DeMatha and Paul VI Battle Again in WCAC Semi Final
By Rodger M. Wood
With 35 seconds to go, the basketball rolled around the rim, looking dangerously close to going through for a three pointer and a tie 50-50 game, but as fate would have it in the last instance, the ball bounced out to make DeMatha winners, and grasped victory from the hands of the young Paul VI hoopsters 52-47.This semifinal WCAC basketball championship game marked the third straight game this season, the 2009, 2010, 2011 WCAC and Washington D.C. champions, Dematha Stags beat the upstart Panthers in the last seconds of the game, 59-58 at home, 51-48 away, and 52-47 in the semifinal.Led by seven juniors, five sophomores, three freshmen at Bender Arena last Sunday, it looks like the Paul Vi could battle the champions again next season. Maybe this time, hard work will pay off, the lucky breaks will even themselves out in the last seconds, the ball will go through the hoop, and the Paul VI Panthers will win.View some photos from the Paul VI/Dematha 2011 Semi Final Championship Game February 28th.
#1 Ranked Gonzaga Wins A Squeaker Against Paul VI, 50- 46
By Rodger M. WoodIn their game January 19th, Gonzaga and Paul VI HS battled for 47 minutes of regulation time. If they didn’t know beforehand, the average fan would not have been able to tell which team playing was the #1 ranked Washington Post Metropolitan Area high school basketball team.Tied at 42-42 with a minute to go in regulation, the game was up for grabs until Malcolm Lemmons stole the moment, sweeping in for a hard lay up to put Gonzaga ahead for keeps by two points and with a few free throws in the last few moments, win 50 - 46.Freshman and sophomore ladened Paul VI will live to play another day. 3-6 W-L in tough WCAC conference play, the seasoning they are getting this season against several Division 1 colleges prospects will only serve to put them in very close competition in coming seasons against perennial power house Gonzaga and Dematha, who were also USA Today #18 and #20 ranked in the nation February 16th.Mark my words. I wouldn’t count the Paul VI Panthers out for the duration.