true Gwynedd-Mercy 88, Neumann 85

Box Score

ASTON, PA. -- Gwynedd-Mercy outlasted Neumann, 88-85 , to win their ninth-straight game Saturday afternoon.

Five players finished in double figures led by senior Jon Crabtree (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) who netted a game-hgh 23 points. Junior Dan DelConte (Blue Bell, Pa./Wissahickon) added 21 as the Griffins improve to 16-4 and 11-2 in CSAC play.

The Griffins used a 12-point run in the first half sparked by back-to-back three pointers from Crabtree to lead 20-8. The lead whittled down to four as Neumann got it to a four-point game, 41-37, at the half.

In the second stanza, Neunann (10-10, 7-6 CSAC) would take a brief one-point lead midway in the period before the Griffins used a key 10-2 spurt to go up 71-63 with eight minutes remaining.

The Knights, who shot 62% in the second frame, would not go away and made it a one-point game after a trey from Mike Walukiewicz with 53 ticks on the clock. GM looked to cement the win on the next possession as a driving DelConte set up Frank Champion (Northfield, N.J./Mainlan) on a thunderous dunk off a great pass inside.

After a quick Neumann bucket and two made free-throws from DelConte, the Knights had one last look a game-tying three-pointer before the buzzer.

Champion would finish with 12 points, eight boards, and two blocks. Jon Hogga (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) grabbed 12 rebounds (7 offensive) to go along with 16 points for his fourth double-double on the season. Freshman Brandyn Wims (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal Dougherty) chipped in 12 points off the bench.

Walukiewicz hit four of the team's seven three-pointers to finish with 12 points. Patrick O'Connor led the Knights with 20 points.

The Griffins return to action on Monday when they square off with Cabrini in a big conference matchup as Gwynedd has a chance to get into a first-place tie with the Cavaliers. Tip off is slated for 8 p.m.