BETHLEHEM – Wyoming Seminary, with half of the players it used from the Back Mountain, pushed Neumann-Goretti to the limit Wednesday night before falling short against the five-time defending Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association boys basketball state champions, 61-59, in a Class 3A boys game at Freedom High School.
Todd Phillips and Jake Koretz, both from Dallas, started for the Blue Knights as they have throughout the season. Ethan Meuser, from Shavertown, was the only Wyoming Seminary substitute used in the game.
Phillips, a junior forward, scored 11 points and led the two-time Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3 and District 2 Class 3A champions with 6 assists in the game. He also grabbed six rebounds.
Koretz, a guard, often ran the offense, which committed just nine turnovers despite frequent pressure from the Philadelphia school, which is seeking its ninth PIAA state title in the past 10 years. He finished with six points, four rebounds and three assists.
Neumann-Goretti coach Carl Arrigale said the Saints had hoped to cause more problems for the sophomore point guard.
“He’s got a bright, bright future,” Arrigale said. “He’s a guy we thought we might be able to speed up. He’s really calm, makes a lot of good plays.”
Meuser hit a 3-pointer, grabbed a rebound and blocked a shot.
Wyoming Seminary had opened the state tournament Saturday with a 75-41 rout of String Theory High School from Philadelphia.
Phillips had 15 points in the game while Koretz and Meuser added six each.
