UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The DuBois Central Catholic boys basketball team ran out of comebacks in the school\’s first state championship game, and hot-shooting Reading Central Catholic pulled away in the second half to claim the PIAA Class A title with a 58-33 win in Penn State University\’s Bryce Jordan Center Friday afternoon.
Led by Colin Naugle\’s 19 points, the District 3 champions (30-4) made half of their 48 shots for their ninth consecutive victory and No. 18 in their last 19 games. Matt Ashcroft and 5-6 junior Cameron Furman, who sparkled at point guard, chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Furman was a thorn in DuBois CC\’s side with his quickness on both ends of the floor, and most especially in the waning seconds of the first three quarters. He gave the champions momentum by beating the first-period buzzer with a drive down the lane, gave them a lift again with a short jumper as time ran out in the first half and then penetrated and passed to James Snyder IV for a layup at the end of the third period.
Naugle, a 6-6, 220-pounder headed to the University of Delaware on a football scholarship, established his presence in the low post early and scored eight points as Reading CC grabbed a 14-11 lead after one quarter. Chris Wulderk kept DuBois CC (27-4) close with six of his team-high 10 points. The DCC Cardinals had one lead, 3-2 on Christian Spilman\’s three-pointer, and forged a 5-5 tie on Cody Wilson\’s layup before the RCC Cardinals went in front to stay with five points in a row.
Ashcroft\’s drive and ensuing free throw and Naugle\’s putback made it 19-11 early in the second quarter, and DuBois CC, which had come from behind for wins in three of its four PIAA playoff wins, never got closer than six points. Reading CC led 25-17 at halftime.
Ahead 27-21 two minutes into the third period, Reading CC went on an 11-1 run before Spilman canned a jumper and Wulderk added a putback, the second and last time DuBois CC managed back-to-back scores.
Nick Rossignoli, a 6-4 senior, nailed his second three-pointer of the quarter and Snyder tacked on his layup for a 43-26 cushion going to the final eight minutes. A 13-3 run gave the winners their biggest lead at 56-29.
DuBois CC shot only 32.4 percent (12-for-37) and was outrebounded 32-24, with Wulderk pulling down seven missed shots for the District 9 fourth-place qualifier. Coach Mike Nesbit\’s team, which lost two games after being seeded No. 1 for districts, rebounded to make school history with its run through the state playoffs.
Naugle had 12 rebounds and Rossignoli nine for the Reading CC, which improved coach Ken \”Snip\” Esterly\’s 18-year record to 444-106. His 1996 and 1998 teams lost in the PIAA Class AA title games.
Reading CC won the PIAA Class A title in 1985.
READING CENTRAL CATHOLIC — 58
Brenden Riley 2 0-0 4, Nick Rossignoli 3 0-1 8, Colin Naugle 83-7 19, Cameron Furman 4 2-3 11, Matt Ashcroft 5 2-2 12, James Snyder IV 1 0-0 2, Matt Doyan 1 0-0 2, Trey Kelly 0 0-0 0, Derek Bendetti 0 0-0 0, Steve Henneman 0 0-0 0, Dan Stettler 0 0-0 0, Dan Christ 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 24 7-13 58.
DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC — 33
Erik Johnson 0 0-0 0, Cody Wilson 3 3-6 9, Chris Wulderk 4 2-2 10, Dom Varacallo 1 0-0 2, Christian Spilman 2 1-4 6, Mike Hassan 0 0-0 0, Andrew Welch 1 0-0 2, John Ferraraccio 1 0-0 2, Matt Pentz 0 2-2 2, Max Moclock 0 0-0 0, Will Gangewere 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 12 8-14 33.
Three-Point Field Goals: Reading CC 3 (Rossignoli 2, Furman 1); DuBois CC 1 (Spilman).
Score by Quarters:
Reading CC 14 11 18 15 — 58
DuBois CC 11 6 9 7 — 33