Neshaminy falls to Lincoln in state boys basketball playoffs

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By Tom Waring, Correspondent – Posted Mar 17, 2018 at 7:10 PM

Chris Arcidiacono led all scorers with 35 points and Charles Dominick added 23, but it wasn’t enough in PIAA 6A quarterfinal loss.

PHILADELPHIA — The Neshaminy boys basketball team can pretty much count on a great performance from Chris Arcidiacono in every game.

Arcidiacono did not disappoint in Saturday’s PIAA Class 6A boys basketball quarterfinal and teammate Charles Dominick had a career day with seven 3-pointers.

Still, that was not enough, as Lincoln’s Tyree Corbett dominated in the paint on his way to a team-high 29 points to lead the Railsplitters to a 77-70 victory at Archbishop Ryan.

“They were killing us off the glass and getting easy second-chance points,” Arcidiacono said. “We’re guard oriented. We only have one big.”

Photo by Scott Anderson/Photojournalist

“They’re a tall team, and that’s ultimately what cost us the game,” said Neshaminy coach Mark Tingle.

Lincoln (24-6 record), the District 12 champion, advanced to Wednesday’s semifinals against Hazleton. Roman Catholic and Pine-Richland will square off in the other semifinal.

Neshaminy (19-11) entered the postseason as the 18th seed in the District One playoffs, and finished ninth in the tournament.

In states, Neshaminy toppled District 11 champion East Stroudsburg South before outlasting Lower Merion in double overtime in a game that saw Arcidiacono pour in 51.

“We were the 18th team in districts, the ninth seed in states and we made the elite eight,” Tingle said. “We play hard and don’t stop fighting.”

The crowd, which included St. Joe’s coach Phil Martelli, cheered loudly throughout the game. Neshaminy owned a 32-29 lead at halftime and added to its lead before the second half even started when Arcidiacono made two free throws after Lincoln was called for a technical foul for dunking during warmups. Coincidentally, the Railsplitters missed three dunks during the game.

Lincoln tried to stop Arcidiacono, only to send him to the foul line all afternoon. He finished with six field goals, including two 3-pointers, and 21-of-23 from the line for a game-high 35 points. The Neshaminy student section taunted the Lincoln defense with a chant of, “You can’t guard him.”

Dominick finished with 23 points, on two free throws and the seven 3s.

“I was looking for opportunities and just feeling it,” Dominick said.

Lincoln, though, entered the fourth quarter with a 57-50 lead.

Corbett, who sat some in the first half with two fouls, picked up his fourth foul with 5:07 to go and his team ahead, 61-52.

Corbett reentered the game with 2:41 remaining and his squad ahead, 67-63. At full strength, Lincoln began to pull away.

“I’m sad, but we had a great year. Nobody expected us to get this far,” Arcidiacono said.

Shakeir Morrison and Khalif Meares added 13 and 10 points, respectively, for Lincoln, which had much more balanced scoring.

The Neshaminy fans gave the players an ovation when they came out of the locker room and into the gym after the game.

“It was emotional. We have eight seniors,” Tingle said.

One of those seniors, Arcidiacono, said he will soon decide whether to spend a year at a prep school or accept one of six Division I offers. Those offers are from Eastern Kentucky, Quinnipiac, Mount St. Mary’s, Rider, Delaware and Presbyterian.

Tingle has come to expect great efforts from Arcidiacono all year, but the coach was especially impressed with Dominick.

“Charles shot the ball well all year, but he went off today. Twenty-three points is his career high,” he said.

Dominick, a senior, will miss playing with this team.

“This was a great ride,” he said. “We have a great group of guys. We’re great friends. We hang out every weekend. We’re a family.”

BOYS BASKETBALL – GAME SUMMARY