Neshaminy upsets Lower Merion in double-overtime thriller

By Joe Fite Correspondent Photo by Bill Fraser – Staff Photo Journalist [Bucks County Courrier Times

It is the farthest any team from Neshaminy has advanced in the state tournament. The Aces (22-6) were the third-place team from District One and had beaten Neshaminy during the regular season, 73-64.

Arcidiacono, who scored 51 points, took the shot that set off the string of events leading to the winning basket. He threw up a flyer from the right side of the lane that put Deluca in the spotlight.

“I wasn’t shooting the ball too well, so I knew I had to contribute somehow,” Deluca said after scoring his only points for the night. “So if I could get an offensive rebound here or there, and maybe tip one in for the game winner, it would be a good night.”

That was an understatement.

With Lower Merion holding a 66-63 lead in regulation, Arcidiacono nailed a 3-pointer from the right wing with 18 seconds left to send the game into overtime. Arcidiacono came through again with 15 seconds left in the first overtime session when he converted a long-range 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 74-74 and force a second overtime where Deluca came through.

“We knew that coming in,” Neshaminy coach Mark Tingle said of the extra attention Arcidiacono would draw. “Just like every game, they were going to focus on Chris. He’s so good, it didn’t matter. But he did a good job of kicking it out. I know Pat Campbell hit three or four 3s tonight (Anthony) Papeo hit a big one, everyone hit big shots in overtime. Charles Dominick hit a big one in double overtime. It was the craziest game I’ve ever been a part of.”

Neshaminy made it to the second round in 2002 and lost to Coatesville, and again in 2011 losing to Penn Wood. But this Neshaminy team is playing on another level.

“It’s the best,” Arcidiacono said. “This is the farthest any Neshaminy team has ever gone. We’re just super excited to play. We’re super confident. We can play anyone and we can beat anyone. So we’ll see who we’re going to play and hopefully we’re going to beat them and go to the elite eight.”