St. Joseph's Prep and Father Judge warm up prior to the second PCL semifinal game at the Palestra on Wednesday night. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)
By AARON BRACY
February 19, 2025
PHILADELPHIA – On a chilly, February Philadelphia night, they filled the warm, old building once again.
They keep coming back to this hallowed gym on 33rd Street. Year after year, they’re here. And why not? They couldn’t miss this. And how could they?
The Philadelphia Catholic League’s boys basketball semifinals delivered once again, as always. The games? They were routs, with Father Judge rolling past St. Joseph’s Prep 89-61 in the nightcap after Roman Catholic ousted Devon Prep 66-42 in the opener.
But the atmosphere? Oh man. Words fail to describe the sound of 8,722 pulsating fans, a pair of packed student sections, a building whose acoustics are unmatched, whose thrills unparalleled. The games weren’t thrilling, but the scene sure was.
They all know. It’s why they keep coming.
Longtime basketball writer Dick “Hoops” Weiss was there, more than 60 years after first stepping foot in the Palestra for a high school game. “I wouldn’t miss this,” Hoops said before tip. Josh Verlin, the preeminent high school basketball writer in the region, covers every game, everywhere. But none matches this. “You’ll see,” he told me.
And I did. Embarrassingly, after all of the games, all these years, this was my first PCL semifinal. Sunday will be my first final. Really, it’s anti-Philadelphia not to see this, and I’m somewhat ashamed to admit this. Of course, I know there’s nothing like the Palestra. Seen so many great games, so many great crowds, so many thrillers that bring goosebumps all over your body.
This, though, was different, pure, refreshing. Listen, I’m all about athletes earning as much money as they can. They deserve it. For without them, there wouldn’t be people in the seats. So, please don’t take this the wrong way. But it was nice for a night to forget about Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), to forget about Joel Embiid’s multimillion dollar contract, to forget about everyone building their brand (I’m looking at you, too, Mr. Writer), and just settle in for four pulsating hours of basketball played by amateurs, played where every single possession matters, every rebound is coveted, every drive contested. There were no plays off, even in blowouts.
In the opener, it was the brothers Jackson, Shareef, the strong senior headed to Lafayette, and Sammy, the smooth junior headed wherever he wants, overwhelming Devon Prep. Shareef scored 19, four of which came during a 7-0 run to start the second half that turned a tight, six-point ballgame into a 13-point spread, which just felt too much for Devon Prep. Sammy netted 17, bringing the student section into an uproar with athletic finishes at the basket.
Among those cheering on their classmates were Roman Catholic students Antwan Smith-Bay and Julian Enoch, the first of the Cahillites students to enter the grand, old gym around 5:03 p.m. on Wednesday night. They were there to bring the noise, just as the smaller but enthusiastic counterparts from Devon Prep were doing behind the visitor’s basket, led by full-throated cheers from “Gap,” their pit leader who required a reporter to give a “Roll Tide” shout before departing.
Devon Prep coach Jason Fisher brought the program to the storied spot for the first time, a commendable turnaround that he called “surreal” in the corridors long before tip.
You could also say that about Father Judge. Yeah, it was surreal alright to see Judge dismantle top-seeded St. Joseph’s Prep with a long-range barrage featuring 11 three-pointers, six of which came from Rocco Westfield. Rocco? Yeah, Rocco. With a name like that, you’d thinking he’d be mauling Clubber Lang with left hooks and running up the Art Museum steps to celebrate. This Rocco was far from all elbows and jabs, a sweet stroker that belies his name.
Rocco Westfield can shoot. He probably would’ve reached double-digits if needed, but his six triples through three quarters were plenty. He got much help too from Kevair Kennedy (17 points), Derrick Morton-Rivera (15) and Everett Barnes (14). Led by coach Chris Roantree, Judge has had a remarkable turnaround from what the coach called the “laughingstock” of the league to one that has a legitimate shot to prevent perennial power Roman Catholic from three-peating on Sunday.
Sunday, oh Sunday. Right. We get to do this again. Another doubleheader, too, with the PCL girls final tipping at noon before the boys championship at 2:45. They will pack this wonderful place again. They keep coming back. Year after Year.
For basketball bliss.
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Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages. His book on the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team is expected to be published on March 1, 2025. Read a summary and preorder it by clicking HERE. Contact him at aaron@big5hoops.com.