Finally.
And while Ralph Blundo’s determined New Castle Red Hurricanes spent the past several seasons knocking on the door, they finally kicked it in Saturday night at Hershey’s Giant Center by defeating La Salle College 52-39 in the PIAA Class AAAA title game and winning their first state championship.
Obviously, Saturday night’s win also ensured Blundo’s bunch the top-ranked spot in PennLive’s final set of Class AAAA boys’ basketball rankings.
Malik Hooker popped a double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds) and Drew Allen added 13 points as New Castle closed out a perfect 31-0 season. Saturday’s victory also closed out a three-year stretch highlighted by 87 wins in 89 tries.
That’s No. 1 stuff.
CLICK HERE FOR PIAA CLASS AAAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET
CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL RANKINGS: AAA … AA … A
Short synopses of our top 10 appear below, with PIAA district, overall record and record for the week displayed in parentheses.
1. New Castle (7, 31-0, 2-0) — previous ranking: 1 — After squeezing past Abington 58-54 in Tuesday’s semis, Ralph Blundo’s determined Red Hurricanes used a terrific defensive effort to subdue La Salle College 52-39 in Saturday’s title game and send the thousands who rolled into Hershey into a frenzy. Malik Hooker (15/13) and Drew Allen (11/13) reached double figures in both victories — Hooker grabbed 12 boards in the final — while Anthony Richards joined them in the win over Abington with a 16-point performance.
2. Hampton (7, 24-5, 0-0) — previous ranking: 5 — Did not play. Finished season in state quarterfinals with 57-55 loss to New Castle.
3. LaSalle College (1, 23-7, 1-1) — previous ranking: 4 — Joe Dempsey’s resilient Explorers took down perennial power Chester 61-55 in Tuesday’s semis — Dave Krmpotich (19) and Shawn Witherspoon (17) shared 36 points in the triumph — earning a shot at New Castle in Saturday’s title game. Najee Walls collected 15 points and Witherspoon added 10, but a bucket by Hooker at the end of the third lit the fuse that led to the Red Hurricanes pulling away to a 52-39 victory.
4. Abington (1, 25-6, 0-1) — previous ranking: 3 — Flashed their typical balance in the state semis against New Castle, but a combined 43 points from the backcourt trio of Anthony Lee (20), Amir Hinton (12) and Matt Penecale (11) wasn’t enough to push Charles Grasty’s Ghosts past the eventual state champs. Ultimately, New Castle bounced out of Chambersburg High School with a 58-54 triumph.
5. Chester (1, 25-6, 0-1) — previous ranking: 2 — Although Mahir Johnson poured in 26 points and Tyrell Sturdivant checked in with 10, Larry Yarbray’s Clippers fell to La Salle College 61-55 in the state semis at Coatesville. Tuesday’s loss brought Chester’s run of consecutive state title game appearances to an end at three.
6. Lower Merion (1, 23-8, 0-0) — previous ranking: 6 — Did not play. Finished season in state quarterfinals with 71-48 loss to La Salle College.
7. Roman Catholic (12, 23-5, 0-0) — previous ranking: 7 — Did not play. Finished season in state second round with 64-52 loss to Lower Merion.
8. Martin Luther King (12, 25-6, 0-0) — previous ranking: 8 — Did not play. Finished season in state quarterfinals with 56-52 loss to Abington.
9. North Allegheny (7, 22-5, 0-0) — previous ranking: 9 — Did not play. Finished season in state second round with 64-54 loss to New Castle.
10. Pennsbury (1, 23-6, 0-0) — previous ranking: 10 — Did not play. Finished season in state second round with 65-43 loss to Martin Luther King.
OTHERS TO WATCH: Allderdice (8) 19-6,Bethel Park (7) 18-7, Carlisle (3) 18-9, Cedar Crest (3) 26-6, Central York (3) 24-5, Conestoga (1) 24-6, Cumberland Valley (3) 19-8, Emmaus (11) 18-9, Great Valley (1) 22-3, Harrisburg (3) 17-7, Hazleton (2) 22-5, Hershey (3) 18-9, McDowell (10) 23-4, Obama Academy (8) 22-1, Oxford (1) 22-8, Parkland (11) 22-6, Spring-Ford (1) 24-5, St. Joseph’s Prep (12) 16-7, West Chester Rustin (1) 19-11, Wilson (3) 26-4, York (3) 23-7.
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