. ... Pope John Paul II (16-10) edged Bethlehem Catholic 59-56 to reach the round of 16, while Scranton Prep (19-8) sidelined Milton 69-32. ... Previous No 8 Mars (21-5), Palmyra (18-9) and Bishop McDevitt (19-8) tumbled on Friday night, but remain in the HM ranks.
MICHAEL BULLOCK: mbullock@pennlive.com
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n