High school basketball: No. 2 Paul VI runs past No. 24 Roselle Catholic 72-59 led by 23 points, 11 rebounds from Deshawn Harris-Smith
By Jordan Divens
Jan 15, 2023, 4:15pm
Panthers never trail in wire-to-wire victory over New Jersey powerhouse at Spalding Hoophall Classic.
Layups from Harris-Smith and four-star junior
Isaiah Abraham gave the Panthers an early 7-2 advantage. Roselle Catholic responded with help from
Simeon Wilcher and five-star Duke signee
MacKenzie Mgbako to tie things up at 10.
Paul VI (15-1) closed the first quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 19-13 advantage after a layup from Harris-Smith was followed by a 3-point shot from the left wing for Abraham.
Following a layup from Roselle Catholic (5-4) junior
Tarik Watson to cut the deficit to four points, Harris answered with his first field goal of the game on a left corner 3-pointer. That helped Paul VI eventually build a 12-point lead but the Lions kept the halftime deficit to a manageable nine points at 36-27.
Future Maryland Terrapin Deshawn Harris-Smith filled up the stat sheet Sunday at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts. (Photo: Lonnie Webb)
Harris-Smith, Abraham and highly-regarded freshman
Jordan Smith, who contributed an explosive dunk, helped Paul VI extend its lead quickly coming out of the locker room. The Panthers led by as many as 19 points in the second half.
Roselle Catholic, which was ranked No. 1 nationally entering the season, refused to go away without a fight, however. Wilcher,
Christian Pierre-Louis and
Sebastian Robinson scored during a 9-2 run that trimmed the lead to 65-53 with 3:49 remaining in the contest.
Harris-Smith continued his stellar night by converting on a pair of
free throws before the two teams traded baskets around the hoop from big men as
Richard Brisco and
Christian Gurdak to keep the advantage at 12 points.
Harris
put things away with 2:05 remaining as he knocked down a contested
mid-range jump shot and was fouled in the process for a 3-point play to
make the lead an insurmountable 72-55.
Junior Duke commit Darren Harris chipped in 16 points in the win for Paul VI. (Photo: Lonnie Webb)
Paul VI collects the hardware after dispatching Roselle Catholic by 13 points in Springfield. (Photo: Lonnie Webb)
