PIAA Class A boys championship breakdown: Vincentian vs. Sankofa Freedom
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Thursday, March 21, 2019 | 9:45 AM
Vincentian Academy boys basketball coach Tim Tyree Jr., leads his team against Monessen in a PIAA Class A boys basketball semifinal March 18, 2019, at Mt. Lebanon.
PIAA Class A boys championship
Vincentian Academy vs. Sankofa Freedom Academy
2 p.m., Thursday at Giant Center, Hershey
TV: PCN
Vincentian Academy (20-8)
Coach: Tim Tyree Jr.
No., Name, Pos., Ht., Yr.
1, Nate Cullo, G, 5-8, Jr.
5, Alex Griggs, G, 6-0, So.
22, Matt McDonough, G, 5-10, Fr.
24, Angelo Reeves, F, 6-6, So.
35, Ethan Embleton, F, 6-6, Jr.
Sankofa Freedom Academy (17-10)
Coach: Isaiah Thomas
No., Name, Pos., Ht., Yr.
0, Jaymes Savage, G, 6-1, Sr.
1, Derrius Ward, F, 6-5, Jr.
3, Khalil Turner, F, 6-6, Sr.
10, Kobe Devine, G, 5-7, Sr.
23, Scott Spann, G, 6-1, Sr.
How they got here: WPIAL runner-up Vincentian defeated St. Joseph’s Academy, 79-65, Elk County Catholic, 63-57, Cornell, 59-49, and Monessen, 57-43. District 12 champion Sankofa Freedom Academy defeated Conestoga Christian, 99-44, St. John Neumann, 71-30, Faith Christian, 75-46, and Lourdes Regional, 66-49.
Notable: Sankofa Freedom is a charter school that competes in Philadelphia’s public league. The team’s top player is Turner, a Rider commit. However, in the PIAA semifinals, Ward scored 25 and Spann had 16 against Lourdes Regional. Vincentian Academy has a balanced offense with four scorers averaging in double figures: Reeves 14.5, Griggs 13.9, Cullo 12.3 and Embleton 10.4. The Royals’ fifth starter, McDonough, averages 9.7.
Finals history: Both teams are making their PIAA championship debut.
Predicted winner: Sankofa Freedom Academy
Preview story: Vincentian Academy boys ready for PIAA finals matchup against Sankofa Freedom Academy
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Vincentian Academy
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