By Matthew DeGeorge
Ten seconds into Tuesday’s PIAA Class AAA second-round contest, Archbishop Carroll’s David Beatty stared down the face of Steelton-Highspire’s 3-2 zone defense, spotted up and nailed a 3-pointer.
The time it took the ball to swish its way through the nylon was the last time the result of the game was in any serious doubt.
Beatty and his Patriots ran roughshod, tallying an 83-54 win over the Steamrollers at Reading High School’s Geigle Complex.
“It makes the game a lot easier for us when we come out with a lot of energy,’ point guard Josh Sharkey said. “We were focused and wanted to make a statement. I think we started off great, and that’s how the game went.’
The win earns the Patriots a date with District 7’s New Castle, the fourth seed that upset WPIAL champ Indiana, 50-43, Tuesday. That’s the same New Castle team that cut down the nets in Hershey last season.