Roman Catholic claims state basketball championship over Archbishop Wood, 77-65

High School championship season has officially arrived. Plenty of Philadelphia area schools were well represented in the PIAA boys and girls basketball state title games this weekend.

District 12 (Philadelphia Catholic and Public Leagues) has 10 representative teams competing for state titles, including two games confronting two Catholic League teams. The leagues have never combined for more than five state championships in a single season. Meaning this weekend holds historic potential, with a chance to secure as many as eight titles.

Here’s how those teams performed at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Roman Catholic and Archbishop Wood for the 6A boys state championship was a regular Philadelphia Catholic League rivalry -- it was just played at the Giant Center in Hershey instead of the Palestra.

The Cahillites earned their fourth state title in school history, defeating the Vikings, 77-65. Roman turned a three-point halftime lead into a double-digit lead behind Cincinnati signee Dan Skillings (31 points, 13 rebounds) and the post presence of freshman Shareef Jackson (11 points, 9 rebounds).

Archbishop Wood cut the deficit to a three-possession game late, but couldn’t complete the comeback.

Plymouth Whitemarsh was in the driver’s seat all evening, capping off its undefeated 34-0 season with a 6A girls championship on Saturday. The Colonials, who are loaded with college-bound talent, defeated Mt. Lebanon, 60-40. Mt. Lebanon was held to 17 points through three quarters, courtesy of PW’s staunch defensive effort. Colonials junior Abby Sharpe led all scorers with 26 points. Erin Daley added 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Tied at 34 late in the second quarter, Devon Prep blew the game wide open courtesy of 25 unanswered points -- a run that stretched into the second half. The Tide made the most of its first state title game appearance, beating Aliquippa, 76-58. Much of their success came by knifing through the Quips’ defense, attacking the inside and sharing the ball to get quality looks at the hoop. Devon Prep well outperformed its average points per game (52.2) in the win.

The title game was an old fashioned grudge match. Neumann Goretti secured its fifth state championship in eight years, taking down Freedom, 55-47. Mihjae Hayes was the difference maker for the Saints, scoring a game-high 35 points. Freedom, with a height advantage, frequently pounded the ball inside piling up points in the paint. While Neumann Goretti capitalized on transition opportunities, the Saints found success from three-point land, and closed out the game on free throws.

Constitution fell to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 92-71, in a rematch of last year’s 2A boys championship. The Generals never held a lead in the game, but cut the deficit to as few as three. A third-quarter run behind a barrage of threes gave the Chargers a 21-point lead heading into the fourth quarter all but putting the game out of reach. Friday’s win gave OLSH its 68th straight victory, tying the state record held by West Philadelphia from 1976-78.

A stout defensive performance from Cardinal O’Hara held Chartiers Valley to just one basket in the first quarter and five field goals the whole game. The Lions secured their second straight 5A girls title, 42-19, in dominating fashion. Cardinal O’Hara pulled away in the third quarter -- after leading by six at the half -- generating points off turnovers while creating efficient shot opportunities.

Imhotep Charter suffocated New Castle defensively on Friday night and deterred any second-chance points en route to the school’s eighth boys state championship -- now 8-0 in title games dating back to 2009. The Panthers won, 54-39, behind the dominant play of one of the most highly touted class of 2023 recruits in the country, Justin Edwards and three-star point guard Rahmir Barno. A Barno buzzer-beating three before the half gave Imhotep a jolt of momentum heading into the break. New Castle chipped away at the deficit late but the Panthers simply executed like the more talented team down the stretch.