Unleashing a determined defensive effort fueled by the energy generated by an fervent fanbase, Ralph Blundo’s basketball-playing New Castle Hurricanes capped a perfect season by powering past LaSalle College 52-39 in the PIAA Class AAAA championship game Saturday night at Hershey’s Giant Center.
Malik Hooker chiseled out a double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds), including a clutch drive and finish at the end of the third quarter that gave the Red Hurricanes (31-0) plenty of bounce heading into the final eight minutes.
Bounce that Joe Dempsey’s Explorers (23-7) could not match.
Drew Allen added 13 points for New Castle, which continued to add to the 30-24 lead it held after three quarters. Jake McPhatter and Stew Allen shared 17 more points as Blundo’s Hurricanes locked up their first state championship.